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ENVELOPES |
Make no mistake about it, Envelopes are different. The first voice heard on album opener 'Party' is that of singer Henrik letting rip with a yodel: yes, that's right, a yodel. And before you've noticed, the song will have marched through its own loud-quiet-loud mash of Pixies, Belle and Sebastian and '77 era Talking Heads, even somehow referencing Bonnie Tyler along the way; "Once upon a time I was falling in love / now I'm only falling apart / totally fucked from the start."
From there they stumble ahead with their own utterly unique vision of modern pop music, forged from a shared love of the skewed, the unusual and the downright obtuse. Perhaps listening to Envelopes' music is a similar experience to seeing Flaming Lips live for the first time. Everything is there - including the kitchen sink - but it's been put in its own peculiar order, making it sometimes hard to understand but always somehow familiar. It's unfashionable, but timeless, meticulously created but frayed around the edges.
'Here Comes the Wind' is the band's second album and in its creation the band have clearly taken in all things beloved to them - B52's, Yo La Tengo, Os Mutantes, Nico, Bob Hund and Stereolab all spring to mind, distilling them through their own, unique pop filter to create a sound that reminds you of all your favourite bands, but ultimately sounds like no-one but themselves.
As befits such a collision of influences, there is an unabashed sense of fun throughout, but always with a sense of something darker hovering overhead. From the 'Psycho-Killer' menace of 'Smoke In The Desert, Eating The Sand, Hide In The Grass' with its driving bass and irresistible groove, to the Velvet Underground lushness of Audrey singing 'Boat', Envelopes convert beguiling rhythms and seemingly random lyrics and melodies into something truly moving. By the time Audrey closes the album with the unforgettable line, 'here comes the wind that will take us far away/ anywhere we want to go/ anywhere we want to...' you realise that this is a band leading us far beyond our own musical horizons.
Envelopes' story is as unusual as their music. Living in Stockholm, Malmo and Paris the band fought geography, and won: spending enough time together during school holidays to home-record their album of demos 'Demon', released very quietly on the newly formed Brille Records in late 2005. 'Demon' suggested Envelopes were certainly the most promising band to emerge out of Sweden and France (via York) ever, and 'Here Comes The Wind' proves it beyond a doubt.
UK live dates to be announced shortly.
Envelopes are:
Henrik Orrling (vocals, guitars, keyboard, production)
Audrey Pic (vocals, guitars, keyboard)
Fredrik Berglind-Dehlin
Filip Ekander (Drums)
Ulf Hglund (Bass)
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Label: Brille Records
Location: Sweden
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links
Official Website
MySpace
Brille Records
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