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Standard Fare - The Noyelle Beat (LP)

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Album Review

Various Artists Records Make Great Pets
Stereo Test Kit

Article written by Tom B
Sep 2, 2005.

Late last year when I reviewed the Rough Trade Indie Pop Vol 1 Compilation I was somewhat scathing about the fact that it did not venture too far from the UK and US shores for many of the tracks chosen for inclusion.

One notable omission was in the form of Sweden, a country whose burgeoning indie-pop and lo-fi scene should be the envy of the world. Okay, Indiepop Vol 1 had a track from Love Is All but that was mere appeasement and the track was pretty awful too. Now music from Sweden is in demand and even has it's own dedicated clubs here in the UK such as Brighton's Sweden Made Me.

Hopefully this volume from Stereo Test Kit Records should make amends and give the Rough Trade compilers some clues for future releases especially as most of it takes its inspiration from the likes of C86 and Twee. What's on it? Well the excellent Labrador label is represented by Chasing Dorotea, Laurel Music and the latest indie pop sensations Sambassadeur amongst others. Indeed Sambassadeur's "Between The Lines" which is a worthy contender for single of the year is certainly the compilation's main selling point to casual glancers.

Also included are Club 8, also from the Labrador stable (erm kennel?) and whose "Strangely Beautiful" album has also been recently re-released by Stereo Test Kit and their contribution "Cold Hearts" is an excellent taster to that album. Somewhat strangely there are no appearances from The Legends or The Acid House Kings, the latter surely reigning supreme at the top of the the Swedish indiepop tree. However, their omission is soon forgotten with tracks from the likes of lesser known bands like Melpo Mene and Speedmarket Avenue getting their 15 minutes, and hopefully more, of fame. There are some excellent lo-fi tracks here too. Check out Britta Perssons "Defrag My Heart" and Music 77's "Juniper Leo" for conclusive proof.

However my favourite track from the album is from Hekki, who comprise Maria from The Concretes in their line up. "Former Hero" is a previous, glorious single from the band which will make you stand up, take note of its mix which sounds like the Shangri Las on a night out with the Field Mice and then add it to your wish list.

This is a bloody essential compilation and an even better introduction to the current Swedish music scene - get it!

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