Scandinavian Indie Digest Fri, 27 Feb 1998 Volume 98 : Issue 22 Today's Topics: Stilluppsteypa live in Stockholm TORNIS Sampler (more info.) Hultsfred Festival 98 Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 [NEWS] Mart Hallgren [NEWS] Starmarket [NEWS] Flaming Sideburns Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] Re: Komeda Kwestion Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide II (Non-Scan) [26-Feb-98] Re: GTM, Pimms, Dr Kosmos Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] Re: GTM, Pimms, Dr Kosmos Re: Stilluppsteypa live in Stockholm Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 emails. Warning: Scandiepop lecture ahead Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 Re: [NEWS] Starmarket Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide III (Scan Outside) [26-Feb-98] Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide II (Non-Scan) [26-Feb-98] Re: Stilluppsteypa live in Stockholm Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide III (Scan Outside) [26-Feb-98] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from the Scandinavian Indie Digest mailing list: * send e-mail to: scan-indie-d-request@lysator.liu.se * with the Subject: unsubscribe To post to the Scandinavian Indie mailing list: * use the address: scan-indie@lysator.liu.se Digest back issues can be found in the [SID] section at the Scan-Indie website: http://www.lysator.liu.se/~chief/scan.html () Please take care not to include the entire digest in your () reply, only the message(s) you are replying to. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 15:18:10 +0100 From: Marten.Sahlen@xt.etx.ericsson.se (Marten Sahlen) Subject: Stilluppsteypa live in Stockholm Hey indie kids in Stockholm... it's time to broaden your horizons! This Saturday the 28th of February, the Icelandic sound/noise/ambient band Stilluppsteypa will play at the Fylkingen club (Munchenbryggeriet, Torkel Knutssonsg. 2), as part of their current European tour. Doors open at 7:30 PM and admission is 70:-. They have released albums on several different labels, and collaborated with other avantgarde celebrities such as the Hafler Trio, Ryoji Ikeda, Melt-Banana, and Stock Hausen & Walkman. About the band: STILLUPPSTEYPA & IRR.APP. "tpith or tetapth" (Fire inc.) "This album was recorded in their respective native countries and in Japan. The sounds on this album are treated to great extent into hissing drones, with raw cuts for that necessary sense of collage. Sometimes far away things to be recognized, such as a melody line." "tpithor tetapth" have also been describes as "...a surreal soundscape journey through the unreal landscape of Iceland's lava fields with japanese birds humming old folk tunes and operas in the distance" STILLUPPSTEYPA "One Side Mona Lisa" (Fire inc.) This CD ep from Iceland's adventurous Stilluppsteypa - featuring remixes by The Hafler Trio and "an elf", and Stock, Hausen & Walkman's Matt Wand - sounds like an audio collage of field recordings made in all types of weird locations. Recorded in stunning depth, it's an aural OmniMax film that sucks you through such desolate environments as ice caverns, submarine interiors and the surface of Mars. Drones, beeps, accordion melodies and whirring tones, as well as thumping, minimal beats and echo-affected organ lines (in "darling I know"), become both the soundtrack and the jorney. There's something frighteningly lonely about the trip, though, some chilling quality that casts a shadow of uneasiness over this disc's 24 minutes. After it's ended, you may find yourself pressing "repeat" in an attempt to retrace your steps to anything resembling familiar ground." -Alternative Press. And finally, do not miss the diabolic cult vocalist Diamanda Galas when she performs at Kulturhuset in Stockholm on March 28th. Tickets are selling out fast, so act now or be doomed to miss the concert of the year... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 17:41:09 +0200 (WET) From: Roberts Galvans Subject: TORNIS Sampler (more info.) Hej, here is more info. about what is on Tornis SAmpler: TORNIS Rec. SAMPLER (1998, Tornis Rec, promo cassette) 1. BALOU PILNI PAGALMI "Pirms saule lec", taken from their 3rd album "Esi ar mani !" (1996, TORNIS Rec, cassette). 2. SIRKE "Otrs dienas vakar", taken from not released album "Meln uzvalk" 1997. 3. KARTGA "Uz galerm", from 3rd and the last in studio recorded album "Sirnu sala" (1997, Tornis Rec, cassette). 4. NVES INSTINKTS "Izbrns" taken from 4th album "Ir un nav" (1997,Tornis, cassette). 