We're continuing our voyage back into 2017 to pick up some of the albums that we either missed or arrived just too late in the year to do a review. We haven't forgotten about Code Electro, Juha Kajanaa, Svankropp or even the lovely Canigou EP, and we will still try and get to them if we can. We'll start off heading to Sweden and 'In Deed', a band who've had to wait 16 years to release their 2nd album entitled 'Everest', a follow up to a critically acclaimed debut, which received widespread airplay.
'Everest' opens with 'What Once Was', a burst of guitar noise and we're introduced to Linda Karlsberg vocals, a real highlight throughout the album - with a softness that seems to suit the Indie Power Pop style of music perfectly. 'Five Times A Day' has taken a while to grow on me, but I like the clever tempo changes and the instrumental sections in particular. 'Don't Need, Don't Care' just works so well, an upbeat 60's influenced melody that will bounce around your head all day, and not for the first time I'm reminded of the brilliant Welsh indie-pop band 'The School', with the infectious tunes and sparkling instrumentation.
The album continues with 'Never Really Noticed', although it doesn't feel like the vocals and guitars are quite so much on the same wavelength as their other songs, but 'Heart Attack' is a real highlight, with influences that more clearly come from the Manchester music scene, and the vocals suit the style of song really well. 'According to You' is lovely track, I really like the melody played out by guitar, the lyrics are well constructed, and there is a continuous flow of sumptuous tunes to enjoy. 'Over and Over' I'd expect to sound great live, and I really hope that the guitar is allowed to 'let rip' in the middle section, whilst a special mention should go to another excellent meandering bass line which carries the song along. After another 2 minutes of Power Pop in 'Song To You', the album concludes with the more melancholy '15 Minor Hours', and I particularly like the instrumental section which wraps up the album.
OK so this may be just too bright, breezy and cheerful for some of you. If you like your music high up on the 'Mirel Wagner Scale of Bleakness' then try last Fridays feature from 'The Other End' instead. Whilst it is written in a Power Pop style, I guess it could also be regarded a 'middle of the road' version of that genre. But that is not meant as a criticism, because if everybody produced albums full of edgy melancholy songs and lyrics, well that would get mightily dull. 'In Deed' have written an Indie Pop album with irresistible melodies at its centre, lovely vocals and a feeling that they're performing with smiles on their faces, a compelling enthusiasm that carries the songs forward. We hope we don't have to wait another 16 years before their next release.
Nordic Music Review 7.5 /10