Podcast: Q1 highlights

New stock just arrived from NONS including the latest from Montys Loco, Asha Ali and Holy Madre! Go spend some money!

Montys Loco and Ane Brun are touring Germany together in early April:

04/08 - Alte Feuerwache, Mannheim
04/09 - Brotfabrik, Frankfurt
04/10 - Tacheles, Berlin
04/11 - Stage Club, Hamburg

Montys Loco
Man overboard
NONS

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

Okay, I'm back after spending some 20+ hours in a car with my four dogs this past weekend. That's probably the last time I'll be doing that for a loooong time, god willing. New mp3 today from Montys Loco off their new album "Man overboard", out now on NONS. I posted the first single "Wasteland" awhile ago and was pretty darn stoked on it, but the full record is even better than I expected. I love the stripped-down arrangements and Björn Yttling's superb production. Take today's track "Give me more" for instance - the rhythm section is barely more than a floor tom, some percussion and a dirty fuzz bass. It shouldn't sound so complete, but it does. That's the just the tip of the iceberg, too: The whole record is full of unexpected moments of brilliance, one right after another. A definite gem of a disc - proof positive that less is often more.

MP3: Montys Loco - Give me more

Okay, I'm back after spending some 20+ hours in a car with my four dogs this past weekend. That's probably the last time I'll be doing that for a loooong time, god willing. New mp3 today from Montys Loco off their new album "Man overboard", out now on NONS. I posted the first single "Wasteland" awhile ago and was pretty darn stoked on it, but the full record is even better than I expected. I love the stripped-down arrangements and Björn Yttling's superb production. Take today's track "Give me more" for instance - the rhythm section is barely more than a floor tom, some percussion and a dirty fuzz bass. It shouldn't sound so complete, but it does. That's the just the tip of the iceberg, too: The whole record is full of unexpected moments of brilliance, one right after another. A definite gem of a disc - proof positive that less is often more.

Montys Loco - Give me more

MTVe is streaming the new Montys Loco album "Man overboard": http://www.mtve.com/article.php?ArticleId=6131
I haven't heard the full record yet, but the first single (and its b-sides) "Wasteland" is superb.

The new Montys Loco album will now be called "Man overboard".

Montys Loco has posted the video for "Wasteland" for streaming: high / low

This is a week chock full of exclusives! Besides giving you the very first taste of the new The End Will Be Kicks album and offering it up for sale on mp3 waaaaay before it's available anywhere else, I've got yet another treat for you today! When I first heard that Björn Yttling had a jazz album in the works, I was naturally quite curious. Many people now recognize him as a member of the excellent Peter Bjorn and John, but I first became aquainted with his music through his extensive work as a producer. Many fine records in my collection are adorned with his name on the credits. So not only do I have a brand new track from his upcoming album today, but I was also afforded the opportunity to ask Björn a few questions about his work.

AR: Why a jazz album? What was the inspiration for the project?

BY: I've always listened to jazz (stuff like Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Ellington and of course Coltrane and Charlie Parker) and ten years ago I also played it. But the jazz scene can be very very boring with people just playing standards in predictable ways, so I kind of slipped away from it. I was still writing jazz songs though, and spurred by saxophone player Jonas Kullhammar I started thinking of making a jazz record.

AR: Is there a lot of difference in the way you work when you are composing jazz charts as opposed to when you are doing arrangements for pop music?

BY: No not really. The biggest different is that (my) jazz music is instrumental and pop music often isn't. Of course with jazz tunes you can leave the forms more open for improvising. I recorded this record in a day, and pop albums always take at least two.

AR: What other current producers do you admire right now?

BY:I really don't keep track on foreign producers that much, but there are many Swedes that I really like. Björn Olsson, Pelle Gunnerfeldt and Jari Haapalainen of course, but don't forget Jocke Åhlund from Caesars and Calle Olsson from Bear Quartet.

AR: So what's next for you then?

BY: I'm doing/planning a few records right now. Montys Loco, Elias & The Wizzkids, The Charm, Pueblo and we're almost done with the new Peter Bjorn And John album. What I really looking forward to do now is a record with Joakim Åhlund, and we're gonna start next week.

Björn's new jazz album with Yttling Jazz is called "Oh Lord, why can't I keep my big mouth shut". It comes out November 21 via Headspin Recordings.

