Swedish Post-Rockers Go Synthpop. Off the album Lovelorn.

Quick Synopses:
With Simian Ghost, Sebastian Arnström of Swedish post-rockers Aerial swaps out sprawling guitar epics for frothy electronic pop sheen with impressive results. The cynical might detect an element of opportunism in the blogger-friendly chillwave shimmer, but Arnström is such a smooth operator that any such charges slide right off.

Lead track Free Agents is the EP’s sparkling high-point, with warped-tape effects ruffling a pristine synth melody, while Bicycle Theme is blissed-out pop of the finest calibre. Where Simian Ghost’s debut full-length Infinite Traffic Everywhere (released in Sweden earlier this year and available online/on import), felt like a compromise of sorts,Lovelorn is the sound of Arnström embracing his new guise vigorously – as well he should; it rather suits him.

One woman, one cello…. Beautiful! Off Linnea Olsson new album, Ah!

Review:

One could begin with an insight into Linnea Olsson’s musical world with a description of what she has reared from. Paint a picture of a small Coastal Swedish town family of four, four musicians nonetheless. Her resume reads of a manuscript for the trained to aspire towards. All the tools, schools, accolades one could gather to claim themselves as a prepared musical being, following in the path that had been cleared before her. Yes it seems you can already guess what is next for her.

Years touring the world playing bass and cello with the likes of Ane Brun, Frida Hyvonen, and Nina Kinert amongst others. Wherever there was time Linnea filled it with musical collaboration and motion. Until the Fall of 2010 motion slowed. For this time, I am grateful. As this is when Linnea sat down with what she knew, and created something that demands a space in the musical universe. Eleven songs that are now know as the album ¨AH!¨.

Before pressing play on Linnea’s debut album, AH!, I must say I expected a lot from it. What I came away with is something much above my expectations. This record has been on repeat inside my head since the first listen. AH! stirs together longing, bliss, dream, motion and love into one. Each emotion distinct and defined in its own right upon arrival, yet harmonious in the format of one whole album. How could such a learned being create something so uninhibited? All whilst being made with just two incredibly dynamic and character rich elements; her voice and her cello.

Linnea also plays in trio with her band: Paintbox

Here is Dinosaur also from her new album. This is the live version.