5. INOKENTIJS MRPLS "Rudens dziesma", not released yet, recorded in 1997. 6. SARKANAIS OKTOBRIS "30 grdi pc Celsija", not released yet, recorded in 1997. 7. LATVIJAS GAZE "Tva svtvakars", live from regular Latvian indie and underground fest "Pagrimuais Laikmets '97". 8. PLASTILNS :Lauku dzve", not released, recorded in 1995, pre-SIRKE. 9. YULUNGA "Ekspedcijja (klusums)", taken from forth-coming album "Eelis baletdejotjs" (1998, Tornis, cassette). 10. EDGARS UBROVSKIS "Anekdotes", ex-M.GVARDE, ex-KATRGA, frontman of HOSPITU IELA. Taken from one and only soloalbum "Anekdotes" (1995, Tornis, cassette). 11. VOICEKS "Sisei", taken from "Uz elli var iet ar bez kurpm" (1997, Tornis, cassette). 12. MARTA "Divreiz vien up neiekpt" solo project of Kristne Blekte (vocal,guitar) from SARKANAIS OKTOBRIS. Song's not released yet, recorded in 1997. 13. JNIS JANSONS "Via sacija", not released, 1996. 14. MRTI KORSIETIS "Telepts", ex-PLASTILNS, frontman of SIRKE, not released song, recorded in 1997. 15. IEVA MAZVRSTE "Kais", not released, 1996. 16. KALVIS "Aizejos dienas ststi", taken from first album "Mana apgzt laiva" (1997, Tornis, cassette). 17. MARIS VERNS "Sniegs ir nokusis", leader of BALOU PILNI PAGALMI, taken from first solo album "Atmiain deja" (1995, Tornis, cassette). 18. ANDONS "Tu un es", ex-TUK MUCA, ex-KARTGA, leader of LATVIJAS GAZE. Song taken from his 4th solo-album "Bezgalg priek" (1997, not signed to any label, cassette). RoberC //se51097@lanet.lv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:26:22 +0100 From: "Mikael Persson" Subject: Hultsfred Festival 98 Hi! I just heard on the radio that Black Sabbath is coming to Hultsfred this summer. /Mikael ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 20:11:49 +0200 From: ig@mindless.com Subject: Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 >Hi! > >I just heard on the radio that Black Sabbath is coming to Hultsfred this >summer. i read somewhere (which i of course forgot by now...) that it was roskilde and with ozzy, which means that it might be good to. far much better than the other crap heavy metal singer they got on karlshamnsfestival 94... j.n ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:24:55 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: [NEWS] Mart Hallgren MART HALLGREN The previous De Lyckliga Kompisarna front man is in the studio at the moment (Traxton Recordings - Stockholm) to record his first solo album. Helping out is Puttra Vikdal (Stukas) on guitar + drummers (!) Johan Jogansson (you don't really need a presentation, do you?) and Jouni Haapala (pre-DLK). Working title for the album is "Utan Fallskarm" (without parachute) and the release date is set for April 20th. //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:32:04 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: [NEWS] Starmarket STARMARKET (Ampersand) Because of the difference in language between our Swedish speaking Koping office and our Spanish side-kick in Umea (pun intended), some facts in our last news posting about the band was wrong. Of course the Starmarket guitar player who is no longer playing with the band Johan Sellman (and nothing else) and of course he didn't participate on the new single, which featured the band's new line-up. Sorry about that. //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:35:36 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: [NEWS] Flaming Sideburns FLAMING SIDEBURNS (Finland) The Flaming Sideburns has opened an official website at: http://www.sjoki.uta.fi/~latvis/yhtyeet/flaming.sideburns/ Their European tour looks like this (at the moment): 29.3. Cantina West, Helsinki, Finland 2.4. Goteborg, Sweden w/ Royal Beat Conspiracy (tba) 3.4. 1000 Fryd, Alborg, Denmark 4.4. Rostock, Germany (tba) 5.4. Hamburg, Germany (tba) 6.4. Glassfabrik, Groningen, Netherlands 7.4. Lulu-a-go-go, Braunschweig, Germany w/ Bambi Molesters 8.4. open 9.4. open 10.4. Rotersalon, Berlin, Germany 11.4. Im Eimer, Berlin, Germany 12.4. Star Club, Dresden, Germany 13.4. open 14.4. Jena, Germany w/ Los Banditos 15.4. Wild At Heart, Berlin, Germany 16.4. Tanz Diele, Kiel, Germany 17.4. Loppen, Copenhagen, Denmark w/ Heatfarm 18.4. Stockholm, Sweden (tba) (check out their website for information on what/who/where/when) //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 12:36:43 -0800 (PST) From: xander@sirius.com Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] >> The Bear Quartet >> 2/4 Umea, Pa Vintern festival -4/4 > > Anyone know anything about this event? Make Up is supposed to > play in