A few weeks back, I grabbed “24” off a recent double single by Moonbabies for airplay on my radio show. Now the duo has announced their first new LP, to be called Wizards On The Beach, in seven years. The new LP is plush with melodic instrumentation and harmonic vocals. Read More »Moonbabies to Release First LP in 7 Years
The Mary Onettes returned last week with their new album, Portico, now out on Swedish label Labrador Records. The band maintains their somewhat dark, 80s style of pop, like a softer, smoother New Order. It’s most obvious in the short LPs second single “Native Dreamâ€. Read More »The Mary Onettes: Portico
Solander came to my attention a few years back after Fredrik Karlsson branched out from his work in Swedish orchestral and experimental folk-pop collective Fredrik. While Solander has been around for the better part of a decade, the band’s debut LP didn’t arrive until 2009 and was followed a few years later by their sophomore release. They are now prepared to give us their third album, Monochromatic Memories, in February of 2014. Read More »Solander: All Opportunities
Club 8 has released their second video for a song off their eighth LP, Above the City, this time for closing track and lead single “Stop Taking My Time”. This video follows a somewhat disturbing one about animal cruelty for album opener “Kill Kill Kill”. Throughout, Above the City is a return to the more dance-worthy beats Johan AngergÃ¥rd and Karolina Komstedt have sprinkled throughout Club 8’s 18-year career. Read More »Club 8: Stop Taking My Time (Video)
Lars Bygden is a singer/songwriter from Sweden; that’s to say, he’s an artist who creates haunting folk melodies fronted by strong vocals that seem to echo through the darkness. His latest release – his third under his own name – is simply called LB and the opening track, “The Hole”, recently received very stunning video treatment.
Read More »Lars Bygden: The Hole (Video)
I admit, I freak out a bit each time I hear of a new undertaking by Johan Angergård – anything… Read More »Club 8: Stop Taking My Time
Everybody is freaking out about The Knife‘s forthcoming LP, Shaking The Habitual and it all makes perfect sense. Silent Shout, their most recent LP, not only wooed countless people to the band, it topped many year-end lists. That was back in 2006, seven years ago. In fact, it was seven years and two days ago that Pitchfork gave that record a whopping 8.6. Read More »The Knife: A Tooth For An Eye (Stream)
From Suburban Kids with Biblical Names member Johan Hedberg comes a fun new Christmas song “Some Kind of Christmas”. True to SKWBN heritage, the song is a bit quirky in Hedberg’s vocal display as well as thematically and lyrically. The song, per Labrador Records, is about spending the Christmas alone, chasing open bars and someone to count the snowflakes with. Read More »Johan Hedberg: Some Kind of Christmas
This video debuted early in November, but I felt compelled to write about it now given the song’s presence in tomorrow’s pre-recorded KSVR radio show (10pm PST). Kate Boy has entered the hype realm this month in part thanks to her song “Northern Lights” and its audible similarities to The Knife’s epic LP Silent Shout. Read More »Kate Boy: Northern Lights (Video)
My copy of The Mary Onettes‘ limited (to 1000) pressing of Love Forever arrived today and I’ve been giving it a spin with my vintage mid-century modern record cabinet. Some records just seem to be naturals on a vintage player such as this, and The Mary Onettes is a prime example. Produced by Dan Lissvik, Love Forever boasts a departure from the band’s penchant for the 80s. Read More »The Mary Onettes: Love Forever EP
