Reference Points: Simian Ghost

So, it’s over to the band’s brainchild, Sebastian Arnström, to showcase his impeccable taste:

Björk

Björk had a huge impact on me when I was younger. One of my most beautiful music memories is of me locking myself in a room upstairs at a house party when I was 16. I had picked up a copy of Björk’s new album Vespertine, but hadn’t had the time to listen to it yet. I had a couple of beers and other things and just blasted the album on full volume in the dark by myself. I remember it all very clearly; the odd shapes and little crystalline lights dancing through the room over soft clouds of choirs, with Björk’s incredible voice pulling it all towards a shimmering centre. I sat there crying in the dark and then emerged like some juvenile messiah, trying to get my friends to join me for a second listen. I was not a popular feature at that party.

The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys laid down the foundation for all good pop music to follow. Inspired by Gershwin and vocal groups like The Four Freshmen he wrote the most interesting pop songs to date. The Beach Boys was channeled a lot in the new weird America movement, through bands like Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear, which has also meant a lot to the three of us. The story of Wilson’s life resonates very much in me as well. We share some things, some problems and also some beautiful things. The song “Float” on our new album is something of a love letter to Brian Wilson.

Pavement

When I was fifteen I got Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain from my Mom’s brother for Christmas. It was a huge turning point for me musically, and right in that time when I started to learn what I actually thought of the world. Me, Erik and Mathias all come from a large group of friends with similar taste in music and Pavement is a band we all love.They’re the perfect antidote to the overly serious, self-absorbed douchebag artist persona that is highly prevalent in art rock circles. I may not be what you would call a light hearted guy, but I can’t take people seriously who won’t laugh at the world and themselves. The image of no image will always be the best image.

Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth is a band we all love to death. When I found Sonic Youth it kind of defined me as a musician. I was maybe fifiteen or sixteen, reading Ginsberg and Burroughs, and I had terrible problems with authority. They were truly the band that had all that teenage Sebastian wanted. Incredible energy, skewed, distorted and slightly detuned melodies over beat poetry inspired lyrics. They had an almost academic approach to rock music, which I really liked. I remember seeing them perform in Denmark in 05 with Jim O’ Rourke still in the band, joined by Mats Gustafsson and Merzbow. It was the most amazing concert experience I’ve ever had. Me and my friends placed ourselves in the perfect spot, not too near the stage and dead centre between the speakers. I just stood there staring for an hour, mouth breathing in the unrelenting waves of sound. Sonic Youth will always be my favorite band.

Broadcast

I’ve said a lot about mine and our relation to Broadcast’s music lately. They were an amazing band.

Yo La Tengo

Yo La Tengo is the perfect musicians band. Their approach to making music is like a celebration of good music in general. We’ve often hoped to be able to do something similar with Simian Ghost. Mathias would say they are the best. Next to Sonic Youth they are my absolute favorite band.

My Bloody Valentine

I’d like to conclude this list with My Bloody Valentine. Kevin Shields is a genius, though a tad bit picky on the production side of things. I’ve always been a fan of just pushing things out there. Listening to mbv was very therapeutic. And also the musical highlight of the last (22) year(s).

You can hear the band’s beautiful new single, “Echoes Of Songs (For Trish Keenan)”, below. Their latest full-length, Youth, is out now on Heist or Hit Records.