This blog is rapidly turning into the Swedish music appreciation society because music from that country is all I seem to be listening to lately. Here's another treasure to add to the growing list. Jonas Ståhl, aka the Bent Pen Project, is a student who records his little ditties to a machine called a Boss BR-8. The decidedly lo-fi nature of his music doesn’t detract from the charm, in fact it kinda augments the experience much like those Daniel Johnston recordings. Thankfully Ståhl has a wider range of melodies to choose from as well as beefier musical palette. Despite the Bent Pen Project’s zero budget there is an undeniable richness to tunes like ‘Longing At The Nowhere Station’ wherein Ståhl’s falsetto is suitably aided by the tender instrumentation. If your heart is already broken here is something to help you wallow in your own sorrow. Much like his recording tools it is totally GR-8. KD

The Bent Pen Project - Longing At The Nowhere Station

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: The Bent Pen Project
Year: 2006

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I know this song is going to annoy me some day but for now it’s the catchiest piece of indie rock I’ve heard so far this year. Featuring the recently revitalised Iggy Pop ‘Punkrocker’ thankfully decides not to invite Sandi Thom along. Instead it’s left to the Swedish combo Teddybears to recall the Cars at their most illuminating. Teddybears have good form appearing alongside the unheralded yet devastating Annie on an earlier release called ‘Yours To Keep’ (from their current album ‘Soft Machine’). They’ve also had their ‘Cobrastyle’ soundtrack a Heineken ad. Not bad for a band named after a Phil Spector band from the 1950’s. Their shapeshifting musical style reigns in elements of electronic, rock and even reggae and one of the band even plays in the group that made the iPod famous (the Caesars). So when ‘Punkrocker’ starts to get on your nerves tuck into ‘Soft Machine’ for some pleasant alternatives. KD

Teddybears - Punkrocker

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Soft Machine [US] Soft Machine
Year: 2006

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Karl Bushby

Budapest - Walking On Water

Band Info: Myspace




Martin Strel

Summer Hymns - Start Swimming

Band Info: Official & Myspace




Michael Perham

Pants Yell! - Onward, Sailboat

Band Info: Official & Myspace


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As inventive as the gadget king of the same name ‘Q’ came courtesy of one of Future Sound of London’s many guises Mental Cube. Given its age it’s remarkable that ‘Q’ doesn’t exist purely as a period piece. The tune must have seemed futuristic back in 1990, yet even in 2007 it remains cutting edge. Surprising it is, considering the dynamics are drawn from the base materials of most electronic journeys. The central beat is primeval, almost ‘Positive Education’ in its nature and the drum beats are hardly revolutionary. What makes this a great record though is the spectral additions, drifting ice caps grafted from solid banks of synths and the dainty shudderings that flit in and out of earshot. This is music to immerse oneself in, psychedelia for humanoids that have to get up for work the next morning. KD

Mental Cube - Q

Watch The Video To FSOL's Papua New Guinea

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy FSOL's: [UK] Lifeforms [US] Lifeforms
Year: 1994

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Another gem crafted from the loins of the majestic Labrador label. And while we’re on the subject the same label has just released a retrospective of their first 100 releases. If pristine pop is your bag then this will go some way to packing it. Somewhat surprisingly Acid House Kings have been around since 1991 but have flown under the radar despite some admirable promotional campaigns such as the Acid House Kings karaoke DVD! Listening to their music it’s obvious all AHK’s need is a marketing agency to append their sunshine pop to any TV advert they have planned. The sound reminds of Camera Obscura, the Legends (which shares some members), early St. Etienne and there are even some shades of the Carpenters. ‘Do What You Wanna Do’ is a faultless tune from the bands 5th album ‘Sing Along With Acid House Kings’. Here you'll find cascading vocal melodies, sixties soundscapes and the most finely tuned handclaps this side of Gypsy Kings. Acid House Kings have contributed 7 songs to the aforementioned Labrador 100 compilation, enuff said. KD

Acid House Kings - Do Want You Wanna Do

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Sing Along With Acid House Kings [US] Sing Along With Acid House Kings
Year: 2005

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It’ll play a few times before you realise it’s been in your head before. Bib the self confessed future of music with no future are from London and could do a smashing job supporting Klaxons on their next all conquering tour. The Bib (up there with the worst names in the history of music, infantile really) story is an altogether fascinating one if it’s actually the truth. Two suspected layabouts used to drink in the same pub as a freshly off the wagon George Best. Noting that both had similar musical tastes Best suggested they form a band. They took his advice and Bib was born. Thus far they have released 2 singles on different labels (Big Billy and Adult Baby (!)) and put out ‘I Wanna Be A Better’ as a free download on their website. Synth heavy Depeche Mode obviously makes its presence known but the soft twee vocals lend the song a fascinating sub plot. I Just Can’t Get Enough (of this). KD

