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Blackstrap

MusicBlog

Location: Stockholm

Website: http://www.blackstrap.net

Bio: Blackstrap from Stockholm, Sweden are one of Europe’s most exiting new bands creating hypnotic rock, shoegazing-noise pop with a sparkle of hope, frustration and lust.

Started ... (more) in 1996 , Blackstrap features principle songwriters Jonatan Westh and Maria Lindén. Their goal has always been simply making great music and to perform it live. Their musical inspirations are taken from different music eras with bands like Velvet Underground, My Bloody Valentine, Neu!, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Stereolab and Suicide. Although these influences come through in their music, Blackstrap have masterfully crafted their songs into a fresh and energetic new pop sound.

In 2003 they first realized their sound on the debut album "Ghost Children". It received great reviews worldwide, including performing live on P3 (Swedish national radio), as well as songs on MTV, ZTV, Swedish National TV and music a movie called "Falla vackert". With the new buzz on Blackstrap, the band did several tours in Europe and signed to Sally Forth Records(Holland), licensed to V2 (Scandinavia) and Vinyl Junkie (Japan).

In 2006 their second album called "Steal My Horses And Run" was finished. This record was made with the intention to capture the live energy and sound that Blackstrap had developed. The album was recorded in a bunker outside Amsterdam in Holland where it was so cold in the studio that the only way to keep warm was to play. The production and the mixing part was shared by Jonatan Westh and old friend, Sebastian Forslund. The result is a great album with great songs of primal psychedelic rock, injected with beautiful, captivating mysterious melodies.

The word has been spreading quickly on “Steal My Horses And Run” where reviews and airplay were coming in from all over Europe as well as the UK and US. After some heavy airplay on Aol Radio’s Spinner.com, and tastemaker reviews, the band is now getting interest from around the world, and growing everyday. 2008 sees Blackstrap with a successful year ahead of them.

Blackstrap is Jonatan Westh (vocals and guitar), Maria Lindén (vocals and organ), David Karlsson (drums), Patrick Alvarsson (guitars) and Filiph Antonsson (bass). (less)