Johan Brännström - New Set of Dreams EP (2012)

I may have failed to mention that each member of Swedish indie-pop trio Heart-Sick Groans is a talented musician in their own right. Earlier this year, we were introduced to Henric Wallmark's recent solo project Ghost Lake but Heart-Sick Groans' main vocalist/string player Johan Brännström has been churning out solo tunes for awhile now.

In fact, two days ago Brännström released his short 3 song New Set of Dreams EP which is filled with thoughtful, contemplative folksy songwriting. It's certainly a surprisingly but impressive change of pace from the infectious, sugary chamber pop stylings of the Heart-Sick Groans. And while not as the overtly catchy as his work with the trio, there's an undeniable replay quality to New Set of Dreams. It's stripped down and basic allowing Brännström's simple but poignant lyricism to stand on its own two feet and the result is a pretty fine release that you'll have a hard time putting down. And it'll certainly have me paying more attention to Heart-Sick Groans songs of which Johan Brännström is chief lyricist because underneath their poppy dressings, there must no doubt be something that hints to this level of skillful songwriting.

Enjoy Johan Brännström's New Set of Dreams EP and here's hoping there's more to come.

Watch: Ghost Lake - "Late Spring Morning Sunlight"

Henric Wallmark of Heart-Sick Groans may function as the groups co-songwriter and producer and created his own solo project but did you know he's also a talented video producer? Yes, clearly the man's dripping with talent. While he's mostly produced videos for others, it makes sense that with his solo project Ghost Lake, that he'd have a hand in that too. 

The video for "Late Spring Morning Sunlight" sees a bunch of masked dancers infiltrating a rather small apartment, packed into kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, and the like where they pulse along with the tracks rhythms and slowly devolve tanking on the characteristics of their monster masks. The change is subtle, as they sip tea and cook meals before filtering out into other parts of the dwelling where their dancing becoming more rigorous and wild. The coloring gives the video both the look of a home video while also casting things in a sort of otherworldly glow. 

A much more fitting video than any sort of literal interpretation of the track. Watch the video for Ghost Lake's "Late Spring Morning Sunlight":

  

Ghost Lake - Late Spring Morning Sunlight EP (2012)

A couple months ago I was introduced to Heart-Sick Groans' Henric Wallmark's solo project Ghost Lake with the title track from his debut EP "Late Spring Morning Sunlight". Well, actually I was also introduced to the EP proper and while I made sure to post the aforementioned title track, the rest of the EP kind of fell by the wayside. A huge mistake, I assure you. 

Ghost Lake's Late Spring Morning Sunlight EP is a series of introspections where each song effortless invokes sunlight softly streaming into your bedroom window. Opener and title-track being the most obvious in this as Wallmark croons about the way the early morning sun shines on his lovers skin. Rowdier track "Music" recalls fellow Swedish pop purveyors Suburban Kids With Biblical Names with it's chorus: "All I care about is music, it's the only thing that means anything to me" that has a very "Loop Duplicate My Heart"-esque rejection of others.  On Late Spring Spring Morning Sunlight, Wallmark plays with a delicacy that imbues each song with a quiet sincerity while also creating a gratifying work of musical composition. 

Even stripping away the overtly pop dressing of Heart-Sick Groans, Wallmark still manages to create a set of delightfully memorable musical moments. The result is something that while a bit rough around the edges sounds very much like a well-kept secret. But do yourself and him a favor and spread it as far and wide as you can. Late Spring Morning Sunlight is a secret that doesn't need keeping despite what its heartfelt intimacy might suggest.

Give Ghost Lake debut EP a listen and make sure to spread the good word:

You can download the EP for free at THEM Records here. 

 

Watch: OH MY! - "Sunshine In Your Eyes"

You may had never heard of OH MY! before but chances are that's about to change. Today the Swedish indie-pop quintet released the video for "Sunshine In Your Eyes" and it's pretty incredible. Directed by Heart-Sick Groans Henric Wallmark (who is completely responsible for me stumbling upon OH MY!) and Jerker Häggström, the video features two young girls who take over a pizza parlor offering special ingredients that have a pretty nifty effect on the consumer - uncontrollable dance. The girls' hijacked pizza place becomes increasingly popular as they feed patrons more and more of the special pizza and becomes a veritable dance party. Satisfied with the impressive amount of profits they've managed to make off the witless pizza proprietor, the two then slip out undetected to conduct a bit of shady business involving a back alley bicycle seller.

Watch OH MY!'s video for "Sunshine In Your Eyes":

Watch: Heart-Sick Groans - "If The Canary Stops Singing"

Quickly following up on the release of their latest single "If The Canary Stops Singing", Swedish indie-pop trio Heart-Sick Groans are offering up a brand new video in the similar animated vein of videos past. However unlike the others in which they enlisted the help of friends and outside talent, this video was created by the group's very own Henric Wallmark.

