Pixie Carnation - Fresh poems
(self-released)

"Fresh poems" exists very much in the shadow of Arcade Fire's "Neon bible", an influence that pervades every track on this spectacular EP, though, in Pixie Carnation's defense, the Springsteen-styled, Wall of Sound indierock overdrive of "Neon bible" in many ways resembles what Scandinavian artists have been bringing to the table for years. Still... there's no way to not immediately think of Arcade Fire when "Fresh poems" blisters alive with "When did the lights go out?", but, honestly, I can't see anyone really caring too much. There's a huge difference between an overwhelming influence on a talented group of musicians and that same influence on a less gifted bunch -- and Pixie Carnation fall very much into the first category, allowing this EP to feel more part of a movement started by Arcade Fire and less like a band trying to be them. Besides, a band should ultimately be judged on the quality of their songwriting and "Fresh poems" is brilliant from start to finish. The dense layers of instrumentation have a deft agility that keeps them flooding ever-forward in driving, anthemic waves instead of being rendered cumbersome constructs of noise, and this kinetic energy permeates every song, from the discord that "When did the lights go out?" emerges from to the brilliant ending of the title-track -- a gorgeous explosion that solidifies Pixie Carnation as a fantastic new voice from the Swedish south.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson