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The Concretes
There's eight of The Concretes, in an adorable co-ed array -- which already makes me wonder what SXSW venues the lush Swedish pop band will play this year. I'm totally having a flashback to that showcase giant band The Earlies played at Maggie Mae's, where they didn't all fit on stage and there was spillover into the crowd!
But I digress. When I played The Concretes for my mom sometime around Christmas 2004, she told me lead singer Victoria Bergsman's tonally challenging yet utterly lovely singing voice (it's very dour and flat, but strangely tuneful and lilting as well) reminded her of Nico. I had't really noticed before, but she did have a point. Moving directly from that general idea, you can then say that The Concretes' songs actually sound like they're from an alternate universe where Burt Bachrach collaborated with Nico instead of Dionne Warwick. This is especially evident in their cover of the Rolling Stones' "Miss You," which I've included below. There's a dash of folky familiarity to their songs as well, much as with the recent work of fellow countryman Jens Lekman. Harmonicas, banjos, slide guitars -- they all make an appearance -- along with lush string arrangements and a smattering of found sounds. (The band's style is a perfect match with the producer of their latest album, In Colour -- Saddle Creek superman Mike Mogis (Rilo Kiley, Cursive, Bright Eyes) -- who is becoming known for his sensible pop arrangements layered with a near excess of big horns, complex harmonies, string arrangements, and pretty effects.
As a matter of fact, one of the tracks may sound familiar because you've actually heard it before, but just didn't know it. The band's jaunty and insouciant breakout single in Europe and the UK, "You Can't Hurry Love," was recently used in, of all things, a commercial for Target.
The Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love
The Concretes - Lady December
The Concretes - Miss You
The Concretes - Chosen One
The Concretes - On the Radio
The Concretes' official site. Buy their self-titled debut at Amazon or from the iTunes Music Store. Their second album, In Colour, will be released later in 2006.
Posted by Little Miss Rock'n'Roll at 02.10.06 at 3:30 AM
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