Archive for the ‘Artists’ Category

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Ed Greene

Monday, August 30th, 2010

I’m a big fan of band Ed Greene. In fact if you were to twist my arm I might say they’re the best unsigned band in Sweden. At one time Ed Greene used to be a solo outfit but of late the band has been filled in and fleshed out. The band readily admits a history of missteps and false starts but now they’re back with a new album of 11 new songs. This may be one of the catchiest but there are presumably more where this came from. So here’s a sneak peak at the upcoming album from the band Ed Greene. The song is called “Love (She Tells Me There’s A God Above)”.

Love (She Tells Me There’s A God Above)

When The Sky Is About To Fall” video from 2006

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Skaten – “We Are All Children With Different Titles” (Creature Sounds, August 4)

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Skaten is not just another random Swedish band of unknown quantity and quality. This project by Simone Andersson Wingfors has been written about on various Swedish blogs for well over a year (me here) despite the fact that the songs have only been demos on MySpace. Well now is the time to revisit Skaten who has a new record on vinyl and CD titled We are all children with different titles.

Taken as a whole it wouldn’t be incorrect to label Skaten’s new record piano pop. But if you dig deeper into each song you hear elements of more serious music; be it classical, jazz, gypsy, or circus cabaret. I chose the song “Territory” to share with you as it combines many of these elements in one song. I suggest you listen to this one on a full range stereo (hifi) system to get the full effect. The bass is as full as you’d expect from a hip hop track, the scattershot drums pulse and ricochet, and Simone’s voice will give your tweeters (and your emotions) a workout.

Contact Simone here – creaturesounds@riseup.net – to order the new ep.

Territory

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I’ve got “Terrible Feelings”

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Terrible Feelings is an apt name for a band that spews out such angst ridden music. I think the band shares the punk ethos while at the same time making guitar driven rock that could appeal to the masses. It helps that lead singer Manuela has one hell of a voice that she utilizes every inch of on “Hollow”.

The band is the support for The Smith Westerns at the Dabaser in Malmö on June 10. Get there early and don’t miss out on Terrible Feelings.

Hollow

Bonus

Blank Heads

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Refreshingly great indie pop/electronica/indie folk by De Montevert (Ellinor Nilsson)

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Last week was quiet around here. I was actually waiting to get approval and a song from a particular artist I had emailed. Turns out I forgot to hit send. Once I got that resolved it was near impossible to select just one song by De Montevert (aka Ellinor Nilsson). Her style is all over the place from indie pop to indie folk to experimental electronica and everything in between. I chose the song “High On You because it has the most accessible sound and that indescribable indie pop naivity and purity.

I could honestly go on and on. But I’ll just say do yourself a favor and check out her MySpace page, listen to “DKT, “All Happy Endings”, “Both Human” and/or “Galpal”. And if you are in the Stockholm area in August check out De Montevert on Aug 7 Cosy Den 2010, Gula Villan (Stockholm, Haninge).

High On You

As a bonus here’s a video for her song “Cat Jones”. Try to watch this video and not be enchanted by De Montevert. Watch as she try’s to keep from smiling as she describes the exploits of a cat named Jones, then be amazed at the beautiful voice she has, and then I dare you to try and not be charmed as she turns the song on its head at the end. If there was any justice in the world this song and video would have gone viral by now.


CAT JONES

de Montevert | MySpace Music Videos

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PURPL PoP

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

I turned off comments on this blog a while ago to combat spam (and people who tried to correct my spelling) but I’m going to turn them back on today so we can discuss “The Way” from PURPL PoP. Tell me what you think. Share your thoughts.

This is the debut single from this Swedish duet. They’re clearly having fun.

The Way

Posted in Artists, Swedish Hip Hop | Comments

**SXSW Preview** Miss Li

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

If only Americans could concentrate on more than one artist at a time I think Miss Li could be a crossover star in the states. But as it is it seems we only have room for one piano playing indie rock star chic. Miss Li is force to be reckoned with in Sweden and Europe. She headlines the larger fesitvals and her live show is full of energy. Like Movits! Miss Li could be one of the breakout Swedish artists of SXSW 2010.

Her official showcase takes place Saturday, March 20 at 8:00 PM Victorian Room at The Driskill.

