A Free Man

About the only two things that Tropidelic and Tafra have in common are the first letter of their names and the fact that I’ve had their records in my hands waiting for a review for far too long. Actually, one other thing that these two acts share - A Free Man digs them.

A reggae band from the shores of Lake Erie is, I daresay, a questionable prospect. So when I sat down to listen to the Kent, Ohio quintet Tropidelic, I was prepared to take their debut EP with a grain of salt. I love being surprised.

It’s not reggae, more of a dancey ska/punk hybrid with a heavy dose of Sublime. But it’s well crafted and well played music and it’s strangely addictive. I think it was the late 20th century history in the form of a ska flavored rap that is “War City” that sold me on Tropidelic.”Aquafire” is just a wonderful party track. Tropidelic isn’tbreaking new ground, but nobody is really, but they’re good at what they do and I really enjoyed the EP. A Free Man’s rating - 4/5 - go and get “Tree City Exodus” from the band for a fiver.

MP3: Tropidelic - “Aquafire”

Tafra is an entirely different kettle of fish. I got into this Swedish/Croatian Londoner during my trip to Sweden earlier this year but didn’t feature him at that point. The more I listen to his debut LP, “Why Even Bother” (Series Two), the more I am convinced that Niklas Tafra is a budding genius. He’s in the Jamie T./Jim Noir making-music-in-the-bedroom-with-a-shitty-synthesizer camp, but Tafra’s lyrics and monotone delivery set him a little bit apart. This is slacker music that makes ”Loser” era Beck look like an Harvard MBA student. He’s deliciously dry and charming in his apparent disdain for pop musical conventions. If you’re looking for something different, give Tafra a try. 4/5.

“Why Even Bother” is available for $13 (US) from Series Two.

MP3: Tafra - “Tired of London”
MP3: Tafra - “Cheesy Epic View”

Popularity: 55% [?]

Today is our last day in Sweden. We’ll jet off into the dark western sky for another hop over the North Sea. After landing in Heathrow we’re in for what is bound to be a harried race across London to Gatwick Airport - with slightly more luggage than we arrived in Sweden with ten days ago. Assuming that we manage that little jaunt we’ll be headed west again. And south as well this time, to the Sunshine State.

Florida, Florida, Florida - the most soporific of states. There’s a scene in the movie “Primary Colors” when Libby & Henry are driving to Miami to dig up some dirt on Jack Stanton’s new opposition. It’s wonderfully filmed, with the hazy muted colors that are so characteristic of Florida. It is the dialogue, however, that really nails the state of the Sunshine State. Libby speaks with lackadaisical resignation:

“We are in limbo now, Henry.”
“We are outside the mainstream.”
“We are in purgatory.”
“We are lost.”
“Libby, lf you don’t shut up, I’m going to kill myself.”

————————————

But we’re still an ocean or two away from anodyne sunshine. Sweden has been Sweden. I’ve spent more time in Sweden than any other European country and I still don’t really have a feel for the place. It’s a lot like Canada, but with more Volvos and disturbingly attractive people. Most of what I’ve learned on this trip is about myself. I’ve learned that I am nowhere near as patient as I am going to need to be to make it through this parenthood gig. I’ve learned that anything that I do not want hurled to the floor with astonishing speed needs to be kept well out of range of young Z. This includes - but is not limited to - iPods, breakfast, telephones, glasses of Coke, and handheld gaming consoles. I’ve learned that I will never be as entertaining to Zach as kids nearer to his own age. This is true even if they descend on him in a mad, screaming horde like the Vikings from which they are descended.

————————————

One other thing I’ve learned about Sweden, is that they have some great music. I’ve been featuring Swedish musicians over at my music blog for the time in which we’ve been in country. There is an astonishing number of oustanding independent pop bands coming from this not particularly large country. So, they’re good looking and talented. The Swedes are the people I hated in school. Bastards.

Yesterday, I posted an interview with what has become my new favorite band, and the soundtrack for this post, Moonbabies. They are a duo, in life as well as music, from Malmö. The music on their lates LP, “Moonbabies at the Ballroom” is catchy pop with a sauntering, dreamy tempo. If you’re a “Grey’s Anatomy” fan, you may recognize the song I’ve posted below. There’s more of the same on the album which is available from and Amazon.

