The world has seen a great number of Swedish bands come and go over the decades, some beloved, some begrudged. From ABBA to the Hives, Swedish bands have worked their way into the international mainstream with understandable, repetitive lyrics and mode upon mode set to basic, pleasant rhythms. Then there is Wildbirds and Peacedrums. Friendly, marketable music is not their priority. They do not match or coordinate outfits and hairstyles. They don't disguise their accents when they sing; and they certainly don't scream beyond all understanding. By all accounts, they are not what the world has come to know and love in contemporary Swedish music, which is precisely why they are so wonderful.
Wildbirds and Peacedrums are a brilliantly unashamed duo from Gothenburg, Sweden, comprised of husband and wife Andreas Werliin and Mariam Wallentin. Small in size but big in sound, they mix Werliin's tight percussion with Wallentin's grungy, beautifully accented voice and the occasional electronic lick to create strong, engaging songs. On their album The Snake, Wildbirds and Peacedrums take their experimental, rhythm-heavy music to its greatest form thus far.
The album's second track, "There Is No Light," calls particular attention to itself. With just voice and drums, nothing added, Wallentin and Werliin create a chaotic world of sound, somewhere between wild and jazzy, where driving drum and throaty vocals echo through darkness. Other songs on the album, including "Great Lines" and "My Heart," accent the softer, more formulated side of the band where Wallentin's pipes ring clear as bells and Werliin's skins are accompanied by electronic melodies for added depth. As a whole, The Snake is a strong combination of pop and progressive, highlighting both the dark and light sides of Wildbirds and Peacedrums.
A strong departure from the stereotypes surrounding Swedish bands past, Wildbirds and Peacedrums use their experimental sound to make themselves known. With Werliin's hard-hitting drums and Wallentin's sweetly ragged voice, they make their own way with their own style. Small but mighty, Wildbirds and Peacedrums continue to do their music, their way, and turn out great albums in the process. |