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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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”