The alternative rock duo The Perfect Mess released a new video last month. It’s the song “First Mess” that gets a special treatment, a song taken from their debut EP, released last year. I think it’s one of the best tracks from the record. Here the 80’s-vibing synths get some more space, which combined with the dramatic guitar riffs give a special atmosphere in the song.

The Perfect Mess on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

The first song I heard from Joe & the Anchor’s new album “King of Sins” was the wonderful ambient ballad “Sin Against Sins”. The song is not quite characteristic for the other songs on the record, but I can sense some spices here which runs through many of the tracks. Here’s an unpredictability in the harmonies and the song structures, big emotions and a sweet sense of melodies.

The album is quite varied, a brew with inspiration from britpop, Americana, alternative rock and other styles. They mention artists like The National, Editors and Nick Drake as influences and when I listen I feel it pours down associations from the first song to the last and I hear everything from Soundgarden to Foo Fighters and Manic Street Preachers. It’s a colourful mix with both deep dark shades as well as brighter ones. The base is a a rather powerful and spacious guitar-based sound, carefully spiced with synths and nice vocal harmonies. Joakim Rosenlund has a special tone in his voice I really appreciate and he also has both the power and the amplitude in his expression to take on these multifaceted songs. Another splash of colour is Yrsa Schau’s vocals who join Joakim on a few songs.
Here are three excellent samples from a quite delicious album, the second full length record from the band since they started in 2013.

Joe & the Anchor’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

The expression “Gör så gott du kan” (appr. “do your best”) can be both a consolation and a curse. It’s also the title on MANKKU [mancko]’s, aka Magnus Fagernäs, latest singel, a taste of the upcoming album “Det var allt för stunden” (release November 17th). The song has been released before in an acoustic version recorded live in a studio. MANKKU claims, though, that this is how he really wanted the song to sound from the beginning.

It’s a dark atmosphere in this song where synths sweep in like black smoke, building up to a folkrock-vibing heavy chorus while MANKKU plays out all his dramatic intensity. Interestingly the folk song tinge is more obvious now than before, which underlines the timelessness in the story even further.  The song also ends with an ominous ambience, almost filmic, like if we are witnessing the smoldering remains of a battlefield. Dark, beautiful and haunting.

Mankku [mancko]’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

The quartet Kriget, Christoffer Roth, Gustav Bendt, Per Nordmark and Mattias Franzén (new member), are on their way with a new EP, to be launched in the beginning of next year. Earlier they have released three full length albums and also an EP, “Fazed”, last year where they were accompanied by Sophia Somajo and Dida. It’s a band which seems constantly on the move so from the last year’s excellent EP, where they added vocals for the first time, we can probably expect something quite different now.

And the first taste, the single “Out Of The Fire Into The Sun”, also points in that direction. It’s a track that runs me over with punk hammering drums, intense pumping bass and saxophones that sweeps in like solar winds across the fast journey. I can’t help feeling some vibes of psychedelia, something like early Pink Floyd, in a shade of “Astronomy Domine”, when voices come in chanting the title. Otherwise it’s hard to put labels on their music, it’s both rock and electronica in a special symbiosis, so the best advice is to just jump on the ride and feel for yourself. Here’s also a spectacular music video, made by Marko Brandobanski, which may help set the mood.

Kriget on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music

Hundmänniska is Lovisa Thurfjell’s new solo project. She comes from punk outfit Tiger Bell where she played the guitar and handled the lead vocals. She says that she thinks these new songs contain more pop compared to what she’s done before, but to me it’s still very much about rock when I listen to the first single “Res dig upp”. And it’s an unmasked, naked rock that feels in the gut as she squeezes out the last drops of sweat in the driving, energetic chorus. It’s music that gives me an energy kick, that kicks me in the butt and leaves a smile on my face at the same time. The song is the first one from her upcoming EP, and with this marvellous start I hope she don’t wait too long with more tracks.

Hundmänniska on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music