Solander
Fri 27 Aug 2010
Past/Present/Future
To Swedish ears the name Solander is already well engraved, but in these parts they’re still relatively unknown, despite having been around since 2005. The band released three EPs between 2005-2007 and in 2008 they released their debut album, titled Confessional Failures. However the main reason for Solander’s relative obscurity is for the past two years the band has been operating as the solo project of Fredrik Karlsson (bottom left); the band only recently reunited.
It was Karlsson’s solo work as Solander which I recently uncovered, a beautiful masterpiece of visionary pop music titled Since We Were Pigeons. The album was written by Karlsson and recorded with the help of his fellow band mates and other friends. The result is a pragmatic, meandering folk rock/indie pop fusion, littered with lightly strummed guitars, pristine vocal harmonies and rustic percussion. It mixes the wintry charm of Peter, Bjorn and John’s Writer’s Block with the romantic beauty of the Shout Out Louds‘ sophomore album Our Ill Wills. As music it creates its own imagery; rain falling on roof tops, grey skies, children splashing in puddles wearing yellow rain coats, but it also has an emotional connection; one of lost opportunities, new beginnings and uncertainty over future endeavours.
For a small price Since We Were Pigeons can be downloaded from Solander’s bandcamp page. Two singles from the album, ‘Narcissus’ and ‘Looking For Gold’, can be downloaded for free. Both singles come backed with exclusive b-sides, ‘Looking For Gold’ includes a cover of Shellac’s ‘Prayer To God’.
Solander- Looking For Gold: MP3
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Nice to see htat we reached down under!
Love,
Solander