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I confess I never heard about Leo Kall before they sent me an email a couple of days ago. I was a bit frightened when the guitars started cause it reminded me all those fusion bands like Incubus I do not really fancy. But after few listens, this first impression disappeared and I became to really get into the music. Much more pop than Incubus, actually. I will not say I am totally fond of it, but for a band that only recorded two EPs (check them out here) their sound is promising. And for a non-Swedish speaker like I am, the whole thing sounds amazing. What the hell are they singing about? I have no idea.
I don’t know much about Death Ray Boot. But some guitars sound better than others. Theirs are definitely sharp. What else? They’re stone. Stone rockers.
Two things you know, if you have read Absolut Noise on a regular basis: Riddarna makes great songs, Riddarna makes great videos.
One thing you do not know: their second album Bakom Molnen is a killer. But since it will only be released beginning of March, I prefer to save my words about it for later. Stay tuned though, I will mention it soon. And, right now, just enjoy Helvete, the first single from this second album. Great song, fun video. (Buy the tune here)
Tennis Bafra – Halal Haircut (live video at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm)
Stream the whole album
There are different kind of people in the world. The ones who support artists like Federer, those who fancy the strength of Nadal and eventually the ones who play the winner card and go for Djokovic. Yes, I can tell who you are according to your tennis tastes.
Tennis Bafra? They are another kind of people. Let’s call them the “Söderling kind”, i.e no “arty” touch, no strength, not even the “next big Swedish thing” logo. Just some guys who play rock music born in the 1990s, you know when guitars were like ggrrrrrriiiisssssssssshhhhhhh and singer voices like “I’m so bored”. Grunge? Kind of. Fun? Somehow if you hate yourself and want to die. A bit like Söderling imitating Nadal but knowing he’s going to lose eventually.
What? I can hear you: the obscure tennis metaphore, again ? Ok, let’s be straight: maybe, their debut album Abulia Jubilee (out on Feb the 6th) is a little bit repetitive. But songs such as Halal Haircut, Knox Harrington or Koni Koni Blues bring back the best of bands like Pavement and stuff. And the nervous Uninformed Uniformed gives an appreciated “punk” touch. Ok, maybe, this is just an homage to the 1990s and does not reinvent the wheel. But who does? I mean, please never forget Lykke Li discovered tribal vibes only last year. TRIBAL! Damn. And the nineties are so much better than the eighties that at least it might bring back the revival even faster than expected.
Yes, Abulia Jubilee and its eight songs is not the kind of record you’re gonna play in vinyl asking your wife and kids to shut up because you wanna enjoy any single music detail of it all alone. This is just an album to play loud. Like the noisy tapes you used to listen to when you were a child, pretending you were the king of skateboard. That sounds gound enough for me and I do not bleach the past: am quite happy to have mentionned this band when it was stillin utero. Nevermind. Ace!
This blog is dedicated to Swedish music artists only. If you are the owner of one of the files, photos or videos which are on my blog and want me to put them off, please mail me (my email address is at the top of this blog in the lovely letter pic)