 

 Moonbabies - "War on Sound" [3:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Popularity: 45% [?]

A Free Man’s trip to Sweden is coming to an end and I’ve saved the best for last. Malmö’s Moonbabies are easily one of the best bands that I’ve come across during my time here. Their American label, Parasol Records, tells me: “Here they are, the Moonbabies – your new favorite band.” I don’t know if they’re using Jedi mind tricks on me, but they are pretty close to right. I haven’t been able to stop playing their 2007 LP “Moonbabies at the Ballroom”, their third full-length record, since I first heard it last week. It’s a beautifully lush record, with masterful instrumentation and a dreamy yet sauntering tempo. Ola Frick and Carina Johannson take turns on the lead vocals, which keeps things from slowing down as the album progresses.

Fellow music blogger Marcy of Lost In Your Inbox (LIYIB) turned me on to the Moonbabies. Since it was such a great tip, I thought it only fair to give her the opportunity to ask a few questions. Ola Frick, the male half of the Malmö duo, joined us for a chat on A Free Man’s virtual couch.

MP3: Moonbabies - “War On Sound”
MP3: Moonbabies - “Take Me To The Ballroom”

AFM: You have an incredibly rich and full sound for a duo. How do you achieve this? Are you guys playing multiple instruments or do you bring in additional players?

OF: We both play all the instruments on the records, but sometimes bring in some friends on drums. I’m pretty good at drumming, I guess, but sometimes the song demands a bit more “solid” work, and I’m not that solid. More like playing way too fast and crazy. Carina usually does most of the piano, vintage Moog synths & vibrafone or Glockenspiel or those kinds of sounds. I play the guitars & bass.

LIYIB: I love that even though your music is melodic and poppy, it very often has a chaotic edge to it or a sense that there is something off kilter happening right under the surface. You referred to it once as “messed up frenzy and beauty.” Is that something that one of you brings to the songwriting process more than the other?

OF: Nah, I think Carina and I feel the same thing most of the times. We both have our roots in melodic music as well as noisier stuff, so it’s a natural thing when we feel that something need to be messed up. But it’s not that we plan it, it’s just something that comes out of intuition.

AFM: I’m not a production wonk, but he production on your latest record is very clever - a little bit of distortion, enough to make the record the sonic equivalent of the visuals from the “War On Sound” video. Who turned the knobs for you on “Moonbabies at the Ballroom”?

OF: I did the recordings and mixing, and produced it together with Carina. We’ve recorded all our albums ourselves in the same room here in Malmö. We use it both as a rehearsal place and a recording studio. The inspiring part is that we can go in any direction we’d like with a song, and not like most bands write songs, then rehearse, then go into the studio. With our songs it happens everything at the same time. We write as we are recording, and trying out different arrangements. That’s why we got loads and loads of alternative versions of our songs. For some songs we have like 5-6 different versions that are so different in tempo, instrumentation it’s almost like a completely different song. Sometimes we change the lead vocals, or change the key of the track, cause it suits one of us better to be the lead singer. It’s great fun, but takes a lot of time. But we always take as long as it takes to record an album, both of us hates rushed-productions. You want it to last for years ahead. And I still love all the albums we’ve done.

AFM: Who did the video for “Take Me To The Ballroom”? The “Eyes Wide Shut” homage is fantastic.

Both the “Take Me To The Ballroom ” and “War on Sound” videos were done by two of the greastest people I know - Eric Althin and Shannon Henegan of Zombieduck Productions. They’re destined for greatness, and I really hope we will continue working together with them for many years more.

AFM: You guys have been in action since the late 90’s and thus are well placed to have observed the absolute cascade of indie-pop bands to come out of Sweden in the last few years. Why is the Swedish soil so suddenly fertile for great music?

OF: I think Swedes are raised with a good sense of melody and hooks. Swedish people like to be productive and find happiness through their work, so it’s more about putting a lot of hard work in it then anything else, I reckon. Also it’s bloody cold and rains for 8-9 months a year here. I mean it’s no place for humans to peacefully roam around outdoors. Continue Reading »

Popularity: 35% [?]

