First Aid Kit <--- Young talent!

The sisters Klara Söderberg, 15, and Johanna Söderberg, 17 is the duo First Aid Kit. And what a duo! Despite the fact that they hate being called sweet - that's just what they are. They are singing sweet folk-pop and you wouldn't guess their early age from their lyrics. They were discovered by Karin Dreijer from The Knife and Fever Ray and that's why their debut EP Drunken Trees is released on her label Rabid Records. The EP was named Drunken Trees after watching Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth that mentions how trees lean and look drunken when the permafrost is melting. Insightful title!

The story of First Aid Kit gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I feel proud when two young girls with a lot of creative joy can put together such a great debut EP on their own. It can only go one way from here and that's forward! This is two young women that takes their music seriously, so don't let their sweetness fool you ;-)

As you might tell, Im already a fan of First Aid Kit, and i think you should be too. So check out their music at Spotify, and the videos below, the Fleet Foxes cover is wonderful! And if you like it, buy it!

Pssst! They are doing a UK tour at the moment, make sure to check out the tour dates on their official website.

First Aid Kit - Hard Believer


First Aid Kit - Summer Session no 1: Universal Soldier [Buffy Saint-Marie]


First Aid Kit - Summer Session no 2: Simple Man [Graham Nash]


First Aid Kit - Cover: Fleet Foxes Tiger Mountain Peasant Song


Press Photo Josefin Klavus

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Find out more about the sisters on their official website and on their Myspace!
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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.

Fever Ray

Among the springs new releases, the one that excites me most is Karin Dreijer's new solo project Fever Ray. If you didn't know Karin is the second half of the sibling duo The Knife that has been hyped all over the world ever since José Gonzales decided to cover their song Heartbeats.

According to what i heard, the album came to be after Karin gave birth to her second child and spent nights and days awake. It resulted in bits and pieces that eventually formed into an entire album. I have been listening to it repeatedly the past week on Spotify, and i must say that i like it a lot. At first its very similar to The Knife, but without Olof's techno beats, but after a while it becomes more and more interesting and i keep hearing great lines like: When I grow up, I want to be a forester, run through the moss on high heels or the chorus from If I had a heart: if i had a heart i could love you, if i had a voice i would sing, after the night when i wake up, i'll see what tomorrow brings.

Its brilliance, with a great and mystical voice. She will be the big hype this spring and she is getting great reviews from both fans and critiques. So, check it out, you wont be sorry.

If I Had A Heart


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Check out FeverRay.com for more information.
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Press Photo

Heartbeats vs Heartbeats

Here comes both the original version from The Knife and the Sony version that was previously mention, with José Gonzales.

Which one is your favorite?

The Knife

The Knife is a duo that consists of the siblings Karin & Olof Dreijer (Karin a former member of Honey Is Cool). They formed in 1999 and released Deep Cuts which became a loved album among the Swedish listeners. Their mystical aura and outspoken unwillingness to appear in pictures or other marketing probably added to the hype with the Silent Shout tour in 2006. For many (including myself) it felt like the only chance of seeing them live. It was a great experience, but not as much a live concert as a performing art moment where images, sound and light came together. Karin and Olof where, as always, dressed in masks.

In 2005 José Gonzales version of the song Heartbeats was featured in a Sony commercial, which made the rest of the world aware of both José Gonzales and The Knife. Since then they both have had a great commercial success. Who would have known that the sometimes unlikely combination of beats, oil-drums (which you mostly find in reggae or world music) and Karins sweet voice would have such an effect on us?

The Knife has featured in many Tv series and won awards over the years for their work. They have released three albums and one soundtrack to the movie Hannah med H. Silent Shout was the latest release from Karin & Olofs own label Rabid Records, except for a DVD with tour material. We are looking forward to see what the siblings next move will be.

Press picture from Luger / Photography Elin Berge

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Read more at last.fm and the official website
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