IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Top 10s for 2009: It's a Trap!

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Avi Roig, Editor-in-Chief

10. [ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet (Labrador Records)
A record that is expansive in sound, but still very direct in feeling. [ingenting] aimed for the stars with this one and nailed it.

09. Agent Side Grinder - Irish recording tape/The transatlantic tape project (Enfant Terrible)
Enjoyable as separate entities, though far better when considered as a matched pair. This band has not only mastered the sound of old-school industrial, they can also write great catchy songs (see: "Irish recording tape") and create engrossing abstract soundscapes ("The transatlantic tape project").

08. Pistol Disco - Evergreen (Celebrity Lifestyle)
This group gets better and better with every release and now, with the addition of live drums, they've soared to new heights of brain-roasting awesomeness. Listen LOUD!

07. The Bear Quartet - 89 (Adrian Recordings)
A no-brainer. Still reigning as Sweden's best band.

06. The Fine Arts Showcase - Dolophine smile (Adrian Recordings)
The rawest of breakup records, the grandest of pop. Gustaf Kjellvander's defining moment as an artist (thus far).

05. Wadruna - Runaljod - gap var Ginnunga (Indie Recordings/Fimbulljóð Productions)
Pure pagan beauty, performed in the old ways to appease the old gods. If you don't like this, you're no fan of Scandinavian music.

04. Björn Kleinhenz - B.U.R.M.A./Head held high on fearsome pride (DevilDuck Records/SellOut! Music/Tomt Recordings/Eget Bevåg Grammofon)
Another twofer, except this time I've listened to all these songs on shuffle so many times I can't separate them anymore. 2009 was the year that Björn Kleinhenz dedicated himself to his art 100% and it shows. I always have high expectations for his work, but these two records blew me away.

03. Samuraj Cities - Mixed up record collections (Imperial Recordings)
The music reflects the title; a brazen mix of different sounds and ideas, leading the way for the future of Swedish indierock. Sometimes it's a noisy mess, but that's also what makes it so great.

02. David Åhlén - We sprout in thy soil (Compunctio)
Devotional music is incredibly powerful when performed with such fervent conviction and grace as this. There is a new strain of inspirational music coming out of Sweden right now and its artists are creating some of the most exciting music I've heard in years.

01. Elmo - Once (BD Pop)
Far and away my absolute favorite album of 2009. Elmo takes the melodramatic teen-angst pop of Broder Daniel and ups it to near-farcial levels of hysteria, but they never ever falter. When frontman Magnus Ekelund said that this was the "ultimate Elmo album", he was telling the absolute truth. You can't go up from here.

Honorable mentions

2009 was a very good year for music and there are many worthwhile albums that didn't quite make the cut. Here's 5 more in alphabetical order:
Pintandwefall - Hong Kong, baby! (Supersounds Music)
Thåström - Kärlek är för dom (Universal)
C.Aarmé - World music (Spegel)
Turboweekend - Ghost of a chance (Mermaid Records)
Dear Euphoria - Heal my violence (La Paloma)

Heard too late

These records would've made the list if I had properly heard them at their time of release:
The Scrags - s/t (Alleycat Records)
Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Lost in reflection (Fang Bomb/iDEAL Recordings/Release the Bats/When Skies Are Grey)
Tyrant - The rebirth (reclaim the flame) (Listenable Records/Hells Cargo)

Contributor Lists

Simon Tagestam

Albums

01. Samtidigt Som - Flykt, kärlek & broderskap (Luxury)

02. jj - jj n° 2 (Sincerely Yours)

03. Fever Ray – s/t (Rabid)

04. Lorentz & M.Sakarias - Vi mot världen (Epic)

05. Frida Hyvönen – Silence is wild (Licking Fingers)

06. Maskinen – Boys II Men (Pope Records)

07. Taken By Trees – East of Eden (Rough Trade)

08. Körsbärsfettera - Alla ska ha linne (self-released)

09. Sad Day For Puppets - Unknown colors (HaHa Fonogram)

10. Christopher Sander - Hej hå! (Vesper Records)

Songs

01. Montt Mardié – Gloria

02. jj – Are you still in Valda?

03. Anna Järvinen – Äppelöga

04. Samtidigt Som – Tienes mi corazón

06. Maskinen – Pengar

06. Alexis Weak – Disney på is

07. Lorentz & M.Sakarias - Unicorn

08. Christopher Sander - Fattig bonddräng

09. [ingenting] – Halleluja!

10. Makthaverskan - German boy

Arnulf Koehncke

01. Moritz von Oswald Trio - Vertical ascent (Honest Jon's Records)
While technically hardly a Scandinavian album (percussion is handled by Finn Vladislav Delay, electronics and programming by German techno- and dub-mastermind Moritz von Oswald plus modular synths by German Max Loderbauer), I just can't not list this record here. For me, it's this year's equivalent to last year's highlights by Auton or Viktor Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble: A demanding record that pulls you in with its hypnotic patterns and movements, makes you smile at its more obvious moments, and makes you miss it when you're without the beautiful gatefold vinyl and a record player.

