One Track Mind

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On May 18th, Linköping, Sweden’s Marching Band will release their sophomore full-length, Pop Cycle, on U & L Records. It is a record filled with the sort of labyrinthine indie-pop compositions which turned heads on their 2008 debut, Spark Large–bold songs which corkscrew through twists and turns while adhering to a more conventional overarching melodic structure. Unlike their previous effort, which was forged in the sunkissed clime of Los Angeles, Pop Cycle was recorded during the bleakest months of Swedish winter. As a result, the shadows in Marching Band’s new tunes are more pronounced, their intricate musical web now benefiting from a wider tonal palette.

“Something Stops” is the second track on the upcoming record and clocks in at three minutes sharp. It is led by a lively piano melody which soon cedes ground to the histrionics of heavy percussion and wild guitars. Elsewhere, organs dance with flailing arms behind the duo’s vocal harmonies. As with MGMT’s new work, there is a very elusive quality to Marching Band’s songwriting style, which refuses to stop wriggling long enough to be pinned down. Rather, a big part of the thrill of “Something Stops” is its ineffability and its restless, buzzing energy. The listener is never quite sure where the path is leading but each destination along the journey is as a small reward.

Check out the video for Marching Band’s “Another Day” on Seeing Voices.