02/01/2017 – Mitch Murder-Lit

Mitch Murder empties his psychic hard drive and releases and odds and sods album for the ages

 

 

In certain circles Swedish synthwave producer Mitch Murder is nothing short of a deity. He makes contemporary electronic music that includes jazz, pop, soul and bossa nova and is influenced by Jan Hammer, Renoise, Vince DiCola and Paul Hardcastle, meaning that it has a sounds like the future while hinging at our cultural past.

 

 

As 2016 came to an end, Mitch Murder decided to empty is hard drive and release a compilation full of unreleased and free stand-alone tracks titled Selection 4. These songs feature samples from Jean Francois Freitas’ Another World, Russell Shaw’s Syndicate and Marcin Przybyłowicz’s Witcher 3, along with vocals from Emi of Satellite Young.

 

 

Selection 4 is a mixture of unreleased and free tracks that Mitch has recorded over the last year, or so. While this isn’t normally a cause for celebration, the beauty of this compilation is how it feels like a fully formed studio album. And this is Mitch Murder’s power. He effortlessly makes single serving and free standing songs feel like they belong as a whole, and more importantly makes us feel connected to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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15/11/2016 – Grapell-Arrow (Kauf Remix) (2016)

Grapell invited Kauf to remix Arrow. The resulting remix sounds like pop music from another dimension

 

 

OK, its Tuesday, there’s no need to get lairy and ram something balls to the wall down your throat. That can happen later in the week. Instead here is something a little different. Well not too different that you’ll be “WTF thisyearinmusic, we don’t come here for this…”, but different enough to allow you a few moments of quiet contemplation before you have to do something serious, like cook your dinner, send that awkward email you’ve been putting off all day, fill out that job application or some other serious adult thing.

 

 

Grappell have been around since 2013 and  have released a few things in Strangers Candy. This year they released an EP called Love Chamber. It was full of wonky pop songs that relied heavily on saxophone solos and laid back basslines, instead of neon synths and day-glo guitars. While Love Chamber followed the same pop rules of, well, every other pop song, it also didn’t, meaning that it stood out and got your attention. The stand out track was Arrow. There is nothing concrete as to why this stood out the most, but it did and I played it a lot. Now it has been remixed by Kauf.

 

 

Kauf has essentially sped everything up slightly and add a few more electronic layers. While this doesn’t sound that drastic, when you listen to the original and the remix back-to-back you pick up on all these subtle nuances. After a laidback opening, a funky bassline and burrows into your brain with rapid speed. Coupled to this is the haunting saxophone, with echoy vocals layered on top. It sounds like pop music from another dimension, where punk never happened and Ray Conniff is the biggest music star.

 

 

Rumour has it that Grapell are working on their debut album. Let’s hope that it’s as inventive as Love Chamber, because if it is we’ll have an album that will be perfect for commuting, entertaining and existential contemplation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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02/11/2016 – Frida Sundemo –We Are Dreamers (2016)

Frida Sundemo capitalises from last year’s Heroes and tees-up 2017 with new single

 

 

When I first started listening to Frida Sundemo’s new single We Are Dreamers I thought “Here we go. Another slice of Scando-Pop”, but after about thirty seconds these thoughts were replaced by “Wow! This is pretty good…!” At the end of the song my thoughts were “Yes! That was quality. Where is the repeat button…” and that, dear reader, is what my last hour has consisted of. Frida Sundemo’s We Are Dreamers on loop. For an hour.

 

 

We Are Dreamers is a follow up to last year’s Heroes, if you saw the film Kill Your Friends you should recognise Sundemo and the song as the film featured both. As with the former it’s a bombastic pop monster, but there is a progression in the song-writing and everything sounds tighter, more euphoric and immediate.

 

 

Next year Sundemo will release her debut long player and believe me this is something to get excited about. Pop used to be a dirty word, but thanks to Sundemo and her peers its becoming something far more positive and life affirming thanks to these dreamers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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25/10/2016 – Many Voices Speak-Away for All Time (2016)

Many Voices Speak’s vocals usher us to a lurid dreamscape that is made of delicate hooks and melodies

 

 

Matilda Mård AKA Many Voices Speak s about to release her debut EP Away For All Time this Friday. While it may only contain three songs, each one is a beautifully crafted slice of pop perfection. Title track, and new single, Away For All Time features a stuttering beat, woozy synths that remind us of The Car’s classic Drive, poignant keyboards, throbbing bass and possibly one of the vocal performances of the year, that brings to mind John Lennon.

 

 

The music is low tempo, but this is down to the record sessions. Two years ago Mård left the bustle of Stockholm for Borlänge. Due to the lack of distractions, and slower pace of life that is reflected in the music, Mård flourished and thanks to the local karaoke bars found her voice. “It became a free zone, far away from my own self-doubts and prestige about music.” When asked what the EP is about, Mård replied “I’ve been told so many times I shouldn’t brood, like that’s something bad. I can’t see any harm in thinking, look back, remember things and hopefully learn some from that.”