02. Kings of Convenience - Declaration of dependence (Virgin/EMI)
I was looking forward to this album and the accompanying gig this fall. The gig did not disappoint -- like always, Erlend still wants to own the stage while Erik charmingly stresses his storytelling-skills and seems to divide his time between his baby and the gym nowadays. But the album surprised me at first. Judging from the last record, I had expected more sixties pop and less starkness and quietude. But I like how this album is less easily had, doesn't let the listener in as easily, but will grow on you nonetheless.

03. [ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet (Labrador Records)
This records sees [ingenting] exchange the more obvious references in their music for more subtle nods to pop music's giants paired with impressively direct lyrics and straight-to-the-point arrangements. If maturity didn't have such negative connotations, one could call the album just that. And "classic" of course, like 80's indiepop is classic, or Sibiria and Vapnet maybe, though in more cynical ways than this record. It seems only fitting that [ingenting] chose to finally drop those "nothing"-puns from their album titles.

04. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild (Licking Fingers)
I've always been unsure about the reference points of year-end lists. Is it calender years or more likely personal years? I'm in favor of personal, so I list this album because to me, despite technically being from 2008, it's really a 2009 record. Somehow, the album's full potential -- its melodies, its power, and most of all, its soul (in the secular, Phil Spector meaning of the word)---had passed me by until I saw Frida and her bandmates play live in Berlin in the spring of 2009. So I'm only making up now for not listing it in 2008.

05. The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules (Bubbles)
A friend of mine once compared TWBA to IKEA. They make highly functional music that's devoid of any ornaments and goes straight to the point. And like IKEA-furniture, TWBA's music works extremely well for its purpose: I've seen them play in a gallery's shopwindow for more than 1000 dancing people gathered in the February-cold street before them, and their songs never fail to fill any indie-dancefloor. I guess I'd rather have IKEA than the "next big thing" from England then.

Singles

01. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
From the first time I heard this song when [ingenting] performed it on Nyhetsmorgon, I was struck with its directness, the way it seems to speak to every single listener. I really like how non-cynical popmusic can do that sometimes!

02. The Fine Arts Showcase - Friday on my knees
It's great how Gustaf and his bandmates deconstruct this song about two-thirds through, dropping riff and chorus for 120 gloomy seconds of noisy guitar and bass, only to shortly resurrect it all before the end. Who needs radio-oriented hits when we can have this instead?

03. The Radio Dept. - David
Yet another year without an album by The Radio Dept. And still I consider them my favorite Scandinavian band. I'm left hoping the new album will sound more like this single and less like its unfocused b-sides. Still, allowing myself a nostalgic moment, they most probably just won't make another "Lesser matters".

04. The Whitest Boy Alive - 1517
We all need our functional dancefloor-fix from time to time, don't we? Especially when it's this well-done.

05. Kommun - Death of a CEO
I've been looking forward to the Kommun-record ever since the people behind Vapnet and Sibiria announced that, since everyone was making "serious" Swedish records now, they'd make a "non-serious" English record instead. And while I haven't fully connected with the album yet, I can't really escape this deeply political singalong about a businessman's afterlife.

Less obvious non-scandi mentions (besides those Grizzly Bears, Animal Collectives, and Pains of Being Pure at Heart): My friend's sister's project Music for Your Heart, Brooklyn's giddy Uninhabitable Mansions, the new Au Revoir Simone record, that Thom Yorke song on the "New Moon" Soundtrack (less movie, more music), and finally moving to and living in Phnom Penh.

Matt Giordano

01. [ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet (Labrador Records)
It was always going to be difficult to follow up "Mycket väsen för ingenting", and for a while I thought that this one fell short. The one day it clicked, I could not even compare the two. This is another stellar release for the band.

02. The Bear Quartet - 89 (Adrian Recordings)
A triumph, but honestly I did not even expect less. The Bear Quartet have returned in the only way they could -- a bludgeoning, brooding album that closes their decade of output by making the audience reconsider what The Bear Quartet is once again.

03. Markus Krunegård - Prinsen av Peking / Lev som en gris dö som en hund (V2)
I try to imagine what pop music in English would sound like if we had an artist like Markus Krunegård. But then I realize that the industry here is exponentially more vapid, someone like Markus would be swept into the corners of dimly lit rooms, never to see his due.

04. Asha Ali - Hurricane (3NO)
Three years after her magnificent debut, Asha Ali gave us a devastating album of loss and internal strife. This album is so personal and fragile it must have been difficult to release it.

