Peter, Bjorn and John – Seaside Rock

Over the course of 'Inland Empire', percussion echoes around your head, adding to its ranks until reaching almost wall-of-sound levels. Vocals that are married to the rhythms glide in and out, whilst a plucked tremolo presides over the piece, swirling and stirring this particular musical soup. Then, just as it reaches it's peak, nearly all of the sound disappears, just leaving elements of the previous few minutes to provide scarce backing to the four-to-the floor Starsky and Hutch-esque drums. And then a guitar and saxophone solo? What is this, prog? And can 'Seaside Rock' really be by Peter,Bjorn and John, the same band that brought us that alt-pop gem 'Young Folks'?.Well, obviously yes, what a stupid question to ask. It is their album review after all. In my defense though, 'Seaside Rock' is about as eclectic as you can get without buying a Cadillac, converting to Scientology and living in a cave for the rest of your life. Only you get to have wireless Internet and table football too. That's how varied and sometimes downright weird this album is. Weird, kooky yet clever and pretty awe inspiring in the way it's all carried off flawlessly and with real atmosphere behind it. Just listen, eyes closed to 'Favour Of The Season' and savour the depth and richness of the instrumentation. It's like a musical back massage, or even a Tai Chi session. Soothing, calming, sedate and guaranteed to leave you feeling relaxed and slightly happier with the world. Straight after this, voices are heard and footsteps clatter down corridors, as way of introduction to 'Next Stop Bjursele', which doesn't so much slow one down as make one want to start a full scale war on someone. Military percussion and stabbing piano marches through your skull, back and forth, mixing with a speech that to an English speaking ear could be anything at all. This reviewer would like it to believe that it's an official defense force statement declaring an assault on a fictional country, but it probably isn't. As the ending words 'Rock me, rock me rock me rock me' go some way to proving.If you like traditional popular or rock music, you're in the wrong place here son. The production of tracks like 'School Of Krut' , though initially harmless, later subjects your ears to a constant lancing by the string section until you give up listening. If you're not willing to listen to music that isn't in English only, you're also barking up the wrong tree. 'Norrdlands Riveira' will put you right off, but to the rest of us it's contains some of the most beautifully recorded piano music contained inside any .mp3 file. And while us uni-lingual Brits will not be able to understand a bloody word this lady is saying, the story is not lost in translation, just left open to the imagination.It is very hard to criticise this album if you know what you're getting yourself in for. There are no production flaws, no boring or cliched chord progressions, no annoying vocal lines and, umm, no blastbeats? Simply put, this album is incredible. If you like eclectic music, and would like a european band to champion then look no further than Peter, Bjorn and John. 'Seaside Rock' should by all rights be the soundtrack to every Organic Food shop, every airport arrivals lounge and played throughout my house every evening via a P,B and J broadcast tannoy. It's mood music of the highest caliber, unpretentious and honest. And again, incredible. 87%