Bib - I Wanna Be A Better

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Bib's: Tear Up The Streets
Year: 2006

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Right before they were inventing a great new band for every day of the year Sweden produced the Wannadies from Skelleftea. With their origins stretching as far back as 1988 the Wannadies have gone from obscurity to popularity and back again. Fame visited them briefly in 1997 when their single ‘You & Me Song’ (from the ‘Be A Girl’ album) was featured on the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack. ‘Hit’ came out that same year and although it may have lacked the rich sheen of ‘You & Me Song’ it is hard to resist the giddy charm and the helter skelter velocity. Originally planned as a b-side it not only made its way on the ‘Bagsy Me’ album but became a UK top 20 HIT. The tune was backed up by a fetching video (see below) that involved band members in various stages of gymnastic falls. The Wannadies have had a very rocky relationship with their chosen labels which certainly hasn’t helped their cause. Thankfully they are still on the go and are currently writing material for their 7th album. KD

The Wannadies - Hit

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More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Bagsy Me [US] Bagsy Me
Year: 1997

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I’m not sure if I said it here before but U2 stopped being an essential band for me during the fade out of ‘All I Want Is You’ on the ‘Rattle & Hum’ album. Up to that point I was besotted, Bono was my hero and I was blind to his, frankly embarrassing, procrastinations. The Edge was the epitome of cool, Larry Mullins his jokey side kick while even back then Adam Clayton stood out as a pleasant geek (the buffon hairstyle was shameful even back then). U2’s early albums are still crucial, energetic and varied displaying a band with ideas to burn. A lot was thanks to Dave Evans memorable riffs (both piano and chord) but U2 were always much more than the sum of their parts. ‘Boy’ is probably my favourite album because it has a natural progression from start to finish, thanks largely to the wonderful segues in the latter section of side one (vinyl speak). ‘October’ the follow up was a departure but it also had wonderful unheralded moments like ‘I Fall Down’, which has stood the test of time. There is almost a spiritual feel in the bands delivery, that special ingredient latter day U2 have long since abandoned. KD

U2 - I Fall Down

Watch The Video To Gloria

More Info: U2
Buy Album: [UK] October [US] October
Year: 1981

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There are quite a few things about the Delilahs to get excited about. First off they come from a neat place called Zug in Switzerland yet they still display a nice line in edgy aggression. Secondly, despite their short years their profile at home is such that they've already supported Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. And finally they decided to called their debut release ‘This Is It’ (not even the Strokes dared to do that) giving the impression that confidence is something the band aren't short of. They cite the Breeders (does that make them the real Deal?) and the Pretenders as influences and you can spot them on the lairy sneer that is 'Wind Keeps Blowing (and I Keep Falling)'. And all this from a demo that was recorded 2 years ago. Oh yeah lastly, the Delilah’s love football and have recorded a song called ‘One-Nil at Home’. Give them a guitar and a yard of stage and they could be something well worth watching. KD

The Delilahs - Wind Keeps Blowing (and I Keep Falling)

Watch The Video To The Breeders Cannonball

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Delilahs: Stuff
Year: 2006

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Not even the normally reliable Wikipedia can reveal anything new about this UK band. Just when you think the internet has got it all you go and rediscover an early nineties band who have even been forgotten by the biggest open database the world has ever known. I can remember recording this fabulous song from the radio to tape in early 1991 (slim times kids, but somehow we treasured the music we had even more) and constantly replaying it until the tape spooled and snapped. Top were Alan Wills, Joe Fearon and Paul Cavanagh and were the proud recipients of a Peel session exactly 16 years yesterday. Their one and only album ‘Emotion Lotion’ was released the same year and still sounds like the perfect accompaniment to (fellow scousers) the La’s eponymous debut. ‘She’s Got All The World’ may initially seem a tad formulaic but Cavanagh continually summons a wealth of vocal inventiveness to bathe your tired ears in. KD

Top - She's Got All The World

Watch The Video To Number One Denomiator

More Info: ???
Buy Album: [UK] Emotion Lotion [US] Emotion Lotion
Year: 1991

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Despite falling head over for euphoric trance towards the end of the last century its funny how I rarely return to the countless compilations I picked up. A couple of things still stand out in my memory though. Art of Trance’s ‘Madagascar’ is just too epic to forget and I always had a soft spot for whatever Dutch whizz kid Ferry Corsten turned his hand to. I remember this track from a cursory listen I gave to Timo Maas’s ‘Loud’ album in a Sydney record store back in 2001. ‘O.C.B.’ (Obsessive Compulsive Bipolar) has a hypnotic quality, not unlike ‘Indian Vibes’ even though I’m not sure whether the chords are guitar or sitar produced (probably both). The beat is bulbous a la Fatboy Slim’s better moments and once it kicks in it's hard to restrain oneself from rocking approvingly. Maas has drifted into the indie arena of late remixing songs for both Placebo and Depeche Mode (‘Personal Jesus’ if you don’t mind). KD

Timo Maas - O.C.B.