MP3: Yttling Jazz - Tokyo Hyatt

This is a week chock full of exclusives! Besides giving you the very first taste of the new The End Will Be Kicks album and offering it up for sale on mp3 waaaaay before it's available anywhere else, I've got yet another treat for you today! When I first heard that Björn Yttling had a jazz album in the works, I was naturally quite curious. Many people now recognize him as a member of the excellent Peter Bjorn and John, but I first became aquainted with his music through his extensive work as a producer. Many fine records in my collection are adorned with his name on the credits. So not only do I have a brand new track from his upcoming album today, but I was also afforded the opportunity to ask Björn a few questions about his work.

AR: Why a jazz album? What was the inspiration for the project?

BY: I've always listened to jazz (stuff like Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Ellington and of course Coltrane and Charlie Parker) and ten years ago I also played it. But the jazz scene can be very very boring with people just playing standards in predictable ways, so I kind of slipped away from it. I was still writing jazz songs though, and spurred by saxophone player Jonas Kullhammar I started thinking of making a jazz record.

AR: Is there a lot of difference in the way you work when you are composing jazz charts as opposed to when you are doing arrangements for pop music?

BY: No not really. The biggest different is that (my) jazz music is instrumental and pop music often isn't. Of course with jazz tunes you can leave the forms more open for improvising. I recorded this record in a day, and pop albums always take at least two.

AR: What other current producers do you admire right now?

BY:I really don't keep track on foreign producers that much, but there are many Swedes that I really like. Björn Olsson, Pelle Gunnerfeldt and Jari Haapalainen of course, but don't forget Jocke Åhlund from Caesars and Calle Olsson from Bear Quartet.

AR: So what's next for you then?

BY: I'm doing/planning a few records right now. Montys Loco, Elias & The Wizzkids, The Charm, Pueblo and we're almost done with the new Peter Bjorn And John album. What I really looking forward to do now is a record with Joakim Åhlund, and we're gonna start next week.

Björn's new jazz album with Yttling Jazz is called "Oh Lord, why can't I keep my big mouth shut". It comes out November 21 via Headspin Recordings.

Yttling Jazz - Tokyo Hyatt

The new Bjorn Yttling-produced album from Montys Loco has been confirmed for a February/March 2006 release via NONS. The first single "Wasteland" (as posted here awhile ago) will be out in November.

Brand new exclusive track today from Montys Loco. It's a glorious pop nugget - less than two minutes, but still capable of packing quite a wallop. Epic melodies, but not epic length. Anyhow, the group is currently recording new material under the tutelage of producer Björn Yttling (Peter, Bjorn & John, Caesars), but is currently labeless. They put out records on NONS/MNW in the past, but seeing as how that relationship has been severed and NONS is indie again, I can only presume that budgets are much tighter and there's just not enough money to go around. Not to criticize the label's business tactics (I know budget constraints first-hand), but it's a real shame since this song is so good. Not only that, it shows great promise for more to come. Oh-well. Wait and see what happens.

The full line-up and schedule for the En ljummen i gräset Festival at Vintervikens trädgård has been announced:

07/24: Differnet, Loney, Dear, K (Krister Linder/Dive), The Fine Arts Showcase, EF, The Sorayas, Deltahead, Cirera, Walter Sound System
07/28: Jens Lekman, Britta Persson, Natasha Lea Jones (UK)
07/31: Popundret, richard reagh&wwnb2, QOPH, Namur, I Love You Baby, The Bright And Shiny, Thomas Denver Jonsson, Tony Clifton, Walter Sound System
08/07: The Deportees, Paatos, Montys Loco, Empire Dogs, The Tiny, Plod, Dexter's Moon, Walter Sound System
08/11: Heikki, Hip Whips
08/14: First Floor Power, Ane Brun, Rundfunk, Tobias Fröberg, Fire fox, The Sunshine, Le Muhr, Un Rodo Cora

More info: http://www.ljummen.com/

Bands confirmed for the 8-day En ljummen i Gräset Festival in Stockholm: Heikki, Natasha Lea Jones (UK), Differnet, Richard Reagh, The Deportees, Gustaf Kjellvander, Grand Tone Music, Ane Brun, Peter, Björn and John, Popundret, Montys Loco, The Bright and Shiny and Paatos. Full details: http://www.ljummen.com/