MP3: Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna
Another surprisingly good record that just came out is Sahara Hotnights's new one "What if leaving is a loving thing". I wasn't sure they were capable of a comeback, but they've gone and proved me wrong. Once you reconcile your expectations and understand that they'll never make another loud rock record like "C'mon let's pretend", you too might be pleasantly surprised. I think the band has always had pop aspirations, they've simply didn't know how to attain them. Hiring Björn Yttling to produce was certainly a big step in the right direction. He's got a great ear for arrangements and the decision to use acoustic guitar as the main rhythm track on opening number "Visit to Vienna" was certainly the right way to go. Build it up with some simple monophonic pianoline doubling the bass and throw in some hand-claps - can't go wrong. Vocalist/frontwoman Maria Andersson gets a little too PJ Harvey with the caterwauling, but overall, I don't think she's ever sounded better. She has always had great attitude, there's no doubt, but she is capable of more. I guess that's what you call maturity, eh? Really well done.
Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna