Stick a fork in me, I'm done. After 10 years of near-daily blogging I have decided to walk away from It's a Trap!, a decision that I have weighed for quite some time and one that did not come easily. This site has been a major part of my life the past decade and while I treasure that time greatly, both via the music and all of the absolutely lovely people I've met along the way, I've become increasingly tired, burnt-out and simply far too busy to give it the attention it truly deserves. So, rather than let you bear witness to my slow descent into a crispy shell of bitter cynicism, I'm getting out while the getting's still good. Thanks to all of The Amazing bands and labels who I have worked with and whose art has inspired me, thanks to everyone who ever contributed an article, review or even an email recommendation, thanks to Jonas for handling the clubnights so admirably and most of all, thanks to YOU for reading! I doubt I'll ever stop caring about music, Scandinavian or otherwise, so I'm sure I will eventually resurface somewhere else before long. Until then, keep in touch!
The Amazing are coming to the US for a string of dates in November:
11/07 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
11/08 - Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
11/09 - Royale Night Club, Boston, MA
11/10 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
11/13 - Metro, Chicago, IL
11/15 - The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
11/17 - The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA
will be doing a limited LP reissue of early 70s Swedish psych/proggrock act Resan with in-depth bio/liner notes provided by Reine Fisk (The Amazing/Dungen). Read more/preorder here.
There's some inherent complicity in this record that triggers a violent uneasiness. It's like it's 1972 and I'm one of those kids who are sick of the soft-pop chart hits of Fleetwood Mac, America, fluffy brown hair & equally revolting album covers (however radical these folkies were in their own right). Halfway through listening to The Amazing's "Gentle stream", the overall one-beat homogeny gives birth to a nihilistic urge to shake things up. Now, if I could goddamned be like everybody else, especially the hip Scandy radio-pop listening public, this cauldron would probably just spill off the decks like almond milk; the super gooey melodies and the Air-like retro sexing mood perfected by obviously professional musicians doing it up professionally -- probably wouldn't hurt so bad. Already celebrated Dungen members serve up what can be viewed as a Seventies itch they needed to scratch, or a chance to break the market with another kind of popular. Title track, "Gentle stream" has the cushy opening déjà vu of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young while the following track has more of that Nick Drake, laid-back reminiscence. Track 3, "International hair" hints at a Morrissey chorusing style (an uncanny reminder of "...International Playboys", anyone?). "Gone" however, could annoy even those loving the most introverted croon as it teeters too much on the side of breathy repetition. However well-produced this album is, however deserving of fans of the NME or just willy-wet twee folk revivals -- as for me, count me out. - Ann Sung-an Lee
Another tune from the upcoming Vyn album, due out December 7 via /. If you dig pastoral rock like Björn Olsson or The Amazing, you'll dig this and hey -- Christoffer Gunrup from the latter band will be playing some acoustic songs at the release party on December 3 at Folkoperan in Stockholm.
The YouTube e-card for the new Anna Järvinen album "Anna själv tredje" which, as you will hear, was recorded with dudes from Dungen and The Amazing. Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHwfiz_lPbM
The Amazing