Swedish noiserockers EL-SD have recruited Fredrik Degerman aka Degis of The Sound O.E as their new guitarist. He will make his live debut with the band on May 5 at Lilla Hotellbaren in Stockholm where they will be playing with like-minded fellows Traktor.
Swedish noiserockers The Sound O.E are giving away their self-titled album as a free download via myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesoundoe
In Malmö today with a side-trip to CPH on the itinerary to see some Norwegian bands. Viva la internationale!
Everybody always asks me- what is it about Swedish/Scandinavian music that you like so much, that makes it different? Now that's a very complicated question that deserves many hours/coffees/beers worth of discussion or maybe even a full book treatment (someday?), but the short answer is simple. I know what I like and I know it when I hear it. Yes, there is a lot of Scandinavian rock that is derivative of American or UK sounds, but there's also lots of stuff with its own identity. One such scene is Swedish noiserock, a sound I identify with bands like Starmarket and KVLR, bands who took the template of classic US indierock ala Sonic Youth/Hüsker Dü/etc. and added their own touch. The Sound O.E carries on that tradition, especially on songs like the epic album closer "Party at the moontower". You get that angular/syncopated heaviness, but it's tempered by a lovely lyricism and strong melodies. Other tracks on the album tend to be more choppy, more heavy and generally more hardcore and they're fine, but this is the stuff that really grabs me. Some bands did epic indie before Arcade Fire, believe it or not. This draws from that.
The Sound O.E - Party at the moontower
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Lögnhalsmottagningen - Bodybuilder
02. TALK 1
03. Svart - Carl du lever i en dröm
04. Majessic Dreams - Beautiful days
05. Antennas - Lies (Oscar Tillman remix)
06. TALK 2
07. The Sound O.E - Universal tourist
08. Kaipa - Nattdjurstid
09. Murmansk - Pale
10. TALK 3
11. On Volcano - Ride the wolf
12. Markus Krunegård - Samma nätter vänter alla
13. Ondo - Mahavishnu
14. TALK 4
15. Popsicle - Hey princess
16. CMX - Tulikiveä
17. Ström i P2/Håkan Lidbo - Strömavbrott (Boeoes Kaelstigen Etsi remix)
18. TALK 5
19. The Goner - Kill them all save Simon Joyner
20. Cult of Luna - Eternal kingdom
21. Montys Loco - Ages ago
22. TALK 6
23. Mattias Alkberg BD - Allting är drömt
24. Masshysteri - Monoton tid
25. Ljudbilden & Piloten - You know you're doing OK
26. Abduktio - Thermador
27. TALK 7
28. Hebosagil - Big sun
29. Anna Ternheim - To be gone
30. Kusowsky - Tjuvar
31. Fredrik - 1986
32. TALK 8
33. Johan Heltne - 16 Avenue de l'Opera
34. Cortex - Arkham
35. Kleerup - Until we bleed (ft. Lykke Li)
36. TALK 9
37. Coldworker - Citizens of the cyclopean maze
Heads-up: my show is moving to a new time next week! Starting on Sunday, June 8 my show will be on at 11pm Eastern / 8pm Pacific with a repeat on Monday at the exact same time. I'm also paring down to an hour of programming a week, so expect all-killer/no-filler from here on out! Also, seeing as how I'm leaving for Sweden on June 9, this week's coming show will be a Hultsfred Festival special so mark your calenders, update your alarm clocks or do whatever it is you need to do to remind yourself to listen in!
In addition to their new self-titled album on Rocinante and their split with Desperado, Swedish act The Sound O.E are planning to record another new batch of songs for release sometime next year. More details to come.
Why did no one tell me? Swedish indie/hardcore act The Sound O.E has a brand new self-titled album coming out later this month via UK-based label Rocinante. Listen to a sample tune at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesoundoe
Not only will The Sound O.E have a new album out on UK-based label Rocinante this spring, they'll also be doing a split record with Norwegian act Desperado. That record will contain tracks from TSOE's "Am I off or on" EP and Desperado's "Low crust sessions" and is to be coreleased by German labels Heckspoiler Music and Daredevil Records.