Shangri La

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Posted in Artists, Miss Li | Comments

**SXSW** Preview – Movits!

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Over the next month or so I’ll be previewing the Swedish acts of note to play SXSW in Austin. Movits! are one of the more high profile Swedish bands since their appearance last year on Colbert. I expect them to make a stir at SXSW in part because besides scoping out talent most of the folks at SXSW are there to party and I can’t imagine a better band to party to than the funk/hip-hop/big band sound of Movits!

Here’s the info on their official shocase but hopefully they’ll be playing around a bunch more:

Friday, March 19 at 01:00 AM
Club 115

Fel Del Av Garden

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Ossian Ekenger – “There’s a Place” (Beatles cover)

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

I’ve been gone for about 10 days from Swedesplease. Honestly been having difficulty finding music that I want to post, or rather that I feel compelled to post. These two new songs from Ossian Ekenger fit the bill. The first is an odd take on The Beatles song “There’s A Place” and the second is a song about his troubled brother Ivan. I’ve written about Ossian before here and here.

There’s A Place
Ivan, There’s Trouble

Posted in Ossian Ekenger | Comments

Tim Scmidt – “Slower Things”

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

I mentioned Tim Schmidt the other day in my post about Jenny Bjorkqvist and also back in May 2008. His debut solo record Slower Things is now finally available. It’s out now on the German label Analogsoul and can be purchased through iTunes or AMAZON here and here.

This song is a bonus track not on the album. Like the album title suggests these songs are meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Whether it’s just Tim and his acoustic guitar like on “Brighton Beach” or with a little more acompaniement like on “One Of Them Branches” the songs always unfold with quiet calm.

One Of Them Branches

“Brighton Beach” video

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Posted in Swedish folk, Tim Schmidt, Uncategorized | Comments

Stunning new ep from Symfoniorkestern – “Tänd eld på dig själv (för det du tror på)”

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

I literally just got an email from Symfoniorkestern announcing a new ep about a minute ago. Since I had neglected Swedesplease for most of the day today I ran downstairs to my desktop (the laptop upstairs is too wonky for such an important post) and started typing. What to say is the question? In the past I have compared them to Detektivbyrän and listening to track 3 – “Del 3″ – makes me think I was definitely on to something. But whereas Detektivbyrän are a one trick pony (an excellent one at that); Symfoniorkestern have more range – they add odd chanting vocals, bits of dissonance and some lovely harmonies.

There are 5 songs on the ep and each one is a revelation. They range in tempo and style from the pop flavored title track to the electronic undertones of “Elektron Kukéso” to the near cathartic frenzied/ominous synth sounds of “Del 3″. The new ep, Tänd eld på dig själv (för det du tror på), is available here for free in its awesome, spellbinding entirety. The band has spent a year and a half recording this ep, I only wish I could somehow give this review the same amount of care. I hope you download these tracks and enjoy them.

Tand Eld Pa Dig Sjalv

Bonus

Del 3

Video for “Tand Eld Pa Dig Sjalv”

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Posted in Symfoniorkestern | Comments

Old Lost John – “Faceless” (riyl Bon Iver, J Tilman, The Tallest Man On Earth)

Monday, October 5th, 2009

It’s been a couple of years (here) since my last post about the Swedish indie folk artist Old Lost John. Not much has changed. On the new record Faceless he still sings in a hushed and pained voice. Instrumentation remains quietly somber, a mix of traditional folk and maybe something a little more modern.

Order the new record directly from Old Lost John here.

Fairies and Fools
Broken

Bonus:

She Won’t Listen
The Boy With A Fever

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Posted in Old Lost John, Swedish folk | Comments

New experimental pop record from Erik de Vahl

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Erik de Vahl’s new record is being described as “the straightest pop-songs I’ve ever done but also some more experimental pieces”. You can hear both influences on the single song “Running”. It’s got a Memphis slow jam feel with instrumentation that reminds me of a classic Ann Peebles track, but meanwhile it’s layered in such a way with so many found sounds and samples that it does sound truly experimental.

Erik de Vahl is distributing this new record (it’s a double mini cdr) himself. Follow this link to listen to some samples and order the record for 80SEK/11EUR. Here’s “Running” from the new record.

Running

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Posted in Erik De Vahl | Comments

Something new from Taxi Taxi

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Here’s a song from Taxi Taxi’s upcoming debut LP that hasn’t made the rounds of yet. I wrote about Taxi Taxi way back when and at the time was intrigued by all the angles (twins, very young, unusual harmonies – did I say gorgeous?) as well as being impressed by their music.

