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.

photo – Rickard Almér
Illustrator- Jamin Pirnia

Already as a five year old she started to play, today educated on her violin and ready to release her debut-album. Sunesdotter is a like a force brought from the woods in the south, draped with “Näcken” as inspiration. Together with the producer Christopher Dominique whom have arranged and written many of the songs, they have now created a sound which lets the view become a
classic coniferous forest with treetops of solemn harmonies and a boost of dancing discoshoes.
What will happen next?
“This autumn I will take part of the club-world and come out and play. The concept is built on the disco-songs on the record. Jens and Jepson from The Ark will be DJ’s of a thing called “spacedisco” in a
Walter Murphy-style, and I will making a show with my songs sometime during the evening.
There will be cool dresses, a smoke-machine and a lot of disco going on…”

Earlier this spring she guested “Ride my wild heart”-boy Motoboy with her harmonies and soon
she’s gonna play in the clubs and watch people dance like obsessed to the sound of her violin.
It has been the dream of Sunesdotter since she was a kid, so the future looks bright with the newly produced album which is like a ticket to experience, places or just a way to meet new people.
I’m looking forward to her release the 4th of September at PlockePinn then with the cd in my hand, getting started with the song “Möllan Swing”, letting the hips trip on home across Möllevångstorget, whistling along dressed in a black tricot with Sunesdotter’s great music in my ears.

Listen and read more on her offical official home page
and visit Sunesdotter on Myspace

Hungarian

/Jamin

For some reason I have entirely missed Thomas Denver Jonsson and his music until recently. And then he has already released his third album “Lake Acts Like an Ocean” (Kite Recordings) and are well on his way with his fourth.

Previous albums included collaborations with artists like Damien Jurado, Rosie Thomas and others. His latest album has received very good reviews in prestigious magazines like Uncut and The Word, but when I search Swedish papers and magazines I find very little about Thomas. A little surprising to me, considering the appreciation he’s receiving in other countries.

When I listen to songs like “the Border” and “Only For Beginners” from the latest record, the first feeling I get is that from an early Neil Young. This seemingly, fragile bright voice that comes so close, with a beautiful sense for melodies and with the roots in American folk music. In other songs I get the vibes from more recent indie music, rawer guitars and partly a different ambience, but still the voice and the melodies that bind it all together.

I’ll be listening to Thomas’ earlier music too after this. If you have heard him before, tell me what you think in the comment area.
On Thomas Denver Jonsson’s homepage you can listen to some songs from his earlier albums (and download), as well as demos, covers and other stuff. Really great when an artist gives that little extra like this, it makes it so much more fun and interesting to visit an artist’s site.

Visit also his Myspace page for more music and downloads.

Here you can listen to two songs from the album “Lake Acts Like an Ocean”:

The Border
One of My Blessings

Video to “The Border”:

Gustav Haggren is an extremely busy musician! It’s obviously not enough that he has a solo project, plays with two other songwriters, Christian Cuff and Helena Arlock, and is coordinating a world band (yes, they are spread all over the world); he is also touring all the time! Go and check out his tourdates for 2007…jesus!

Nevertheless, it seems like it’s among the seasick sailors that Gustav likes it best. And it’s from this constellation the songs below comes from.

The first song I heard is from 2004, “Vagabond’s Polka”, and it feels like I’m invited to Montmartre, Paris. There’s a fantastic Tivoli-feeling here!
And when I listen to “Something Weihtless” I hear great pop with hit potential. Overall, there is an incredible mix of songs I find with Gustav and the Seasick Sailors.

On Friday the 26th of September, they will celebrate the release of their new album “Brilliant Hands” on Tivoli in Helsingborg. Check out the info on their Myspace page.

Listen and download some tracks (Vagabond Polka is a live song with a slightly less sound quality, but I have included it because of the great feeling here. I hope I’m excused ;-)):
Something Weightless
Nightlife
Vagabonds Polka
Distant Mornings

Visit the band:
Gustav and the Seasick Sailors on Myspace
Their homepage and blog

Keep cool
Jeppe

I know it’s maybe a month away or less, but imagine a fierce autumn night when the winds blow cold and hard. You come into a warm house and sit down in your favourite sofa and long for summer. But when you listen to the melancholic and beautiful melodies from Amandine your thoughts just stop wandering away and you start enjoying the present.

With a mix of Swedish folk and americana arrangements, edged by vocals not far away from José González , Amandine brings impressions and warmth that digs deep into my soul.

The band begun 2001 in Sandviken, Sweden, under the name Wichita Linemen, but moved to Malmö in 2004 and changed their name to Amandine. In autumn 2004 they got a contract with the Brighton label Fat Cat Records, and 2005 they released the debut album “This Is Where Our Heart Collide”.

After this the band has released some EP:s and a second album, and toured around Europe and in the USA.

Here’s a video clip from Amandine’s concert in New York 2005:

Enjoy some songs from Amandine:
Heart Tremor
Secrets
Soldiers Hands

Visit the band:
Amandine on Myspace

Keep cool,
Jeppe