Swedish Fairytale

They’ve been described in Sweden as “the best band to emerge from the Swedish indie scene since The Hives”, but truth really, is that The Legends aren’t a band at all. The solo legend is Johan Angergard, former member of Club 8 and Acid House Kings. Now up to his fourth album; Over and Over is due out in the USA and UK on June 15. It follows three critically acclaimed albums, beginning with 2004′s Up Against The Legends which bought The Legends international attention.

The Legends were officially born in 2003, just weeks before their first show supporting The Radio Dept. The nine piece band that took the stage reportedly stole the spotlight, until it was later revealed that Angergrad had composed, recorded and produced all four albums on his own. His work has been compared to New Order, Jesus and Mary Chain and The Cure; moulding elements of all three into a spacey realm of distorted shoegaze style pop. Angergrad definitely has a love for the distortion pedal; his music is over-run with hazy squeals and white noise.

Over and Over, the band’s new album, has already raised some eyebrows. The first single titled ‘Seconds Away’, has been described as “the nosiest pop single to ever have come out of Sweden” and maintained the number 1. spot on Elbo.ws for nearly three weeks. The album features contributions from some of Angergrad’s closest friends, including Karolina Komstedt (Club 8) and Philip Ekstrom (The Mary Onettes).

If you’re into shoegaze or sparse, spacey pop music then The Legends are just up your alley. You can purchase the new album from the band’s Swedish record label, Labrador Records.

The Legends- Touch: MP3

The Legends- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under Sweden
No Comments

Don’t Let Me Down

More music from Sweden, this time it’s Dag for Dag. The name translates to ‘day by day’ in English. Californian siblings Sarah and Jacob Snavely  formed the band after years on the road, living and getting lost from San Francisco to London and many places in between, before eventually ending up in Stockholm. The pair reunited and lived together in a small one-room bourgeoisie style apartment in Stockholm and that is when the music began to flow from within their creative minds. In Sweden the pair found a place to call home; a place to love and a place to be inspired.

They first started playing together in September 2007, armed with guitars and both sharing vocal duties. To translate to the live setting they employed a drummer. Soaking their songs in reverb, laid amongst beautiful flowing rhythms and weeping guitars, the duo’s music bathes in darkness. Similarities can be drawn to The Smiths, The Veils or PJ Harvey, a lot depends on who’s singing as the songs tend to be based around the different vocal platforms of each individual’s style.

Their career thus far has been very prosperous, they have shared the stage with Lykke Li, The Kills, Wolf Parade and Shout Out Louds, and in coming weeks they will play shows with Women and Handsome Furs. The band has an EP titled Shooting From The Shadows out now via Saddle Creek Records; home to other artists including Sebastian Grainger and Richard Swift.

Dag for Dag- Pirate Sea: MP3

 Dag for Dag- You Holler, You Scream: MP3

 Dag for Dag- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under Sweden
No Comments

Abolish All Cute Princesses

Before the Vivian Girls became popular and made everyone swoon over their girlie post-punk, a little band called Liechtenstein from Gothenburg, Sweden were doing the same thing. Originally formed as a four piece band back in 2005, Naemi, Elin and Renee now hold the band together without Teresa, who left after the release of their debut EP Stalking Skills. The band is now ready to release their full-length debut; titled Survival Strategies In A Modern World, it has a release date set for May 26 through Slumberland Records.

Named after the Principality of Liechtenstein, which lies in the mountains between Switzerland and Austria, the girls apparently like what the name represents. In an interview with All That Ever Mattered, Renee says “None of us have ever been there, but we like the name very much, both the sound of it and the way it is kind of associated with a very small principality with quite ‘special’ politics when it comes to bank accounts, etc. And I heard they have zero unemployment, which sounds quite surreal.”

Liechtenstein bring to mind a fuzzy guitar heavy version of The Slits, or perhaps a less experimental Vivian Girls. Their songs are based around a lot of fuzz and distortion with floating rhythms that for the most part lie in the background, behind the girls beautiful vocal harmonies. The first single from the album ‘Roses In The Park’ features a simple repetitive guitar riff that delves more into punk rock than their previous material. Some of the other songs from the album feature more of a post punk style, stripping away some of the fuzz and dropping some neat bass notes, but the vocal harmonies remain consistent throughout all their songs and add a sweet cherry to the top of their crooked punk rock.

Liechtenstein- Roses In The Park: MP3

 Liechtenstein- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under Sweden
No Comments

I’ll let you in on a secret, ‘It wasn’t me’

Echoing the whimsical, softly spoken Swedish melodies of Robyn, Lykke Li is the latest Scandinavian sensation to hit the world-wide airwaves. Proving her worth, she’s already collaborated with members of The Shout Out Louds, The Concretes and Robyn.