Bob: It gets a whole lot more complicated when you have kids.
Charlotte: It’s scary.
Bob: The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born.
Charlotte: Nobody ever tells you that.
Bob: Your life, as you know it… is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk… and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life.
Charlotte: That’s nice.

(From “Lost In Translation“)

The last time we were in Sweden, Dr. O’C’s sister looked after Baby Z for a night so we could get a much needed night out together. It was such a relief - a few baby free hours - that we thought we would try to replicate that experience this time around. We planned to go see the Oscar winning “Once” at one of the city center cinemas.

Well, I’m slightly chagrined to say that my normally flawless sense of direction failed me and we got slightly turned around in the streets of Göteborg. So much so that we couldn’t quite find the cinema. Dr. O’C suggested asking directions, obviously not realizing how laughable a concept this is to any man worth his salt. Our luck seemed to change for the better, however, as we found a second cinema that was showing “Flyga Drake” - the Swedish title for “The Kite Runner“. Both Dr. O’C and I had really enjoyed the Khaled Hosseini book and probably would have gone to see the film earlier if not for, well, you know. We rushed to buy the tickets and almost as an afterthought I asked the clerk:

“It is in English?”

To which she replied:

“Yes, yes, English.”

Dr. O’C astutely pointed out that all of the films for adults in Sweden are in English with Swedish subtitles. Except, apparently, for those that are in Dari Persian, with Swedish subtitles.

I wonder what our fellow cinema goers thought as we slunk out of the theater ten minutes into the film.

Image: I’ve no idea what this statue in the center of Göteborg represents nor what that man is doing with that knife, as I don’t read Swedish. But I love the vandalism/artistic statement.

Popularity: 18% [?]

A Free Man is been in Sweden for nearly a week now. During my time here, I’ve been astounded by the amount of great music coming out of this country. There are the ones we all know about - The Hives, Peter, Bjorn & John, Jose Gonzalez and their ilk. But through my interviews I’ve discovered loads of less well known bands. Some of these made a bit of noise at SxSW and have been roiling around in the Blogosphere, others seem to be local secrets. Here are ten that I’ve heard praised this week by those on the inside.

Jens Lekman, like your humble narrator, had the good sense this winter to flee northern Europe for the Antipodes. His 2007 release “Night Falls Over Kortedela” (Secretly Canadian) was one of the best of 2007, Swedish or not.

MP3: Jens Lekman - “Black Cab”

Stockholm’s Shout Out Louds released their second long player “Our Ill Wills” last year. They have an EP “Impossible” due on Tuesday.

MP3: Shout Out Louds - “My Friend and the Ink”

Also from the capitol, Mapei shows that Sweden can do urban as well. Check out the Bloody B remix of “Belly”.

MP3: Mapei - “Belly (Bloody B Remix)”

Back to the dreamy pop that the Swedes do best with The Bridal Shop. The band will send you an autographed copy of their debut EP “From Seas” on CD-R upon request.

MP3: The Bridal Shop - “From Seas”

Representing for the West Coast is Gothenburg’s Sambassadeur. Their debut “Migration” came out last fall on Labrador.

MP3: Sambassadeur - “Kate”

Also from the city that is A Free Man’s very temporary home comes The Tough Alliance. They’re a bit yobby, or whatver the Swedish version of yobby is, but there’s no denying that their music is great. The Tough Alliance’s second LP “A New Chance” came out last year.

MP3: The Tough Alliance - “Miami”

Rough Trade chose Studio’s “West Coast” as one of their best albums of 2007. The Gothenburg duo have a number of 7″ and 12″ singles available on Information.

MP3: Studio - “Out There”

Speaking of highly touted debuts, I don’t remember a first effort getting better reviews than The Field’s “From Here We Go Sublime“. Very electronic, but some of the best music in the genre.

MP3: The Field - “A Paw In My Face”

The Embassy is one of those bands that are frustratingly difficult to get information about - great marketing ploy.  Their music makes up for it, however, but I can’t direct you to a buy link.

