Syme - Swing Swing
Label: Karisma
Released: 2005
Grade: A+
Alright, maybe we do have a lot of A's and B's, and hardly any C's or lower here on UMR, but don't let that discourage you. That just means that there's a lot of good music goin' around these days. We'll review worse music at some point, I assure you. It's also important to know that I consider myself a tough grader, and Syme really deserves this A+. There's no getting around it. Let me elaborate:
Swing Swing is a journey, not just a CD. True, many modern bands like to take their listeners on journeys, especially those experimental, shoegazer and psych folk folks. So what makes Syme so special?
First of all, they're Norweigan. Next, they're not shoegazer, experimental or psych folk, though they use many of said genre's techniques in their music. Syme combines these sounds and many others, including straight up indie rock, Northern European pop and hints of electronica. This description may sound like too much of a jamble, but their music is not. In fact, most of the songs are soothing and thoughtful - even the heavy ones. Syme knows no boundaries and really doesn't want to be lumped into a simple genre.
The CD starts off with "Psychadelic Heart," a six minute slow, heartwarming song. Because of it, the listener is in no way prepared for the ridiculously catchy melody of "Greenhouse" two tracks later. The straight up electronic pop song "Ad Kosmos" follows a shoegazer-y "Rocky Rocky Mountains." The hidden track that ends Swing Swing is a reminiscence of the first track, bringing it to a full circle. Even with such striking diversity, each track easily molds into the next.
I'd tell you the lead singer's name, but their website is in Norweigan. Anyway, his voice is beautiful and modest. He sings in english, which makes Syme's music more listenable than, letsay, Dungen. Because they're not native english speakers, their lyrics are not the most sensible or comprehensible, but with their musicianship really anything would seem insigtful. Seemingly they would be the weakest part of their music, but their quirky lyrics mixed with the singer's voice are actually one of the most endearing parts of Syme's music.
So there you have it. Swing Swing easily tops my 2005 list. Syme's music is a breath of fresh air in a world where almost all music is easily jammed into fixed genres. I live for this kind of music.
LISTEN/WATCH: http://www.myspace.com/symenorway
(I don't know which is cheaper. They're both foreign.)By Roman the Fury