 

 

Yes the tempo might be slow, and the tone of the songs similar, but there is something bewitching about Mård’s vocal delivery and ear for melody. Will Away For All Time be topping end of year polls come December? Sadly probably not, but that doesn’t take anything away from this storng body of work. In 2017 many voices will speak about Matilda Mård. Let’s hope you are one of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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20/10/2016 – DEATH TEAM-Messed Up (2016)

Death Team bring it on new single about having a good time the night before the morning after

 

 

Pop, like a shark, never stops moving. Actually, saying pop is like a shark doesn’t really work. Sharks are massive, scary as beasts of the sea that would eat you whole as soon as look at you. Pop music on the hand is fun, inquisitive, playful and, well, enjoyable. That doesn’t sound like a shark does it? That sounds more like a dolphin. Now before you go “thisyearinmusic! What are you banging on about aquatic animals for?” The connection, contentious as it, is accurate. Swedish pop duo DEATH TEAM love dolphins. So much so they started their own Dolphin Awareness Day, when they released their single Dolphin Style about the creature’s plight in captivity.  See there is a connection!

 

 

On their new single Messed Up, DEATH TEAM have written a cautionary tale for those who enjoy getting messed up on the weekend. Through Trap-Pop beats and basslines DEATH TEAM list things that can get you merry on a weekend, but the chorus has an air of “If this a good idea though?”. It isn’t preachy, nor is it judgemental, it’s just implying that while it’s fun to party, it might not be something you want to do all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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29/05/2016 – Nadia Tehran-Superstars (2016)

Nadia Tehran is the only name you need to remember for 2016

 

 

In recent years EVERYONE appears to be ‘the next big thing’. Hell, we’re all guilty of it. Sadly only one person can be the one, and this year it looks set to be Nadia Tehran. Sorry anyone else applying for this, the position has been filled!

 

 

After listening to her debut EP Life is Cheap Death is Free you know everything you need to know about Tehran. The Swedish musician who makes politically charged high energy hip-hop and electronica. Imagine M.I.A. working with Atari Teenage Riot while Omar Souleyman remixes it. The beats are hard hitting, the bassline dubby and then WHAM! Tehran infuses it with her Arabic background and everything takes on a totally different cultural context. This doesn’t even take into Tehran’s visceral lyrics, that not only highlight what it’s like not to be a W.A.S.P. but a female too. But before you start thinking “Hmmmmmmmmm, not sure about this one thisyearinmusic” everything has a delectable pop sheen to it that hammers the EP into your subconscious.

 

 

Lead track Superstars has a cinematic vibe to it, that the previous four tracks don’t. It is grandiose in its composition and its Bond-esque hooks are gargantuan. The lyrics are just as massive however. Lyrics like “They would kill to be like us”, “We’re cool as winter. We’re as far as the moon” how that Tehran isn’t interested in telling a simple story, but there is a positive vibe running through the track with a chorus of “I’m a daughter of Venus, You’re the Sun of Mars. Baby don’t you know that we belong with Superstars” and repeated like a mantra “Baby you are my superstar” continues until swells of strings and keyboards wrap us in a silky blanket until its luscious outro fades into oblivion.

 

 

What makes Tehran such a vital voice in 2016 is that, quite frankly, she has something to say. She isn’t content to write songs about falling in and out of love, far from it, she has a bigger story to tell. She is discussing issues of migration, religion, gender, race and everything else in between. Yes you can say “But it’s just pop music?” and yes it is, but what better way to reach the masses that by wrapping your point in effulgently catchy and thought provoking music? What a superstar!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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16/05/2016 – Pink Milk-Detroit (2016)

Pink Milk return with another slab of glacial shoegazing

 

 

As far as genres go, Scandi Shoegaze has a certain ring about it. After reading, or hearing it, it conjures up images of semi clad people making a right racket with guitars and effects pedals. Luscious waves of reverb floating atop oceans of choppy drums and eddying bass. Pink Milk’s new single Detroit offers all this and more!

 

 

Last year saw Maria and Edward release a cover of Foreigner’s classic I Want to Know What Love Is. It was a slow, broody and very sexy. At times you felt that your windows were frosting over, due to the geliding nature of the music. Detroit on the other hand is far more warming. Immediately the massive drums draw you in until the colossal hooks and titanic melodies swirl about until you are frozen to the spot. While this might not be the furious shoegazing you were expecting, its slower tempo doesn’t take anything away from its intensity.

 

 

Despite how it intricate and dense quality the music it, Detroit has a simple story, as the band recently explained “The song is written to a childhood friend. We were kids trying to be cool, smoking candy, blowing fake smoke in the air, dreaming about freedom.”

