Album Review : Pixie Carnation - The New World Record

First there were Iceland’s Of Monsters And Men, then came Sweden’s MO and following just behind are Pixie Carnation, there is just something about northern European pop, electro, rock or folk that really gets me.

On the cusp of releasing their debut album 5 piece Pixie Carnation are to play London’s XOYO, hailing from Malmo (that’s in Sweden) they play the middle ground between ‘Because Of The Times’ Kings Of Leon and ‘Sigh No More’ Mumford & Sons, a great combination, faultless even. The last 3 years has been a culmination of hard graft, touring, band members coming and going and a re-recording of soon to be released album ‘The New World Record’.

For anybody that has ever seen The Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine’ you won’t forgive me in saying the opening seconds to ‘The New World Record’ is Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band just before the Meanies decide to mute, a wonderful matrimony of sounds flows into opener ‘When Did The Lights Go Out’ which gently pushes you into the journey beyond, the indie/rock influences begin to bubble on the surface. A southern American guitar twang chimes ‘We Can Lie’ into the mix, the vocals of Ola (Lead Singer, Guitar) pierce the versatile composed musical ensemble that contrasts to early Mumford crossed with Band Of Skulls, A slow building indie/rock hit.

Three tracks in and the strong Kings Of Leon/Mumford similarities begin to inch its way into the Pixie Carnation sound, ‘Speed Up Your Heart’ is ‘On Call’ meets ‘Winter Winds’ though the burden of the sound surrounds the band, the influence of either bands could well be vacant and be a complete act of innocent genius. ‘Keep It Coming’ takes Arcade Fire to the next level, a journey within a 5 and a half minute track, a weaving ride through long country roads on a mid-Sunday afternoon.

The ebbing flow from track to track in a prominent feature within ‘The New World Record’ as well as the never ending ability to pin down the exact sound of the band, from one track to another different sounds and influences arise but not one exact pigeon hole is available. ‘From The View Of A Gun’ puts us in the middle of the album, looking backwards at a now darker light and forwards to the next single ‘Young And Free’ the definitive Pixie Carnation sound at its strongest, the track to make you stamp your feet and sing at the top of your voice, a sure fire crowd pleaser a la ‘Little Lion Man’.

A celebration of life and everything it includes ‘Dreaming Still’ flows from ‘Young And Free’ with a positive resonance, Pixie Carnation take the traditional ensemble of musical creation, every track included within ‘The New World Record’ begs no less a duration of 4 minutes, inviting you in to feel every lyric and chord, something of which some artists and bands lack, throwing tracks out thick and fast than throwing their arms around them to create the spectacular music that can be appreciated.

Into the last quarter of the album ‘Little Sister’ throws a much later radio friendly type spanner into the works, the long dulcet tones of Ola collaborates pleasantly beside the bass of Lars and drums of Kristoffer, the collective as a 5 piece come together throughout to create brilliance. ‘Smile’ is the penultimate build-up to the drop and all out ballad that closes ‘The New World Record’ that is ‘Easy Love’.

There is a musical niche that surrounds Pixie Carnation, lots of ‘not quite...’ but ‘really likes...’ if you are a fan of certain bands and a certain genre then this is the band for you, there is also a certain success that will surround the sound that they own and will see them through to chart around the world.

‘The New World Record’ slips itself into one of the best albums I have heard in 2013, alongside Justin Timberlake’s ‘20/20 experience’ Biffy Clyro with 'Opposites’ and Bastille ‘Bad Blood’. A possible outside runner for Novembers Mercury Music Prize, young and free Pixie Carnation keep it coming.

Pixie Carnation play London's XOYO on April 22nd, Tickets are still available. Single 'Young And Free' is set for release on May 6th with the album 'The New World Record' being released on the same date.