05. The Fine Arts Showcase - Dolophine smile (Adrian Recordings)
Another album of loss, but with a very different approach. Gustaf Kjellvander gives us an outside view of the degradation of his relationship, which is always quite to difficult to do. However, in typical TFAS fashion, he succeeds greatly.

06. Pistol Disco - Evergreen (Celebrity Lifestyle)
Falling into the category of noise and shoegaze, which I've been listening to a lot lately, Pistol Disco reach amongst the highs. Put this record on and just ease your mind, and it will take your imagination places.

07. Kristofer Åström - Sinkadus (Startracks)
A new Kristofer Åström album always yields quality. This time, he has rotated three backing bands on record, and it adds so much to his already well-honed songwriting craft.

08. Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen (Hyrbis)
What a way to start a career. Jonathan Johansson created one of the better pure-pop albums of the year.

09. jj - jj n° 2 (Sincerely Yours)
Another very good debut, and another very good pop album. jj borderlines on twee, yet mixes soft beats and great vocals.

10. Montt Mardié - Skaizerkite (Hyrbis)
David Pagmar keeps getting more bombastic with each release. Top-notch songwriting and arranging keeps Montt Mardié fans guessing where he'll take his sound next.

Songs:

01. Peter Bjorn and John - Stay this way

02. Elias and the Wizzkids - Mr. Right Guy

03. Montt Mardié - Bang bang (An echo in Warsaw)

04. Asha Ali - The contract

05. The Bear Quartet - Northern

06. Ingenting - Lång våg

07. Markus Krungegård - Prinsessan av Peking

08. The Fine Arts Showcase - London, my town

09. Kristofer Åström - A song for while I'm away

10. Markus Krunegård - Kär i en borderline

Hybris: new website, new signing

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:31:11 -0800

Hybris have revamped their website: http://www.hybrism.com/
They've also announced that while Sibiria and Vapnet have joined forces to sing in English with Kommun, labelmate Montt Mardié has done the opposite: he's working on a new album in Swedish under the name Monty.

Presenting: Kommun

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:44:16 -0700

As alerted by Jerry Bowman, the members of Sibiria have started a new band called Kommun who, despite the Swedish name, sing in English. Check 'em out at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kommunswe

Sibiria to record album på Engelska

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:08:28 -0700

Swedish indiepop act Sibiria will be working on an English-language album this summer: http://vapnet.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-sommar-kommer-vi-bara-gora-en.html

Top 10s for 2007: Absolut Noise

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

The best 2007 records which did not exist in 2007

The first Du Pacque record
--> it will be released next year and will be a total killer. I heard plenty of their songs. Trust me: this is gonna be the best record in 2008!

A Bear Quartet album
--> An electro one, or a pop one, or a rock one : does not matter actually. Mattias Alkberg can even turn hip-hop, I will buy it.

A MABD album
--> More a punk one like their first two ones than a folk one like their latest.

A more black "White and black" album for The Hives
--> when they rock, they do rock. When they try to be too smart (see their song "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S" for instance), they make me feel bored.

A great Kent record
--> ok, "Tillbaka till samtiden" is not that bad, but it is not that good either, right?

A Bad Cash Quartet record
--> 'cause Hästpojken + Jonas Game do not equal BCQ

A bad Mando Diao record
--> "Never seen the light of day" is actually not bad. I would even say it is quite good.

A Jens Lekman trash metal album
--> I liked it at first, but now I think "Night falls over Kortedala" is quite boring. I prefer his first record. This latest one is much too calm for me. Not surprising enough. It sounds like I am the only one to think so though.

A Convoj album
--> will those guys eventually release a proper record?

A compilation with all the great artists who are from the very little Swedish city Östersund
--> like Annika Norlin, Penny Century, Autisterna, The Way We Wear Our Head, Sibiria or Vapnet

---------------------------
Absolut Noise is a French blog on Swedish music.
absolutnoise.blogspot.com

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Hybris has posted the new Sibiria single "Jag minns bara hur du plågade mig" for free download: http://www.hybrisfiles.com/mp3/Sibiria-Jagminnsbarahurduplagademig.mp3

Top 10s for 2006: Staff picks

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Not everyone was able to get their lists in on time, but I think you'll find more than enough titles here well-worth investigating, whatever your tastes may be. Enjoy!

Jonas Appelqvist:

01. The Fine Arts Showcase – Radiola (Adrian Recordings)
When Christian released a kinda mediocre record, Gustav stepped up, delivered and restored the honour of the Kjellvander brothers.

02. C.Aarmé – Vita (Burning Heart)
Music for the gut, not the brain. Göteborg's finest punks just recently split up, it's a pity.

03. Hets – s/t (V2/Etikett: Hets)
I was a bit hesitative when I heard that members from Laakso, Fireside and Moneybrother formed a band. They proved me wrong.

