Swedesplease – The Swedish Music Blog

Celestial went through the trouble of sending me their first couple of releases but I could never get fully into their lofi shoegaze sound. But with the release of their new single “Fragile Heart” on Music Is My Girlfriend I can finally say I’m onboard and what are you waiting for?! If you are a fan of Creation bands from the 80’s, the softer side of Jesus and Mary chain or hazy 60’s pop this will brighten your day.

Fragile Heart

This is the title track of the new single, pre-order the 7″ single here now in the Music Is My Girlfriend shop.
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Bonus track for fans of tweepop regardless of country of origin. Here’s a track off of annmarie’s upcoming record ABC On TV. annmarie is an indonesian indiepop band that’s debut full length should be available soon from Plastina Records (Lima, Peru). You’ll like this if you’re a fan of The Cranberries and The Cardigans.

(of course the song is called) Bubblegum I See

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Oh man I love this My Darling You song

Please Don’t Talk To Me I Fall In Love Too Easily

and a new song

I Had Beautiful Strength and Armored Heart

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MP3, Music

If you couldn’t quite get with the instrumental Swedish powerhouse Dungen (and by god I bet you’ve tried) perhaps you’re more suited to the strange symphonic folk sounds of Det Gamla Landet. Det Gamla Landet have a new record coming out soon and the online web music magazine Textura had this exclusive track from the upcoming release due out on A Double A Records. “Kiruna” sounds so familiar, is it a cover? Leonard Cohen’s “That’s No Way To Say Goodbye” perhaps? Or something else entirely?

Kiruna

Bonus songs from debut ep and their debut full length.

Nar Kan Slacknar
Toly Under
Atta Ar Av Krig Ar Vart Et Brollup

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Bobby Baby (here and here) has her supporters that’s for sure. I’ve been emailed a couple times this week about the new ep, Loves To Dance, due out today on Red Letter Day Records. I think what I most like about Bobby Baby is her consistency in both her music and her look. She’s always in a 50’s era dress and always has a mysterious air about her in photographs. Even though her music makes use of computers, electronics and various modern techniques her sound is a warm analog blast from some past that never really existed.

On the whole these are loungy love songs. “Later” is one of the standout tracks with it’s lovely acoustic bass and whispery soft vocals. Just stunning. Order Loves To Dance here.

Later
The Some Place New

Goodbye Love (.wmv video)

Bonus: Lucky Moments (new song)

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(Editor’s Note: I originally posted about these guys in April, this follow-up post came out in September. Since then accolades have been dribbling in, and I’m still convinced this is some of the best music coming out of Sweden and I wish these guys luck in the new year.)

It’s pretty much common knowledge at this point among certain swedish music cognosanti and tastemakers (i.e. me) that detektivbyran is one of the best bands in Sweden. Their blend of pump organs, vibes, odd percussion and other assorted circus-y intrumentation along with their circular and near waltz-like compositions has made them an underground press darling. And I aim to continue to heap on the accolades.

I really don’t hesitate for a second in calling this trio, that now lives in Gothenberg, musical geniuses. A quick perusal of the photos (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) from their most recent recording session is proof enough as you can see the band trying to get every last sound from a myriad of analog and digital equipment. This is the new sound of Sweden, look out Dungen. Their new ep, Hemvagen, was released last week and is only available from their site here (click on shop). The packaging looks gorgeous and as you can tell from the song below the music within is stunning.

Dansbanan

Bonus song added to Swedesplease on Dec. 26

E18

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In completely unrelated news there is a new quasi official video up for Hello Saferide’s song “2006″ plus some UK dates in November up on her website (and no that’s not Annika in the video).

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(Editor’s note: This was originally posted in March but now that Book Of Daniel has a new record it’s a good time to look back.)

Alright I’ve succumbed to all the pressure. Everyone wants to hear The Book Of Daniel right? A favorite of Swedish band Tiger Lou as well as scores of Swedesplease readers, Book Of Daniel is Daniel Gustafsson. He’s the 29 year old brother of Boy Omega and is bandmates in Book Of Daniel with Adam Svanell (who we heard about here first but who is also a member of Memoplay).

With all this name dropping you might begin to think that Book of Daniel is too hip for his own good but rest assured that the music found on the new ep, Footnotes to the spell of daylight-savings time, is mostly unpretentious, lush singer/songwriter fare (riyl Rufus Wainwright, Josh rouse).

