Monday 27 November 2006

Herman Dune: Giant - Album Review

Once again, I have fallen in love with a Swedish band. Only recently having discovered them, they consist of André Herman Düne (guitars and vocals), David-Ivar Herman Düne (guitars and vocals) and Neman Herman Düne (drums and sometimes backing vocals).

The first track I heard is "I wish I could see you soon" which has an accompanying video which is simple and beautiful. Andre introduces 3 letters Y-O-U and says "when they are together they are a word, they are the best name in the world" before proceeding into the brilliantly crafted tune, with upbeat guitar followed by the "angels" singing and horns.

In fact, why not just watch it yourself....


There are some very witty, amusing little lines, especially in the song 1-2-3 Apple Tree with such as "if you're puzzled and if you don't understand me, you can play me like a DVD". It's a childlike love song with other gems like "If you called me Ray if my name was Raymond, your name ain't Suzanne but i would call you Sue, to show you how much i like to be with you"

I get the impression that David Ivar is not making fun of you, but just having fun with you.

The percussion through the album is particularly impressive with "Doctor Lori Schonberg" on the bongo drums on many tracks.

David-Ivar often goes from singing to talking and back which makes it almost like he's talking to you personally and much of the lyrics give you the same impression.

Overall a brilliant album with variation, personal tales and some touching love songs.

For some reason Amazon are not selling this album but you can find it on CD Wow or HERE

Herman Dune: www.hermandune.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/therealhermandune

Wednesday 22 November 2006

Loney, Dear: Sologne - Album Review

I wish I could start by telling you what the name of the band means. However, I can't.... Sologne, however, is a region in north-central France.

What I can tell you is that this band which is, in the main, the creation of Emil Svanangen is full of very personal songs. The beauty of the album is that Emil has artistic freedom and there are no shoe-horns into any category, style and you feel like this is an album created just as he wanted it. After all he did record it in his home.

The opening song "The Battle of Trinidad and Tobago" has Emil's quivering, beautifully imperfect voice, atmospheric guitars and backing voices building up to a mini-crescendo, then fading out into the distance along with the whistling and the "marching" drums. The 2nd track is another slower number "Where are you go go going to". As the title suggests the first syllable of many words are repeated. Personally I find this annoying, however by the end of the track you have a good idea of the quality coming on the rest of the album.

"The City, The Airport" is a upbeat, catchy tune with chanting, horns, drums, everything. It grows and grows with more instruments and you want it to continue forever.

There is a variety of sound on this album which makes it very easy to listen to all the way through without getting bored.

All in all a very good effort from another of Sweden's exports. True to his own style, this album reflects very well on Loney, Dear.


Loney, Dear website: www.loneydear.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/loneydear

Monday 20 November 2006

Lambchop: Damaged - Album Review

Some time ago I was introduced to this bands music. The first Album I got was Nixon which I still find brilliant.

I recently went to see them at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

To be honest I was somewhat disappointed by this album. Not because of the quality of the songs, but simply the variety. In the main, the songs are very slow, sedate tunes with Kurt Wagner's low voice over them.

The opening track "Paperback bible" is a slow song which is pretty much the contents of a local paper's "for sale section". It is an interesting topic for a song and quite something that Kurt holds it together despite it being a banal subject.

The atmospheric lead guitar and particularly the strings section create the mood perfectly. I just find it a shame that the mood is the same throughout the album. With Nixon, there were a few tracks which were more upbeat and faster. Up with People was a catchy number that that lifts it up above the doldrums.

While I'm sure there will be some Lambchop fans who will simply fall in love with this in time, for me it's simply too much of the same slow tunes with little to lift it up. Each song alone is really something to behold. Just a shame they were of the same ilk throughout the album.

I would suggest that you only get this album if you are a die-heard Lambchop fan, not as a first introduction to their work.


Lambchop website: www.lambchop.net/
Myspace Page:
www.myspace.com/lambchopisaband

Saturday 18 November 2006

I'm From Barcelona: Let Me Introduce My Friends - Album Review

This 29 piece, child-like Swedish group have produced a pop album that is layered in unashamedly happy sing-along tunes to brighten the worst of days. I know that sounds cheesy, but this band manages to make it acceptable to be like a kid.

From the first track Oversleeping, which starts with an alarm clock and someone turning it off to the energetic line "Daaamn, oversleeping again". The riffs are upbeat and the chorus infectious.

I saw this band live in September and there were "only" 22 of them on stage. The lead singer was wearing a New Kids On the Block cap and they were all jumping around on stage singing. They sure woke us up at 12am!

Then there is "Collection of Stamps" a song about stamps from different countries of the world. The chorus is "You know I can't believe I'm telling everyone that I know, that every stamp in my collection is a place we could go"

Having heard a few of their songs live, I was intrigued and bought their album. I was expecting their live tracks to be the highlights of the album, but I was amazed at the pure life they excude on the whole album. Every band member contributes with an instrument or two and they ALL sing. With horns, glockenspiel, an omnichord, ukulele and skull shakers, the sound produced is rich and uplifting.

One of the final songs The Saddest Lullaby is about a little kid not knowing what is happening and being confused and sad. At the end of the song, you find out the kid who "fell asleep and wet my bed." This is the slowest track on the album.

Overall, listening to this album in the morning will start your day well and give you a lift on the way to work, will brighten your life and you will be better for it.


I'm From Barcelona website: www.imfrombarcelona.com
Myspace Page:
www.myspace.com/imfrombarcelona

Friday 17 November 2006

Hemstad: Den Som Läser Detta Är - Album review

Hemstad are a 6 piece Swedish band who I was unfortunate enough to miss at the recent End of the Road Festival near Salisbury.

Having heard their up-tempo, catchy music, I decided to by their album from CatBird Records (details below). My only criticism of the album is the short length. It is just under 23 minutes. But what it lacks in time it certainly makes up with it's enthusiasm.

While the lyrics are few and far between with the main singing being bah-bah-bah-bah, there is something memorable in of all the tunes. Listening, I can just imagine them all having a hoot playing away on stage as it's energy is very well transformed onto disk.

With the haunting organ, the horns and fantastic base lines, this an album worthy of getting. This is what I consider great "driving music". Just don't go too fast!

This album can be purchased from Catbird Records
Hemstad website: www.hemstadhemstad.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/hemstad

Jamieson Tobey: Everybody Feels The Same - Album Review

I recently got sent a message from this chap on myspace. As it was a personal message rather than a random add, I decided to give him my time and listen to his music. (www.myspace.com/jamiesontobey) I was pleasantly surprised.

I liked it so much I got his album shipped to me from the USA. I have to say I am very impressed. He plays ALL instruments on the whole recording including hammer chimes, sleighbells and "bottles played with chopsticks" along with several more conventional instruments.

The 2nd song "Everybody feels the same" is a powerful tune with the chorus "Rest assured, that the world is fucking with me too". It's a somewhat poppy almost upbeat number, and rich in sound.

Smoke is another catchy tune. With a repeated bell theme throughout. Jamieson's myspace intro was based on our both being fans of Brendan Benson and you can hear that catchy pop music without the usual tripe. Jamieson has produce an album worthy of note, the tracks are uplifting in the main with a couple of slower ones for variety.

I highly recomend giving this album a go - you wont be dissappointed.

This album can be purchased from CD Baby
Jamieson Tobey website: www.jamiesontobey.com
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/jamiesontobey

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