Here’s an interesting single from electro pop duo The Italian String Machine, “Neuromancer”. A lot of eighties’ nostalgia in this one, where I get som vibes from Simple Minds in the early part of the decade.
The Italian String Machine on Facebook – on Soundcloud
The duo Be The Bear consists of Danish/English singer Christina Wehage and the Swedish producer Mattias Bolin. Last year they released the EP “Fireships” and this year they have so far released two singles, which they tipped me about. And I’m glad they did, because it’s a wonderful collection of songs.
The EP is full of beautiful melancholic pop, closeness and a pleasant acoustic vibe, while they in the singles have move into more electronic pop grounds, topped with Christina’s special lightly Björk-like vocals. Really enjoyable and I’m looking forward to their upcoming album. Here’s first a song from the EP, “Howl” and then the single “Bad Things” from this year.
Be The Bear’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Soundcloud
Tips in my inbox about female hip hoppers is a rare thing, if it has ever happened since the start of the blog. When I do get one, and it’s as good as this, I’m more than happy to present it. It’s the duo DOM!, Dafne Jansson and Maria Blonde Andersson, who serve us a marvellous groove with the song “Tiden rinner iväg” from the eponymous single, which they released during the Autumn. Great rap, electro pop, a sticky synth line like it was taken from an old Factory hit, that never came to be, and a heavy groove from “Sweet Dreams”-synths makes a cool combo, also accompanied by a good-looking video signed Emil Bardh.
DOM! on Spotify – on Soundcloud
Last Friday Shotgun Crackers released “Lockdown PT. 3”, the third part of their EP trilogy, which will be followed next year with the album “Lockdown”, containing the earlier songs and five new ones. The first part was produced by the band together with Otto Wellton, on the second one they collaborated with Tomas Rusiak and for these two new songs, they went to Göteborg to work with Kristian Anttila. And it’s also Kristian who will help the band with the remaining five songs.
When I first listen to “Lockdown PT. 3” I wince a bit. The earlier party ambience with the energy pumping indie has been somewhat replaced with a bigger, heavier and darker sound with more electronica. I feel a little lost and find myself looking for that special rough Shotgun Crackers-vibe with a big heart, which they have stood for earlier.
At the same time I realise that I have been following the band for a long time now, from when they were just about to finish high school, five years ago, up until now, and neither I as a listener or they as a band want the music to stand still, untouched by what’s happening around them and inside them. The whole Lockdown series, which was started a little more than a year ago, feels all at once as some kind of maturation where they have explored new ground in each part.
The new songs slowly set in my mind, and it feels a little like getting to know them anew, or at least as looking at them from a different perspective. It’s a bigger scene now, and even if I can’t help missing the feeling of standing so close to the scene that I get drops of the singer Fredrik Nilsson’s sweat on me as the band performs, I get very curious of where this is going to land in what’s coming up next.
Since I strangely enough missed presenting the second part, “Lockdown PT. 2”, I have added one song from each part, in reverse order, here below, so you can listen and compare for yourself.
Shotgun Crackers on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Bandcamp
From “Lockdown PT. 3”:
From “Lockdown PT. 2”:
From “Lockdown PT. 1”:
Yesterday Cajsa Siik released the song “Dali”, the second single from the upcoming album “Plastic House”, a fascinating song which give a hint of the span of what’s coming later. Clever, simple, driven arrangement to a beautiful melody and a nice expression from Cajsa. Somewhat surprising after the first single “Was I Supposed To”, which is a great pop song, but still within some sort of standard pop template. This was really good and even more exciting.
Cajsa Siik’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify
Meadow Music in swedish
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