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Tag archives for indie music

Nina Kinert and the Red Leader Dream

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I’ve already talked a bit about Nina Kinert as she played at the ÅÄÖ festival in Paris few weeks ago. But I wanted to get back on her new album as it really worth the trip!
I say trip as Red Leader Dream, her fourth album, is an epic travel.
Far from her folk debut recordings, Nina Kinert has played with layers and dense arrangements to build a soundtrack for a 7th Star Wars movie.
Helped by rising drums and strings, the emotional and mystical power of her voice has never been that sharp.
An album like a journey.
Get on board of the “Red Leader Dream” spaceship!

Julien Bourgeois

December 17, 2010

Peter Von Poehl’s melodies

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I never showed these two polaroids of Peter Von Poehl that I’ve made at home in studio lights without any purpose else than personnal studies.
I know Peter since a while. We made numbers of shootings together in 6 years.
He’s from Malmö but lives between Paris, Berlin and Sweden where he records his (and, as a producer,  few of other people’s) albums. Mainly at AGM Studios with its owner the musician (in Brainpool) and producer/engineer (of too many bands to name!) Christopher Lundquist. An analogical studio hidden in the Scanian countryside.
Peter writes melodies that only talent can make so obvious. Pure pop songs that stay in your brain.
His two albums, “Going to where the tee trees are” and “Mayday” are made like timeless classicals.
When I listen to his songs a feeling comes to me, something like not being home, in a foreign place, standing by the sea shore, closed eyes, a gentle breeze on the face. All this is surely pretty personnal, like every feeling I guess, but something close to fullness, having a break wherever you are. Probably, simply what people can expect from… good music!

Julien Bourgeois

December 15, 2010

The iconoclastic Ikons

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I met the psychedelic and cerebral band Ikons, signed on the great label Service (Jens Lekman, The Embassy, The Whitest Boy Alive,…), last september for the Stockholm issue of the french but itinerant magazine I Heart…
Before their show at Debaser Slussen the 7 band members from Göteborg (6 musicians and a videast) allowed me a tidy shooting. I should say “very tidy” especially when you know that shooting more than 3 buddies together usually turns into a beautiful mess!
Few hours after that, they were on stage performing songs from their first eponymous album.
Songs made of electronic and organic waves. Foggy and raw guitar motifs, rough drums and rounded bass. All this wrapped in sparkling arrangements.
Ikons are pretty promising. And regarding how much pictures come to your mind while listening to their music, their name finds all its meaning!

Julien Bourgeois

December 13, 2010

Mai in all seasons

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Like a delicate smile and a soft whisper in your ear.
That’s what Mai’s music makes me think about.
Mai is Johanna Wedin (or the contrary) a friendly Swedish/Parisian (since many years now). And after a first album in 2007, Johanna is back with “Silent seduction”, a pretty good title that fits well to her last and brillant EP.
Five tracks alternating between light and shadow, blue skies and fog. And even, english and french! The last track called “Si Tu Dois Partir” is based on an adaptation from the british band Fairport Convention of the Bob Dylan’s “If You Gotta Go, Go Now”. But before that, have a special listening to the opening song “Our Ghost”. An EP like a pearl of light in a tunnel that makes us wait until the album! Hurry hurry Johanna!

Julien Bourgeois

December 11, 2010

Dancing with Club 8

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Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård are Club 8. With a 15 years old carreer, the duet is an inspired and inspiring band. They released their first album on a Spannish label. Maybe because they always looked up to put a bit of sun in their recordings! Trying to reinvent their music on each record by adding clever influences in their pop such as bossa-nova or caribbean arrangements on the last one.
Listen to the opening track, “Western Hospitality” from their last album “People’s record” and just dance (with the “mentality ill”) !!
While talking about their record, the occasion is good to say few words about their label: Labrador Records. Probably one of the most respected Swedish indie label with bands like The Radio Dept., The Mary Onettes, Pelle Carlberg or Sambassadeur to name a very few. The whole catalogue is a pleasure for ears!
And as every thing of good quality is always related, guess who’s in charge of Labrador records? A certain Johan A.

Julien Bourgeois

December 9, 2010