New season

November is here and the darkness is upon us [the people of Scandinavia]. We set the clocks back an hour and it makes us sleepier than usual.

Here comes a few favorite videos with the theme of the new season.

Ane Brun - Changing of the seasons


First Aid Kit - You're Not Coming Home Tonight


Jens Lekman - Black Cab


Hello Saferide - Arjeplog

The Sound of Independent Sweden [part II]

David Coleman is back with the second part of the article about the Swedish music scene [based on location]. Im wondering if its possible to hear the difference between music depending on where its made in Sweden? Check out what David says about that. Oh, and remember to read the second part of The Sound of Independent Sweden!

Read the second part of the article here --->
The Sound of Independent Sweden [part II]

Is it possible to hear the difference between music depending on where its made in Sweden? For instance, is there a special Gothenburg sound, in your opinion?
I think it's difficult for an outsider to hear subtle differences between artists from different regions of Sweden in the same way as I can when listening to British or even American bands. That said, the 'Balearic' electronic pop thing seems to be very specific to Gothenburg. The Tough Alliance, Air France, The Embassy, Boat Club, perhaps even Studio – that's one version of a Gothenburg sound, but then you have bands from the same city like Wildbirds and Peacedrums who are doing something entirely separate.

I think the similarities between artists on specific labels are more noticeable. There's a distinct Labrador sound, for example, and the Sincerely Yours and Service artists seem to be approaching their work in similar ways.

You seem to have a very deep intrest and knowledge about Sweden and Swedish music, [some people call them swedophile's]. Where did your intrest come from? Was it your Swedish girlfriend that made you discover Swedish music?
My fiancée, Emma, comes from Halland. We met in October 2000 [in Sheffield] and she introduced me to a few of the more poppy artists [Sahara Hotnights, The Ark, Mando Diao, etc.], while simultaneously subjecting me to some less enjoyable sounds such as "schlager". Ugh.

She's certainly the reason why I've visited Sweden so many times, but if I'm honest I was already interested in Swedish music before we met. The two early triggers were my first 'proper' gig [a pop-punk band called Fungus, who had a deal with Parlophone in the mid-to-late nineties] and an amazing mixtape that I received from a No Ripcord reader called Magdalena, which introduced me to The Bear Quartet, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and others. I guess the love affair started there and the great music I've discovered subsequently has only served to fuel it further.

Which one is your top 5 list of Swedish musicians/bands [and the favorite album by each artist]?
Ah, that's a difficult one. I struggled to narrow the list down to fifty for the feature! Ok, in no particular order:

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Wildbirds and Peacedrums - The Snake
The Embassy - Futile Crimes
The Knife - Silent Shout
Vapnet - Jag vet hur man väntar

Happydeadmen's Silent Sigh City and Bear Quartet's Human Enough are probably my favourite songs.

Poor Jens!

Off topic news! You might have heard that Jens Lekman picked up what is commonly known as the Swine-flu when he went to South America to play live. In Jens's own words: "I picked home one last souvenir from South America, it's called the H1N1 virus."

He is now recovering in quarantine and hoping that he will get well soon! Jens: "I can see the summer through my window and it's just perfect. Summer is always best through a window."

---
More information about Jens is found on his website.
---

Black Cab Sessions

The past week I have been addicted to the Black Cab Sessions. Its full of acoustic live acts recorded on video in a black cab in London, with a lot of great artists and bands. Some of the great ones is Swedes that are being hyped at the moment, like Jens Lekman, Lykke Li, Peter, Björn and John and fellow Scandinavian Ane Brun.

Jens is performing his song Black Cab, but the cab Jens is singing about is not the black cabs of London, its actually the black cab market in Gothenburg [and the sometimes dangerous men that drives them].

You can also find a lot of great non-Swedish music like Ryan Adams, Death Cab for Cutie, Martha Wainwright, Daniel Johnston, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver to name a few. All of these are worth to check out [if you haven't already].

---
Check out more at BlackCabSessions.com
---

Guest | Laura's favorites

What a great question! Of course...favorite? That's like choosing a favorite child. I think Peter Moren put it best when he said that Sweden, by percentages, has more great bands then any other place on earth. (I'm not a math genius...but I'm pretty sure the numbers work out.)

I was first introduced to Swedish music when a friend, horrified that I didn't know anything about her own country, handed me a CD book filled with disks. Okay, handed isn't the right word...she was so excited it was tossed...with all the glee of a music lover knowing she's about to turn a new fan. Two weeks later, we went to see José Gonzales and the rest, as they say, is history.

Current favorites? Anything on Labrador. I love the uniformity in sound and purpose. Between Club 8, The Legends, Radio Dept, Acid House Kings...well, for a kid raised on the pop-delights of the Beach Boys -- it's tough to beat. Does Stockholm put something in the water?

Other favorites: Jens Lekman, Montt Mardié, and Elias and the Wizzkids, all who manage to take the perceived (at least from an American view point) Euro-chic persona and turn it on its head. I'm the worlds biggest geek, so it's always nice to have a bit of company.

Of course, I'm always up to at least sample something a bit experimental. Recently Dieter Schöön e-mailed us [us means wouldbehipster] with his album. It's seriously freaky and wonderfully out of control.

Cheers!
Laura (a.k.a. LMS)
wouldbehipster.com

Elias and The Wizzkids - Young and Hairy


Montt Mardié - Paraply


Club 8 - Missing You

Jens Lekman x 3

Here comes a few of Jens Lekmans videos :) If you are interested there is a lot of live material that can be found on Youtube! Enjoy!

Black Cab


Sipping On The Sweet Nectar


You Are The Light

Jens Lekman

Jens Lekmans sweet-sad-songs has gotten me through a lot of bad days over the years. You probably heard about him already, he is a frequent touring artist and seem to travel all over the world most of the year. You might have read in the magazines that people like Kirsten Dunst are fans, and who can blame her? Jens charm is honest and heart breaking and that is what makes it brilliant.

He is one of those rare artists that are both gifted with lyrics and songs, which became a fact after his third album Night Falls Over Kortedala that was released last year. A shy mans reflections of every day troubles and love problems ventilated through sweet music. His albums just keeps getting better and better. Dont miss the songs Postcard To Nina or Your Arms Around Me.

Jens was born 1981 in Angered [a suburb to Gothenburg] and has frequently been singing about his every day life for every one who wants to listen. For fellow "Göteborgare" there is a charm to hear him sing about places and events that is effecting us every day. For example the illegal cabs [black cab] that is often used in the early morning hours after a night out, or the place he love; Hammarkullen [Hammer Hill]. Last year Jens moved from Kortedala/Hammarkullen to Australia but now his website tells us that he is homeless... we'll see where this wanderer might show up next time. Check out his releases, you dont wanna miss this.

Official Press Pictures

---
Also check out his official website JensLekman.Com
---

Dedicate a Song

I have this thing that i do, every day, sometimes many times per day... I dedicate songs to people in my life. No one knows this because i do it silently in my head. Its my secret. Sometimes its long and emotional dedications with reasons and feelings and sometimes its short ones, just because a song reminds me of someone special. I do it on the bus with my ipod, when i do my dishes or at night when im about to sleep. Who do you want to dedicate a song to?

-------

Today i dedicate this song to Jeroen. You are my light!

You are the light [Jens Lekman cover performed by a guy called Dimitri]