Umea in April too.. Actually, I had been planning my upcoming Nordic trip to include a swing through Umea on this weekend in particular, because Erik from Seashells told me that one of the other Seashells was organizing this fest. Though Erik never told me who would be playing (and don't expect the 'shells, as they seem to have more or less retired). Anyway, I was glad to learn at last that at least someone I'm interested in will be playing. Alexander .Radio Khartoum. http://www.algonet.se/~elegans/radiok/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:44:23 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] >>> The Bear Quartet >>> 2/4 Umea, Pa Vintern festival -4/4 > >> Anyone know anything about this event? > > Umm, well. I met Jari from BQ at the HiC gig, and asked him about > upcoming shows. He mumbled smth (hey, why are the guys in BQ always > mumbling?) about Umea and possibly Lulea, those two gigs were the only > ones planned this spring... > Nothing in stockholm *sob* :~( I saw a list of bands who were going to play, but TBQ was the most interesting one of them all, so that's why I only inlcuded them in the list. I'll post more info about it though - if there's any other interesting bands playing. //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:48:20 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: Komeda Kwestion At 10:39 1998-02-26 -0000, Abbott, Daniel, ABBOTTD7 wrote: >> "do you know if they made that song as an ordinary promo (mtv video) >> too?" > > Yup, they certainly did and I remember seeing it very well, because that > was the first time I'd ever heard or seen anything to do with them. > Hmmm, they wore rather exquisite blue and yellow band outfits, I seem to > remember... > > Kool! Damn... I still have about 10 video tapes with scan-indie stuff I'd really like to spread around, but I really need either a video capture (MPEG) card or perhaps we could do a video tape chain? (PAL format that is). I know I haven't sent out the "Eggstone scan-indie" compilation yet - but I'm still waiting for the cover designs - those of you who feel responsible- contact me ASAP. //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:49:59 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide II (Non-Scan) [26-Feb-98] >Mo Holkar / UKG wrote: > >> >> >> Cornershop (UK) >> 19/3 Copenhagen, Loppen (DK) >> 20/3 Malmo, KB >> 21/3 Stockholm, Studion >> << >> >> Cornershop, if you don't know them, have become the latest overnight indie >> sensations in the UK -- new single 'Brimful of Asha' straight in at #1, >> after several years of complete obscurity. The band is mostly children of >> Indian immigrants, and there's a definite Indian tinge to their tuneful, >> dreamy indiepop. They're good fun, go and see them! >> >> Mo > > And their latest album is absolutely wonderful with a track called "Funky > days are back again" which is probably one of the coolest of last year. I > sure wish I could be there to see them. Does anyone know if there are any samples/MP3's on the web somewhere? I know of their official homepage - but there's nothing there (?)! //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:51:46 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: GTM, Pimms, Dr Kosmos > I went there at 20.00 and the little lada called tantogarden was FULL: > indiekids hanging out fron the windows, pouring out from the chimney, > it looked like a train in India. Ha ha ha! (sorry list - I just had to comment on this as I know the venue, and I can visualize this happening there) (thanks for the report Jan!!!) //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:59:35 +0100 (MET) From: Petter Tiilikainen Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] According to xander@sirius.com: > Actually, I had been planning my upcoming Nordic trip to include a swing > through Umea on this weekend in particular, because Erik from Seashells Ok, if there's something that i'm interested in except for BQ I might go.. it's a 3 hour drive after all and my car is ancient. Accordion to Erik Soderstrom: > I saw a list of bands who were going to play, but TBQ was the most > interesting one of them all, so that's why I only inlcuded them in > the list. I'll post more info about it though - if there's any other > interesting bands playing. Ok, I assume that Make Up wasn't on the list. Jan Sundstrom wrote: > Umm, well. I met Jari from BQ at the HiC gig, and asked him about > upcoming shows. He mumbled smth (hey, why are the guys in BQ always > mumbling?) about Umea and possibly Lulea, those two gigs were the only Well, heard the song Hrrn Hrnn from the Penny Century album? ;) Heck, most of songs on that record is pretty mumbly. I mumble lots too so I guess that's how we talk in Lulea. Hey btw, do all the BQ-members live in Stockholm or something? If so, what a bunch of dorks. ;) Petter PS. Anyone got an "exjobb" for me in Stockholm? Lulea is such a drag. =) DS. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:02:30 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: GTM, Pimms, Dr Kosmos At 13:35 1998-02-26 +0100, Jan Sundstrom wrote: > So I was on the list, got in and just saw the last 3 songs by the > opening act, Pimms. Now, they were kinda typical for the tendency of > always picking up the latest popular trends: Pimms was like a Radiohead > cover band, they copied the sound, the instruments, the style of the > singer, the awkwardness, everything. The only difference is that > they're trying to play their own songs. Oh, please don't say that - I had so much hope for this band to be original, inventive - good even. I have heard so much good things about them the last year or so I probably would have burst with anticipation if they ever played around here (mostly from Dorian Records' owner Roger - and no - I still don't have any information about the 2CD compilation due about a month ago... sorry about that but I believe it will never happen now - extremely sad news I know, but it has been delayed for almost a year now) > I must say I miss the rockier side of Salt, GTM would never play songs > like God Damn Carneval, which is a shame, really. I know.. Salt was (and still is) one of my favourite bands _ever_. I just wish I had brougt my little "interview" recorder to the gig they did in NYC (at Brownies) back in 1996 - the performance of the band along with Nina's singing together with the other bands was just totally stunning. It'll never happen again, I know, so I wish I had been brave enough to bring it. But we were going there by the subway - and I had heard the subway in New York was not the perfect place to bring expensive equipment (or cash), so I left it back at the hotel. And the camera. Wow, do I regret leaving these things now... > BTW, the drummer was wearing a Baxter t-shirt. Anyone heard anything > with them yet??? A t-shirt?? And I haven't even heard ONE single song yet!? Hmm... the Baxter website at Chrysalis has been the same for almost a year now - so I have no news at all to present. Anyone else? //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:10:43 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: Stilluppsteypa live in Stockholm > Hey indie kids in Stockholm... it's time to broaden your horizons! > > This Saturday the 28th of February, the Icelandic sound/noise/ambient > band Stilluppsteypa will play at the Fylkingen club (Munchenbryggeriet, > Torkel Knutssonsg. 2), as part of their current European tour. Doors > open at 7:30 PM and admission is 70:-. Wow - I have never even heard of the band! They do sound interesting enough though - do they have a website or somewhere one can find sound samples? //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:19:55 +0100 From: Erik Soderstrom Subject: Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 At 18:26 1998-02-26 +0100, Mikael Persson wrote: > I just heard on the radio that Black Sabbath is coming to Hultsfred this > summer. yeah, with ozzy behind the mic too... the tickets are going now... //Erik ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 00:40:49 +0200 (EET) From: "timo riitamaa." Subject: emails. micke wrote: > First: I do not know if anyone has already posted this. There was a huge > breakdown in the mailserver I use and I have quite a load of e-mails to > catch up on (125 to be exact). This is as far as I have come right now. hah! last summer when i came back from a 10-day trip to the us of a, i had 1375 (one thousand three hundred and seventy-five) emails waiting. and i'm not even a computer nerd. 144 to go, timo. