Here is something lacking in this world: any band that is able to bring the energy and intelligence of Minor Threat. Something else: bands that like the DC hardcore sound enough to try to bring it somewhere else, like Fugazi did. Ian MacKaye obsessed? Perhaps, but you have to admit that those two rocked pretty solidly. Menfolk almost give both my wishes a reality. Menfolk take the DC sound and add aggression, technicality and interesting syncopation in a move that reminds me of what Dillinger Escape Plan did to metalcore. It is not enough to drop me on my ass but it certainly rock enough for repeated listens.
- Simon Thibaudeau
An opening track strong enough to belt Tyson 'round the chops. "Man overboard" is produced by Björn Yttling to provide that "Swedish sound" mixed with a lot of Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette from the female duo. A folk hum, musical underlays, dubs and effects, plus mixed up quirky yet always emotive lyrics give the finese. Given the Cardigans unique early sound on "Emmerdale" and "Life!" albums, it is easy to see why Montys Loco are slated to support them on the band's Scandinavian tour (ahead of Anna Ternheim we hear). There's a warble lyric thing going on in places and if singer Anja Bigrell let herself go a bit she would be out into Björk wilderness - at least, that is, via the production - mind, there are artists out there falling into the same strength, one to start with is Sara Culler. And why do these sort of record stop short of hitting full wackiness a la Imogen Heap? Leaves one thinking only: radio. All told this album is WOW!
- Jason Christie
Björn Olsson has musical wanderlust. So perfectly does he capture the ambiance (at least as presented by old Hollywood films) of the southwestern US on his latest album "The lobster", you figure he musta gone down there to check it out. Either that, or he's absorbed every nuance of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns (and the Ennio Morricone scores that accompanied them) from the privacy of his living room. Every element of that southwest sound is there - the evocative acoustic guitar strumming, the clippity-clop percussion (you can almost see them horsies trotting down a canyon trail), and even some enchanting whistling on perhaps the finest track, "Lång låt i A-dur". The last track is nearly an hour long and reprises themes from the earlier tracks in a sleepier, more muffled form, a distinctively cinematic tactic. There's not a lot of variety on this disc, but the mood it evokes, it evokes quite strongly. And Olsson is a casually brilliant multi-instrumentalist, a guy who could head in several different directions of his choosing (including one scoring films) to peddle his sonic wares. "The lobster"is gonna be an acquired taste by design, but it's easily the best Swedish-made, crustacean-promoting, old American west-evoking platter I've ever heard.
- Kevin Renick
I think instrumental rock bands are flourishing right now as I have heard more of them in the past few months than I have in the past few years. Past the excesses of many post-rock bands, it seem that rocking out in a simpler manner is getting more popular. In the case of Samuel Jackson Five, they take familiar influences like Shellac and Don Caballero but infuse it with much more pop and indie sensibilities than any of the other instrumental bands I have heard lately. They sound almost like 70's prog-rock in many places. If there is one thing I don't particularly like is that the record is way overproduced.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Today's mp3 post belongs to Kevin Renick. Take it Kevin...
Avi and I were both mesmerized by the new Lampshade CD "Let's away", but he was gracious enough to let me do the writeup for today's mp3. Lampshade is a quintet with four Swedes and a fabulous Danish vocalist named RebekkaMaria Andersson. In just two CDs, these guys have become one of the finest bands in Scandinavia, and they're one of the first bands I would mention right now if someone asked me why I'm so enamored of all things Nordic. Lampshade's music is filled with dynamic colors, from fiery guitar work and pounding percussion, to utterly bewitching moments of sensual softness. And for those like me who are especially captivated by Scandinavian music that SOUNDS Scandinavian, Andersson's voice is positively enthralling. She enunciates distinctively, with a more relaxed air than Björk, to whom she's sometimes compared, yet her accent is delightful, adorning these beautifully crafted compositions with an extra bit of magic. This song is one of the standouts on a disc with many of them: Andersson sings lyrics in exquisite Swedish over a droning guitar pulse that evokes ancient folk mysteries and an epic sense of space, then she switches to English mid-stream for a sweet ballad about a "little girl all dressed up in ropes and tears." The song continues with lovely vocal harmonies, back to the droning guitar, then an unexpected melodic little coda. Honestly, this is about as powerful and emotionally gripping as music can get!
Ladies and gentlemen, he speaks the truth. "Let's away" is another one of 2006's best releases. And in case you were wondering, it's Damien Jurado providing the male harmony vocals. Check 'em out on tour in Sweden and Norway with Namur:
03/04 - Kulturhuset, Jönköping (SWE)
03/05 - KlubbOhSunday, Gothenburg (SWE)
03/07 - Landet, Stockholm (SWE)
03/08 - KlubbdinMamma, Folketshus, Örebro (SWE)
03/09 - Herrgår´n, Linköping (SWE)
03/11 - Rock Bottom, Oslo (NOR)
March's album of the month? Why it's Tiger Lou and his most recent album "The loyal"! One of 2005's best releases and readily available on both CD or as a high-bitrate DRM-free paid download. Check it out!
Also new in the webstore today: the latest album "Sins" from Swedish indierockers Antennas (formerlly known as Novak) and the debut full-length "Madame, madame!" from Firefox AK which Aftonbladet is calling "this year's most interesting debut." Sucks for you if you didn't preorder the latter because now the price has gone up a buck. You snooze, you lose.
Diapazam has announced the signing of Sesam, Aches and Le Muhr. Sesam will be the first one with a release with "Aim your bullets well" dropping on April 26.
A West Side Fabrication has signed Gbg-based act Minxy Soul Models. Look for their debut album in April and the single "Top gun" in the next few weeks.
Check out the Enslaved newsletter with details on the new album "Ruun" and recent video recordings: http://www.enslaved.no/newsletters/feb06/nlfeb06.html
Rune Grammofon has announced that the label retrospective "Until human voices wake us and we drown" 5x10" vinyl box-set is just about done and should be available for mailorder. The set includes a 16-page booklet illustrated, as always, by Kim Hiorthøy and will be limited to 1000 copies. A definite collectors item. Also on the way is a new 10" from Deathprod featuring remixes he's done for Nils Petter Molvær (2), Murcof, Larsen and Cloroform as well as the track "Deerstalker" from the "Money will ruin everything" comp. And lastly, RG will also be doing a vinyl edition of "Come up for air", the latest album from Norway's The White Birch. The record was produced by Deathprod/Helge Sten and features guest vocals from Susanna Wallumrød (Susanna and the Magical Orchestra), so it's only natural that RG get involved. They'll be doing a CD version for the US and Asia, too. Exact release dates and more details soon.
Finland's Montevideo has confirmed that their debut album "Come clean" will be released on April 5 and they will be celebrating with a release party in Helsinki. More details tba later.
Swedish singer/songwriter Lasse Lindh will release the new EP "Attica" on April 19.
Hanna Hirsch will be releasing a 7" entitled "Radiance kills" on Cage Match Federation this spring.
Fireside has added a second show in Japan on March 3 at Eggman in Tokyo.
Menfolk
Montys Loco
Björn Olsson
