The Radio Dept. - Freddie And The Trojan Horse

With so many different bands coming out of Sweden these days, it's almost impossible to distinguish the ones you need to hear from the ones you should ignore. The Radio Dept. definitely fall into the former category. Although they've been around since 1995, I only seriously started listening to them after hearing their dream-pop songs on the Marie Antoinette soundtrack in 2006. Their new EP, Freddie and the Trojan Horse, is due out July 8th. It's been said that the new songs are influenced by a more minimalistic post-punk sound, which can clearly be heard all over the EP's four tracks. The songs are still shoegazey in nature, as always, but there's a flatter element to them, a greater utilization of rhythm and less focus on swirling guitars. The title track is the best example of this change of pace, while a nice instrumental song like "Hidden Track" works to close out the album, while still retaining the sleepy melodies that The Radio Dept. are known for. Their next full length album, Clinging To A Scheme, is due out September 10th.

DOWNLOAD: The Radio Dept. - Freddie And The Trojan Horse [Labrador]
Recommended Tracks: "Freddie and the Trojan Horse," "The Room, Tarzana," "Hidden Track."