When I saw several stills from the video on the trio's Facebook page, I thought I more or less knew what the video was going to be about - the song is based on an old tale about love and danger in a Swedish mine. Well Henric Wallmark has certainly proved  me wrong: the video's plot isn't at all what I expected (in a good way). Though the video begins with a miner pining after his far away love, the action quickly moves outside of the mines as he and his canary attempt to find her and she makes her way home to him. I won't ruin the ending because it's a very good twist but it's pretty inspired. Another lovely video from the Swedish trio that can't seem to do wrong!




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Listen: Ghost Lake - "Late Spring Morning Sunlight"

Remember the charming Swedish indie pop trio Heart-Sick Groans who's brand new tune "If the Canary Stops Singing" I premiere last month? Of course you do. While they're currently working on the latest EP (and a video for "If the Canary Stops Singing" if Facebook pics are to be believed), one of the lads is stepping out on his own. Henric Wallmark, co-songwriter and producer, is releasing his solo debut as Ghost Lake later this month.

On "Late Spring Morning Sunlight", Ghost Lake trades in the overt catchiness and perfect arrangements of Heart-Sick Groans and offers up something a little more introspective without trading in any of that overabundance of talent. The track is still catchy in the way that's sure to give you a case of earworm, with its craning melodies and plentiful percussion. It's a simple love song that still manages to be heart-warmingly infectious. Check it out.



Ghost Lake's solo debut Late Spring Morning Sunlight EP is out March 15th on THEM Records so look out for it!

Listen: Heart-Sick Groans - "If the Canary Stops Singing"

(Photo by Simon Hellsten)

Considering that they're going on their fourth year of officially putting out music, its a bit surprising more people haven't heard of Swedish indie pop trio Heart-Sick Groans. They were among the first new bands brought to my attention by Eardrums Music when they were featured on the Fall themed compilation album A Good Crop (alongside established acts like Fanfarlo and Sambassadeur) back in 2008 and they've pretty much been hard-working on new material ever since.

Last year, Heart-Sick Groans put out both their third EP Look!!! These Three Painters of Hits Have Done It Again! as well as the first track and subsequent video, "A Bossanova with This Casanova"  from their upcoming six song EP . Unlike their previous releases, rather than put out a batch of sweet tunes for rabid consumption, the threesome have decided to slow down their process and give each track an individual release with about a month between. This upcoming Friday marks the release of their brand new single "If the Canary Stops Singing" but in a gesture of friendship and good graciousness, the three are letting you hear it a day early: here.

Yup, that's right. World premiere of Heart-Sick Groans' latest single "If the Canary Stops Singing" right here at All Around Sound. Enjoy.



And if you like what you hear, you can grab Heart-Sick Groans other tunes on their Bandcamp. And keep up with news of the EP on Facebook or Twitter as well as right here. So stay tuned.

Watch: Heart-Sick Groans - "A Bossanova With This Casanova"

Swedish indie-pop trio Heart-Sick Groans have been hinting at a brand new EP for a while now and today they gave fans a preview of the soon to be released EP with a video for new track "A Bossanova With This Casanova". The video, like their other ones, features a bunch of students from features Mads Peter Brandstrup Jensen's class at the Drawing Academy of the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. The new track is balmier and more summery than "Surfer Friend" (which was released earlier this year) but with that same old catchy pop that Heart-Sick Groans are proving themselves masters at making.

Enjoy the new video for "A Bossanova with This Casanova" from Heart-Sick Groans":

Heart-Sick Groans release new video

Fresh off the release of their new EP, Swedish indie pop trio Heart-Sick Groans presents a brand new video for "Surfer Friend". The video was made by Mads Peter Brandstrup Jensen's class Drawing Academy in Viborg, Denmark. This is the second time that Heart-Sick Groans has collaborated with the class and the results are similarly spectacular. I'm not entirely sure what the plot is but the things the students do with construction paper and markers is out of this world. See the awesomeness for yourself with the video for "Surfer Friend":

Heart-Sick Groans - Look!!! These Three Painters of Hits Have Done It Again! (2011)

Swedish Indie pop three-piece Heart-Sick Groans are back with some spanking new tracks in the form of their Look!!! These Three Painters of Hits Have Done It Again! EP. While it's certainly a mouthful and a rather bold claim, the 6 song EP certain makes good on it. With songs like "Surfer Friend", HSG integrate other influences into their already distinct sound.

The latest EP is dreamy, sparkling chamber pop as its bests and with it, Heart-Sick Groans display mastery over the format as well as demonstrating their continued capability as musicians and songwriters.

The new EP is available at Heart-Sick Groans' bandcamp on a pay what you want basis. Give it a listen or download here.

Heart-Sick Groans - Gentlemen, If You Ain't Right, Get Right! (2010)

Heart-Sick Groans are an indie pop three-piece from Sweden. They just released a 7 song EP at the end of last month called Gentlemen, If You Ain't Right, Get Right! featured on it is lead track "Three Day Blow" which they recently made a video for and a favorite of mine "Suddenly Molly". This EP proves above all that these guys are indie pop masters. Crafting delightful and enjoyable though tragically short pop gems that'll only have you hungering for more after giving the EP a listen.

Heart-Sick Groans' recently released EP Gentlemen If You Ain't Right, Get Right! is available to download for FREE at their bandcamp website.

Give it a listen right here and if you like it, go ahead and download away!