MP3: The Embassy - “Some Indulgence”

And finally, there’s Tafra. I featured Niklas Tafra’s music last week, but I keep hearing praise for him from the locals. So, here’s another one from the Swedish-born, London-based solo artist.  His recent LP, “Why Even Bother” is available from Series Two.

MP3: Tafra - “I’m Sorry Brakne-Hoby”

A Free Man will be in the land of moose and meatballs for another week. So, check back for interviews with a couple of more Swedish acts including one that has become my current favorite band.

Popularity: 60% [?]

“I was dreaming of a steel guitar engagement
When you drink my health in scented jasmine tea
You knifed me in my dirty filthy basement
With that jaded faded junky nurse
Oh, what pleasant company…”

-The Rolling Stones - “Let It Bleed”*

I’ve not got a lot of great photos of Sweden to share with you today because, if the truth be told, I’ve not been out of the house much since our arrival on Tuesday. This isn’t, as you might think, due to the lousy Swedish spring weather. Nope, it’s the continuing struggle to get grounded and settled after our whirlwind departure from Britain. Dr. O’C is doing a little bit better - she’s headed off to a nearby shopping mall today, but your underwhelming narrator - well, I’m still trying to remember whether we shipped or packed my Billy Connolly book.

I did manage a bike ride yesterday. It was sunny and reasonably warm and I was lured out of my bed by the promise of taking Z along with us - his first bicycle trip. I’m a sucker for firsts (and his mother is a slightly erratic cyclist), so I dragged myself out of my state of self-indulgent emotional hibernation and joined Dr. O’C and son for a little ride to Önnered harbour. I’m glad I did, because it was brilliant - a bright sunny day, cycling on well maintained Swedish bike paths with the occasional reassuring tug of my jacket from my little boy firmly strapped behind. Cycling is one of my favorite activities and was my main mode of transport for our time in Britain. Cycling is also great because it allows for mind wandering time and yesterday my brain went into fast forward gear - Baby Z with his first trike, his first two wheeler with training wheels and that fateful day when he pedals off on his own with the realization that he doesn’t need his Dad’s help anymore. Followed fairly quickly by his first crash when, aided by the clarity that comes with skin scraping on concrete, he realizes that maybe he still does - for now.

* Yeah, I know this song has nothing to do with bicycling around a Swedish harbour, but man, The Stones used to be good!

 

 The Rolling Stones - "Let It Bleed" [5:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Popularity: 21% [?]

Our musical tour of Sweden continues with today’s guide, Matthias Strömberg of The Bell. The Stockholm and Malmo based trio released their debut LP “Make Some Quiet” in February to a fair bit of critical acclaim. They’ve earned comparisons to 80’s icons like Echo & The Bunnymen, New Order and The Church. These are fair, but “Make Some Quiet” is undeniably a 21st century record.

Some readers may know that A Free Man recently became A Free Dad. Any of my fellow Dads out there probably know that fatherhood infiltrates every feature of your being. So, apologies to the non-parents out there, but when I heard that Matthias welcomed his second child a few months ago I had to ask for some parenting tips. Don’t worry, though, we talked about music as well.

AFM: First of all, let’s take care of introductions. You guys released “Make Some Quiet” in February. Can you tell us a little about the players on that record?

MS: I am Mathias Strömberg, lyricist and vocalist, Nicklas Nilsson and Jan Petterson are musicians and technicians. They have the hands-on production role while I float around, much due to the fact that they have the studio in their town.

AFM: The Bell get a lot of comparisons to some of the darker English New Wave bands (Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure, New Order). Are those fair comparisons? Where do your musical inspirations come from?

MS: I guess those are the easies comparisons to make. Although, we were all teenagers in the 80’s, so we listened to those bands then rather than lately. But I would say that our inspiration lies in some electronic, but mostly guitar based British and American 80’s indie. However, we listen to contemporary music. We work hard to stay current rather than trying to emulate a certain decade or style.

AFM: Which track are you most proud of from the recent record?

