It's the last Saturday of 2007, hence the last Bear Quartet post I'll do until their next album comes out. I asked Mattias Alkberg if he would contribute something this week, but he politely declined noting that it's a bit awkward to write about his own band like that, though quite flattering. Can't argue with that, so instead I've roped in Jim Kelly from Parasol once again. His pick: "Grammar" from 2003's "Angry brigade". He writes:
"Angry brigade" was The Bear Quartet's last true guitar-bass-n-drums rock/pop record, albeit sprinkled with inklings of the electro-tempest spawned on successive albums. Hot on the heels of the album's two singles, "Axe me don't ask me" and "All my life", the swaggering, cocksure, Clash-inspired "Grammar" is "Angry brigade"'s centerpiece, a bridge between the batch of luminous proto-popsongs in one hand and the sampledelic electro-punk squirming in the other. "Grammar" was a big tough rock song with big tough guitars, a song about righteous school-age badassess planning an assault on the neighborhood pedophile. But while the narrator and pals miss their chance, they hope that Hell awaits this person in some form. With sentiments like this, and mortality a common motif, "Angry brigade" ended up being the band's fiercest and most tightly-wound record since "Moby Dick", incorporating both the band's sublime pop sophistication and madcap punk/noise roots.
Download below, as always. As for next year's special Saturday post focus - wait and see!
The Bear Quartet - Grammar
Swedish crusties Massgrav have finished recording a new album for release on Sound Pollution sometime in the near future.
There's a new RinneRadio video for the track "Untitled" online: http://www.neoarena.fi/rinneradio/
Maybe not as cool as their last video, but still worth a look.
Check out the new Fjärde Världen video "Ingenting": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVCBB3sNnb4
Katatonia will be going back into the studio this spring to record a new album. Expect a fall 2008 release.
Lighthouse Project have parted ways with drummer Niila. Lauri Ojala from Satura Lanx will be taking his place.
Friendly Noise is offering up one last free mp3 single to close out the year: http://www.friendlynoise.se/mp3-releases
Blabbermouth reports that Ihsahn (Emperor) is finishing up work on his second solo album: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=87400
Discobelle has Anna Järvinen and Annika Norlin (Säkert!/Hello Saferide) performing a Swedish-language cover of Robyn's "With every heartbeat": http://www.discobelle.net/2007/12/27/varje-hjartslag/
Dagensskiva's annual reader poll is open: http://dagensskiva.com/arets-skiva-2007/
Lassus' contribution to the upcoming Förmögenhet tribute (as reported here) is now streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lassustheband
This is the kind of track I can put on an endless loop and never get sick of it, that's how hot it is. It gets me moving. That slinky bassline is relentless once it gets going and those rare moments when it stutters for a second and misses the downbeat only add to the excitement. It gets even better once they start layering on the harmonies, pushing higher and higher, increasing the tension until the inevitable release. Adrian Recordings may have gotten their start with folksy indierock (David & the Citizens, Björns Vänner, etc.), but they've proven they can do techno just as well, if not better. Familjen, Printer and Boeoes Kaelstigen? That's the shit right there. If they don't do another guitar-based record again, I won't mind.
Boeoes Kaelstigen - Flir