04. Raised Fist – The sound of the republic (Burning Heart Records)
This long awaited full-length proved to be exactly what I hoped for. Uncompromising hardcore, this time with hooks!

05. Insurgent Kid – Paranoia (Wasted Sounds)
Just recently released and it went straight into this list. The punkrock on this disc is, in fact, all I ever need.

06. Khoma – The second wave (Roadrunner)
I always knew something good would come out of Plastic Pride.

07. Aerial – Black rain from the nombing (Nomethod)
Epic and almost instrumental post-rock from Sandviken that moved me big time.

08. Tar... Feathers – Make way for the ocean floor to fall to the surface (Release the Bats!)
Self-willed indiepop that sounds like Modest Mouse mixed with Xiu Xiu at times.

09. Darkthrone – The cult is alive (Peaceville)
Pioneers that released their most interesting record since "Total Death". Black-metal with one hell of a punkrockattitude!

10. Cult of Luna – Somewhere along the highway (Earache)
One of the records I've listened to the most in 2006 and it's still intriguing.

Top 3 non-scandinavian records of 2006:
Converge – No heroes (Epitaph)
Electric President – s/t (Morr Music)
Cursive – Happy hollow (Saddle Creek)

Nancy Baym:

01. Hell On Wheels - The odd church (Hybris/PlayRec)
It's catchy, it's quirky, it's consistently strong. And it's interesting too.

02. Skywriter - Where both worlds never meet (Iceberg Records)
The slow ones drag a bit, but the fast songs are a sublime mix of sexy, cool, driving and restrained.

03. Consequences - s/t (BOW/Groover Recordings)
Puts the "infection" in infectious pop. I can't stop listening to it and really don't want to either.

04. Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's block (V2/Wichita)
Not as good as last year's "Falling out", but an okay Peter Bjorn and John record is still better than most.

05. Pelle Carlberg - Everything. Now! (Labrador)
He's thoughtful, he's sensitive, he's twee, but most of all he's the perfect mix of soothing and beautiful. Frazzled nerves be gone!

06. The Phonies - Gran tourettes (Money Laundry Records)
Inconsistent record from Finland's Phonies, but it's best songs are exhuberant enough to carry the rest.

07. Billie the Vision & the Dancers - The world according to Pablo (self-released)
While I'm From Barcelona gets all the buzz, I prefer this. It's kind of mellow, a little dark, sort of conceptual if you bother to figure it out, but most of all, it just sounds good.

08. David & the Citizens - Stop the tape! Stop the tape! (Bad Taste)
David Fridlund's a melodic genius and the music may be better than ever, but Fridlund's angst runs too close to whining too much of the time.

09. Starflower - Moment in the sun (Music Is My Girlfriend)
Tranquil and poppy, youthful and tuneful, it's a gentle little debut from a band I hope will diversify its sound in releases to come.

10. The Charade - Real Life Drama (Skipping Stones)
Half of this is too sweet for me, but the rest is charming as all get out, and "September" easily wins the award for catchiest sugar pop song of the year.

Honorable Mentions:

Sivert Høyem and the Volunteers - Exiles (Hektor Grammofon)
It's not out yet and I've only heard 2 songs, but given his track record with Madrugada and his last solo record, it's guaranteed a spot in my top 10 when I do get to hear the rest.

Tiger Lou - The loyal (Startracks)
It came out in 2005 but now I've finally heard this record. It's got such a cool consistent vibe, such a unique sound, and I'm under it's spell completely.

Matt Giordano:

01. Peter Bjorn and John - Writers block (V2/Wichita)
After last years excellent "Falling out" I expected a great album, but this release just floored me.

02. Loney, Dear - Sologne (Dear John)
Yes, this is technically a re-release, and yes, it's that good.

03. The Fine Arts Showcase - Radiola (Adrian)
This is the new album I listened to most this year, and a it was quite a leap artistically for Mr. Kjellvander.

04. Hell On Wheels - The odd church (Hybris)
This one sat in my room for about a month until one day I brought it in the car with me, and to say the least, I was impressed.

05. Vapnet - Jag vet hur man väntar (Hybris)
"Thoméegränd" instantly hit me with pure pop genuis, and this album is so textured and deep, it has yet to be fully realised.

06. Firefox AK - Madame, madame! (Razzia)
It took me a while, but I have finally realised how genius this album is.

07. Nicolai Dunger - Sjunger Edith Södergran (EMI)
I believe this is Mr. Dunger's most cohesive album to date, and perhaps his most intimate.

08. Sibiria - Inom familjen (Hybris)
Martin A and Martin H put out two stellar albums in one year. Gorgeous.

09. The Knife - Silent shout (Rabid)
This album is both bleak and enchanting.

10. David & The Citizens - Stop the tape! Stop the tape! (Bad Taste)
This album is so solid, and it should silence all of the naysayers.