MS: I think that “I Am History” is the most worked through track that represent us the best. And yes, it is the track I am most proud of.

AFM: The production on “Make Some Quiet” is nicely done - dense, with a nice bit of fuzz. Who was turning the knobs? Where was the album recorded?

MS: Thank you. We have done it ourselves in our own studio in Malmö and some of the vocals was recorded in a Stockholm studio. It was mastered, very delicately, in San Francisco.

AFM: I’ve been hearing quite a few remixes of your music lately. Do you have much input into who does the remixing? What’s your favorite remix of one of your tracks?

MS: Yes, we have a lot to say about it, but the thrill is just putting it out there for new and interesting talent to “take care of”. My favourite is definitely the Whitenoise remix of “I am History” – a potential radio disco hit.

AFM: Let’s talk a bit about your homeland. Something seems to be happening in Sweden. There are tons of great indie-pop acts coming out of Stockholm and other cities right now. What’s going on? Is there something in the Swedish water? Where are all these fantastic bands coming from?

MS: Sweden is a good breeding ground for artists in this particular vein. We have always been taken care of by both our local governments, public radio and tv, and by people that have been starting labels without a financial agenda, for the love of the music. In that sense, I see a lot of likeness between Sweden of today and Britain and the US of, say, 20 years ago. And with the web the audience is global so bands can still make it big with very small means.

AFM: On your myspace page you list both Stockholm and Malmo as your home city. I know that there is some great music coming out of Gothenburg as well. Where’s the best place for music in Sweden? Is their competition between the different cities?

MS: I’m not sure. I think that people in Stockholm would benefit from a bit of fighting with Gothenburg, trying to challenge them to the pop throne. But Stockholmers imagine themselves to be “a bit better than that” and would rather compete with London or New York. Silly but true. So: the best bands will always be from Gothenburg.

AFM: What other Swedish bands should we be paying attention to?

MS: The Embassy, Studio, The Radio Dept., The Tough Alliance, The Field

AFM: I’ve heard a lot of good bands coming out of Denmark recently as well. Who would win the battle of the bands between Sweden and Denmark?

MS: Sweden without a doubt. Denmark has too little, too late. Sweden is in a different league. We are the second largest music exporters in the world, for Christ sake. What does Denmark have? The Raveonettes? Please.

AFM: Fightin’ words! Let’s change directions a bit to cool things off. I know that you recently became a father, as did I, so I hope you won’t mind some parenting questions. What kind of music do you play for your little boy? How do you gauge his reaction to different music?

MS: My daughter really digs good old rawk and roll, but she’s getting into some dancier stuff now when she can control her movements …. My boy is a little calmer as a person and I think he might be into jazz or just electronic ambient stuff.

AFM: When I became a Dad I found that a lot of the ways that I looked at things changed almost overnight. Has fatherhood changed your musical outlook?

MS: Yes, I am a lot more open now. Or at least I’d like to think I am. And I don’t spend my weekends digging through piles of garage and soul in an old dumpster of a record shop anymore. I spend It in the park with the sun in my eyes and kids laughing or crying around me. It was bound to make me a bit more lasseiz-faire, so to speak. What will be will be, it is not the end of the world if I miss a concert (or ten) and it is not of great importance if we sell a lot of records …
And also, I don’t have time to spend on stuff I don’t like. Before, I could really listen to a song or a record a hundred times just because I “knew” there was something there. Not anymore – if I don’t like it the first time I hear it, it’s the dumpster. I guess that means I am less open, after all.

AFM: Have you written any songs for kids yet?

MS: Well, I make up songs the hole time but I wouldn’t say “written”. There is The Fart Song and The Poo Song. You know, the usual … just what sticks at the moment.

AFM: What instrument is your son going to learn to play first?

MS: I think he will be into playing the guitar. So daughter on drums and son on guitar. That seems like a beautiful combo to me. Maybe they’ll be the next White Stripes and pay for my early retirement …

AFM: Bonus - What artist would you nominate to be Sweden’s musical ambassador?

MS: The sarcastic answer is sooo easy here, so I’m gonna go with the serious one: I think that Tomas Öberg of Bob Hund/Bergman Rock/Sci-Fi Skane would be a brilliant spokesperson for Swedish music. A lot of integrity and a lot of humour.