Full disclosure: Blinders On singer/guitarist Jonas Appelqvist is a frequent It's a trap! contributor. We have similar taste in music, so it's no surprise that I also like his band. There is no clandestine financial relationship between us.
As Jonas himself pointed out in his recent review of The Sound O.E, the noisy-indierock/post-hardcore scene in Sweden is still very much alive and well, despite a few quiet years. All those bands Jonas lists? Blinders On fits right in. Like all the best examples of the genre, the songs are built on layers of jagged guitars and a heavy, driving rhythm section, but at the same time, always strongly informed by pop conventions. The textures may tend towards the dissonant, but there's always a melody lurking beneath the surface and a huge chorus around the corner. Great stuff and y'know what's even nicer? If you like the song I've posted today, you can head to the Blinders On website and download the band's entire new record "Obsolete music" for free. It doesn't get much better than that.
Blinders On - You had me at hello
There's a new batch of swedish indierockbands out there. The scene is very much alive and kicking, much thanks to bands like Seven Feet Four, Division of Laura Lee, KVLR, Alarma Man, Knife and Ape, LDOA and Logh. On this three track-EP, this Eskilstuna-based quintet deliver the kind of tunes that put them in the same league. I had often come to the conclusion that something was missing after hearing their previous recordings, but not anymore. This is well-played and tight indierock with hooks. Especially the title track that, if there's any justice in this world, should get more airtime and attention. It's about time these guys release another full-length.
- Jonas Appelqvist
One of the big things that got me deeper into Swedish/Scandinavian rock way back when was explosive, guitar-heavy indierock. Fireside, Starmarket, Him Kerosene, KVLR - these are the bands that caught my interest and had me pouring through liner notes looking for more names to track down. Sadly, that scene is nowhere near as strong these days though there are a few who keep the fire burning: The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four, Aerial Convoj plus young upstarts like Traktor and today's post subjects The Sound O.E. The band has been lurking in the shadows for a couple years now, but it wasn't until very recently that they seemed to rise above and the new three-song EP "Me and Laureline" proves it. The screechy sprechstimme delivery of the verses might be a bit much for some, but remember that what they're doing is essentially sloganeering - the words are meant to be heard loud and clear. It's call & response; a call to action. When the harmonies of the chorus come in, the intentions are indisputable. The Sound O.E know exactly what they're doing. I think the arrangement could still be tightened up a bit, but I like what they're doing and definitely look forward to hearing more.
The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy
The Sound O.E has posted new music from their new EP "Me and Laureline" on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesoundoe
Great band, worth investigating for anyone interested in noisy rock.
The Sound O.E has posted three new songs on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesoundoe
If you're into melodic hardcore/post-punk like Seven Feet Four or The Je Ne Sais Quoi you'll dig these guys too.
The Sound O.E will be entering the studio on June 26 to record 12 songs for a new album. Expect a fall release.
The Sound O.E has a new 10" EP called "Am I off or on?" out now on If God Loves Records. Listen to a sample track here: http://www.etrea.se/tsoe/misc/thesoundoe-dollarhalodollarcross.mp3
Upcoming tourdates for The Sound O.E:
03/30 - Elm Street, Oslo (NOR)
03/31 - Feelgood, Halden (NOR)
04/01 - Det akademiske kvarter, Bergen (NOR)
04/03 - Blæst, Trondheim (NOR)
04/06 - Busterscenen, Eskilstuna (SWE)
04/11 - Pustervik, Göteborg (SWE)
04/13 - Taj Mahal, Västerås (SWE)
05/04 - Panora, Malmö (SWE)
05/05 - Rote Flora, Hamburg (GER)
05/06 - Musikbrauerei, Rathenow (GER)
05/09 - Chinese Club, Weiden (GER)
05/11 - Az, Aachen (GER)
05/12 - ACU, Utrecht (NL)
05/13 - Strangestarlight, Magdeburg (GER)
05/14 - tba,, Berlin (GER)
05/26 - Ångfärjan, Helsingborg (SWE)