LISTEN: Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation – ‘Feel The Sun’

A swirling haze of sultry vocals and fuzzy guitars and synth textures; London-based psych outfit Josefin Öhrn + the Liberation have shared their latest single ‘Feel The Sun’. The track is taken from their upcoming album Sacred Dreams, which is set to be released in April via Rocket Recordings.

The band have seen a dramatic rise to prominence since the release of their debut EP Diamond Waves in 2014, which led to a nomination for a Swedish Grammy for “best newcomer”. Since then, Josefin and writing partner Fredrik have relocated from Stockholm to London and have created a new Liberation around them.

The new band consists of; Maki (Go Team), Patrick C Smith (Eskimo Chain), Matt Loft (Lola Colt) and Ben Ellis, who’s worked with both Iggy Pop and Swervedriver. They recorded the new album Sacred Dreams at Press Play studios run by Andy Ramsay of Stereolab, who also produced and programmed his non synced drum machines for the record.

With talented individuals surrounding them, Josefin and Fredrik are on track to release another altruistic record. Listen to ‘Feel The Sun’ below and follow Josefin Öhrn + the Liberation on Facebook for more updates.

Pre-order your copy of Sacred Dreams here.

Josefin Öhrn + the Liberation UK Tour Dates 2019
23 Apr – Oxford, The Bullingdon
24 Apr – Leeds, The Brudenell Social Club
25 Apr – Manchester, The Deaf Institute
26 Apr – London, Islington Assembly Hall
27 Apr – Bristol, Thekla
30 Apr – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Majken – ‘Lovely Daughter’

Tentative, soft-focused, colourful visuals form the new video for Swedish songwriter Majken‘s single ‘Lovely Daughter’. The track is taken from her upcoming debut album, set to be released this Autumn via Kollektivet Records.

Directed and shot by Amanda Davies, Majken says the footage for ‘Lovely Daughter’ is “conceptual but still intimate and self-revealing” – a perfect reflection of the Malmo-based musician’s songwriting style. Majken has been writing songs since the age of 14 and has a clear intuition for delicate, tender sounds with “sad and sloppy guitar”.

Her debut album was recorded at her home with Damon Tutunjian (Mew, Swirlies), who appreciates lo-fi recordings, 70’s synthesisers and MIDI harp as much as she does. If the rest of her album sounds as sweet as ‘Lovely Daughter’, our ears are in for a treat this Autumn. Watch the video for the track below, and follow Majken on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: ShitKid – ‘This Is It’

ShitKid has a penchant for apathetic, off-kilter lo-fi sounds and she’s set to share more of them on her upcoming EP, This Is It. The anti-popstar’s fourth record is set for release on 19th January via PNKSLM Recordings and it’s the perfect follow-up to her acclaimed debut, Fish.

ShitKid is the project of Swedish artist Åsa Söderqvist, who recorded and produced This Is It in her own bedroom, before handing over the material to be mastered by Luke Reilly. The EP opens with jaded track ‘Favourite Thing’, on which heavy bass & reverb align to communicate ShitKid’s simultaneous delight and dissatisfaction with a summer fling.

‘Oh Me I’m Never’ picks up the tempo, with pulsing, drone-like electronics and more of ShitKid’s deceptively sweet vocals. The pounding drums and jaded synths on third track ‘All My Fears’ will get your feet anxiously shuffling around the dance floor, while ‘High Way’ is an off-kilter extrapolation about life after quitting a job because you’re “lazy and bored.” Her apathy has an unusual, engrossing energy to it and penultimate track ‘Spring Theory’ will have you eye-rolling at your seasonal chores list, eager not to waste time on such mundane events

‘Yooouuu’ is an anti-love song, an extended farewell sponsored by “so many cups of coffee” and “cigarettes” culminating in a note “by the phone”. It’s a polished ending to this strung out set of sounds, all of which prove that ShitKid is anything but shit.

Pre-order your Limited Edition vinyl copy of This Is It here. Follow ShitKid on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ALBUM: Pale Honey – ‘Devotion’

If you blend the vocals of Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell and the Cardigans’ Nina Persson with clear electronics and hazy guitar riffs – you’ll end up with the sound of Gothenburg duo Pale Honey. The band released their second album Devotion earlier this month and it’s a cool, understated new offering.

‘Replace Me’ is a strong album opener, displaying the pair’s inherent ability to craft assertive, memorable indie-electronic tunes. It blends seamlessly in to second track ‘Someone’s Devotion’, which is an up-beat, fuzzy guitar-led rejection of love. ‘Get These Things Out Of My Head’ follows and just like the track’s name, you’ll struggle to get the buzzing synths out of your brain.

‘The Heaviest Of Storms (Devotion Pt. 1)’ smoulders for just shy of six minutes, making it the strung out and sultry highlight of the record, whilst ‘Lesson Learned’ is another coolly uncompromising tune that threatens “I will break you honey” with casual venom. ‘Real Thing’ is charged with “electric” “obsessive” energy, and ‘777 (Devotion, Pt.2)’ bookends the previous three tracks with quiet guitars and sweetly jaded vocals.

Penultimate track ‘Golden’is another charged tune that quietly, but defiantly champions independence, whilst ‘Why Do I Always Feel This Way’ closes the record on a note of uncertainty. There’s one thing we know for sure though, Pale Honey pack a powerful punch with their assertive indie-electronic offerings, and you should head down to their show at Old Blue Last on November 7th to hear their tunes in the flesh (RSVP here).

Follow Pale Honey on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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