——-

I wonder what the sarcastic answer would have been, Agnetha Fältskog? Thanks to Matthias for spending some time on A Free Man’s virtual couch. Check out two of the tracks we talked about:

MP3: The Bell - “I Am History”
MP3: The Bell - “I Am History (Whitenoise Remix)

You like? Then buy The Bell’s “Make Some Quiet”, available from eMusic, and Amazon.

Popularity: 37% [?]

“Weather man and the crazy chief
One says sun and one says sleet
AM, the FM, the P.M. too
Churning out that boogaloo
Gets you up and gets you out
But how long can you keep it up?”

-The Clash - “The Magnificent Seven”

The fact that we arrived in Sweden yesterday unbruised and still speaking to one another is testament to the strength of our relationship. Our last couple of days in Britain nearly pushed both Dr. O’C and myself over the edge. Packing, cleaning, yelling, selling, screaming, feeding, bickering and all the rest. Monday was the peak of the chaos and strife. We had to finish packing everything that would be coming with us on our extended trip to Adelaide. We had to turn the dog over to the livestock people responsible for getting him Down Under. We had to finish cleaning the house so our landlady would be satisfied enough to return nearly £1000 deposit money. We had to keep Baby Z alive and reasonably happy. We had to do all of that without killing each other. We nearly didn’t make it. Somehow, though we got it done and made it over to our friend’s who had offered to put us up for the night, where we promptly realized that we had far too much luggage. Scandanavian Airlines, our carrier for the first leg of our journey allows 50kg. I think we had about twice that. The chaos continued.

Then, early yesterday morning we were off to Heathrow - still with far too much luggage - for our trip to Sweden and a ten day layover with Dr. O’C’s sister and her family. Thing is we didn’t leave quite early enough. If you will, picture your underwhelming narrator sprinting through Heathrow Airport with a stack of luggage that would make a Hilton blush, Dr. O’C and Zach in tow. The Scandanavian Airlines clerk must have seen something in my eyes that indicated just how close I was to snapping because she didn’t raise the issue of luggage allowance. I plowed through security using Z’s buggy like an icebreaker. We made the flight, but my heart rate and mood has just started to return to normal.

But we’re here and even in a house with two young boys and frequently their friends, cousins and all the noise and mess that accompanies them - things are much more relaxed. Even in a house in which a virtual war can break out in an instant over whether or not one brother has the same Nintendo DS character as the other, there’s a sense of peace and quiet. This is just the first leg of what is going to be a long and stressful few weeks. There are going to be other disasters narrowly averted and challenges nearly failed. I’m going to have to learn to cope with them just a little bit better. Either that or maybe one of you, my readers, would volunteer to raise Z. I mean, chances are the authorities will probably take Baby Z away from Dr. O’C while she’s serving her sentence for murder.

 

 The Clash - "The Magnificent Seven": Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Popularity: 22% [?]

A Free Man is traveling off across the North Sea today for a trip to the land of moose and Malmo, of socialism and Saabs. Whilst here, I’ll be taking some time to talk to some of the exciting new indie pop bands coming out of Sweden.

First up is The Sound of Arrows, a Stockholm based duo consisting of Stefan Storm and Oskar Gullstrand. Their debut EP, “Danger” is due out in May on Labrador. I got a preview of “Danger” and was delighted - Scandanavian indie-pop at it’s most charming. Stefan and Oskar kindly agreed to join me on the virtual couch for an introduction to Swedish music.

AFM: Let’s start with where you guys came from. As I understand it, Stefan started out making house music. How do these electronic origins manifest themselves in The Sound of Arrows?

SS: Well to be honest, these texts always enhances the truth and this statement makes it sound like I’m this veteran house-producer. That’s not exactly true. Me and my friend Kristefer Lecander have another project together, Panache, that we started earlier. It’s true that we’ve mostly been making house and electro-disco, but when me and Oskar started playing together we were both novices when it came to producing music. We’re still learing every day. But all the same, making, or more truthfully, trying to make house has been a great school in producing. Since house music is often quite bare it’s really important to make the most of all the different sounds and soundscapes.

