Tag: Reviews
This is noisy electronic music, featuring Mats from semi-defunct art-punks Dialog Cet. A few of the tracks are quite nice (especially the opener "Sondmaskin"), but I find the CD to be a tough listen the whole way through in one sitting. I like the kinds of sounds and tones they employ, but the compositions tend to be lacking in direction. Which is to say, I like the general sonic ideas, just not where they take them. It shows promise, but I far prefer Mats' other current project Majessic Dreams.
- Avi Roig
It took me a bit to fully grasp the five-song debut EP from Sweden's They Live By Night. I'm not sure what to compare it to. Their songs are a swirl of guitars and synth with hammering drums and bass. The first track, "Truth or dare", was a bit too Bravery-esque for me, but the subsequent tracks that follow it, such as "Saint" and "School", makes up for it and delve into the strange world of post-punk sounds made famous by a number of bands before them.
- Navy Keophan
Originally from Utajärvi and now based in Helsinki, Finland, 22-Pistepirkko (22-spotted ladybug) has been around for almost a quarter of a century. Far from sounding like a record made by some old guys just going through the motions, "Drops & kicks" shows off an adventurous spirit captured ably by producer Kalle Gustafsson (best known as the bassist for The Soundtrack of Our Lives). Shifting with ease from epics with big choruses (opener "Mr. Twister") to sleepy acoustic ballads ("X-(wo)men") to fuzzed-out garage stomps ("Space riding"), the Finns continue with the eclecticism that's been a career hallmark. Asko Keränen and Espe Haverinen provide a suitable instrumental backdrop for the quirky, high-pitched vocals of P.K. Keränen. Sounding unique most of the time, Keränen does bring to mind Supergrass vocalist Gaz Coombes on the rave-up "Not so good at school". "Rat king" wouldn't be out of place on a Sparklehorse record, with its crunchy guitars and animal imagery. And don't miss the Suede-esque "Soul free" and the tempo-shifting "Sister May", with TSOOL's Ebbot Lundberg on backing vocals.
- Matthew W. Smith
Wow, is this a terrific band. "Failures" is my first exposure to The Chrysler and I'm captivated by the interesting vocal blend served up by Anders Rudstrom and Pelle Lindroth. You get one type of distinctive sound when each sings the lead, and another sound when they sing together (a low and mid-range combo). It's winsome melodic pop that's early-spring fresh, just a bit melancholic and laced with a dash of late '60s pastoral psychedelia. I love the nocturnal vibe of "This is midnight", with the muted bass and distant trumpet adorning the sparkling upfront vocal. "Along the freefall" is a lively mid-tempo shuffle, "Ring of a bell" brings on some old-fashioned horns in an unexpected manner and "Damn straight evil" is simply one of the coolest tunes I've heard lately. It's got tastefully minimal acoustic guitar, melodica (actually, the melodica is all over this disc, and I ain't complaining), and flawless lead vocals and harmonies. There is something really beguiling and relaxed about this band that is indefinably unique. And the U.S. release has five sweet (mostly acoustic) bonus tracks. A hearty "thumbs up" for this classic Swedish vehicle known as The Chrysler.
- Kevin Renick
The musical exploits and talents of the Stockholm Kellermans are well known to IAT! readers, so no one should be surprised that Andrea Kellerman - aka Firefox AK - has concocted some smart and snappy electronic pop on her debut EP "What's that sound". The urgency and range of her voice on the title track ("the sound of his voice/it still rings in my ears/hey, hey, what's that sound?") make for a quick, catchy gem at just under two and a half minutes. "Wonder boy" sounds decidedly new-wave, bouncing along to a heavy electro beat with lush vocals. Things get a little repetitive on "Who can act", but the longer, mid-tempo "Harvey" successfully pairs a strummed acoustic guitar with gliding keyboards and brings this solid first release to a close. Firefox is staying busy, too--a full-length album is in the works, as are more tour dates this fall in Sweden, Germany and Denmark. That's undoubtedly a sign of more good things to come.
- Matthew W. Smith
I was programmed very early in my life not to like country music. Yet in recent years I have taken a liking in old-school country like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and others but I never quite liked any of those alt-country bands too much; Wilco, Neko Case: Not my thing. Hyacinth House manage to get me interested by using the same kind of heartbreak as the old-schoolers, adding a lot of indie-rock and a touch of bluegrass. The result is a very interesting album, if a bit too long, that never strays away from its path, but still takes considerable liberties when it comes to arrangements. Very nice.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Even though Laakso's band biography involves several break ups and reunions, it's basically a nice story of Swedish music business success. Their newest album "My gods", a decent interplay of twelve churned up songs, proves this very well: Released by the big label V2, produced by a certain Jari Haapalainen (Yes, right, that's the same guy who has worked with Ed Harcourt, Moneybrother, Kristofer Åström and The Concretes) and including some backing vocals by a very certain Nicolai Dunger. Well, of course a record isn't just about some famous names written on the booklet's last page. But even just focusing the music, "My gods" turns out to be a pleasant piece of melodic art. OK, it's probably not the catchiest album that has been released in Sweden during the last months, but still it has everything a good pop CD needs to have: Emotional tunes, guts to try out something new and a stick-out hit song ("High drama"). Markus Krunegård's characteristic voice underlines brilliantly the intimate lyrics which are thematically ranging from self-pity drowned in fuel to an ironic view on the junk of the hearts. Summing it up, Laakso has created an interesting and good-sounding audio portrait of the variety of emotions circulating around the all-time number-one-topic also known as "love".
