Earlier this year The Open Up and Bleeds released the singel “Stiv Bators In All of Us”. This was a first step on their way to their debut album which is due soon. And the song just hit me directly in my chest. Straight on, no complications, pure rock’n’roll and raw guitars. Could it get any better?

Other tracks runs off in other directions, even though the core of it all remains the same. Sometimes the synths make their entrance and it becomes more of New Wave with a punkish attitude. There’s a nice raw sound in their music, which is strengthened even more by  Joel Segerstedt’s really cool vocals.

I’m looking forward to their album, and meanwhile we can listen to a bunch of tracks on The Open Up and Bleeds’ Myspace page. The singel, “Stiv Bators In All of Us” together with two bonus tracks, is available for download on Sounds of Zilence’ site.

Here’s the video to “Stiv Bators In All of Us”, and two songs to listen to and download; the singel song and the excellent bonus song “It Takes a Band”:

Stiv Bators In All of Us:

Stiv Bators In All of Us
It Takes a Band

The last thing you could say about Sol Skugga, is that she’s predictable. After her album from last year, “Gardenia”, you could maybe expect that she would continue to explore a world of grand electronica, mystique and dark spaces. But no. She enters new musical domains in her third album “Fairytales and Lullabies”.

The folk music is still here in a few tracks, but in more acoustic arrangements. But besides that it’s more about rock, to let loose. From beautiful ballads, to more straight rock tracks to songs where she tests some boundaries. The rough edges are still there, everything is not smoothed down, and it feels mpre personal and intimate.

Listen more on Sol Skugga’s site or on her Myspace page.

Here are two songs from “Fairytales and Lullabies”:

Say It
So Strange

The trio Greta & The One Night Stands has an excellent ability to create those obvious pop melodies that seem to get stuck inside the head. They serve them in a nostalgic synth dress, often with vibes from the eighties. And skirt.

I have to mention the skirt. Greta & The One Night Stands have volunteered to act as changers, and intend to allocate the skirt as something that men could wear, which symbolise their challenge in what’s feminine and what’s masculine.

The band has recently released a new song, “Familiar to Me”, which you can listen to at their Facebook page or their Myspace page.

Here’s two tracks with Greta & The One Night Stands:

Hearts & Bones
I Could Never Learn

Lars Wallin, whom Jesper wrote about last year, has released a new album this autumn, “Act Now!”. And just like the album name indicates, it is with clenched fists that Lars Wallin and The Tribe takes the stage, and send out their message with attitude and energy.

Folk punk I could call it, with a rough, tight acoustic sound, which includes flute, a hard working bass, but foremost the didgeridoo. This instrument is a little like Lars’ trademark and is used in most tracks.

You can hear more from “Act Now!” on Lars Wallin & the Tribe’s Myspace page or on  Lars Wallin’s site.

Here’s two songs from “Act Now!”:

Silent Sea
Beautiful People

The Malmö band Mono Stereo is today releasing their debut EP “Space Out” (360 Degrees Music). They have found their own niche with a sound that first of all makes me think of the sixties’ psychadelia, but with an intensity and massive sound that reminds me somewhat of 80’s/90’s bands, like for example My Bloody Valentine and Jesus & Mary Chain.

Even though it’s so intense, I find good dynamics and breathing space in the music, and it’s easy to just ride along in this nice mix. The vocals are not the obvious protagonists here, they’re more like a part of the sound together with the other instruments. Well, you can listen for yourself here below, in the video for “Orange Is Green” and the track”The Day Before Science Fiction”.

That their foundation lies in live music doesn’t come as a surprise, and their release is of course followed by a number of gigs, for starters with a couple of shows in London, among them one gig at Smash n Grab at Proud Galleries.
Also, you can download four live tracks with the band if you sign up for the band’s news letter.

You can find Mono Stereo on Myspace and on Facebook.

Orange Is Green:

The Day Before Science Fiction