 

 

Rumour has it there is more music in the pipeline for 2016, and after hearing this on loop for an hour I’m glad, as Pink Milk have it and it would be a shame for them to hibernate in a studio when they could be drip feeding up titbits until their album is ready for release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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16/09/2015 – Valley-Picture Puzzle Pattern Door (2015)

Valley’s sound has changed quite a bit from their humble beginnings, now they craft a positive post-rock, not an easy thing; that conjures up Sigur Ros or Mogwai making unadulterated pop. The melodies are so slick that they ooze out of your speakers like molasses.

 

 

Opening track Tunguska slowly builds during its seven and a half minutes without ever over staying its welcome and when it slowly drifts out you have trouble believing it was so long. Kiro follows on with the less is more vibe, by never really getting out of third gear, but somehow managing to create tension and drama through limited elements. After the exquisite start, Dream Shooter, Golden! is a slight let down. The droney siren at the beginning grates more than it should and the guitar work if fine, but doesn’t really go anywhere. All through the song you’re hoping for an exceptional peak, but it never quite happens and ultimately it feels like a wasted opportunity.

 

 

However, Picture Puzzle Pattern Door is the stand out track on the EP. At just over ten minutes long its takes its time getting going. Crickets let us know that dusk is upon us, and this gives the music a slightly sinister feel, imagine an cover from Neil Young’s Dead Man soundtrack, but given a slightly ambient euphoric twist. PPPD twists and drifts along nicely, but it’s about the three minute mark when things really start to get going. The music takes on a slightly harder tone and a vocal sample kicks in. This subtle added level of texture, the juxtaposition of vocals and tension building drums and guitar really makes PPPD end on a high.

 

 

What makes the EP better is looking at the cover while listening to it. The opening notes of Tunguska make perfectly with the image of the sun just poking out of the bottom corner of the valley, see what they did there, to the closing spoken word outro of Picture Puzzle Pattern Door. Whilst listening to the EP you feel that the sun and shadows are moving as Sunburst progresses. There are elements of hope and redemption that makes this not only an enjoyable, but uplifting listen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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11/03/2015 – Seaside Heights-Turnover (2015)

Swedish indiepop quintet mark 2015 as phase one in World Domination

 

 

Swaths of synth, feedback and piano wash over you. Euphoria fills builds and then BAM you’re brought back down to earth by a powerful, but emotional and tender vocal. This is exactly how debut single from Seaside Heights makes you feel.

 

 

Forming in 2012 in Gothenburg this indie pop quintet has taken the country by storm. Recently winning a poll of the most exciting unsigned act on P3 (think BBC Introducing and you’re close) they are gearing up to make 2015 a year to remember.

 

 

Sounding like a mixture of Bombay Bicycle Club, the Killers and the National their brand of indie pop is second to one. As the Sun is out what better way to spend your lunch or afternoon than listening to Turnover and thinking of a Summer filled with music like this.

 

 

Rumour has it that there is an album in the not too distant future. But before its release let’s revel in this four minute anthemic pop masterclass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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25/09/2014 – Goat-Goatchild (2014)

Swedish Afro-Beat Psych rockers return with more subtle second album

 

 

Since 2012’s World Music Goat have stood apart from their peers. They are unconcerned about any musical movements since 1972. They make a hypnotic blend of psychedelic rock/folk, afro-beat, Indian, funk, fusion and Gregorian chants. What’s more it works and sounds amazing. Just after 18 months from their incredible debut they have returned with Commune.

 

 

Commune picks up where World Music left off. Well that’s not entirely true. Commune isn’t as balls to the wall as World Music. At first this annoyed me, but on repeat listens (and there have been many) it is chocked full of melodies and ideas that World Music didn’t have.

 

 

Opening track Talk to God is a six and a half minute romp that opens with subtle chimes, a rhythmic hypnotic riff and tabla kicks in that basically drives the song until the vocals arrive (slightly shouted, slightly chanted). The riff gets faster and more frantic (mainly thanks to a surging bass that underpins the rest of the song). At times it feels that the song will never end, but sadly it does.

 

 

The Light Within has a more acoustic/organic feel to it. The music isn’t as frantic, but it still manages to keep up the intensity. It follows the blueprint laid down on Talk to God. Rhythmic riffs. Shouty chanty vocals, whilst slowly building to a peak. There’s even a bass and guitar call and response solo. It’s pretty clever stuff.

 

 

There is a downside though. While the album is a tight 38 minutes at times it’s hard to tell the songs apart as they all, kinda, sound a bit the same. However the composition and production is so good that you ultimately don’t care and get swept along with the journey. At time you feel that you are being indoctrinated into some kind of cult and if you could make it through the initiation you would have no worries and know the secret of life, the universe and everything. Luckily Goat aren’t a cult (though their live shows and costumes might lead you to believe differently), they’re just a bloody great band. Do yourself a favour. Get this album, play it as loud as you can and get lost in 38 minutes of some of the most interesting and intriguing music produced this year.

 

 

9/10

 

Goat – Goatchild

 

 

September 2014

 

 

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