We’re both fans of electronic acts such as Simian Mobile Disco, Fischerspooner, Roisin Murphy, Massive Attack and many more. So it’s most probable that our future output will be influenced by some more dancier stuff. We like the idea to throw in a bit of every genre into the mix.

AFM: Oskar, you used to play in an orchestra. What did you play and is your contribution to The Sounds of Arrows inspired by that experience?

OG: Yes, I’ve played the trumpet in different orchestras and bands. Mostly big band and jazz music. This was in my younger years back in Gävle. But now with Arrows I’ve finally got a reason to dust of the trumpet and put it to use in our pop melodies.

I guess that the Jazz music does not manifest itself so much in The Sound of Arrows. But it has influenced they way I think in melodies and music composition. I think that the differences in our musical backgrounds compliments each other very well, and makes The ’sound’ of Arrows more interesting.

AFM: Until the last couple of years, most of what I heard coming out of Sweden was either slightly scary death metal, The Cardigans, or Abba. But lately there’s some really great Swedish music getting some exposure - Peter Bjorn & John, Jose Gonzalez and I’m From Barcelona to name three. What’s changed in the Swedish music scene?

SS: Every couple of years there seems to be a movement in the Swedish popscene.

We’ve had disco-light (Abba), europop (Roxette, Ace of Base), twee/indie-pop (The Cardigans, Wannadies, Pineforest Crunch) and now a mixture of absolutely everything. It’s almost impossible to pinpoint the swedish pop movement of today. No genre is taboo, almost anything goes. I guess the one common component of all are the melodies. I think that Swedes have a very highly developed sense of melody. But don’t ask me why, I wouldn’t know the answer. Maybe it has something to do with the Abba-heritage.

AFM: On your myspace page you describe Stockholm as “Pop Heaven”. What’s so heavenly about it?

We werent necessarily thinking of Stockholm when we wrote it, popheaven can be anywhere as long as there are hummable melodies.

And while Stockholm is filled with some great popmusic, it’s actually Gothenburg that stands on forefront of Swedish pop. Who can argue about that when the place is home to such great acts like Sambassadeur, The Tough Alliance and Jens Lekman?!

AFM: A lot of the new pop I hear from Sweden, including your new single “Danger” is really sunshiny. I mean, it makes the Beach Boys look dark and brooding. I’ve spent a fair bit of time on the west coast of Sweden and in the winter that could be one of the gloomiest places in the world. Where does the inspiration for this shiny, happy pop come from?

Maybe it comes from exactly what you pointed out. The need for escapism and to dive into another happier place whenthe country is at it’s gloomiest.

But let’s not forget the summers, the summers in Sweden is the only reason why we put up with this country. The Swedish summer are hands down, THE best place to be in the world June-August. That is, if it doesn’t rain too much.

AFM: What other Swedish bands or artists should we be paying attention to?

SS: My favourite Swedish act happens to be a friend of mine, Niklas Tafra. He is one of Sweden’s most inventive pop-geniuses. Why he hasn’t become massive by now is a mystery to me.

Also I really like our label-mates Sambassadeur’s recent album, The Bridal Shop and Mapei (urban credibility points - hurrah!)

AFM: You’re being sent into space to start a new colony on Mars. You’re allowed to bring three records with you on the trip. What would they be?

SS:Hahaha, what happend to the deserted island?!

AFM: The desert island is so last century.

SS: No matter where I go, I’d bring a best of Harry Nilsson to represent the oldies, something very contemporary to represent the now (Roisin Murphy) and someting timeless like a The Sundays album or something. I wouldn’t bother bringing any classical stuff.

OG: Well if your going to space you will have to have a good soundtrack! Not just for the life on Mars, travelling music is just as important, and hey, its a long way to mars! I would bring Jan Johansson’s - “jazz på svenska” (jazz in swedish” as a reminder of the Swedish countryside. Maybe Handsomeboy Technique for the wild parties on Mars. And Badly Drawn Boy’s - “Hour of the Bewilderbeast” for everyday listening.