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 15:34:17 -0800 (PST) From: xander@sirius.com Subject: Warning: Scandiepop lecture ahead Hello again. Most of you should have gotten an early form of the announcement, but here it is, the final warning that tomorrow I will be doing a presentation for the Scandinavian Dept at Berkeley. All about Scandiepop and some related things. And since the thing is open to the public, will be followed by a bit of a wine (& who knows what else) reception at 5, and most importantly, that I can't believe a bunch of academics really want to sit through a lot of analogue bubblegum and wimp pop, this is my invitation to you to come fill out the audience and enjoy yourselves as I make a fool of myself. Here's what you need to know: Room 6415 Dwinelle Hall UC Berkeley Friday, February 27 4-5 pm The (tentative) playlist: Eggstone - My Trumpets Cloudberry Jam - Elevator Chocolate Barry - I Cry Because Of You Argentina Bob Hund - Allt Pa Ett Kort Seashells - Howdy Hideki Kaji - Siesta Hideki Kaji - Tokyo To London Doktor Kosmos - Elevator Bossa Cinnamon - The Man On Your Street Jay-Jay Johansen - The Girl I Love Is Gone Red Sleeping Beauty - Pop Song Den Baron - I Can See The Flowers In The Garden Through The Window (But I Can't Touch Them) Bob Hund - Ett Fall & En Losning (video) The Bear Quartet - His Spine Pillow - Truth Left This Morning Komeda - Fuego De La Vida Puffin - Sick Bay Trio Lligo - Om Vi Maste Skiljas At Ray Wonder - Souvenir Jimi Tenor - Outta Space Elevators - Bubba Skinner Cessna - Continental Diner Super - Misty Hours The Pansies - Sunday People Isadora Flore - Make Up & Martini Bizarre - Barcode Warrior 12 Afternooning Plague Family - Sue's Seeds I don't think the lecture itself will be preserved for posterity, but since I'm compiling most of the music onto one CDR for the presentation, interested parties are welcome to contact me regarding dubs of the disc. Thank you, Alexander .Radio Khartoum. http://www.algonet.se/~elegans/radiok/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 23:09:39 -0800 (PST) From: "John Helgeland" Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide I (Scan/Nord/Balt) [26-Feb-98] I heard the seashells were planning on a reforming...interest news if you ask me. read this bit in PopSided. john ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 09:12:44 +0200 (EET) From: Samhain Subject: Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 >> I just heard on the radio that Black Sabbath is coming to Hultsfred this >> summer. > > yeah, with ozzy behind the mic too... the tickets are going now... That's right, they will also play Provinssirock here in Finland. I heard it from the tv show Jyrki, yes I know I'm a geek..... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 03:17:52 -0500 From: mqo4365@is4.nyu.edu (Martin Olson) Subject: Re: [NEWS] Starmarket Just wondering: does anyone have any information about the tour Starmarket are supposed to be doing in the US? Me and a couple of other people are busilly clearing our schedules for the next couple of months to make sure there will be no interference of any kind so any information anyone has would enable us to get on with our lives : ) -mo. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 03:17:54 -0500 From: mqo4365@is4.nyu.edu (Martin Olson) Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide III (Scan Outside) [26-Feb-98] At 2:40 AM 2/26/98, Erik Soderstrom wrote: >Ray Wonder (S) > 16/3 New York City, NY, Brownies (US) Worth checking out? I don't know the first thing about them but I'm always willing to check out a swedish band coming to town. Could anyone describe their sound, or anything like that? Thanks in advance. -mo. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 09:14:58 +0100 From: Mats Larsson Subject: Re: Hultsfred Festival 98 Erik Soderstrom wrote: > HULTSFRED FESTIVAL 1998 > > Malmo - Paddys, Kalendegatan 7 Hahahaha! At an Irish pub! Hahahahah ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 09:21:50 +0100 From: Mats Larsson Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide II (Non-Scan) [26-Feb-98] Mo Holkar / UKG wrote: > > >> > Cornershop (UK) > 19/3 Copenhagen, Loppen (DK) > 20/3 Malmo, KB > 21/3 Stockholm, Studion > << > > Cornershop, if you don't know them, have become the latest overnight indie > sensations in the UK -- new single 'Brimful of Asha' straight in at #1, > after several years of complete obscurity. The band is mostly children of > Indian immigrants, and there's a definite Indian tinge to their tuneful, > dreamy indiepop. They're good fun, go and see them! I agree. They are a good live band. I'm not so fond of their latest stuff on records, but go and see them. I saw the myself in London, open ing for the worlds best band around at the moment: LUNA! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 10:20:28 +0100 From: Marten.Sahlen@xt.etx.ericsson.se (Marten Sahlen) Subject: Re: Stilluppsteypa live in Stockholm chief@lysator.liu.se wrote: > > This Saturday the 28th of February, the Icelandic sound/noise/ambient > > band Stilluppsteypa will play at the Fylkingen club (Munchenbryggeriet, > > Torkel Knutssonsg. 