Amandine - Solace In Sore Hands (Fat Cat)
3/5
By: Michael Cragg
What is it about bands from Scandinavia at the moment? There are, frankly, loads of them. From The Concretes to the Radio Dept., from Shout Out Louds to Herman Dune, their omnipotence is nearly as alarming as the quality of music they seem to be producing. Maybe it's something to do with Abba being Scandinavia's biggest musical export, but some of the poppiest, most life-affirming songs seem to emanate from this region; 'Love fool', anyone? 'Young Folks' by Peter Bjorn and John?
Amandine are a five piece from a small northern Swedish town called Sandviken. As with their Nordic peers, the music seems to reflect their surroundings whilst simultaneously aping the music of the big wide world outside their own. Each song here unfurls softly, almost politely, and has a warmth and immediacy fostered you'd imagine through nights snuggling up round a campfire in the middle of nowhere. Musical influences tend to be American however, with opener 'Faintest Of Sparks' reminiscent of 'Seven Swans'-era Sufjan Stevens. Other times you're reminded of The Band or Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
'Solace In Sore Hands' can at times come across as too polite, and there's a tendency to rely too heavily on the same alt-country palette used by a dozen other acts. But there are also some beautiful moments to sit and enjoy, notably the string-laden 'Shadow Of Grief' and the maudlin closer, 'New Morning'.
Stream three tracks from 'Solace In Sore Hands' HERE.
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