The Spiritual Negroes are Kiki and Jovo and they started out in 2003. They call themselves a lo-fi duo that play everything from indie rock to pop on toy instruments.

And, undeniably, they have a great musical fantasy. It’s fun to listen to their work, as I’m always wrong about where they will land in the next song. From a driven guitar rock to synth pop to blues, all the time with that touch of playfulness. And it’s also shown in the lyrics where serious subjects are treated next to playful samples.

Visit their site site to listen and download more songs. You’ll find three EP:s, “It’s All Good”, “Secret Fur” and “Spit It Out”. If you’d like to hold a record in your hand, you can visit their shop and order them for quite reasonable prices.
Right now, they are recording new songs to be released in a little while.

Here you can listen to three tracks from their latest EP “It’s All Good”:

Bubblegum
These Days
It’s Because I’m Happy That I’m Sad

They also have a Myspace page

The 6th of October Strangers In Wonderland released their debut album “Shadows” (Last Refrain Music). The duo, Åsa Girgensohn and Lasse Thomasson, offers 19 tracks on their album! On the album you’ll find 4 excellent remixes signed by Chuck Dread (Fredrik Muskos) and David Lilja.

Even if I had listened to some songs before, it was a real positive surprise to listen to the entire album. It takes a lot to be able to maintain the listener’s interest throughout 19 tracks, but I would say that they have really succeded in this. More so, I feel that the tension and the interest of the album step up the further I listen.

The base is solid pop with beautiful melodies, strong choruses, an atmosphere and lyrics that give a feeling of mystique around their Wonderland-theme. Åsa Girgensohn adds a lot of tension and drama with her vocals. Her voice reminds a little of ABBA-Annifrid, but with real dose of attitude added, which makes it more interesting to listen to.

Influences from other styles spice things up like funk, soul flirts from the seventies, rock, blues, drama and art rock.

The last year Strangers In Wonderland has achieved great success among the podcasters all over the world. In fact, they are one of the most frequently played bands in the world. On their site you can find links to many of these podcasters, which can be a interesting way of discovering the podcasting world if this is unfamiliar to you.

At strangersinwonderland.com you can listen to all the songs from “Shadows”, download some of them, read their blog and subscribe to their newsletter.

Listen to three songs from “Shadows”:

So Much More
Whispers
Addicted (Chuck Dread remix)

You can also find Strangers In Wonderland on Myspace.

It would have been easy for me to compare Mårten Lärka to a swedish Bob Dylan. Not so much because of the music but more for the lyrics, where the story of modern society is described with both humour and a sharp edge.

And musically the comparison is not just about the image of a man alone with his guitar, but also about songs like “Hemgång utgång” where Mårten feels like a bluesy Dylan from the seventies. Well, in the end it’s not that simple.

Mårten shows more variation than that, from a troubadour-feeling to something that can be described as Swedish ballad pop for example in the song “Livstidsvicket” to some kind of eighties-Kent in “Fri Luft” (listen to this great track on his Myspace page), to blues and to other styles.

And I feel rather comfortable not to classify an artist like this, but yet sense a whole in Mårten’s vocals and his concern that he has something to tell us.

Video for “Innan natten har gjort kväll” (2005)

The 14th of October Mårten Lärka will release a new album. Listen to two tracks from the new album:

Livstidsvicket
Ettor och Nollor

Visit Mårten Lärka on Myspace

The band Half a Grape from Gothenburg released their first album “Life and George” a couple of weeks ago. They offer a soft, often relaxed, slightly melancholic music in a jazzy setting with drums, double bass, piano with organ or Rhodes at times. And it is within the jazzy range I usually find them – from pure cool jazz tunes to slower jazz rock and blues. Add the expressive and varied vocals by Roger Gunnarsson and it is a perfect blend to sink into, close your eyes and forget about the troubles of your day.

Visit them on Myspace where you can listen to a couple of songs from “Life and George”

On Last.fm you can also listen to some earlier recordings and download more songs.

Listen, download and enjoy two songs here:

Going Home
Cold Inside

Hello there! Are you one of those people that think it’s hard to get into the world of jazz? Well, here’s an excellent opportunity to explore it. I think that Simon Jensen definitely can help you out, using his flute.

Even if he verges on progressive rock at times, and a lot of other genres, I think he concentrates several jazz styles into his own, great love of music in sweet melodies, harmonies and ensemble.

The best way of describing his music is for you to listen to the following songs:

Points
The Aunt
That Blues

For more songs, and to get to know Simon, visit his web site,

or his Myspace page