Headphones On

The continuing feature where I throw out some of the new things that have shown up in my inbox lately...

Park Hotell - Size of Spain
Park Hotell - Low On Resistance A sob story showed up in my email about stolen turntables, bad luck, the desire for more but not knowing exactly what that more is supposed to be. Somehow I found it endearing¹. Enter Sweden's Park Hotell. I guess last month they released a double EP called The Guest Who Stayed Forever that was half produced by Bjorn Yttling (as in Peter Bjorn and John² eh?). Quite catchy, kind of addictive. I think I'll need to find a copy of the EP. Out of the three bands I'm writing up today, this is the one that has stuck the hardest.

The Seabellies - Song We Don't Speak Of Once upon a time I was one of those people who owned a bunch of Sarah Records, read every zine I could about The Field Mice, etc. If I was still this exact person I would probably be falling all over Australia's The Seabellies. Even tho I am not quite this person anymore, I am still kind of falling all over this song. The chamber pop gets ratcheted up a notch around the 4 minute mark so give this a listen... and don't cut out early.

Figurines - Hey, Girl Figurines were not new to me when this email showed up, in fact I always get them confused with the Swedish band Envelopes. No, I have no idea why, perhaps it's the plural? Anyway, this teaser single from their new record When The Deer Were Blue is definitely engaging (then again so is the new single from Envelopes 'Smoke In The Desert'). I don't suppose I can just leave this as "I like it" without any real rhyme or reason? I do like it better than that new Envelopes song. That's something isn't it²?

¹ Despite the line of the email that questioned my commitment to sparkle motion knowledge of Swedish indie pop, I am not taking offense. I suppose to a Swede my ridiculous love of Eggstone, North of No South, etc is not that unheard of.
² If what it takes to get this band heard is a lot of PB&J namedropping, I say drop away. The guitar jangle around 1:40 of "Size of Spain" is enough to justify dropping anyone's name.
³ That's actually quite a lot considering that Envelopes record was recorded with Per Sunding. For me to admit anything Per has touched might not be gold is um... out of the ordinary.

Buy some: Park Hotell, The Seabellies, Figurines