Meadow Music

A song of contrasts is presented for me late by night. Strangely enough, it doesn’t happen often these days that MC:s from the land of Falukorv, makes political statements. But with the song “Nytt Land” (New Country), Bentancourt breaks this trend by rapping politically at the same time that he, together with his girlfriend Shacko Damidez and David Silva, performs an angry song in a joyful way.

The decision about the FRA Law in Sweden this summer, made a lot of people irritated and with the hook “Släpp mitt SMS” (Release my SMS), the trio has a good opportunity to be heard across the barricades.

On the Myspace page of Bentancourt you can find a lot of good music. The track that attracts me the most is “Dansa” (Dance), which I think deserves a lot more attention. With an intro that invites you to think that Gonza is on the scene, a beat and a hook that feels like Kaah, my neck starts swinging back and forth.

I received a press release together with the song “Nytt Land”, which I have presented below (translated from Swedish), as it sets the theme of the latest release from Bentancourt.

(Read about the FRA law)

But first – the mp3:

Nytt Land

And the Myspace pages of:

David Silva

Martin Bentancourt

Press release:
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”NYTT LAND” (New Country)

BENTANCOURT feat SILVA

”Det är ett nytt land sen vår integritet försvann”
(It’s a new country since our integrity went away)

Whether you are angry with the FRA law or not, you won’t be able to resist this year’s grooviest counter-reaction!

NYTT LAND expresses anger, surprise and disappointment.
And when you’re angry, sometimes it’s also easy to feel powerless.
Then it’s better to dance, sing and clap hands.
Turn that anger into something sexy baby!

”Släpp mitt SMS” (Release my SMS)

Martin Bentancourt is the artist and radio talker with the direct opinions. Before he has released the classic “första generationens svenne”, the song that became an important voice for an entire generation.

Now he has teamed up with his girlfriend Shacko Damidez and David Silva, to create the song you can listen to when you’re making the placards or blogging your opinions!

”Vill stoppa terrorister, så de stoppar mina kärleksbrev i register”
(want to stop terrorists, so they put my love letters in registers)

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Well, I do like powerchords that slides over the guitar neck and licks that dance straight out of the massive sound. Bad Poetry Band offers this in their high energy rock’n’roll.
This is how I remember Fireside or Backyard Babies in the late nineties. Whether it comes with long hair, beards or “proper” hair styles, the music is straight, honest and down to the bone!

Even if Bad Poetry Band is a tight and professional band, it is the vocals by Mula that really make the the difference. Han throws out the words at me like he was Dave Wyndorf. Listen to “Home of the Brave”, and you’ll hear what I mean.

“Home of the Brave” video:

Listen and download a few tracks:
Home of the Brave
Dudes and Dudettes
Just a Little

Visit the Band:
Bad Poetry Band on Myspace

Keep cool,
Jeppe

I’m sitting here in the light of the night lamp, which right now is whiskey coloured. But gee I feel good…well not only from the sweet drops from Ardbeg, more, I would say, from the sweet tones from the Gothenburg-Borås band Giant Wide.

I’m looking for influences from the psychedelic blues of Roky Erickson and from Soundtrack of our lives, where Ebbot’s vocals are more of an instrument than just vocals. But I have to say that Giant Wide sounds like Giant Wide and not like anything else. I feels like this great band has found their own unique style.

THIS IS SO GOOD!!! (whoops, the whiskey voice came through)

This is grinding guitars and a drummer that really has to fight to be heard, but really succeeds in the end. The vocals are sometimes really distorted, but is mixed into the songs, not just like “normal” vocals, but like it’s an extra instrument and offers an incredible feeling to it.

Enjoy the songs of Giant Wide:
See the Road
Our Time Is Coming
Go and Get Done
I’ll Leave You Here

Visit the band:
Giant Wide on Myspace

Keep cool,
Jeppe

(translated by Pär/Blindmen)

To be honest artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Tom Petty normally don’t frequent my speakers, but sometimes they do manage to get me going, especially Dylan. Furthermore it’s easy to see why this line of music is so appealing to many starting up their musical careers – all you need is a guitar and something to share.

The amount of “young men (or women) with guitars” is actually overwhelming when you take a closer look at the swedish demo treasure, as I’ve done during the past few years. And no matter how attractive their initiatives and ambitions may be, it’s all together somewhat watered down to me seeing how few – yes they do exist! – manage to really deliver that personal feeling they’re aiming at (and that obviously is crucial in the singer/songwriter genre). No, it rarely surprises, it all sounds very much alike to this listener.

Three things in which Armadillo King succeeds, and that must work if I’m to be part of it all, are singing, melody and lyrics. Most important about singing is of course the “expression”; it does by no means have to be especifically original or odd but must be personal, can’t be borrowed. If you on top of that, like Armadillo King, is blessed with an infallible sense of pitch as well as an equally – and paradoxically – harsh and smooth voice, you’re not worse off because of it. In my book Armadillo King is a fantastic singer.

As for melody and lyrics they should be symbiotic. Lyrics that doesn’t tell you the obvious floating safely and unstrained in a melody that seem to lack ambitions of originality but that nevertheless carries me, the melody junkie, with it all the way.

Well well, guess it’s a bit ridiculous trying to explain why you should listen to this artist, when the best argument by far is delievered soon as you click on the song of your choice. You’re likely to understand then, the concept of “young man with guitar” at its best.

Selling a Sheep
Million Dollar King
It’s Soon Summertime
Inner Peace
Turn Away
My Raincoat
Still Your Angel

Visit Armadillo King

Armadillo King on Myspace

(translated by Aurgrunn)

All artists presented in here are songwriters and composers also performing their products. Tobbe Möller is a songwriter and a composer who’s performing solely for practical reasons, as he puts it.

There’s something special about Tobbe Möller, something supernatural, maybe even godlike! He may for real be the best songwriter in the world, but I’m not sure he’s aware himself.

I see Tobbe like a fairy dressed in an armour you don`t easily penetrate. But just as Tinkerbell sprinkles river glitter (or whatever) over people in need, he does the same for his tunes.

His are lyrics that are incredibly strong, clever harmonies and changes of chords, and melodies a raging bull won’t shake off.

Offered here is an early work, “Too Hard to Chew”, aside two later ones where Tobbe worked with other musicians. In “Young Boy In the Far Back Row” he got together with Lasse Söhr and singer Isak Strand.
Other recent collaborations include names as Pär Edwardson, Aurgrunn and Pär Enqvist.

Early works by Tobbe Möller maintain a feel of old rock/punk music with pumping Rickenbackers and delightful choirs; do listen to Purple Foxglove on his Myspace-page. Then rapidly switch to Tonårsbarn (Teenage Kid) or “Skakar inte mer” (Shaking No More) and enjoy the breadth of the man!

If you’re interested in the music or want to work with the originator, visit his Myspace page.

Now do enjoy the songs presented:
Lose Your Head
Young Boy In the Far Back Row
Too Hard to Chew

Visit Tobbe Möller:
Tobbe Möller på Myspace

Keep cool,
Jeppe

(translated by Aurgrunn)