EPs are often mixed blessings: they can be all over the map with regards to quality, creative direction, and sound, and even the best EPs run the risk of getting overplayed, especially if the release precedes another recording by more than a few months. That said, Convoj's self-titled EP and Cut City's "Narcissus can wait" demonstrate that EPs, when handled correctly, can stand on their own and hold their ground, and to that list I add Another Nation's National Anthem's "Conscious castle". A week or so ago, I may not have made that claim, but ANNA grow on you and the contemplative periods in a few of the songs have since ceased feeling somewhat indulgent and now feel properly settled into the compositions. "Conscious castle" unfolds in a very pleasant way, each listening revealing a layer I missed on a previous occasion. Its sound reminds me at times of The Appleseed Cast (though this claim may hold more weight in nostalgia than in fact) and Tiger Lou (especially those opening notes of "Hold, stranger (of the north)"), though ultimately escapes pigeonholing through the strength of the songwriting. Seeing what ANNA can do with five tracks and 21 minutes, I'm very interested in this band's future. - Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
The label website/webshop, home of new band The Bells, is now open: http://www.tegpublishing.se/
Lots of related stuff for sale, including releases from Park Hotell, Convoj, Mattias Alkberg, Cult of Luna, etc.
Halo of Pendor, the solo alias of Daniel Öhman (Ef, Convoj, etc.), has announced that its first official release will be a 5-song cassette called "X's & Y's" to be released on February 14 via German label . And as befits the date, all songs are about love.
Tomorrow at Debaser Malmö: It's a Trap! Clubnight featuring Convoj and Pretty Whores! I shouldn't have to remind you how great Convoj are since I've been talking them up from the very beginning, but I've got an mp3 below just in case you remain ignorant. Those guys are easily one of the best acts keeping the classic Swedish indie/noiserock/post-hardcore/post-punk sound alive. Few others compete; I can count them on one hand: NEI, The End Will Be Kicks, Giant Boar, Voices Break the Silence. Am I missing anyone? You might be able to lump Aerial in there once their new album comes out, but that's about it. Anyhow, point being: great band, not to be missed.
As for Pretty Whores, I haven't heard their new EP yet, but it seems to be getting good reviews and I most certainly approve of their shortened name (minus "Of Manhattan"). I think they'd be better off dropping it altogether and starting fresh, but whatever -- they're young dudes, they'll figure it out.
Stereo Test Kit has confirmed the tracklist for their upcoming "Records make great pets - Volume 2" compilation featuring 20 tracks from 20 Swedish indie artists: http://www.stereotestkit.com/pets.htm
Hard to pick specific highlights since the tracklist is incredibly strong, but some of the names are Alarma Man, Björn
Kleinhenz, Convoj, Hajen, Lowood, Park Hotell, Rickard Jäverling, Scraps of Tape, The Social Services, Two White Horses and Winter Took His Life.
The next two It's a Trap! Clubnights are now confirmed! We'll be hosting The Fine Arts Showcase on March 21 for what might just be their record release party for "Dolophine smile". Who knows? The album is due out about that time (not in February as I mistakenly reported before) so it could happen! And then on April 18 we've got Convoj! Awesome! If you happen to find yourself in Malmö on those dates, you know where to be!
Had Convoj's new album "Exceptionnel" been released even a month earlier, there's a good chance it would have ended up on my year-end best-of list. That's the way it goes though -- there's way too much mediocre music out there for me to wade through and often the best stuff gets forced to wayside. Don't make the same mistake and let them pass you by! "Knives and riptides" is everything the best guitar-based indierock should be: driving and insistent, with melody and power. There's not as much cowbell abuse as "Songs that maybe won't be forgotten", but it's still plenty enough to qualify as awesome. And really, that's what matters.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Marit Bergman - This is the year
02. TALK 1
03. Peter Bjorn and John - Hey (shut the fuck up boy)
04. Convoj - Knives and riptides
05. Lesli - Half a wing
06. TALK 2
07. Je Suis Animal - The mystery of Marie Roget
08. Tiger Lou - Crushed by a crowd (Mikael Jonasson remix)
09. I Was a Teenage Satan Worshipper - Cthulhu story
10. TALK 3
11. Fronda - Mitt allt
12. Thus:Owls - Climbing the fjelds of Norway
13. Champagne Riot - Scandinavian warfare
14. The Garlands - Why did I trust you?
15. TALK 4
16. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - This room seems empty without you
17. They Live - The driller
18. Lowood - Crash
19. TALK 5
20. Scraps of Tape - Grand letdown
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
01. Eric Beyond - Step off
02. TALK 1
03. Hanna Hirsch - Ingen kommer sakna oss
04. Francis - Bad to the bone
05. KA SO RE - Dramatically keep you
06. Susanna - Jailbreak (ft. Bonnie "Prince" Billy)
07. TALK 2
08. Love Is All - Give it back
09. Agent Side Grinder - Lashes of flashes
10. Parker Lewis - Bash the cynicals
11. TALK 3
12. Moto Boy - Pie Jesu
13. Down In June - The enemy within
14. Masshysteri - Tvivel
15. Underwater Sleeping Society - Saw you at my funeral
16. TALK 4
17. Viola - We owe love
18. Convoj - The shovel
19. Celestial - Crystal heights
20. TALK 5
21. The Deer Tracks - Yes, this is my broken shield
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XM U. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Due to a tangle of unforeseen circumstances, Convoj's debut full length has been a long time coming... but "Exceptionnel" has been well worth the wait. While a few friends have expressed disappointment that there are two songs from the previous EP - "My timekeeping heart" and "RAMJAC" (and for anyone who downloaded the demos for "Liberty city" and "Cultural legacy" a while back, there are another two tracks you might be familiar with) - all of these songs have been rerecorded and improved upon, especially "RAMJAC" whose final minutes are fantastic. And seeing how well these earlier tracks complement newer ones like "The shovel", "Grace" and "Ghost buster", it's hard to see how these previously recorded compositions hinder "Exceptionnel" in the least. Continuing on from the angular, yet fluid rock sound established early into their career, Convoj's new effort confirms the band's standing amongst the best of the bunch. Completely unrestrained and unrelenting, and yet paradoxically focused, "Exceptionnel" tears down strange avenues only to erupt into graceful moments of beauty... and then back into their distortion-tinged lightning strike guitars, thick, driving bass, deft drum work, and commanding vocal delivery. There isn't a misstep on "Exceptionnel", nor is there a chance taken that isn't rewarding. - Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Another Nation's National Anthem
Convoj
