On The Cinnamon

Old Amica – “Old Oaken Pond”

The duo Old Amica have been our guests several times before here on Meadowmusic. Now they are preparing to launch a new album, “Fabula”, on the 26th of March. “Old Oaken Pond” is the first glimpse of the album and beside their own special indie-sound there is a nostalgic vibe in this song, as the song title implies. A bit like if  Hotennany Singers made a comeback and started playing folk indie.

Other People – “Somewhere Far Away” – album

Other People is an alias for the composer Jakob Lindhagen and his solo project. His new album is called “Somewhere Far Away”, an instrumental album focusing on Jakob’s minimalistic piano playing. Every tone seems carefully devised in these melancholic melodies, which sometimes are accompanied by a gentle cello or an ambient pad. The ambience and the melodies make me think of Björn J:son Lindhs “Bilder från en ö” and of music from some of the Swedish TV-drama series.

Up The Hill

Up The Hill is a four man strong band, who so far have released an EP with six tracks.  I can’t come up with a band to compare them with as they sound so special. Both in the way they mix their influences and in the way they build the songs. The soulful vocals is a strong characteristic of the songs, but in the end I feel that the songs still have a strong focus on the instrumental parts, where I hear progressive seventies’ vibes, Dire Straits-guitars, blues and folk indie. Quite dynamic songs which build up a strong groove sometimes. Here are two of them:

On the Cinnamon – “Indecency”

When the songwriter Jonas Lindsköld told me about the band On the Cinnamon’s debut single “Indecency”, he also wrote that they sound like their band name. I scratched my head and started wondering if he was referring to “Cinnamon Girl”, because there are certain Neil Young-vibes in the song: the simple sound, the guitars and the touch of Americana. But no, I found the explanation further down in the mail; the bandname was a direct translation of the Swedish expression “(att vara) på kanelen” (an old Swedish expression saying that someone is a bit drunk). I’m not quite sure how I should interpret this either as the song is a charming, warm and close pop song with a certain sheen of unpolished indie. And it fits quite well with the sunny, early-Spring weather we have here now.

Hurula – “22”

Hurula is releasing another single from his upcoming album ”Vi är människorna våra föräldrar varnade oss för”. It’s called “22”, a punkish pop-melodic track with a great rough sound. I really like the chorus, and it’s the best song I’ve heard from Hurula so far.

When the duo Mother Jack, Casey and Johan Moir, get up on stage they do this with the somewhat odd setup double bass, floor tom and vocals, well a loop pedal also which Casey uses foor her vocals, plus chimes and some other sonic decorations. In the beginning of the Autumn they released their debut EP “Presents…” which they, fortunately, based entirely on this live setting, which works wonderfully well. It’s music with a passionate drive and two strong personal expressions in Johan’s bass and Casey’s vocals. Listen for yourself here in two songs.

Mother Jack’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Rara – on Bandcamp

Ekologiskt Mörker is the name of a punk trio who released their album debut “Svälj” (“Swallow”) last year. Experimental punk they write and that fits quite well as they rips and tears and stretches the concept of what punk rock can be. With high velocity and plenty of punk energy as a foundation there’s quite a span in the material where they can pick up progressive rock vibes, bluesy rock’n’roll (with harmonica) and grunge for example, while the lyrics can vary from black, stinging political satire to humour. And with a song like “Smäll” with the only line “Kom hit och ge mig en smäll, jag är så trött på att göra det själv” (“Come here and punch me, I’m so tired of doing it myself”), you don’t have to be engaged in politics to take that in. Taste Ekologiskt Mörker here below in a couple of songs.

Ekologiskt Mörkers site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Soundcloud

Here’s the debut single from the band I Don’t Speak French, which was released in Summer. It’s called “We Are the People”, a fun, playful indie pop song, with a certain funk feeling and some Beck vibes in it. From what I understand they are working on their first album right now.

I Don’t Speak French on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Rara

The band The New Man is notifying us about their upcoming album “The Fathomless and the Infinite” with this single, “Faith”. The singer and songwriter of the band, Olle Nyman, has a really interesting voice which sort of soars over this psychadelia-vibing song. A great song, that takes us on a en exciting, squiggly harmonic journey right into the dark forests in the north of Sweden. The album is scheduled for release on the 30th of October.

The New Man’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Rara