I had hoped that their sound would grow and change over time, but instead it’s stayed rather simple, if now it’s somewhat adorned. Perhaps I was hoping for too much from them. Here’s “Ripest Fruit” off of Still Standing At Your Back Door (Rumracket, Sept. 21).

Ripest Fruit

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Posted in Taxi Taxi, Uncategorized | Comments

New single from Elias And the Wizzkids

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

I think Elias and the Wizzkids is one of the most underrated indie bands in Sweden. If you can get past the slightly accented English you’ll find a pop band that plays sunny, catchy music.

“Mr Right Guy” is an upbeat song about the perfect guy – possibly Elias himself. Not sure if it’s ironic or on the up and up. Either way it’s incredibly catchy with an almost Caribbean infectiousness. Riyl Montt Maride, Billie the Vision and Dancers, and I’m From Barcelona.


Mr. Right Guy

“Mr. Right Guy”

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A great new song from Gothenburg based troubadour Chuck Morgan

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

I don’t know if there’s a term for the sound of Chuck Morgan. The last post I did on this Gothenberg based troubadour tried to peg him as “romantic indie pop”. His new song, “The Best Of You”, continues that sound but adds even more electronic beeps and blips to the mix. So how about “romantica” for music that mixes emotion with electronics, love with bytes and feelings with 1’s and 0’s?

I don’t know about you but I love this kind of stuff. And Chuck Morgan needs a little love, so please, if you have a music blog, a twitter account, a facebook page, a tumbler, or a myspace please write about Chuck Morgan (feel free to steal my bandwidth and repost the link to his new song “The Best Of You”). Help out a truly “indie” artist and this truly “indie” blog and spread the word.

The Best Of You

Posted in Chuck Morgan, Swedish Indie Pop | Comments

New record from Fredrik Stähl – “Universally Personal” (Frukt Records, June 3)

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

I find that the music released by netlabels is generally more touch than go. The exception to that rule may be the small netlabel based in Gothenberg called Frukt Records. I’ve loved many of their releases and I think I can say the same for the new record from Frederick Stähl. It’s called Universally Personal and is best summed up by this description from Fredrik:

“Mixing a bit of catchyness with a bit of subtleness. Pop with a splash of electronica. The bitter with a large chunk of sweet.”

and

“It’s filled to the brim with heartfelt, yet catchy tunes, straightforward, but always with a twist.”

Here’s the song “Biblical Parenting” which does all of the above and a bit more (sampling):

Biblical Parenting

Posted in Artists, Fredrik Stahl, pop | Comments

Infectious “R&B” from Mighty Mighty

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

“Hjorten Gal” is a slight but engaging bit of electronic funk by Mighty Mighty (aka Mathias Söderberg of Stockholm).

Hjorten Gal

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Posted in Electronica, Mighty Mighty | Comments

New music from Ossian Ekenger (riyl Ramona Cordova, Jose Gonzalez)

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

One way I think about which songs should be included on Swedesplease is to ask myself if they would be a welcome addition to my iPod. If the songs I write about were to pop up on shuffle, would they intrigue me enough to keep me from skipping over them or better yet track them down? If the answer to those questions is yes than IU’m happy to write about them on Swedesplease. The songs of Ossian Ekenger have found and will continue to find a place on the iPod shuffle of my heart. They are interesting, mysterious, soothing, and odd little lofi masterpieces.

It’s been almost a year since the first and only mention of Ossian Ekenger on the internet courtesy of Swedesplease, so it’s as good a time as any for a followup. Here are two new songs from this Gothenburg based pop upstart.

Christmas In July
Black Brittle Star Revisited

Posted in Ossian Ekenger | Comments

{Exclusive MP3} New song from Val Venosta

Monday, April 20th, 2009


(1st pic I’ve seen of this duo)

I’m going to write about Val Venosta til they drag me kicking and screaming from my keyboard. The band creates electronic dance music that always has a solid beat and usually adds just the right amount of processed vocals, robotic sound effects, and sci-fi samples. They just sent me this new song exclusively for Swedesplease readers. Enjoy!

These Days

Bonus

I Think Billy Wilder Would Like This
Womanizer
Kaleidescope
Union

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Posted in Val Venosta | Comments

New track from Robert Svensson

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Here, by the wonder that is Twitter, is a bonus track and a new song from Robert Svensson. No Method Records is the best place for new and old Svensson.

I’m loving the emotional vocal delivery and the line “I was architecture and you were the wrecking ball”.

I Was Summer You Were

Posted in Robert Svensson | Comments

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