MP3 Monday: The Radio Dept
By Morgan Short, Jul 6th, 2009 | In Nightlife
MP3 Monday is a weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China (or coming to China, or thinking about coming to China, or whatever). Right click on the links and choose "Save Link As..." to download 'em. Click play to rock 'em.
Today's MP3s are from Swedish three-piece twee pop/electronic band The Radio Dept, slated to play a highly-anticipated show at Yuyintang at the end of this month. The Radio Dept are in the fold of big time Swedish indie label Labrador Records (also home to Club 8, The Sound of Arrows, and Suburban Kids with Biblical Names), and broke on an international level when three of their songs popped up on the soundtrack to the kinda crap movie, Marie Antoinette (dir. Sophia Coppola, remember?).
The Radio Dept do a style of new wave that's been put through the shoegaze / lo-fi filter, reflecting their roots as a buzzing / popping shoegaze band in their earlier line-ups, and their new-found affection for synth riffs and hooks. It kind of reminds me of (yep) Jesus and Mary Chain with some synth action and a drum machine. I can dig it.
Here's some songs:
The Radio Dept ¨C Pulling Our Weight
The Radio Dept ¨C Why Won't You Talk About It
Ticket prices for this one are pretty steep -- 160rmb pre-sale; 200rmb at the door;
480rmb VIP -- as, apparently, the kids in town are pretty into this band and the Labrador label in general (Club 8 did a China tour last year with similar ticket prices). I'm pretty sure VIP means you get to hang with the band backstage and get some autographed swag. (Hang with three mopey Swedish dudes? Score.)
Here's The Radio Dept on the Myspace and here's the Labrador page. The Labrador page is worth a visit if you're looking for post-Hives Swedishness, and they've got a pretty large section of downloads. Click here. Good stuff.
The Radio Dept gets compared to Pet Shop Boys a lot but I don't really see it. Check out label mates The Sound of Arrows. Now that's some PSB hotness.
The Sound of Arrows ¨C M.A.G.I.C.
The Radio Dept performs at Yuyintang July 29. Support from Self Party. Tickets are 160rmb pre-sale (available at the bar), 200rmb at the door, 480rmb VIP.
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