Tag: Mp3s
This week's Friday pick comes from Kristofer Åström of his debut solo album "Go, went, gone" from 1998. I spent some time earlier this week going through my collection of Startracks CDs to get them ripped and added to the mp3 store, so I've also had them on rotation in my stereo for a few days now. It rained all day yesterday up here, so Kristofer's somber music provided the perfect soundtrack for a dark day. I'm so happy that I've moved north to a place where autumn truly exists - the leaves are changing to bright shades of red and yellow and there's smoke in the air from all the people using their fireplaces and woodstoves. Apples are plentiful and Halloween decorations are going up - the best time of year and the perfect melancholy music to match.
Kristofer Åström - Poor young man's heart
Hidden Agenda is on a roll with US reissues of some amazing Swedish records. José González justifiably has been getting most of the press so far for "Veneer" (one of 2003's best albums), but we shouldn't ignore Peter, Bjorn and John and the album "Falling out" - one of 2004's best releases. I bought their 2002 self-titled debut release simply on strength of bassist Bjorn Yttling's prestigious production credits and have been a fan ever since. There's a good reason why they have the lead-off track on my "Reader's companion" compilation. The best part about "Falling out" is how the record works as a whole. It's a concept record, not in the way as say "Operation: Mindcrime", but that it's thematic in terms of the overall mood. I actually posted mp3s for every song from the record when it first came out, but here's one of favorites again for those that missed out the first time around.
Peter Bjorn and John - Tailormade
I don't listen to a lot of electronic music, so I have to admit that I really don't have much of a vocabulary to discuss it. But I know what I like and I like Folie (aka Stefan Thor) and his new album "Eyepennies". It's a bit more intricate and straightforward than most of the other glitch/click + cut style stuff I like, but still messed up enough to appeal to me. Hey, I like the sound of machines being broken and abused. Folie is also masterful at adding subtle little melodies to his pieces. They aren't necessarily the kinds of tunes that you'll hum along with, but they're nice just the same. Today's mp3 that I'm posting stands out from the rest of the songs on the record because it swings. Obviously it's not like the jazzy big-band stuff that Foetus sometimes does, but it's always good to hear something besides the usual 4/4.
Folie - Viskos
This week's Friday oldie post comes from Eucharist, yet another hidden gem of the NWOSBD (new wave of Swedish black/death) scene of the mid-90s. The band never really had much of a steady lineup - they reportedly broke up for the first time before their debut "A velvet creation" was released in 1994, but they came back together again in '97 for "Mirrorworlds", the album from which today's song originates. Besides the above-average melodic death-metal songwriting, what I really love about this record is the drumming of Daniel Erlandsson who later went on to fame and glory with Arch Enemy. His playing here is absolutely superb and reinforced by the uncharacteristically clean recording. Everything is so clean and natural sounding - no annoying triggers, no unnatural reverb. All the instruments are clearly audible and perfectly balanced in the mix. It wouldn't be so unusual, but metal so rarely sounds this good.
- Mirrorworld
The last post in this week of new and up-and-coming acts comes from Barcelona. Well, actually the band is called I'm From Barcelona, but the band themselves are from Sweden. I've been a fan of frontman Emanuel Lundgren's music from the very first moment I heard him with Valley Days and his new act is just as good, if not better. The best thing about it is just how amazingly joyous it sounds. Every song is a bountiful pop symphony. I'm a sucker for self-aware/self-referential art, so I picked "The painter" as the track to post here, but I like said, every song they've recorded so far is wonderful. Download more here: https://www.imfrombarcelona.com/
I'm From Barcelona - The painter
The week of undiscovered music continues with a track from The Dweller. Taking obvious cues from Leonard Cohen, The Dweller aka Robin Björkman does the classic morose singer/songwriter thing. This particular song comes from the "Duets" CD which features him pairing up with a different guest vocalist for each of the six tracks. As one would expect, the results are mixed, but I like this song the best. Susanne Henningsson's voice has a good timbre to match Robin's. And hey, there's even a video for the track on his website.
The Dweller - May of '92 (or maybe '93)
As announced yesterday, it's demo week here at It's a trap! and today's featured artist is Pello Revolvers. The band plays indierock with a strong traditional folk influence. Think a Northern European version of The Pogues mixed with a bit of The Clash. The can definitely hear the latter's influence on the song I've posted today. The group's latest EP "No spare tyres" was released just a few months ago and you can hear a couple more tracks at the band's website or their myspace page. I'm a big fan of bands that inject new life into old roots music and these guys are a perfect example.
Pello Revolvers - One man duel
I'm going to do something a little different this week and post tracks from a few up-and-coming demo acts. A lot of them have already made their music available for free download, but since it's so easy to miss stuff, I'm gonna take the time to highlight some recent favorites. First up today is Samuraj Cities from Göteborg. They've got kind of a fuzzy-Radio Dept. thing going on, but with a darker sense of melody. And hey, if you like this song, there's five more over at their website. Enjoy!
