Review Summary: Bittersweet music with a large emphasize on sweet.
Sometimes when I’m relaxing, I still end up worrying about the things I have to do, even if I literally have nothing important to do. It’s somewhat frustrating: You’re happy, but deep inside there’s a sort of voice that’s telling me that there’s something I’m forgetting to do.
The music of How Scandinavian sort of have that feeling to it. It’s upbeat, sure, but there’s just this everlasting vibe of anxiety and vexation hidden beneath its surface. It’s like if you put the quirkier aspects of indie rock and the lonely, melancholy tendencies of 1990’s post-hardcore into a blender. The results are strange in a way, but ultimately deeply satisfying.
Their latest release,
The Kinch Service EP, shows a somewhat different shade of the band. Overall, the recording feels much more poppy and optimistic in tone when compared to their previous offerings, and to say it’s a hypnotizing release simply won’t do it justice. It’s a listen that immerses you in repetitive, yet overwhelmingly pretty chords that simply cradles you with warm arms. “Fables” pretty much summarizes the recording strong points, the guitar tone is as light and soft as a large blanket, wrapping around your body firmly, but not densely. Each guitar adds a sparkle to the track, and the glum crooning only makes the lyrics all the more heartfelt:
But even after
the epilogue is written,
If I went back and had you,
with no pretense or bitter values,
I know that I’d tell you
again and again and again and again
“That’s how it always ends”
Some of the later tracks, such as “Monday” and “Acquaintance Now” reveal some of the band’s poppier influences. In fact, they do so magnificently, if I might add. “Monday” has this bouncy little riff that simply brings beautiful mental images of sunshine after a long, rainy day. “Acquaintance Now” includes uplifting, barbershop choir-esque vocal harmonies that only makes the song fuzzier and friendlier than ever.
One last aspect I’d like to talk about this release is the drumming on it. They’re very well done on here, for they always keep just the right pace, and they fit in perfectly with the rest of the song. The last track here, “The Flensed” (which harkens back the band’s earlier, noisier roots) the drums roll with the track flawlessly, using the right beat at just the right time.
The Kinch Service seems to act as a hint of a new direction for How Scandinavian. A direction filled with impressive lyricsm and beautifully enthralling music. When compared to the rest of their catalogue, there’s a large emphasis on the sweet in bittersweet, both musically and quality wise. It acts as a clear reason to keep an eye on How Scandinavian.