3rd of December
Hocus Pocus

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Updated 12/26. Book Of Daniel has just released their new record Songs For The Locust King. It’s available from the labels Black Star Foundation and Riptide Records (Germany). Here’s one song off the new one, it’s got a bit of that gypsy-inspired Nick Cave thing happening.

Deadringer Deadringer

I’ve got only 2.5 hours to get this song up in time for Christmas. It’s a nice original (or is it a cover?) folk song by Strayfolk called “Christmas Day”. Strayfolk was one of the first bands I wrote about on Swedesplease and they continue to astound me with their music.

The band has just completed it’s debut record and has managed to blend traditional folk with the ever so slight twang of pedal steel and an indie folk aesthetic. Here’s two songs from the new record, you can buy it through the band -info@strayfolk.com. Plus the aforementioned “Christmas Day”.

Crickety Crack
Somehow

Christmas Day

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(Editor’s note and update: Since I wrote glowingly about this band and in particular this song, it has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy. Strange for an unknown Swedish band on a small independent label to be chosen. I may not deserve any credit (although I swear Alexandra Patsavas is reading Swedesplease and Songs:Illinois) but I do think mp3 blogs are responsible for at least half the songs appearing in tv shows and advertisements today.

I’ve written about The Second Band before here. And I’ll write about them again today. In fact I’ll repost the song I wrote about back on December 29, “Wild is the Wind”, cause it’s that good.

A release date, second mp3 and title have been set for the new cd. This 8 song cd is due out on March 17 and is titled Your Dark Side Is On The Phone on Orange Gramaphone. From the little I’ve heard this rockets to the top of all the Swedish releases from 2006 so far.

Pre-order it here now.

Wild Is The Wind

plus one more song

A Song I Can’t Recall

(Editor’s note: Originally posted about in Jan. 2006. Peace In Our Time is one of the many unsung bands from Sweden.)

Music is my Girlfriend took me up on my challenge to sign the Swedish band Peace In Our Time. They’ve released a 9 song cdr. The first two songs are linked to below. PIOT have a sweet sound, the lead singer, and I suppose only real member of the band, has a beautiful voice and a way with words.

Here’s two from the new cdr A Way To Pass The Time.

Everyone or Anyone
We Never Cared To Take The Time

Bonus

Love Of A Lifetime

(Editors note: This is from Feb. 2006. I’ve added new songs to the end of the post. Considor these reposts to be my choices for some of the best music from Sweden in the past year.)

Sebastian Fors claims that he emailed me a few months ago about his music but he’s either lying or it got lost in my junkbox because there’s no way I would have hesitated to write about his glowing, warm, acoustic music.

If you like Jeff Tweedy, Bright Eyes or David Donderoo you owe yourself a listen to one of his newest demos “Avenue”. If I had a minute to spare in this life I’d sign this young artist to a multiple album deal, if only…

Avenues

Bonus song

Untitled

New Songs
Thinking Of You
Song For a New Day

There used to be a band called Penny Century (in fact there were two). The better of the two bands (imho) has changed it’s name to Little Big Adventure and released some new music. The email I received from the band described the music as simply having “distorted and clean guitar sounds.” It’s a lofi rock sound accented with simple electronics and solemn vocals (again described by the band as full of “insecurity and self abuse, hate and revenge”). Enjoy.

Editors Note: I’ll be taking a few days off from writing original posts due to the holiday and instead will be putting up reposts of some of the best Swedish music I’ve covered this year. Thanks for the support all year with your comments, suggestions, corrections and emails. Swedesplease has grown this year to become one of the premier destinations for independent Swedish music thanks to you. Swedesplease will continue to grow in 2007 and will remain ad free. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

Dress Code
Any Questions

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I’ve made it a point to write about every incarnation of the band Hanif. Today’s post is about the band Pinto (which shares Andreas Magnusen with Hanif) and their two new songs being billed (by the band) as the saddest and happiest love songs.

The bands concept is much like the US band Bishop Allen. Record and release their songs for free. The end game will be a cd compilation of all the songs sold for a ridiculously low price ($5). “Iron and Rust” is about “sticking around” like iron and rust (get it?!). It’s the sad song. Visit Pinto’s site for the happy love song.