Other:

Best 2005 release of 2006:
El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar (Memphis Industries/The Control Group)
Gorgeous, that is the only way to describe the songwriting of Sarah Assbring, and it's good to see the rest of the world catching on.

Top three non-Scandinavian releases:

Tom Waits - Orphans (Anti)
This is absolutely essential.

Nobody & Mystic Chords Of Memory - Tree colored see (Mush)
Another post-Beachwood Sparks work of excellence, now I'm only wishing for Beachwood Sparks to reunite.

My Morning Jacket - Okonokos (RCA)
America's best current live band, and this is their document.

Top ten songs of 2006*
01. Montt Mardié - "My girlfriend is in the Grand Prix finals" from "Science" (Hybris)
02. Peter Bjorn and John - "Paris 2004" from "Writers block" (V2)
03. Kristofer Åström - "So much for staying alive" from "Black Valley" (Startracks)
04. Loney, Dear - "The city, the airport" from "Sologne" (Dear John)
05. Tom Waits - "Bottom of the world" from "Orphans" (Anti)
06. Vapnet - "Thoméegränd" from "Jag vet hur man väntar" (Hybris)
07. The Velvet Teen - "Gyzmkid" from "Cum laude" (Slowdance)
08. Nicolai Dunger - "Lyckokatt" from "Sjunger Edith Södergran" (Dolores)
09. Loose Fur - "The ruling class" from "Born again in the USA" (Drag City)
10. Islands - "Don't call me Whitney, Bobby" from "Return to the sea" (Equator)

*These songs, as well as 31 others appear on my "Best of 2006" mix, which I have made 20 copies of as a double-disc set to give away to the readers of It's A Trap! Here's the deal, the first twenty people to email me at matthew dot giordano at macys dot com with their name and postal address will receive a copy (as well as tracklisting) in the mail. Enjoy.

Kevin Renick, in alphabetical order:

01. Ampop - My delusions (Dennis Records)
Balancing the epic and the emotive is an increasingly dicey proposition as more and more groups on both sides of the Atlantic sacrifice one or the other in the process. Iceland's Ampop gets the blend just right with these 11 surgingly powerful, yet fragile tunes. .

02. El Perro Del Mar - s/t (Memphis Industries)
Possibly the most bubbly, infectious, melodically rich, beautifully sung sad album ever made.

03. Sofia Hardig - The need to destroy (Filthy Records)
An adventurous electronica foray in which Sofia makes an art out of distorted vocals that are nonetheless emotionally wrenching. Dark, machine-laden grooves that grip the soul.

04. The Knife - Silent shout (Brille Records)
By any standard, one of the year's boldest and most significant records, especially for a spooked, tech-savvy, mask-wearin', brother-sister dance-tronica act.

05. Lampshade - Let's away (Glitterhouse)
The sophomore release by this fabulous Swedish/Danish group is just as good as the debut; RebekkaMaria and company fuse primal rock and Scandi sensuality together in a thoroughly compelling manner.

06. Mew - And the glass-handed kites (Sony BMG Music)
A continuously flowing, continuously melodic and dazzling production that got many satisfying spins on my car stereo in 2006.

07. Monty's Loco - Man overboard (NONS)
Take a female vocalist who's like a tougher Emiliana Torrini, add equal parts acoustic/electronic instrumentation, throw in a few dollops of inspired weirdness and mix/produce well. Result: a grabber of an album that tickles the sonic taste buds..

08. Britta Persson - Top quality bones and a little terrorist (Amigo)
I like my Scandinavian music to be a little tart. Britta's debut CD is positively lemony from start to finish, a real standout in a year filled with great records by Scandi girls.

09. Patrik Skantze and the Free Souls Society - Fiction at first view (Mimo Sound)
A master class in inspired prog songcraft, superb guitar playing and the art of channeling diverse influences into your own lovingly prepared recipe.

10. Sonores - Elefanten (Structures Sonores)
As a long-time fan of both atmospheric ambient and mournful female vocals, this texturally absorbing disc had me at "eftermiddag".

Best EP: Detektivbyrån - Hemvägen (Danarkia)
Best CD to reevaluate your life to: Es - Sateenkkarisuudelma (K-RAA-K)
Best reasons to have faith that the spirit of weirdness lives on in Scandiland: The Bear Quartet, Sir Eric Beyond, and Tar...Feathers

Simon Tagestam:

01. Vapnet – Jag vet hur man väntar (album / Hybris)
Vapnet lived up to all my expectations and delivered a fantastic album

02. Moneybrother – De vet ingenting om oss (single / Hacka Skivindustri)
This song came totally unexpected and instantly floored me.

03. Lo-Fi-Fnk – Boylife (album / La Vida Loca)
Very exciting album from Sweden’s new dance kings, now TTA gone all new age.

