skwbn - #4!!! new single!

There are few bands who better embody the spirit of Swedish pop better than Suburban Kids With Biblical Names. Their music combines a joyous mix of electronics, fun melodies, and maybe occasional tendencies toward the tropical. It's already been three years since the release of their only full-length, #3, but now we have been blessed with #4, set to be released on February 4th on Labrador. How did we ever survive? Well, luckily the duo had other projects in the meantime: Peter Gunnarson played with the wonderful Springfactory and Johan Hedberg released a great solo EP on Labrador.

Sadly, however, #4 is just an EP! Oh well, I guess having four songs is better than having none.

To celebrate this good news, I woke up this morning with an e-mail from Labrador gifting us all an early February 4: an MP3 of Suburban Kids' new single, "1999." I don't think it is anything radically different from classic SKWBN. A few more songs are also streaming on the band's Myspace, so make sure to have a listen.

Pre-order #4 now!

Download:
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - 1999

the sound of arrows - 'm.a.g.i.c.' single out 1/28

The Sound of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C. (Mini-video)

Christmas is over, and I must say, I didn't feel in much of the holiday spirit this year. Maybe it's been the bitter cold and icy wintry mix that kept me inside for 92 hours straight, the uncomfortable return to my parents' house, or maybe just my usual pessimism, but despite all that, I can't really refute the magic of the Sound of Arrows new song and mini-video.

The Sound of Arrows (from good ole Stockholm City) put out a great EP for "Danger" earlier this year on Labrador with some really great songs and even a few remixes of "Danger" that I enjoyed. This new single for "M.A.G.I.C." (out January 28 on Labrador), promises to be a great preview of what we'll see on their forthcoming album.

"M.A.G.I.C." is full of the electronic swells and school child chants referenced in "Danger," but with something distinctly more magical. Maybe the video, with all of its reappropriated Disney footage (not to mention the unicorn), influences my opinion somewhat. But, as a firm believer in the Icelandic huldufólk (hidden people), I wonder if maybe Sweden, too, is influenced by some magical älvdanser (elf dances). Some magic to ponder for this holiday season.

Pre-order the single for "M.A.G.I.C." from Labrador now!

Download:
The Sound of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C.