After working with the producers Adam Lasus and Jaria Haapalainen on the two earlier records “Spark Large” adn “Pop Cycle”, the duo Marching Band, Eric Sunbring och Jacob Lind, decided to produce the third album on their own in their home studio. They wanted to get back to a DIY-feeling with a more unpolished sound, fewer recording tracks for each song and as far away as they could from todays’ typical reverbs. And they succeed quite well with their intentions; they carve out an original indie pop vibe, alive and close-up, with tons of good pop melodies and organical sounding, interesting arrangements. They’ve squeezed in as much as 21 songs on the album, also available on a double vinyl which seems fitting. The more than 70 minutes of indie pop may be a bit excessive to grasp in a single listening session, but I won’t complain; I gladly listen to this impressive album in several sets.

Marching Bands hemsida – på Facebook – på Spotify – på Wimp – på Rara

Artymove

Zebastian Swartz – “Me and My Brother”

Here’s a new voice to me, in the shape of Zebastian Swartz who just has released his debut single “Me and My Brother”. And what a voice he has, a voice that stays with me after listening to this nostalgic, folk-vibing singer/songwriter-ballad.

Wouie – “Unfold” och “Haunting Feeling”

I wrote about the indie pop duo Wouie in January, and now they have released two more songs. It’s inte same spirit as before with an eighties-influenced indie pop, inspired and with a characteristic sound. Especially “Haunting Feeling” catches my attention.

Artymove – “Back and Forth Redux” (feat. Mercedes)

It’s been a couple of years since I wrote about the trio Artymove, and for some reason I have missed a number of great songs they have released since then. Now it’s about their single and video to “Back and Forth Redux” featuring Mercedes on vocals. In the direction of R’nB with their own creative electro touch and with a wonderful voice from Mathilda Lindgren. I also added another song, the title track from their EP “So Real”.
Interestingly I just realised that Mathias Näslund from the trio is the same Mathias as the one from the indie duo The Sweet Serenades. I figured that out after having watched the video, where they in a scene are standing around a fire with Mathias in woodcutter’s attire and I thought “hehe, that’s almost like The Sweet Serenades’ style”.

No Coda – “No Ransom” – video

I’m finishing with another video. It’s No Coda who made one to their excellent single “No Ransom“.

Blackstrap

Peacock Farm – “Monogram (Plum Run)”

Peacock Farm is a band from Stockholm which shares members with Alexandria and is soon releasing a new vinyl EP. “Monogram (Plum Run)” is the name of the first track, a track that reminds me of Pink Floyd and early Genesis and overall a sound that breathes of the dynamic seventies. Great music.

The Grand Minnows – “Televised”

After the EP debut last month The Grand Minnows are back with a new single, “Televised”. I do recognise them, but they sound a bit different now, more dirty, more indie rock and feels even sharper than before.

Blackstrap – “Monument”

Blackstrap are releasing their third song, “Monument”, from their upcoming album; a Nine Inch Nails-influenced dense shoegaze, which you can also hear on the earlier song “Monoheart” here below. I couldn’t help but adding the psychadelic “Make Sense Make Change (Feat. Victoria Bergsman)” from last year too.

Rebstar – “My Way”

Here’s a new hip hop single from Rebstar, different from what I’ve heard before from him, minimalistic in comparison, 8bits-synth sounding and rock hard.

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”:

AstroMike Gordon

Fantastic – “Darkness” – video

I can’t help thinking about Ozzy Osbourne from the early seventies when I look at the duo Fantastic’s video “Darkness”, with it’s psychadelic ambience, lit candles and dark eyes, singing about inner demons. The music is not that much Black Sabbath, though, but rather psychadelic kraut, like they write themselves. Great song.

http://youtu.be/effKpGAxUR8

AstroMike Gordon – “Youthful Spite/I´m An Astronaut”

AstroMike Gordon is an insteresting constellation from Malmö, that yesterday released the two track single “Youthful Spite/I´m An Astronaut”. They have created quite a special film nostalgic ambience and a sound with crooner vibes from the front man Cristoffer Csanady.

Wayflower – “Over You”

Punky, glammy rock’n’roll or Big Star-inspired power pop. Somewhere in those areas is where I find the band Wayflower, hailing from Stockholm, who are now releasing the single “Over You”. Last month they also released the song “Holding On”, and both songs are taken from the band’s upcoming debut album”Heroes”, which, after this, feels quite necessary to dig into when it comes out.

Little Children – “By Your Side”

Linus Lutti and his project “Little Children” is releasing a new single from the upcoming album “Walk Within”. This Beck-scenting song is called “By Your Side”, a song where he’s been working with the multiinstrumentalist Andreas Söderström.