Altsounds - I'm From Barcelona - Who Killed Harry Houdini? [Album]

I’m From Barcelona are like the musical representation of Swedish film ‘Together’; they’re Swedish for a start, they welcome any like minded strangers into their group, their debut album, ‘Let Me Introduce My Friends‘, was full of love (although only free if you downloaded it illegally), and now, as in ‘Together’ we see that life isn’t always a happy clappy sing a long for them all.

I’m From Barcelona’s debut album ‘Let Me Introduce My Friends‘ was so infectiously joyous, that many will see this darker, more downbeat effort as upsetting a revelation as Cookie Monster being weaned off cookies; certainly the reviews for ‘Who Killed Harry Houdini?’ suggest a real dividing of opinion. However, it’s hardly Leonard Cohen territory they’re treading here, and anything would sound downbeat after the saccharin sweet twee-pop of ‘Let Me Introduce My Friends‘.

First track ‘Andy’ sets the tone, with I’m From Barcelona now sounding more Arcade Fire than Polyphonic Spree. Rather than sing about death or the imminent destruction of the planet though, Emanuel Lundgren reveals his recruitment process to date, urging some fella named Andy to join his band through the medium of song; I wish all interviews were like this although I’m From Barcelona seem to be confused as to exactly what kind of ‘job’ people expect backstage at a concert; although both do involve taking on new ‘members’ (I apologise. Such smut is not welcome in an I’m From Barcelona review).

Rather confusingly however, they return to the wide eyed wonder pop of their debut on second track ‘Paper Planes’. Having already covered stamp collecting and tree houses to date, I’m From Barcelona now exude their joy at “throwing paper planes”. Next album they complete their Blue Peter-like childish nerd-dom with songs about flower pressing and building forts out of drinking straws, egg cartons and empty cereal boxes. Jesus, bite the head off something will ya, even if it’s just a dandelion?

Thankfully ‘Headphones’ takes them closer to Black Sabbath territory, as they sing about hanging rabbits by the neck with headphone wire. Sigh, no sadly it’s just about shutting out the big bad naughty world with a pair of headphones. God only knows what was playing through those headphones though, as ‘Music Killed Me’ sees Lundgren declare “Music almost killed me now” (perhaps it was ‘him or the rabbit’). It’s hard to imagine the music that the band has produced itself could induce so much as a sniffle, let alone near death. It’s a relief though at this point to find that the opening track wasn’t just a teaser for a darker side to Lundgren, as it’s a side that I feel we need to see more of, not least because it produces the best two tracks so far.

‘Gunhild’ sounds like Broken Social Scene at their most melancholic, and is another highlight. The guest backing vocals from Soko are beautiful, and add to the BSC comparison (more Amy Millan or Emily Haines than Leslie Feist). If Lundgren ever gets Enochlophobic (see also Ochlophobic phobia fans!) he could do worse than look Soko up again, as their vocals marry wonderfully well. Indeed, it does seem that Lundgren will have to share his royalties less this time around, as he uses the other thirty-odd members more sparingly, which adds to the feeling or melancholy and affords the instruments a little more limelight; the piano is probably the most grateful recipient here (perhaps the kazoo has suffered the same fate as their other Christmas cracker prizes).

The rather unfortunately entitled ‘Mingus’ as not as horrible as its name would suggest and along with ‘Ophelia’ continues the more downbeat feel of ‘Who Killed Harry Houdini?’ And although ‘Houdini’ fails to escape a few E numbers, it at least has a little rock guitar, as does album closer ‘Rufus’ (which also features pretty much every other instrument they have ever played – which is a lot). And speaking of E, albeit of a different kind, I guess you could say that this album is the comedown after the sheer ecstasy of their debut, and similarly it’s the listener’s own personality that will determine which lasts the longer.

For me, as someone who instantly loved ‘Let Me Introduce My Friends’ but then grew tired of it, I feel that the slow burning melancholy of ‘Who Killed Harry Houdini’ will be favoured by time, if not perma-grinning, skipping twee-huggers…..or rabbits.

http://www.myspace.com/imfrombarcelona