Traestockfestivalen - Komeda
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'96 main page]
Komeda (tent)
Despite being one of those talked-about bands and having an album out,
Komeda had the dubious honour of being first on stage on Saturday
afternoon. The tent was packed though. Komeda are worth dragging
yourself out of your sleeping-bag for. As with Cloudberry Jam, the
indie-rock-trained mind says `Cardigans!' when it hears Komeda. The
comparison is unfair, but the jazz pop feel is undeniable. And they
do have the US distributor as the Cardigans. Lena sings, and she has
a strong, classy voice, but it's the two-man percussion section that
give Komeda the edge over their competitors - they're light and heavy
at the same time, and the ever-changing rhythms communicate directly
to the feet... There's a less successful moment when they do a pretty
straightforward of Love's `Alone Again Or'. Mostly it's serious and
jazzy and cool, though, and we get a (for this festival) rare song in
Swedish. Komeda's trump card, though, is their next single,
`Rock'n'roll Boogie-Woogie'. It's the glorious R'n'R classic that had
to wait till now to be written - coming soon to your national record
charts. If there's any justice in this world.
Afterwards, I lure Komeda away from their coffee break to ask some
searching questions. Lena, the lead vocalist, wasn't too bothered
about their being scheduled so early in the day.
- It was good
that there were so many people even this early, she says.
Everyone agrees that the gig was a success. I wonder what's
influenced Komeda's music, and Marcus (bass and vocals) fills me
in.
- Love, Can, the Beach Boys, the Beatles...
Not jazz, then? I'm momentarily nonplussed, but Marcus reassures
me.
- We forgot about that. Jazz too.
In fact Komeda listen to a lot of jazz at home, and Henry Mancini as
well... I take up the Cardigans thing, because it's preying on my mind.
- There's no connection, says Lena. We're just around at the same time.
Maybe it's just that it's girls singing.
Marcus tells me what's happening with Komeda in the near future. With
their US distribution deal they'll be releasing the LP and a single
over there in September. No plans to tour there yet. Record deals in
the UK and Japan are coming up soon as well. Aren't they afraid of becoming big stars?
- Not in the least!, says Lena.
[Benno's
Komeda page] [LP review (Benno)] [NONS's Komeda page]
(interview: Robert)
Robert Cumming,
robertcu@bredband.net