Iron and Rust

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Bless his little heart; The Yellow Stereo has broken Sub Pop’s 2007 street date on Loney, Dear’s upcoming record Loney, Noir. I haven’t even had a chance to listen to the two songs he’s got up but I still am confident (from hearing Loney, Dear’s earlier work and the raves his live shows consistently receive) that I can recommend these songs.

“The City, The Airport”

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Irene is starting to sound more and more like Jens Lekman performing at the Swedish Margaritaville franchise. If Swedesplease is your only stop on the world wide web this may be the first time hearing this. If so enjoy.

Christmas On The Beach

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Alright how weird is this. Christmas music from a Swedish roots reggae group heavy on the dub. Here’s the video for “Jul Jul”. More info about the release here.

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(Image courtesy of Frank Juery and Hinah)

A couple blogs have some interesting Swedish music related posts over the last few days. So in no particular order here’s some music that might be of interest to you (you damn Swedophile).

Skatterbrain tackles The Budgies (feathers everywhere!)
Brooklyn Vegan courts fellow vegan Sally Shapiro (Thee Power of Twee gets into the act as well)
Vote for the catchiest Swedish song of the year at (you guessed it!) Catchyswede
Sounds of Sweden has the new single November from Laleh (plus a little something from Robyn)

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Holiday for Strings have the choicest opening slot in Sweden at the moment warming up for Peter, Bjorn and John. In January alone the band joins PB&J for dates in Berlin, Paris, Brussels and Cologne. From what I can find out about the band from their bio they may be the least gastronomically challenged musical unit ever as they are lead by two four star chefs. From the photos on their site it appears they live the good life. This is not exactly heard in their music however (despite song titles like “Pain Au Chocolate”). There is an undercurrent of quiet dread coming from many of the songs on their debut release CD out now on Still.

There is not one song on the new album that is representative of the sound on this disc but “Touch The Tiger” comes close with it’s thumping bass, atmospheric guitars and low growled vocals.

Touch The Tiger

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Air France continues my quest for the best electronic music by a Swedish duo. When I stumbled across Air France’s MySpace page I was pretty quickly captivated by their tropical electronic sounds. At the time I contacted the band they were in hiding (maybe something to do with bad debts) but now they’re back and last week released their debut ep on the Tough Alliance imprint Sincerely Yours.

“Beach Party” with it’s undulating beats, crashing waves of sound and male and female vocals could be the summer hit of the winter.

Beach Party

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Well two of these you heard hear first and the other not so much. But in any case here you go.

The Knife – Christmas Reindeer
Thomas Denver Jonsson – Silent Night

And yes I know he’s not Swedish but the songs are coming so fast and furious I can hardly keep up

Hefner – Xmas Song For Holland

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The funny thing is that I’m so out of it. I could tell you about every incarnation of Let’s Be Honeys but very little about Abba, Roxette, or Ace Of Base. I could write a novel about Hello Saferide but not a single line about Raymond and Maria. When it comes to popular Swedish pop I’m clueless. I heard that the group Raymond & Maria are in the middle of a contest for best Christmas song on P3 and looked them up.

It turns out they’re very popular and rightfully so. No mp3’s I’m afraid but this lovely video for their new single should suffice. Tell me what you know in the comments.

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What would you get if you crossed a high school marching band with Swedish indie pop? If you were wondering this as well, the answer is here. You’d get Je T’Aime Mon Amour. Fashioning their sound on equal parts Billie The Vision and Dancers and I’m From Barcelona. This group formed in early 2006 and released the short ep Let Loose Honey Pie! shortly thereafter.

This is about the most frivolous pop that you’ll ever find but because of that it’s good clean fun and hard not to bop along with.

My HoneySugarBabyLady

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Simon Ryman is a guitarist who plays with Nina Kinert and Love Olzon but for me it’s his singing on his new demo that sets him apart. He cites the records that his parents were spinning way back when as playin a major influence, records like Blond On Blond, The White Album, and Let It Bleed.

“Farsta Creek” is a slow country blues type thing with beautiful arching vocals and a simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar, lush synths and …

Farsta Creek

Here’s a video of the song “Visitor” from the 2005 release Let There Be Love from Nina Kinert.

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