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Loud [US] Loud
Year: 2001

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I can’t think of anything else I would rather listen to this winter’s evening than ’20 Fingers 20 Toes’ by Goodnight Monster. Perhaps it’s the effect of a hangover or perhaps it’s the realisation that 9-2-5 is beckoning in a couple of hours. Whatever it is about these Finns (Matti Jasu and Valtteri Virtanen), right now the twee glow from this song is all I need to lock out the world outside. They have an album too called ‘The Brain That Wouldn’t Die’ and a quick glance of some its reviews reveals that ’20 Fingers 20 Toes’ isn’t alone in its venture to please those enamoured with simple melodies and cute musical gestures. The lyrics also toe the party line, being as innocently exuberant as a 3 years old attempt to break his keepy uppy record. Goodnight Monster are currently working on their sophomore record. KD

Goodnight Monsters - 20 Fingers 20 Toes

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Buy Album: The Brain That Wouldn't Die
Year: 2006

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Some day soon a crack documentary team are going to have to infiltrate deepest Sweden and find out how on earth a country of under 10 million is currently producing a fair percentage of the most exciting acts in indiedom. A good starting point on the journey of sonic discovery could be one Emil Svanängen, the impetus that powers Loney, Dear. I know I slip into hyperbole quite easily but if Loney, Dear’s ‘Loney, Noir’ is not featuring in most lists of the top albums of 2007 then I’ll eat my moth ridden long sleeved Frank & Walters t-shirt. Quite simply it is an astonishing work that’ll have tingles running down your spine in the same way it happened that time you overestimated your capacity for swallowing desert spoons of fizzy sherbet all those years ago. Svanängen has a delicate voice with an aptitude to reduce a man to tears. So far, ‘Carrying A Stone’ is the tune that always has its way with me until my slobbering becomes slightly undignified for a man in his mid-thirties. As you can imagine it is quite affecting. The track included here is the opener on ‘Loney, Noir’ that Sub Pop have posted on their website. ‘I Am John’ is busy with all manner of subtle nuances like a tinkling glockenspiel, early Belle & Sebastian guitar led dalliances and Svanängen virtuoso performance that marks him out as a singular voice. I've got a camera, anyone want to join me? 'Loney, Noir' is released on Sub Pop on February 6th. You can hear him on 'This Boy' from I'm From Barcelona. KD

Loney, Dear - I Am John

Watch The Video To The City, The Airport

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Loney, Noir [US] Loney Noir
Year: 2007

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I like Frightened Rabbit because they take the funniest of press shots of themselves in various stages of exhaustion. It’s a laissez faire approach that is to be commended; they don’t even let us know what their surnames are for god’s sake. They are two brothers from Glasgow called Scott and Grant who recorded a nice song 3 years ago and decided that maybe being in a band was the way to go. Since then another soul has joined them and together they made something called ‘Sing The Greys’. ‘Be Less Rude’ is the 5th track from that something and a tidy package it is too. Scott’s vocals sound like a cowering Robert Smith while the band do a good approximation of what Pavement were capable of as they entered one of their cohesive ‘Slanted & Enchanted’ sessions (with tuneful harmonica asides). Frightened Rabbit will probably be filthy rich some day; their tired natures will probably mean the gold will be hidden under their mattresses. KD

Frightened Rabbit - Be Less Rude

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Sing the Greys [US] Sing the Greys
Year: 2006

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When it comes to shoegaze it’s hard to look beyond the heavy hitters MBV, Slowdive, the Pale Saints and Ride. Reading’s Chapterhouse also belong to this premier grouping due largely to their early wide eyed sonic manoeuvres. Despite issuing a wonderful single in ‘Mesmerise’ Chapterhouse completely lost the plot after their early EP’s and ‘Whirlpool’ had promised so much. That said the album was an inconsistent piece but threw up several classics of the genre. It opened in breakneck fashion with ‘Breather’, which sported Chapterhouse’s signature wispy vocals that could quickly be ushered to the heavens in a fluid tract of melody. In the background, foreground and all around were unspeakably beautiful guitars building cavernous sounds for the vocals to lurch mischievously. 'Breather' still sounds remarkably uplifting 16 years on and challenges the mighty ‘Pearl’ as the bands best work. ‘Whirlpool’ was re-released recently once the bands label noticed the vast sums that existing copies were fetching on auction sites. KD

Chapterhouse - Breather

Watch The Grainy Video To Pearl

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Album: [UK] Whirlpool [US] Whirlpool
Year: 1991

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