Johan Angergård is not only the most prolific Swedish songwriter of the past two decades but also the most versatile, as well. He manufactures the catchy indie pop behind the Acid House Kings, the noise pop and dance of The Legends, and the soft, melancholy melodies of Club 8. In this latter group, Angergård shares the stage with fellow Swede, Karolina Kolmstedt, who provides the angelic vocals to Angergård's warm sonic creations.
They have released several albums in the past 15 years, all characterized by rich, lush ballads with sincere, pensive reflections on life and love. This homogenous blend of songs is not to be faulted, as the duo excels in this style. More recently, though, Angergård has decided to venture out of Club 8's comfort zone. On the recent album, The People's Record, he embraces West African pop as his muse. Unlike Paul Simon's Graceland and Vampire Weekend's debut LP, Club 8 doesn't exploit Afro-pop for its gimmicky hooks and guaranteed profits -- they replicate it in its entirety. As a result, the album carries with it an element of authenticity and showcases Angergård's true abilities as a musical chameleon. Not surprisingly, this recent LP is Club 8's best to date. (For those of you who are familiar with Fool's Gold's "Surprise Hotel" in 2010, this recent album is quite similar.) Please enjoy!
Albums: The People's Record (2010), The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming (2007), Strangely Beautiful (2003), Spring Came Rain Fell (2002), Club 8 (2001), The Friend I Once Had (1998)
Tracks: Western Hospitality, Shape Up!, Whatever You Want, Heaven, The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming, Saturday Night Engine, Love in December, The Beauty of the Way We're Living
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