04. Mattias Alkberg BD - Ditt hjärta är en stjärna (album / A West Side Fabrication)
Third and best album from this Bear Quartet member.

05. Taxi Taxi – Old big trees (song on myspace)
Killer song. Got high hopes for these young twins.

06. I'm From Barcelona - Let me introduce my friends (album / Dolores)
Hate them live, but still love their music.

07. Juni Järvi - Wherever thou art (album / Everlasting)
The surprise hit of the year, a collection of some magnificent songs.

08. [ingenting] - Mycket väsen för ingenting (album / Labrador)
An album that deserved much more attention and praise than it got.

09. Juvelen – Watch your step (song on myspace)
Sounds exactly like Prince when he was at his best. Pretty damn good that is!

10. Sir Eric Beyond and the Avant-Garde - s/t (album / Flora & Fauna)
Weirdest and most wonderful gig at Emmaboda this year where 'Sir Eric', even though he's Swedish, only talked in English in-between songs. He also released a fine record.

Three amazing songs from albums that I wasn't too keen on:
Fattaru – 100 spänn
Hello Saferide – The quiz
Peter Bjorn and John – Young folks

---------------------------

Jonas Appelqvist is in the works of completing the first fullengthrecord with Blinders On, indierock based in Malmö. The band is, as I write this, finished with the mixing and the mastering of the album entitled "Obsolete music", so we should expect a release in January. The 17th, to be precise. More on that after New Year's Eve.

Nancy Baym can be found happily blogging away at Online Fandom and digging music at Last.fm.

Matt Giordano wishes everyone safe, yet wine-filled holidays and New Year's celebrations, and hopes those who'll be getting his "Best of 2006 mix" enjoy them. He also hopes Arsenal can pick up the pace in the premier league and that Scandinavian bands continue to release the world's best music. Here are the new releases he's looking forward to in 2007: two Laakso records, Kristofer Åström, Shout Out Louds, Via Audio, Christian Kjellvander, Spoon, Tiger Lou (I can hope), My Morning Jacket (I can hope), Nick Cave (I think it's about time for another), Moonbabies, Nicolai Dunger, and all Hyrbis releases.

Kevin Renick is exhausted from trying to pare down the list of favorites from a really great year in music.

Simon Tagestam is a regular contributor to IAT and he doesn't really have any plans for 2007, except some vague ideas concerning a Nintendo Wii, his mother's 60th birthday, more tattoos, and badminton.

Sibiria Inom familjen Hybris

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

It's always hard when an album comes out at the end of the year, and how to judge it. However, it clicked with me with last weekend when I was riding on the train and just staring out into the space beyond the window. Winter is almost here, it's a cold and overcast fall day and Sibiria has just released easily the most devastatingly beautiful record of the year. Tracks like "Det har varit svårare", "Kompistjyv" and "Inte prata med främlingar" instantly struck chords with me; and the instrumental "Paria" is downright gorgeous. Actually, everything about this release is just beautiful. Congratulations Sibiria, you have created one of the best indiepop albums of the year.

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800

The new Sibiria single "Det har varit svårare" is up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sibiria

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Sibiria's new album "Inom familjen" will be out November 15 on Hybris. The first single "Det har varit svårare" is already out and includes two exclusive b-sides.

Interview: Martin Abrahamsson (Vapnet)

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

When I was offered the chance to interview Martin Abrahamsson of Vapnet I gladly accepted it, as their recent full length "Jag vet hur man väntar" has been a staple in my CD player since I received it at the beginning of the summer. However, it never dawned on me that maybe he doesn't speak the best English, even though the album is obviously not in the language. Maybe I could have stated the questions a bit more straightforward, but anyway, I'd just like to thank Martin for taking the time to do this, and I'd say it went well.
- Matt Giordano

MG: When a listener first hears music he/she can project some of their favourite groups as influences on the group being currently listened to. As an artist, when a fan comes up to you and says "you remind me of x, y, z" what is your initial response? Would you rather have someone come up and say that, or do you find it surprising to hear what they hear in your music? Also, is it possible in modern music to sound like nothing?

MA: If they can pick out the right influences I feel flattered, or if they mention a band I like, but hasn't influenced me. But that happens all too seldom. Often they compare us to other Swedish bands, even though the Swedish language is the only thing we have in common. Of course it's impossible to sound like nothing before, and I can't see the point why one should.

MG: When I first heard "Thomeégrand" last year I knew your sound was something special, and although I do not speak Swedish, it did not interfere with my enjoyment of the music. Does it matter to you if some of the audience has no idea what you're saying, or do you hold the view that great music is great music, no matter what language?

MA: If I had my way, everybody should learn Swedish to get a complete understanding of Vapnet songs. But I think the music can stand for itself too. I would estimate that 80 percent of all pop lyrics are a waste of melodies. Most Swedish bands that get exported abroad have English lyrics, but I don't think that anyone in the UK, for example, buys an album from a Swedish rock band for their lyrics.

