As the title suggests this is the third EP in a series from Swedes Svarta Stugan following on from a self-titled debut and second release ‘A Mutation And A Madness.’ They describe it as being inspired by the likes of God Speed You Black Emperor as well as sounds from the likes of Blade Runner and Twin Peaks and on their Facebook mention that genre wise as experimental rock and twee noise!
It certainly starts off in a twee fashion and I am sure that if something is twee it is not so much a good thing, more dainty, quaint and inconsequential and ‘Neo Futuristic’ actually sounds like something from bygones past. It’s got a melody that would not be out of place on a Beatles or Floyd song and the weedy synth line working through it sounds like it could easily come from a BBC Radiophonic workshop kids TV programme. Luckily some jangling guitars and drums take it into a post rock jam before reverting back to form. After a few spins it does get in the head fairly well and is followed by ‘Street View’ and drones that again hark back to the old Radiophonic experimentation of old. The Blade Runner effect is definitely noticeable here as it goes into a very mellow Vangelis sound that could well have escaped off the soundtrack but everything is kind of abstract so far and not really that well defined as being very engaging. ‘Damn Fine Coffee’ obviously takes inspiration from David Lynch’s work with some rhythmic drumming and keyboard melody taking centre stage before crashing and crunching out all too early again.
Interest is picked up with saxophone entering on ‘Drums In The Light Of Christ’ courtesy of Christopher Thorén from Music is the Weapon. Think of Shining Sweden, Zappa, Beefheart, King Crimson and all the usual suspects as this goes into a jazz laden stupor but just as you are getting really into it downs tools in under 2 minutes. Un-Birth is a bit longer taking into a smoke filled basement room with the sax moodily parping away and drums slapping slowly helter-skelter as the patrons nod off in narcotic stupor to the film noir sound. A rather whimsical and indeed twee end comes in form of ‘wE Are’ again doing little to really engage as this ebbs out a mere 17 minutes after it started.
Svarta Stugan obviously have some good ideas and embrace the cinematic feel in their music but it is all a bit too incidental for me and I want something a bit more to get my teeth into here really. Give it a listen at the following link and see for yourself.
(6/10 Pete Woods)
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