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.

Next Stop: Horizon

Linn Öberg – “Vacant Days” – video

I wrote about Linn Öberg last year when she released the wonderful song “Jump“. Now she’s back with the single “Vacant Days”, which sweeps in to my room like a fresh Spring breeze with dreamy singer/songwriter-pop.

Simon Norrsveden – “Bloodsucker Boy” – video

Simon Norrsveden is on his way with his third solo album, to be released on the 12th of March. He’s tempting us with this strong single “Bloodsucker Boy” and a video, unmistakably signed Mats Udd, which doesn’t make the song less strong.

Skrotlunga – “I Lost It All”

I’ve written about Daniel Börjesson before, but then under the name Everett Parker. Now he’s performing as Skrotlunga, here with the debut single “I Lost It All”. As before it’s Americana with dirt under the nails, “Music from the dirt”, as he writes.

Next Stop: Horizon – “Rain On Me”

The duo Next: Stop Horizon, Pär Hagström and Jenny Roos, released the debut album “We Know Exactly Where We Are Going” in 2011. After touring and a sejour in Germany, where Pär Hagström wrote the music to the play “Das kalte Herz”, they are now back with the next album “My Harbour, My Home”, to be released March 14th. Here’s the first single, “Rain On Me”:

Solander

Boufa Boufa – “Until Tomorrow”

The band Boufa Boufa from Hudiksvall are back with a new single, “Until Tomorrow”. A bit different than the last one and feels more like brit pop and some of the sixties this time. Listen here:

Solander – “The Woods Are Gone”

“The Woods Are Gone” is the name of the second single from Solander’s new album “Monochromatic Memories”. I haven’t had the time to listen to the whole record yet, but the beautiful melancholy in this song makes me want to taste some more.

No Coda – “No Ransom”

No Coda, hailing from Sandviken, have released another single, “No Ransom”, a song well up to par with the earlier songs. Good energy in this shoegaze-vibing indie rock. With a hint of punk as well.

The Good Morning Spider

Viktor Rinneby and his The Good Morning Spider are on their way to release the debut album “Outergalactic”, to be released on the 29th of March. At the start of this year a few videos have been released to give us a taste of what’s coming up. Like before, it’s feels somewhat psychadelic in an intriguing and rather unpredictable rock, sung both in Swedish and English, to judge from these songs. Here are two of them:

Here are some pearls for songs that I didn’t have the time to present in the Autumn. It’s one half of the duo Wan Light, Krister Svensson, who in his solo project do something completely different. Instead of the rather big productions from Wan Light he’s completely alone with his guitar here, in recordings that are not polished at all, but retain that live vibe, like if they were taken from an intimate gig. To me the result is mesmerising where he with his wonderful presence, warmth and closeness capture my attention completely. He writes that an album is coming up in Spring, where he also willl add songs written to photos taken by photographer Bengt Alm. When he’s solo he also calls himself Harry Clinich, and presently I’m not quite sure which artist name he will choose for the album. Here are three of the songs he’s uploaded as a first taste.

Krister Svensson på Soundcloud

Here’s a collection of songs “Sju små sagomelodier och en låt som mest är som ett ljud” recorded already in 1996 by Eric Malmberg, but previously unreleased save for a small CD-edition. All is recorded on a portable cassette studio with organ, drumming on a guitar, a tambourine and a cymbal. The Swedish folk melancholy runs through these beautiful melodies and the kinship with Bo Hansson (whom he has also performed with) lies close at hand, or why not Mackaper from recent years. Eric is also member of the fascinating duo Sagor & Swing, and has also released five other solo albums. You can enjoy this album in full on Bandcamp, or get it as a cassette tape released by Zeon Light. Here are two fairytales: