Search Results for:

JUNIP

Junip

Junip - 2023 Reissue

    The long awaited re-press of sophomore album by Junip, the Swedish folk-rock band featuring José González, is finally here.

    “In our case, it’s never simple.” José González is describing the entire process – writing, recording, life – that went into the creation of Junip, the  self-titled album from the band he fronts alongside drummer Elias Araya and keyboardist Tobias Winterkorn. “All the ups and downs were very ‘Junip,’” he adds, “so titling it with our name seemed appropriately iconic. It’s truly a band album.”

    Just as with the first album, Junip was recorded in the trio’s rehearsal space over the course of a year, self-produced by the band with help from Don Alsterberg (sound guru to artists like Soundtrack of Our Lives, International Noise Conspiracy, and Graveyard). The song “Villain” proved to be a breakthrough for Junip, with a tribal garage-rock stomp, fuzzed-out analog bassline, and electro-pop synths contrasted by a spooky, subtly sinister vocal. According to González, “Villain” represents “the sound of us not constraining ourselves. We weren’t concerned about noise, or being too distorted or musically correct. It was more about vibe, or feeling – it didn’t matter what we did, as long as it felt good.”

    Just as Fields pushed boundaries and expectations, Junip expands the stylistic palette yet again with unexpected juxtapositions. “We’re somewhere between a German jazz band and an African pop band,” González cracks. As such, infectious album opener (and first single) “Line of Fire” layers Beatlesque melody on top of a hypnotic groove that splits the difference between flamenco syncopation and krautrock repetition, González’s heartfelt vocal cresting with emotion as the track builds towards a symphonic climax. “Baton” also introduces González’s infectious newfound whistling technique, where he creates hooks literally out of thin air. “I’ve been doing the whistle thing a lot,” he says. “I bought these expensive Neumann mics, and noticed if you whistle into them, they give off a slight distortion; there’s something about the overtones and coloration hitting the root that gives it a Brazilian vibe. It’s a nice way to find melodies – you get the pure melody and nothing else.” “Your Call,” meanwhile, proves a total departure – a synthesized pop-disco confection suggesting the union of Hot Chip and Human League, its infectious drum-machine handclaps and exuberant singsong chorus belying a melancholy sentiment (“It’s your life, it’s your call/Stand up, or enjoy your fall”). “It felt like trying on new clothes when we first listened to it – it took a while to get comfortable with it, but now I like it a lot,” González says.

    TRACK LISTING

    1. Line Of Fire
    2. Suddenly
    3. So Clear
    4. Your Life Your Call
    5. Villain
    6. Walking Lightly
    7. Head First
    8. Baton
    9. Beginnings
    10. After All Is Said And Done 

    Junip

    Fields - 2023 Repress

      Junip originally formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2000 by José González (guitar, vocals), Elias Araya (drums) and Tobias Winterkorn (organ/moog). Junip have periodically gathered together and recorded when schedules permitted, but this is the first time all the members have focused exclusively on the band. Their sound will be familiar to those who have listened to González’s acclaimed records, but added to the mix on top of his nylon stringed guitar and distinctive voice are organs, analogue synths and drums. The influences are diverse and wide-ranging, from Neu! to Shuggie Otis and John Martyn, while the place to which it takes you is one of pastoral contemplation, hazy summer memories and autumnal grace…

      TRACK LISTING

      1. In Every Direction
      2. Always
      3. Rope & Summit
      4. Without You
      5. It's Alright
      6. Howl
      7. Sweet & Bitter
      8. Don't Let It Pass
      9. Off Point
      10. To The Grain
      11. Tide 


      Latest Pre-Sales

      177 NEW ITEMS

      E-newsletter —
      Sign up
      Back to top