Samuraj Cities - All along the shoreline
Today's Friday oldie comes from Abhinanda off their final album "The rumble", originally released back in 1998 on Desperate Fight Records (No, I'm not writing in the straight-edge Xs). The band started off as kind of a generic moshcore band (as was the fashion in the mid-90s) before finally figuring out what they needed to do to be awesome, releasing one last record and then breaking up. Gee, haven't heard that story before, right? I actually don't really know that much about these dudes otherwise, but they were definitely a fixture of Umeå's legendary hardcore scene of the time. Not many bands of the era aged well, but Abhinanda's rocked-out sound holds up just fine. Tons of gang-vocal shouts, a fierce stop-and-go rhythm section and just enough melody and dissonance to keep things interesting. Best of all, it's fun. Now why aren't there more bands like this today?
Abhinanda - Highway tonight
I've only had a chance to listen to the new Ricochets album "Isolation" a few times, but the song "No good" instantly jumped out at me. It's in a major key which is pretty much unheard of for these guys. Of course they still twist it around to bring out the anguish of the lyrics, but it still seems kinda... happy? Well, not really, but it is most definitely a change of pace from their usual downtrodden, noirish rock. What I like most about the tune is how epic it is - it reminds of Meat Loaf's bigger numbers. Not quite rock opera, but definitely dramatic. I approve.
Ricochets - No good
Speaking of new stuff in the webstore, I finally got CDs from the good people at Combat Disc in stock. Not only are the Kellermans some of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, but they're also amazing musicians. I'm sure a lot of you are already familiar with Rasmus and Tiger Lou (if not: shame on you), but there's more. I've posted tracks from Jenny Kellerman and her melancholy folksy act Dexter's Moon and also Las Puertas which features Rasmus with his wife Andrea, but now it's time for a song from Firefox AK - Andrea's solo act. Like a lot of her contemporaries such as El Perro Del Mar, Andrea plays alone with programmed backing tracks, but I find her sound to be a lot more driving and beat-heavy. No too much so, mind you, but there's definitely more of a techno influence going on. I dig it. And it seems I'm not the only one - her debut EP "What's that sound" got picked up by Razzia Records for wider release, so she's gotta be doing something right. Check out the title track whydoncha?
Firefox AK - What's that sound
I've posted tunes from The Motorhomes before, but it's been a long time. I think it was probably way back when their final album "The long distance runner" first came out in 2002. I had been kind of iffy on the band before, but man oh man, when this record came out, I was blown away. Seriously, this is easily one of the best Swedish pop records of the past five years, in my oh-so-humble opinion. 1999's "Songs for me (and my baby)" showed the band had potential, but ultimately was kind of weak. It's just a little too wimpy, too hesitant. There's no guts or bravado. But, as I was saying, all that changed when "The long distance runner" was unleashed. The first single "The man" came out late 2001 and instantly made a huge impression on me. I got the record as soon as I could and it immediately went on constant rotation. There's not a single weak track. Of course all good things must come to an end and the band eventually fell apart, shedding members before finally giving up and finally calling it quits in 2004. I understand there's an unreleased EP out there somewhere, but I've never heard it. In some ways it's for the best as it's doubtful they could top such a masterful album. Still, if anyone wants to hook me up, I'd be much obliged. In the meantime enjoy my favorite track "Love". The build-up when the bass comes in just kills me every time.
The Motorhomes - Love
Have you heard the new Bear Quartet single yet? Do you like it? I do. It's not their usual folksy pop, but they've never been a band content with repeating the same thing over and over. They thrive on challenging both themselves and the audience. Even when the results aren't top-notch, I still think it's admirable that they make the effort. That's what makes them such a special band. The qualities that can make them so ingratiating are the same that make them so damn brilliant. They are the leaders, we must be content to follow. Trying to complain about it is simply foolish.
The Bear Quartet - I have an itch
Okay, I admit it - I was a bit premature with my initial appraisal of the new Kaizers Orchestra record. I still think that the money they used for vocal lessons would've been better spent on booze, but whatever. What's done is done. "Maestro" is indeed fine album, despite my dissatisfaction with the production. Even with the thickest layer of gloss, there's no getting around the fact that Kaizers Orchestra are not and will never be an act that's an easy sell. Sure, they've got great singalong parts, but is the world ready for a crazy circus-rock act that sings in Norwegian and bangs on oil drums? I've been a fan ever since I first heard them, but that's just me. Maybe it's quirky enough that it might just work? Today's mp3 is trademark Kaizers: exotic Eastern European folk melodies, huge choruses and plenty of lurching, bombastic rhythms. Come to think of it, what's not to like?
Kaizers Orchestra - Auksjon (I Dieter Meyers Hall)
This week's Friday oldie is actually only a couple years old, but I'm going to post it anyway. With all the hype that Anna Ternheim has been getting for her version of "Shoreline", I realized that there's probably quite a few people out there who have never heard the original. Outside of Sweden that is. Anna's version brings out the most despondent, alienating aspects of the song, but the original is a rousing anthem. It revels in its lonliness and depression. Like the rest of Broder Daniel's best material, the message is simple and universal. I'm no longer consumed by teen angst myself, but I empathize completely. Who couldn't? Nobody's that well-adjusted. That's what makes BD so damn effective and brilliant. So which take is better? Listen and decide for yourself.
Broder Daniel - Shoreline