PICTURE YOU

THE AMAZING have quickly become a favourite of mine of late. I started with their latest "Ambulance" which I consider a 4.5 star album while the previous album that we're looking at here "Picture You" I feel is a strong 4 star record. The peaks that this one hits though makes this a special album for me, I just feel it loses some steam in the second half. What made me check out this Swedish band to begin with was hearing that Reine Fiske was their guitarist. Add to that the vocals and that dreamy and melancholic sound and I was sold. Dream Pop certainly came to mind often with this album and the followup "Ambulance". The music is gorgeous to say the least.

The first four tracks are my top four with three of the final six tracks also being highlights. Yeah this is really good. "Broken" gets things started and the first thing we hear is atmosphere as the guitar comes in sounding amazing. Drums and more follow quickly and this sounds absolutely gorgeous when the vocals arrive. A calm after 3 minutes as we get this dreamy sound which includes the vocals all the way to the end.

"Picture You" opens with picked guitar followed by a beat and vocals. The vocals just melt me here. Such a simple song thus far yet so emotional. The vocal melodies after 3 minutes are a nice touch. A change after 4 1/2 minutes with picked guitar and bass. So good! It then starts to build. "Circles" has a relaxed sound including the vocals of course. A prolonged instrumental section starts before 4 1/2 minutes, organ too. Soon it's acoustic guitar only to the end.

"Safe Island" is experimental to start before it kicks in to a full sound. Vocals a minute in and they sound like they are double tracked. So good! A change 5 1/2 minutes in with cascading guitars and experimental sounds that are quite powerful right to the end. "To Keep it Going" is another highlight, yes five in a row. Strummed guitar and dreamy vocals while spacey synths eventually join in and more. I like this one a lot.

"Fryshusfunk" is almost a normal tune with that brighter mood and vocals that sound more straight forward. Hard not to bob my head throughout this one despite it not being one of my favs. Some organ when the vocals stop then we get a change 5 minutes in as it turns powerful. Check out Fiske! This goes on to the end. Good song. "Tell Them You Can't Leave" opens with drums, atmosphere and keys then it turns fuller. There's a feel good vibe here when the vocals arrive. This music makes me happy.

"The Headless Boy" is easily my least favourite. Cool title but too samey a track as we get a lot of strummed guitar melodies and vocals. "Captured Light" makes up for the previous song though. Love the distorted guitar intro as vocal harmonies and bass kick in. The vocals sound distant a minute in but fit their dreamy style. All I know is that this music makes me feel good. Vocals step aside after 3 minutes but the harmonies are back before 4 minutes. A calm 5 1/2 minutes in as sounds echo then this uptempo guitar melody takes over to the end.

"Winter Dress" has this spacey atmosphere to begin with as vocals, bass and drums join in. He's singing more normal here. So much going on in the background. Not one of my favs but still a good song.

What is it about me and Sweden? Anyways I will continue to go backwards through their discography and hope that the dream pop vibe continues. Great album!