Friday, March 12, 2010
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the Faintest Ideas

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Summary by Casey DeHoedt

So let’s cut the B.S. and lay it down flat. When Scandinavia and pop are uttered in the same phrase before hitting a “play” button, even the open-minded brace themselves for an assault of Kim Carnes-ish tunes with a techno beat. That is to say, the stereotype claims Euro-continental as being more behind the times than nostalgic.

Exception: The Faintest Ideas.

This Swedish quartet gives citation to a multitude of musical movements from Riot Grrrl, to New Wave, to Brit-Mod; referencing specifically bands such as Sonic Youth, Rezillos, and Guided By Voices. Perhaps these testify inspirational concepts than musical evidence. However, Faintest is a fabulous re-issue of the U.K.’s oft forgotten, ignored, or relatively unknown 70’s-80’s C-86 aesthetic. Their semi-diverse music geekdom pays off as they take Postcard Record’s phrase “Sounds of a Young Scotland” to “Sounds of a Young Sweden.”

Five Questions with the Faintest Ideas

1. What are your five desert island records?

Martin:
The Kinks: The village green preservation society
Bikini Kill: Reject all American
Bad Brains: Rock for light
Minor Threat: Complete discography
The Capstan Shafts: Chick Cigarettes

Bonus albums in case of emergency: Boyracer: To get a better hold you've got to loosen yr grip & De La Soul: 3 feet high & rising (Martin)

Christoffer:
The Cure: 17 seconds
Dinosaur Jr: Where you been
Elliot Smith: Either/Or
The Lucksmiths: Warmer Corners
Joy Division: Unknown pleasures

Joel:
New Order: Technique
Queenstyche - Operation mind crime
Blueboy - Unisex
My favorite - Love at absolute zero
Eggstone - Viva La differance

Daniel: didn't answer.

2. Could you classify your sound for people who haven't heard it before?

Like the moment when you see something about to fall apart, you know there's going to be a huge bang and it's going to be messy but there's nothing you can do about it but brace yourself. And some feedback on top of that.