The Malmö duo Valutan has recently released their debut album “Blame the Voters” (Pitch9). The album, which could be described as indie-electronica, is about sex, death and taxes, according to the band.

They paint an interesting atmospheric sound landscape, but at the same time a little freightening and cynical. I find myself walking through the hollow, empty streets of a big city lined with glassed “corporate” buildings and futuristic constructions, with threating subtexts that emanates from these buildings. Told with distanced, neutral vocals and nice melodies.

They have released the entire album free for download on Pitch9’s home page.

Taste a few songs:

Bright Lights, Big City
What’s Your PPP
Walden

Visit Valutan, listen and tell them what you think:

Valutan on Myspace

Valutan on Last.fm

I must say that I like Marcus Brännström’s voice in Second Hand Rumours, and his way of singing. A nice tone and a laidback, cool expression, somewhat similar to Chris Martin in Coldplay.

And I can sense the Coldplay influences in their music too, at least partly. It feels lighter though, the melancholy is not allowed to take over, and the acoustic guitar points in a different direction. They navigate very smoothly between this modern pop and their other sources of inspiration, from the americana and singer/songwriter genres and find their own way.

Here you can enjoy three tracks from their EP “So Many Steps”, which was released this summer:

Summernight Tune
Seven Years
Like a Dream Come True

If you like what you hear, I recommend a visit to the band’s web pages.
Listen more on Second Hand Rumours’ Myspace page.
And don’t forget to visit their blog.

“Bad Sneakers” is a song from the classic album “Katy Lied” by Steely Dan. And it’s also in these music regions we find the band Bad Sneakers from Lund. A classical 70s light-soul-funk is mixed with a nice and clean Steve Winwood soul from the 80s, on ther first EP.

There are nog big surprises here, and it’s probably not the intention either. Instead they deliver a nice and easy feeling, that makes the atmosphere in the room seem a little lighter, as I’m sitting here watching the autumn rain sweeping in over the landscape outside.

I get impressed as I read that the four band members started the band as late as November 2007 and that they are between 19 and 21 years old. Since the start they have landed quite a few gigs and lately they have played at the Malmö festival and Kulturnatten in Lund.

Listen to two tracks from the Bad Sneakers EP:

I Want You Out
On the Wings of Dreams

Visit Bad Sneakers on Myspace and listen to more tracks.

The two brothers Bernövall was bored out on the Uppsala plains. So they started a band, Sleazy Romance. Just like that.

And yes, it turned into something special. As some kind of softer Jesus & Mary Chain. Unruly vocals, beautifully fragile, on top of guitar carpets that fill the entire room, but with nice dynamics in between. And, in all of this, good melodies.

Sleazy Romance is about to record their debut album. It’s planned to be released in the beginning of next year, so, until then, spread the word and the songs below. The track “Emilie Scott” will appear in a new version on the upcoming album.

Listen:

Middleclass Love
Lipstick
Emily Scott

Visit Sleazy Romance on Myspace

There’s no doubt that The Shy Lads are inspired by Oasis. The singer, Dennis, also has a nice crunch in his voice and that cocky tone that reminds a bit of mr L. Gallagher. But after a few songs they surprised me with showing up a broader style range of good songs, where the sixties is just as much a big influence, maybe then in the form of the Beatles rock songs. Listen to “Mr Policeman” below, and you’ll understand what I mean.

The peak for me is “Now” from their first EP (they have made two sofar). The song starts with a great intro hook, changes to a verse with a pumping bass and then explodes in a simple but just as effective chorus with frantic guitars. Really good!

Listen to some tracks:

Now
Mr Policeman
Falling Overboard

Visit their home page where you can listen to and download the two EP:s and read their blog.

Of course they also have a Myspace page