- Janis Meissner
With all the bands influenced by post-punk these days you would expect more bands taking cues from New Order and Depeche Mode than there are. The type of electro-pop these pioneers did in the eighties produced some pretty good singles over the years. New City play in that same area with this full length filled with catchy melodies, dark ambiance and slow rhythms. The most important parts of the mix are that it is never too corny and has the same dark humor the British were displaying.
- Simon Thibaudeau
SKWBN's first album is a bit mellower and, to a certain extend, a more experimental affair than their previous two EPs (#1 and #2). Fortunately, it still has that Jens Lekman / Beat Happening / Jonathan Richman feel to it (quirky instrumentation and quirky lyrics where there's no shame in rhyming 'pretty' with 'Tom Petty'). This seems to be a style that tons of Swedish kids are trying to emulate at the moment (a bit like what the Strokes did to the American and British scene, but in a much smaller context, of course), but not a lot of them do it as well as SKWBN, Lekman or El Perro Del Mar (although Agent Simple and Montt Mardié are looking very promising). SKWBN haven't forgotten how to write hits either (e.g. "Noodles"), and this is in fact a very strong album that deserves all the attention it can possible get, from you, you, and you.
- Simon Tagestam
Tape reminds me of the Montreal collective Set Fire to Flame (that include some GYBE members) and that, in itself, is a compliment. Combining some post-rock structures and patterns with sound-collage and ambient soundscapes, Tape manage to make cohesive music, despite its complexity. This album is very, very good.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Here is a record that you should be hearing in you favorite hip lounge with all you BCBG friend for a $12 martini after a long work week. A few years ago, this was all over the place with St-Germain and Plaid in every laid-back bar in town, now it might be better used as schmooze music at home. Honestly, Folie are pretty good at this downbeat/house thing and certainly more forward thinking than the aforementioned St-Germain. You won't see me paying $12 for a martini though.
- Simon Thibaudeau
I don't know anything about Juni Järvi, but I suspect he's heard a bit of Jens Lekman. Not that I mind, Juni Järvi's managed to pen some rather cosy little songs on this cd-r release. I shouldn't write him off as some Lekman copycat though, so let's say he's a mix between Jens Lekman and Adam Green, with a bit of Ballboy thrown in the soup. It also sounds pretty impressive for being a cd-r release, with all sorts of instruments in the mix. I suspect Juni's an Aries, and I think there's great success for him to be had in the future of indiepop.
- Simon Tagestam
The greatest criticism one could level at The Legends debut album "Up against The Legends" was that it lacked variation. Whilst, it was undoubtedly one of the finest indie-pop albums released in 2003, most of the songs had a very similar structure. However, bar "Something good" (which wouldn't be out of place on "Up against The Legends"), this is no longer the case on "Public radio". The band's reference points are still firmly set in the 80s but they have now increased their palette. We're talking classic bands like Joy Division, New Order and The Cure. It is a known well-known fact that The Legends aren't ashamed of wearing their influences on their sleeves, and rightly so. The Legends are able to ape them in a way which is indistinguishable from the recordings of their heroes, albeit with a slightly more crisp production. If the Rolling Stones could sell rock and roll back to America, then surely The Legends have a chance selling indie-pop back to the UK?
- Nick Levine
You know why the Flaming Lips are not copied more, despite their fame? Because nobody has the balls to even try to sound like them, they are just that good. You know why Mew will never be a regular play of my discography? Because they try to be the Flaming Lips, albeit less happy and more melancholic, and they just are not as good.
- Simon Thibaudeau
What a great compilation this is! It's the first in the series from Stereo Test Kit Records, and it's a fantastic mix of the best Swedish indie music around. It starts of with two of my favourite songs this year: El Perro Del Mar's "Dog" and Heikki's "Former hero", then it continues with a few tracks by artists I've never heard but were surprised how good they were (e.g. Björn Kleinhenz) and some other tracks I've heard before that I really like (Sambassadeur's "Between the lines" being one of them). The compilation is pretty cheap as well, so if you've never heard of most of these bands I think you should try and get your curious fingers on it. Now I can't wait until Stereo Test Kit release the second volume; if the quality will be this high it can't be anything but a must-have.
- Simon Tagestam
Kompjotr Eplektrika
They Live By Night
Firefox AK
Laakso