TAG: Sweden

Aug18

Little Dragon @ The Roxy Theatre 8/15/11 (Live Review)

Fresh from the July 25th release of their third album, Ritual Union (Peacefrog Records), Little Dragon came through the famous Roxy club in West Hollywood eager to perofm new material to an intimate and elated crowd. Immensely talented, the Swedish quartet functions organically and collectively, as all members of the group substantially contribute to the overall sensation of the music: the synths are deep, the basslines heavy and pronounced, with (nu)jazz percussion facilitating movement between the soloists and the beautiful Japanese-Swedish vocalist Yukimi Nagano.

The show began with the opening track from their new album; title track “Ritual Union,” a tune threaded together with dark and hollow synthesizers with enough bounce to get a solid two-step going. An effective and delightful warm-up leading up to the equally soulful and effervescent second track …

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Apr04

Röyksopp @ The Wiltern 3/29/11 (Live Review)

“That’ll be 28 dollars,” said the bartender at The Wiltern, as I cautiously slid my debit card to him thinking he might have made a mistake. “Wait, 28 dollars for two beers. Are you sure?” He nods, annoyed. Enter the heavy bass and vocal sirens of Röyksopp to refresh a beer and make it taste like, well, a 14 dollar beer. Norwegian duo and electronic music veterans Röyksopp prove once again that they’re still relevant and should be excused for their uncharacteristic work with pop artist (and fellow Scandinavian) Robyn. The duo, composed of the unassuming yet brilliant Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland, performed in front of the appreciative crowd at the historic Wiltern in Los Angeles last Tuesday March 29th. Admittedly, not very well versed in the vast catalog of music Röyksopp has produced since their inception …

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Feb21

Robyn Live @ ACL (Review)

word: Katherine Deming / photos: Chris Carrasquillo

Robyn, the quintessential Swedish dance-machine and Comeback Queen (or as they say in Sweden “Drottning”), made her Austin City Limits debut at The Moody Theater on Thursday night. The state-of-the-art venue is the new home to KLRU-TV produced PBS program Austin City Limits – the longest running music series in American television history. The Moody Theater feels surprisingly intimate for a 3-level 2,700 capacity venue. Located on Willie Nelson Blvd. in downtown Austin, the Moody Theater is a wet dream for sound tech and lighting geeks (do those exist?). Bottom line – the new ACL studio maintains the intimacy of the old studio with some schnazzy …

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May05

O’Spada – Pay Off (Video)

How bout some Swedish synth-funk for lunch? The lead single and title track from their soon-to-be released album is chock full of awkward English-language singing but undeniable musical appeal. Pay Off will be available in Europe and Japan at the end of the month.

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Apr04

Love is All – Two Thousand and Ten Injuries (Review)

Love Is All

Two Thousand and Ten Injuries

Released by Polyvinyl Record Co.


Sweden's Love is All specialize in itchy, reverb-soaked art-punk that rarely sounds less than massive: even a plaintive cut like "Repetition" blooms into trilling regalia. On their first record, the coyly titled Nine Times That Same Song, the band played about with these sonic elements like a kid with new Legos. Here they're more careful, building tiny castles with those sax wails and subway-clatter drums, infusing moments of romantic keening (or delicious revenge, as on "Less Than Thrilled") into the din. Throughout Two Thousand and Ten Injuries, drums patter ...

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