Earlier this year we shined a light Swedish pop outfit the LK and their electro lovely, wintry gem “Stop Being Perfect.” Had we known the band had a side project sooner, we probably would have written sooner. Instead, we came upon Fredrik de novo, clicking and listening to a few tracks on a whim, finding songs that have since lodged themselves into steady and heavy rotation. At its inception, Fredrik was a side project for the LK masterminds Fredrik and Lindefelt. The band’s a sextet now, more acoustically minded than their parent project, and putting the additional voices and hands to good use. The debut Na Na Ni is in line with the wistful side of the superior songcraft that seems to be an official Swedish export these days (and again reinforces the thought that, as labels crash, we should be doing more to subsidize artists here). We have the album’s first two for you — the group sung marching lullaby “Black Fur” which introduces the album, and the sublimely hushed, picked and brushed melancholia of “Alina’s Place.”
The band says “Black Fur” is about “small wooden labyrinths, luck and the nature of animosity,” and “Alina’s Place” is about “failing to spell ‘tintinnabular’ and the tremendous hassles of growing up and finding a new home.” We say they’re about the prettiest things we’ve heard all week. There’s more to hear at MySpace.
Fredrik’s Na Na Ni is out 10/28 via The Kora Records.
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The main vocal melody of “Black Fur” sounds a great deal like Travis’ “The Last Laugh of the Laughter.”
Just listened to this song and thought: this is ‘last laugh of the laughter’, dead on. But I like it a hell of a lot more than I do that song….
I’m calling it – this years P B and J. Or more like P B and J up in tree with some melancholy. trees, sweater weather, come to the states Fredrik!
Why isn’t anyone commenting?
i don’t get it.
this is the best thing i’ve heard on stereogum in MONTHS
!
I saw The LK a few times at this past SXSW in Austin. First time they played in a room of about 10 people and in their official showcase there were maybe 30 folks hanging around. I was really impressed by their act.
Where have you gone, Cardigans?
reminds me more of the wannadies. i like this!
That Alina’s Place melody is a total rip-off of another song I can’t quite put in my mind!
Gosh, I hate when this happens. I’ve listen to it like 4 straight times, but it’s definitely another pop song. Listen to the music…. someone must be quick enough to pin point it.
I hear “Lips of an Angel” haha.
No, forget that, Madonna – Like A Prayer
“Black Fur” is just an amazing freaking track.
oh wow…..i don’t think i’ve gotten anything this good off of here in a long time…..i wish it was october already, because i can’t wait to hear the whole record! thanks stereogum!
I agree. This band is great. Stream the whole album at their website. http://www.sagomusik.com/
and they’re amazing live! hope you get to see them over there!