MG: Compositionally, Vapnet seems to be based around the electronic drum beats. When skeletons of songs are being formed, do you work on them until you feel the others need to add their instrumentation, or is the creative process more band-oriented?

MA: The process is the counterpart from band-oriented. I tell my musicians what to play and when. But some horn arrangement have been worked out by the horn section. They use terms that I don't understand.

MG: The artwork for your three releases seem to portray a sort of overcast, somewhat gloomy feel, but the actual music is the opposite. Was this intended to be ironic, or completely accidental? (And from an artistic aspect the design is top-notch).

MA: The two latest artwork have a connection to the theme of the songs on "Jag vet hur man väntar". All the songs on the album takes place in Östersund and the photos are taken there. I think that the LP cover captures the feeling of the album, I've aimed at something both beautiful and slightly sad.

MG: Is it tough for Vapnet to perform in a live setting, or does this offer the audience another whole perspective on what has been created — a surprise, so to speak, when they are attending a Vapnet show?

MA: I don't think that our live shows offer much more than the recordings - but they offer a way of hearing the songs in a new way. Sometimes better and/or out of tune and off timing. In live settings, the horn section play a greater part.

MG: Are you currently working on more Vapnet material, non-Vapnet material or in another medium entirely?

MA: I'm working on new Vapnet songs, it will end up either as a EP or a mini-album next spring, hopefully. Me and Martin H, the singer, have another band: Sibiria. We have recorded a new album in a cottage on the Swedish eastcoast, during one week this summer. It will be released this autumn. I have also unrealistic plans of learning to write short stories.

MG: Personally, what excites you to make your music, and just to be creative in general? Also, what just excites you in life?

MA: The moment when a melody and chord progression fits togehter or when a mix starts to sound bigger than its parts is very fulfilling. And when lyrics are completed. Creativity is rewarding in the sense that it shows you that you can create something that stands for itself, without you as a person necessarily involved. You could say that it's a strive after immortality, in a very small way. And it's a way of proving that your capable of something.

Aside from music I get my greatest thrills from good conversations.

MG: Lastly, give the readers a parting message about what is to come from either you personally or Vapnet.

MA: Sorry, I don't know.

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Photo: Henrik is updated with new pics of The Accidents from their last show with Kid Kreole: http://www.photohenrik.com/
New pics of Sibiria added recently too.

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Sibiria has a new website design: http://www.sibiria.se/

Top 10s for 2005: Leonel Jäderberg (Vapen & Godis)

Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Seven Brilliant things and three Amazingly Stupid:

Brilliant:

01. Sibiria singing that Christian Olsson cheats with taxes. (And the letters from fans of Christian Olsson that followed, telling him not to care about what those jingle-jangle-communists say).

02. Kanye West telling George Bush that he's a racist prick. (And the look on Mike Myers face!)

03. IFK Göteborg – Assyriska 0-3 (The cheers on our side. And the silence on theirs...)

04. Milky live at Nya Varvet (they did "Be My World" twice)

05. Flyktingamnesti 2005 (political campaign. Hey, I think it actually made some difference!)

06. "FC Z" (reality-tv destabilizing masculinity with a feel good twist)

07. Sudoku (Helps me fall asleep)

Amazingly Stupid 1: The new French law obliging schools to emphazise the good sides of French colonialism.

Amazingly Stupid 2: Gunilla Carlsson, member of European Parliament for Moderaterna (Swedish conservative party) saying "Arbete ger frihet". Which in English means "Working sets you free". Hm, wonder what that means in German...

Amazingly Stupid 3: Claes af Geijerstam (59) of the "Idol"-jury, telling Agnes (17) that she should look more "like she had been at least with one boy". BTW, change that to Amazingly Gross.

---------------------------

Leonel Jäderberg runs Gothenburg based label Vapen & Godis. Artists on the label include My Enemy, Tokyo Eye and the recently signed Otur.
www.vapengodis.com

Top 10s for 2005: Simon Tagestam

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

01. Antony & the Johnsons – I am a bird now (Secretly Canadian)
This is one of the most beautiful albums I have heard in my whole life, and it has totally ruled my year. I'm glad it got out to as many people as it did, people should hear this even though you can't really dance to it, nor does it feature a crazy frog.

02. Sibiria – Ljusdal (Hybris)
I still can't believe that this song isn't on Sibiria's debut album "Norrlands Inland". I love this song, it puts small small flowers in my brain and makes me feel like when you were a kid and you watched "Top Gun" and you saw Tom Cruise wearing those cool Ray Bans and you thought how you would feel wearing sun glasses like that – exactly that feeling that you imagined, that's how I feel when hear this song.

