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I’m From Barcelona
Let Me Introduce My Friends
Interpop
Article
written by Ged M
Sep 24, 2006.
The sleeve credits 29 “friends” (plus Emil Svanangen from Loney, Dear who sings on ‘This Boy’) but the additive sugar-sweet pop of I’m From Barcelona is confected by Emanuel Lundgren who wrote, produced and mixed everything here. On this evidence, expect an approach from Rowntrees anytime. Debut single ‘We’re From Barcelona’ forms the template: horns, handclaps and the happy sound of massed voices inviting you to join their pop ranks. It’s simple but highly infectious and had it come out at the start rather than the end of the summer, it would have been THE festival anthem.
Coming across like the Polyphonic Spree crossed with Sufjan Stevens, I’m From Barcelona make it easy to sing along with their happy-clappy sound. There might be a time for reflection on ‘The Saddest Lullaby’ but, generally, every cloud has a silver lining; ‘Ola Kala’ reassures you “don’t be afraid/ ‘cause everything is gonna turn to be OK”, while ‘Chicken Pox’ kisses the pain away with a swelling pop chorus. The melodies are simple and connect with the inner child, which perhaps explain the clunky lyrics of ‘Treehouse’ (“I have built a treehouse/ nobody can see us/ it’s a you and me house”) and the Sesame Street rhythms in ‘Collection of Stamps’.
It might be disposable pop but it’s played with such a lack of cynicism and conviction that the grumpiest old sod will find themselves grinning and foot-tapping. The final words on the sleeve are “now you’re from Barcelona too” at which we can only say: olé!
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