The most underrated band today with the wisest sense of time
PristineAngie_dot_com | NYC | 03/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Club 8 is really a band that deserves more exposure here in the US. I know they are very big in Asia and popular in Europe. I came upon them when I saw them linked to my other favorite band of the 90s, St. Etienne. The comparison is apt. Unfortunately, St. Etienne became more about Sarah Cracknell's voice, and less about Bob Stanley and Pete Wigg's musical experimentation as they gained notoriety.
Club 8, by contrast, is not as experimental. There is one big distinction Club 8 possesses, even in their pop haven: There is always a deep, persistent focus on how quickly time passes by, how quickly we age. This, for me, is really the thing that makes Club 8 stand apart from a typical happy-go-lucky pop band. They deliver the music with a cheery, beautiful, pop glow with upbeat rhythms (if not acoustic introspective numbers), but look at the lyrics and it seems mismatched.
To understand Club 8's irony better, you need to know some of their influences. As bright as their music sounds, there is a dark edge to the brilliance. This, I believe, comes from their appreciation of the works of film-maker David Lynch. The opening of their gorgeous song "We're Simple Minds" (from the album Spring Came, Rain Fell) sounds like a note-for-note quote from Lynch's Twin Peaks theme music. Also, this cd features the beautiful song "Jesus, Walk with Me," which echoes the David Lynch compilation of Twin Peaks in his movie "Fire, Walk with Me." Maybe this is just a happy coincidence, but it is the thing - the dark cloud behind that silver lining, the sadness behing the joy - that makes Club 8 songs so magical.
Next, you should realize that the songwriter and lyricist is Johan Angergard (the guy). I love Karolina Komstedt's singing, and it is extremely beautiful in its reverberated, hush-filled whisper. I used to think that it's terribly romantic (in a literate sense) that here was a woman in her middle ages (my age) singing about the things we all fear to a certain degree (passing time and aging). The feeling I get is that Komstedt is a woman who is pretty with no signs of aging showing, and singing the songs that teens can still relate to, but at the same time, there's an introspective wisdom, warning all of us to carefully mind our time here. It was as if a big sister was telling us "use your time wisely, because i have this fear, and you should have it too."
"Time is short now, we'll be here, nowhere left to go, and if you'd miss me when i'm gone, go when i go." (from Hopes and Dreams)
"in my first years there were sunny days....when winter came i was still the same...in a time ahead, no lights would be shed" (from Heaven)
"Fool me into believing, I don't care if you're deceiving me. Before I go I need to be, something more than the skin and bones you see" (Jesus Walk With Me)
Though Komstedt does give an irreplaceable presence to the Club 8 sound and the songs come to life with her voice, it is Angergard's views and sense of passing time that makes Club 8's songs so meaningful. It is sheer genius that Komstedt is enlisted to deliver the message; however, in the same way that Paul Jonathan Court wrote all the lovely lyrics of The Primitives for Tracy Tracy to sing, it is ultimately the mind of Angergard that these words of wisdom emanate from.
Both the first track ("Jesus Walk With Me") with all its ambivalence "fool me into believing, i don't care if you're deceiving me, i wouldn't want it any other way, cause then i'd only stay the same" to ("Whatever you want") which may or may not be a reference to their legion of Asian fans "whatever you want from me, whoever i try to be, i will never be there, i can never be her, in your society." Amazingly, this can be read as a message hidden within a message by lyricist Angergard, in reference to Komstedt's vocalising of his thoughts.
The bottom line is this: Club 8 is a great duo and they have a sometimes poppy, other times introspective sound that carries on the tradition of Francois Hardy, France Gall, and St. Etienne. With it's ruminative, intelligent lyrics and loner sensibilities accompanied by the polished Swedish pop sound that Abba and Eggstone has introduced us to, they will undoubtedly become a hit in the US one day. I just hope more people discover them sooner than later.
Try this or any of their other recordings out. You won't be disappointed.
I guess I should add that they are my favorite active musical duo, and I would fly to Sweden to see them today if they were to perform.
For more on Club 8, look at my Amazon profile for a review of each album from their entire discography. For a shorter version, check out my Amazon Listmania list of Club 8's discography."
Sweet, spring sunshine!
New Order Fan | 05/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is dreamy pop confection from Sweden. Break the seal, open the box and you'll find sweet singing and melodic softly strummed guitars. This release shows progression for the band, and great song structure, enhanced by flattering production. This is the sound of a beautiful spring day, and this listener can't stop dreaming of Club 8."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1