It’s difficult not to compare Lykke Li with Robyn, many critics have done so and for very good reason. Their pop music has obvious similarities, at times it’s difficult to tell them apart. Lykke Li however, takes a more minimal approach, opting for classic piano and basic string arrangements instead of synthesizers and electronics. Singing with a soft, less abrasive tone than Robyn, her music has a unique summery charm and sits perfectly inside Sweden’s flourishing pop scene.

Her debut EP, titled Little Bit, has been available since mid-2007. It’s four tracks spring-boarded her into the spotlight, paving way for the release of her full-length debut Youth Novel. Produced by Swedish super producer Bjorn Yttling (Peter, Bjorn and John), who was also responsible for last years wonderful sophomore album from The Shout Out Louds, the album fuses the jazz inspired lashings of Yttling, with Li’s sombre pop vocals.

If you have not yet heard Lykke Li, download the tracks below. Sweden continues to have one of the most consistent music scenes on earth.

Lykke Li- Dance Dance Dance: MP3

Lykke Li- I’m Good I’m Gone: MP3

Lykke Li- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under Sweden
No Comments

“Like an Iceberg: Dense and Frigid.”

Radioavdelningen is one of Sweden’s best known and well-loved Indie/shoegaze/experimental/electronic collaborative projects. Johan Duncanson (vocals, guitar), Martin Larsson (guitar), Lisa Carlberg (“love of Martin”, and bass/vocals), and Per Blomgren (drums) make sweet, glistening melodies scorned with romantic maladies (ha). Now on one of Sweden’s most respected labels and with a few songs on Sophia Copolla’s Marie Antoinette soundtrack, the band have found favour with many fans of the eternally underrated My Bloody Valentine/Jesus and Mary Chain-esque haze.

Their gauzy, hazy, dreamlike songs perfectly suit the ponderous climes of the film, as Kirstin Dunst (sigh) and Jason Schwartzman (double sigh) fall about eachother and try to get along. Or something. The songs are more structured, to that effect, but their hopeless/hopeful songs seem shaded in mist and covered in mourning dew.

It’s doubtless you’ll want to listen to The Radio Dept. every day all the time, unless you’re a very sleepy person who doesn’t do much… their densely layered songs take some effort to listen to, but the melodies are strong and simple and beautiful. Always hidden under a heightened topography of soft, distorted fuzz and gentle, breathy vocals, whispered and sighed out from underneath drum echoes and the like. Overall they’re an amazing, beautiful band, far more rant-worthy than this or any post can attempt to do them justice.

The Radio Dept.- Pulling Our Weight: MP3

The Radio Dept.- Keen On Boys: MP3

The Radio Dept.- This Past Week: MP3

The Radio Dept.- Website

Posted by Sarah Gooding under Sweden
No Comments

Na Na Na Na Na Batgirls!!

As if it was still 1978, girl punk lives on in Sweden. These four Goteborg assassins are hear to charm your pants off, with attitude, a little bit of angst and a whole lotta love. Their debut 7″ has just been released and is ready to be an instant hit with indie fans world wide.

The most obvious hook attached to Liechtenstein is their similarity to some of punks finest girl bands. Mixing it with the best throughout time, from The Shags to The Shop Assistants and Sleater Kinney, Liechtenstein’s name will soon be added to the list.

With basic pop licks syphoned into a melting pot of gentle bass and percussion, Liechtenstein prove they can keep as good a melody as anyone. With a simple guitar cord played to repetition; a formula that’s worked for decades already and will work forever, the girls are a most welcome addition to our ears. Obviously indie, and obviously craving a slice of fame.

Liechtenstein- Stalking Skills: MP3

Liechtenstein- Cravings: MP3

 Liechtenstein- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under Sweden
No Comments

Former Concretes vocalist and famous for being the voice of Peter, Bjorn and John’s ‘Young Folks’ Victoria Bergsman has branched out on her own. After calling it quits with her long time friends and going through a period of complete distaste for music, Bergsman has again found the musical spark. She calls it Taken By Trees and it’s essentially music built around her voice. For those who followed her break up with the Concretes, it probably comes as a surprise to hear Bergsman so soon. Leaving the Concretes last year, she sighted burn out and a lack of desire for traveling the world moving day to day. But it was playing live that pushed her over the edge, bets are she won’t by playing many solo shows for Taken By Trees.

With the Concretes releasing their first post Bergsman album recently it was inevitable they were going to be compared. Depending on how you look at it, Bergsman’s departure has been a blessing for both parties. Hey Trouble has seen the Concretes release their catchiest work yet, full of instrumental hooks and magnificent story telling. Open Field, the title of Bergsman’s Taken By Trees, suits her vocal style better than the pop melody of her former band. With minimal backing, it’s transformed her into a folk star that sounds more 1950 than present day. After thinking we’d lost Victoria Bergsman forever, it’s an absolute pleasure to have her back.

Taken By Trees- Julia: MP3

Taken By Trees- Too Young: MP3

The Concretes- Kids: MP3

Taken By Trees- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under Sweden
No Comments