2), as part of their current European tour. Doors > > open at 7:30 PM and admission is 70:-. > > Wow - I have never even heard of the band! They do sound interesting > enough though - do they have a website or somewhere one can find > sound samples? The only place I know of is the website for the adventurous Austrian label Mego, home of innovating techno/noise/ambient artists like Farmers Manual, DJ Pita, General Magic, and also the Swedish act Sluta Leta. Go to http://www.frank.co.at/frank/mego/mdos/fire.inc.(is).html Then click your way on to the different releases by Stilluppsteypa, which all have realaudio samples. It's some truly great and mind- boggling material, I promise... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 11:18:00 -0000 From: "Abbott, Daniel, ABBOTTD7" Subject: Re: [GIGS] Sin's Gig Guide III (Scan Outside) [26-Feb-98] MO wrote: "Worth checking out? I don't know the first thing about them but I'm always willing to check out a swedish band coming to town. Could anyone describe their sound, or anything like that? Thanks in advance." My God! Ray Wonder! Worth checking out? You bet your sweet bippy! Ray Wonder were the first band to get me interested in ANY music from Sweden in the first place! I first heard them back at the beginning of '96 when a new Swedish friend included four of their songs on a Swedish indie tape-comp she'd made for me. Everything else on the tape pretty much passed me by, but the Ray Wonder songs stuck out like exploding diamonds! Foaming at the mouth and feeling quite dizzy, over the following months I managed to get hold of all the band's releases and to my delight/ terror I discovered that ALL their songs were as earth-shatteringly good as those first few I'd heard! It's all true... but hell, you want to know what they sound like. Hmm, a tricky one... I know it's lazy but here's a review of their most recent CD,"Good Music" ,that I wrote for Bucketful of Brains fanzine (UK) last year: Ray Wonder "Good Music" North Of No South Records Ray Wonder, not a person as the name might suggest, but a band, an absolute diamond firecracker of an exploding-glee-parade of a band. Signs of Ray Wonder first appeared on my radar a year ago and it+s been a tale of rabid obsession ever since. Having hidden themselves away at home in Sweden for the last three or so years, word of this astounding band is only just beginning to seep out to the rest of the universe. Listen to a Ray Wonder CD and you+re effectively pulling the "GO!" lever on an ornate and wondrous fairground machine bearing the legend "POP! NOW!" in gleaming circus letters. "Good Music" is Ray Wonder+s fourth release, and though earlier recordings have been of a more spontaneous and roughly-hewn nature, here they aim for a more wilfully complex, polished sportscar of a sound. This is a wide, wide production where toytown horn arrangements and the occasional hazy string section augment the band+s unique brand of crunchy, syncopated power-pop. Crazy chords and jagged time-changes give some tracks a late 60+s action-movie feel, while others have a delirious 1930+s air, highly reminiscent of some of The Kinks+ more vaudevillian moments. What really makes Ray Wonder such a charming bunch though, is their special way of handling potentially twee sounding, Jonathan Richman-esque subject matter. Whether songs deal with the joys of hugging, dancing the cha-cha or romance with female dentists, the point is always hammered home with such manic energy and loud, deranged, enthusiasm that only the most cold-hearted of listeners could fail to be seduced. From the wired-Seeds-meet-Herb Alpert sound of opening instrumental "The Cad", to the near Stooges-jazz-carnage closing moments of last track "Hold Me Tight", "Good Music" is a damn fine cake which I intend to eat again and again until I+m thoroughly ill. The same also goes for all previous Ray Wonder releases... you need them. At present, none of their output has proper UK release, though you should be able to find "Good Music" with a little hunting. Trust me, there+s a Ray Wonder shaped hole in your life that needs filling. Um, there you go, those are my insanely biased and sycophantic opinions! I hope they're of some use to you... I can never resist ranting about my favourite band! If only I had a plane ticket to New York... sigh... Cheers, - Dan ------------------------------ End of Scandinavian Indie Digest Vol.98 #22 ********************************************