AFM: On your upcoming EP you have a number of remixes of “Danger”? Who’s doing the remixing? Which is your favorite mix?

We’re starting out totally unknown so we’ve only brought in friends this time.

Cotton Crew, Panache and Mr Pedro go for the electro-pumping sound. But the one we love the most is the version by Ice Cream Shout, that instead takes the route of super-mega twee. Complete with ukuleles and toypianos. It’s better than the original.

AFM: On your new EP, I hear hints of The Avalanches, Merz, maybe “Pet Sounds” era Beach Boys? Can you name some of the bands or artists that inspire you?

SS: Sure! I’ve only listened once to the Avalanches album and from what I can remember I really liked it. But I wouldn’t state them as an influence to our sound. We are more influeced by other acts (Handsomeboy Technique, Jens Lekman and The Go! Team) influenced by them! That also generally applies to all our musical influences, we’re mostly into contemporary stuff.

We’re both into The Shortwave Set’s first album, Saint Etiennes huuuuuge catalouge, Cut Copy, Tom Tom Club, The Sundays, Stereolab and lots of others. Like I stated earlier, I really like to throw in a bit of everything into the mix. Not that it’s always audible, but for us, we know where the bits and parts are from.

Actually, I’d say just about anything these days. When I hear something I like, it could be something from artist such Celine Dion, The Tough Alliance, Nelly Furtado etc. I place it in my brainbank for later usage. We’re not that picky.

——-

Thanks to Stefan and Oskar for their introduction to their brainbank and what Sweden’s got to offer musically. Check out the title track from their upcoming debut. If you like what you here, then look for “Danger!” on May 7 from Labrador.

MP3: The Sounds of Arrows - “Danger!”

Popularity: 47% [?]

There are some bands that just shouldn’t make a comeback, beautifully illustrated by the recent release of The B-52s’ “Funplex” - their first original album in nearly two decades. There’s nothing wrong with the music, at least what I’ve heard, it sounds a lot like the last B-52s’ record “Good Stuff”. I just don’t see the point. I mean, Kate Pierson is going to be 60 next month and she’s still dressing like she did in 1978. I do like their shout-out to our shared former home of Athens, GA in this track from the new record.

MP3: The B-52’s - “Hot Corner”

Motel Motel is a Brooklyn based septet that’ve been playing around a bit and are trying to get their first record down on tape. I really enjoyed the demo of “Coffee” that they sent along and thought I would do my part to spread the word.

MP3: Motel Motel - “Coffee” 

Another Gotham contribution is Bell, featuring one of the most enchanting singers I’ve heard in a while. Not sure what they’ve got in the pipe, but check out “Echinacea” and their myspace site to see if they’re coming to a town near you.

MP3: Bell - “Echinacea”

Representing the Antipodes this week is Sydney power pop trio The Shake Up.  They’ve just finished recording their debut LP. No word on a release date.

MP3: The Shake Up - “Home Ec”

Liverpudlian New-New Wavers Ladytron have a new LP due in June. Velocifero, coming out on Nettwerk is their fourth LP.

MP3: Ladytron - “Black Cat” 

Lou Reed inspired Texans The Black Angels‘ have their second full-length due. “Passover” was one of my favorite records of 2006 and “You On The Run” bodes well for the new one. “Directions To See A Ghost” is out on Light In The Attic Records on May 13.

MP3: The Black Angels - “You On the Run” 

Tafra is London based Swede Niklas Tafra’s solo project. His debut LP “Why Bother” was released in February by Series Two Records. Check out the opening track from that record, which wins the award for title of the week.

MP3: Tafra - “Cheesy Epic View”

And last, but not least, one of the music blogger’s whose opinions I respect wrote a snippet about Laura Cantrell’s new album “Trains and Boats and Planes”. I’ve always enjoyed Cantrell but never really been passionate about her. This cover of New Order’s “Love Vigilantes” may change that. She also covers Gordon Lightfoot on the new one - I’m all over it. It’s due on April 15.
MP3: Laura Cantrell - “Love Vigilantes” 

Popularity: 92% [?]