Anyone else remember the children’s Swedish detective series Agaton Sax by Swedish author Nils-Olof Franzén and illustrated by Åke Lewerth, with Quentin Blake illustrating the English editions? Agaton Sax also ran the local newspaper, the Byoping Post. I loved this series for its quirky sense of humour and cheeky delivery. In a complete non-sequitur, The Slow Summits hail from Linköping, Sweden, but to be fair their bright sparkling music evokes the same sort of deep seated nostalgia in me, and I love it just as much. For those who know, there is a nuclear blast of recognition for their C86/Postcard/Sarah Records/Flying Nun sound: bright jingly jangly guitars, soaring melodies, and respectable air of naivety and tweeness in their sound.
Their genetic makeup can be traced to everything from The Smiths to Orange Juice, The Lotus Eaters to Jona Lewie with a touch of Belle and Sebastian and fellow Scandies The Wannadies and Peter, Bjorn and John. Even the antipodean contingent consisting of The Apartments, The Go-Betweens, The Flying Nun sounds of The Clean, The Chills and The Bats can be detected in the entrails. The vocals certainly bring to mind Edwyn Collins with their wobbly delicacy and passionate delivery.
And yet despite this very impressive sonic DNA, The Slow Summits are their own creation. The new album ‘Every Intention’ is an absolutely glorious set of tracks that stand on their own dancing, kicking feet. This album is no pastiche or pale imitation of its forebears: it is a collection of tracks that emits its own luminescent ray of sunshine, nodding knowingly at the past yet firmly ensconced in the presence with songs that are original and masterful.
There is a sixties velvet suited loucheness to the sound – arched eyebrows and hand on hips swagger with a Burt Bacharach ear for melody.
According to the band:
The songs mostly revolve around themes like ignorance and injustice. They deal with topics such as racism, thirst for power, defeatism, climate denial, greed and egocentrism. But, there are also serenades about melancholy, forgiveness and compassion. A bit of hopefulness and idolization, in middle-aged twee format, is also in place on ‘Every Intention’. Not too bad, if we may say so!
I would wholeheartedly agree although ‘not too bad’ does it a disservice: this is a thoroughly enjoyable album that sparkles and shimmers like the snow on a mountain top and just as achingly beautiful. From the opening salvo of ‘Dream On’ and ‘Louie Louie’, you know you are in for something very special with the indelible melodies and pop sensibilities. Tracks like ‘Silly Things’ are soaked in a delicious melancholy, coasting on strings. ‘Not The One’ sends shivers up your spine with its yearning violin and gentle refrain.
‘Every Intention’ is an unmitigated joy. Every track is a pop masterclass: soaring choruses, pulse quickening instrumentation with jangly guitars and sweeping strings coupled with a wry sense of humour, gentle delivery and an irresistible charm.
Extraordinarily, I believe this is the band’s debut. As I always say, creativity does not have a use by date. ‘Every Intention’ is available through the link above and via all the usual downloading and streaming sites.