03. The Water Rats in London
There have been several excellent gigs at this venue this year, for example The Boy Least Likely To, Okkervil River, Saturday Looks Good to Me all played my pants of here. It's not the best of venues in regard to the actual venue itself etc., but if they keep on putting on bands like they've done this year, the bar staff better get used to the sight of me and my crazy eyes.

04. Dangerdoom – The Mouse and the Mask (Lex)
I haven't listened to a lot of hiphop this year, but this album is just pure whipped cream with crushed Swedish polka candy. The simple combination of Adult Swim cartoons (if Aqua Teen Hunger Force was a book, it would be my bible, and I would convert to the church of ATHF before you could say "Meatwad") and MF Doom (a.k.a. "The Rap God") is just too good to be true.

05. Rumble Strips live at The Borderline, London, 20th October
I haven't seen many bands before that I never heard a note of that has totally blown me away, but these guys did just that. They're a new English band that sound a lot like Dexy's Midnight Runners and since I'm a crazy fan of Dexy's this is like trumpets from heaven for my ears. I hope they'll be bigger than The Arctic Monkeys, but I seriously doubt it (although they might be more critically acclaimed in, say, ten years time).

06. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
This is the second thing on my list affiliated with Danger Mouse (he also produced the Dangerdoom album), and it's a stunning song. I can listen to this song on repeat for hours without getting bored of Cee-Lo's singing. I'm sure it's going to be massive next year, so you might as well just wait for it.

07. Rough Bunnies at the Emmaboda Festival, Sweden
Rough Bunnies! Love ‘em or hate ‘em but please don't eat them. I hope they have great things in mind for themselves in the future, anything else would be insane.

08. Arcade Fire live at King's College, London, 8th March
This year I realised that in the future I'm not going to be bothered to see the same band more than once on the same tour. I sort of came to this conclusion after I've watched Arcade Fire three times. The first time (at King's College) was magnificent, but then it was more or less the same thing, and even though they put in great performances the two other times it couldn't compare to the first one.

09. The Hold Steady – Separation Sunday
2005 have been the year when I've slowly come to love The Hold Steady. Earlier this year I listened a lot to their first album, but then quite recently I got deep into their last one, and now I adore their songs more than whiskey. There's something about that makes me want to get shamelessly drunk every time I hear them, and that can only be a sure sign of greatness. I'm also very curious to see them live, just to see how their singer looks like.

10. Chad VanGaalen - Blood machine
This song is bizarre, surreal, pretty, funny, scary, lush, and weird – all at the same time. The lyrics are about a bunch of people who live in an underground city where there's a machine that circulates their blood. They all want to escape from the machine (it's a bit like a nightmare version of "The Matrix"), and if the other songs on VanGaalen's nevertheless fine album "Infiniheart" was as good as this, it would easily have been my number one album of the year.

---------------------------

Simon Tagestam is a regular contributor to IAT and he doesn't really have any plans for 2006, except some vague ideas concerning a digital camera, a wall, T!T!T!, an eel, and badminton.

Sibiria Norrlands Inland Hybris

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

There's been a lot of fantastic music released this year, and two tracks that really kept my passion for great music burning have been Sibiria's "Christian Olsson" and "Ljusdal". The first one is a funny and thought provoking diatribe against a Swedish athlete who's taken his money and moved to Monaco. The latter one is actually one of the absolute most astonishing songs of this year, and it's very brave of Sibiria and Hybris (Sibiria's record label) to exclude this hit from the album. Anyway, this album is entirely sung in Swedish, and I wish I could say that this doesn't matter, but it really does matter, since the lyrics play a very important part on "Norrlands Inland". The record is a lot about how it's like growing up in Norrland, which is the northern parts of Sweden and constitutes of 54% of Sweden's total area but only 13% of its population (who said It's a Trap! isn't informative in a non-musical context!?), i.e. it's a pretty lonely and ultimately boring place to live in (I was born way up north in Sweden so I'm allowed to say this). Also, as far as I know, Sibiria is pretty much the same band as Vapnet, so hopefully they'll deliver another fantastic album under that moniker.

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Sibiria's new single "(Jag kunde ha varit) vem som helst" is now available for downloat at Hybris: http://www.hybrism.com/3/index.php
The new full-length "Norrlands inland" comes out September 28.

Mon, 08 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Download a new track from Sibiria called "Christian Olsson": http://www.hybrism.com/files/sibiria-christian_olsson.mp3

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

In other Hybris news, the label will be releasing the debut album from Sibiria this coming summer, probably around August. After that, be on the lookout for new stuff from El Perro Del Mar and TIAC in September.

Mon, 02 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

New pics of Sibiria, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, Springfactory, The Lost Patrol Band and Millencollin now up at Rockfoto.nu.

Mon, 12 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Sambassadeur and Sibiria have been added to the We&You Festival in Malmö. More info: http://www.revo9.com/festival/