Check out the video for "Loaded" from Norway's Tuco's Lounge: http://www.tumblewinefilms.com/news.htm
Go here to download some tracks from Swedish Europop act Eurosport: http://www.eurosportmusic.tk/
The always amazing 8-bit rockers Desert Planet are set to release their brand-new album "Mario built my hot rod" on May 2 via 9pm Records. The duo will heading out on the road in support of the release and more info can be found here: http://personal.inet.fi/taide/junttila/desert/engani/mario.htm
Desert Planet are one of the many fine acts included on the "It's a trap reader's companion" compilation, so of course anything they do is highly recommended. I also hear that the album includes a guest appearance from members of the Finnish humppa group Eläkeläiset, so you know it's gotta be something special.
Now Toronto ran a feature on Jens Lekman on Friday: http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-03-10/music_feature2.php
Check out the flyer for the upcoming US appearances by Moneybrother: [click here]
As mentioned before, I'll be heading down to LA for the ExMS showcase at the Troubadour on Wednesday night. Should be a good time!
Kristofer Åström
So much for staying alive
Startracks
Sounds to me like someone's been listening to quite a bit of country music. More specifically, the "countrypolitan" style of the 70s. Unfortunately, I think it's going to rub a lot of people the wrong way, especially with sappy, heavy-handed numbers like "Until tomorrow". That tune sounds straight-up like something producer Billy Sherrill could've done. Lucky for me, I'm already a fan of that stuff, so I'm cool with it. I do have one major complaint about this record though - the vocals sound really bad. It has nothing to do with Kristofer's performance which, as always, is spot-on. Rather, the timbre of the recording is sub-par and makes Kris' voice sounds thin and tinny. I can't tell if it's the choice of microphone or the mix that's the problem, but it's quite disappointing because it brings down the entire album. I still enjoy the record, just not as much as I had hoped.
- Avi Roig
The Drawbacks
At least a spark EP
self-released
Good power pop bands have this thing--this ability to turn a catchy song into one that's outright feverish. They leave you with no choice but to clap or tap your foot along. The Drawbacks have that thing. The group, based in Falköping, Sweden, offers five well-constructed songs on this release. Guitars surge on the big chorus of "Orange", while a fast tempo and sing-along backing vocals make "Straight lines and circles" a standout. The bitter lyrics on "Transparency" are subsumed by the dazzling melody and soaring harmonies, bringing Teenage Fanclub to mind. The spacier "Trampoline" doesn't work quite as well, but a lot of bands would relish the luxury of having a song that solid be the weakest spot on the CD. I'm dumbfounded that their last guitarist left them to play heavy metal. If you're headed to the west of Sweden, go see The Drawbacks--and shake to that tambourine!
- Matthew W. Smith
David Härenstam Band
What happened in Freemantle?
Gason
Heavily steeped in folk of different kinds, I can identify Irish at least, but also with a bit of traditional vocal jazz and some classical instrumentation, the David Härenstam Band cover a lot of ground. However, they do stay within a certain slow, vocal jazz-type, meditative pace but they always throw a little curve ball to keep things interesting. This is not my cup of tea, it is however very well done. See if that sounds good to you.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Per Lundin
Members of me
self-released
I haven't got a clue who Per Lundin is, but to justify the lack of quality on these three songs I hope he's not older than 15. I bet he got all the right intention and is influenced by some great music, but he nevertheless he sounds as a very feeble Damien Jurado. If these songs were crafted really early in Per Lundin's career, I'd say there's still hope, because it's not utter crap but to be frank, the songs are just too clichéd (to such an extent that it's almost laughable). "My life", with its 80s atmosphere, is almost excruciating to listen to. I think Mr. Lundin would have been better off singing in his native language (Swedish?) or just try and keep his music and lyrics really simple (like Broder Daniel), because his lyrics are so bad they really stick out which makes them rather hard to ignore (example: "My heart is mine, yours is yours / Leave the past. Close the door") and the music is often way too pretentious. On a positive note, I really like the first 30 seconds of "Path of life", it sounds like a great emo moment but then the song just turns into another myriad of derivative nonsense. Also, there's a lot of Bruce Springsteen-like gusto in Per's voice, which is always a good thing. But we're still left with something that has been done before, many times, much better.
- Simon Tagestam
Éric Rámsey
Les anonym Éric Rámsey
Castor Pollux
Maybe it was on purpose, maybe not, but the grammatical error in the title of the album does not actually give a good first impression. Regardless, Éric Rámsey does a decent job of combining post-punk with a lot of Stereolab. With the help of electronics, Rámsey is able to sometimes create sometimes spacey, sometimes rocking numbers that most of times manage to be danceable. Certainly a worthy addition to your discography even though he owes a lot to the aforementioned Anglo-French band.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Sondre Lerche
Live @ Scala, London, 03/09/05
Sondre Lerche, the Norwegian singer/songwriter/crooner, is very charming. His music, lyrics, appearance, and especially his peculiar small-talk in-between songs will easily have any man or woman charmed right out of their pants. All this jolly charm is of course on the verge of being a bit too much, but Sondre seems to have calculated it specifically not to be either too dark or too happy. This is why Sondre Lerche's music works as a great antidote against such "darker" artists like Will Oldham, Bright Eyes, Smog etc. Live it works rather splendidly as well, with Sondre playing a balanced mix of songs from his two albums, and even though he's alone on stage with only his guitar as company, his intriguing charisma and intricate guitar playing is enough to transfix everyone at this sold-out show. If I get a chance to see Sondre Lerche again I think I'll bring my girlfriend and get a bit drunk, so I can pretend to be a drunken romantic for a night (Sondre's music suits as the perfect soundtrack for such an escapade).
- Simon Tagestam
The State of Floral Beings
We know you love us and that's why we do this
Trewetha Records
This Stockholm quintet says, "We do whatever we like, and then we do it completely different." On "We know you love us and that's why we do this", they take that idea and create this sort of brooding brand of industrial/punk that burrows in your mind with its droning bass lines, synth and dissonant guitars that combine themselves with crafty drumming. The vocals are haunting at times and almost reminiscent of Trent Reznor. I do agree with Avi's sentiment of them being borderline Nine Inch Nails-esque in some of their songs (i.e. "Defeated" and "My Life with the Montana Midnight Rider pt. 2", which reminds me of NIN's "The day the world went away".) "Dirtnap" is totally danceable, in my book. Pretty interesting stuff, although "Elephant machine" felt out of place on the album and sort of killed the mood.
- Navy Keophan
I went and saw the Shout Out Louds last night and am happy to report that, after waiting to see them for two years, I was not let down. Nothing fancy, just a good, solid set. Of course, they couldn't really compete with headliners The Futureheads, they're not from Sweden, so that's all I'm gonna say about that. I presume SOL will be back in the US later this summer once their album "Howl howl gaff gaff" finally gets released over here. It's about time! Those poor guys - they must be so sick of playing those old songs.
New mp3 today from Swedish melancholic pop band Valley Days. I was originally going to post one of the band's excellent broody ballads, but lack of sleep (see above and remember- I start work early) made me go with this upbeat number instead. It's just what I need to get me going this Friday. Anyhow, this song is the final track from the band's debut full-length "We like pretending" which they recorded and released themselves. It's quite impressive because not only is the sound quality great, but so is the artwork and packaging. As for the music, it's got everything I look for in the genre: huge hooks, keening vocals and that uniquely Scandinavian quality of gloom and heavy-heartedness. Dig that three-over-four melody line in the verse, too. If you like this, be sure to check out the band's website where you can contact the band to order the album and download more tunes.