Baxter
Country of origin:
Sweden
Type of music generally:
Ectronica/pop
Status:
Most recent release, Tell Me Like It Is (2010)
See also:
Wikipedia's entry on Baxter
Comparisons:
Sneaker Pimps, Mandalay, Portishead, Crustation et al.
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Another vocal/electronica band, but one that for me rises above the crowd. Somewhere along the way I got stuck on a promo sampler for Baxter that I picked up, and had to buy the full album, because I needed more songs of theirs. It's ectronica. You might have heard their "Television" song about "you blew up your television / the whole world to you". Musically they don't sound so different from other "trip hop" groups, but it's the singer's dispassionate yet gripping singing that hooks me and keeps me listening to this. It's not lamb, but I like it a lot. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Either, though About This has more dance beats than Baxter which might make you prefer one over the other
Recordings:
- Baxter (1998)
- About This (2002)
- Tell Me Like It Is (2010)
Baxter
Release info:
1998—Maverick/Warner—9 46986-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for ectronica fans
Group members:
Nina Ramsby, Ricky Tillblad, Carl-Michael Herlöfsson
Produced by:
Baxter
Comments:
A strong collection of songs and sounds, and the Nina Ramsby's vocals make this more than listenable, and indeed quite gripping. The kind of music that only takes one listen before it has crept into your subconscious, and I've liked this more the more I've played it. The only obvious single is "Television", but I like all of the songs and on many listenings haven't been tempted to skip any of them. Very pleasant listening, and I don't mean to damn it with faint praise by that. I'm always delighted to hear this. (Neile)
About This
Release info:
2002—S56 Recordings—5050466-1122-2-4
Availability:
Europe
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of electronica, especially those with dance beat tolerance
Group members:
Carl-Michael Herlöfsson, Ricky Tillblad, Nina Ramsby
Guest artists:
Goran Kajfes—trumpet on track 7
Christian Hörgren—cello on track 7
Patrick Andersson—pedal steel on track 7
Produced by:
Baxter
Comments:
This album is very like their first but the basic beats feel more along the Europop dance theme than electronica, and so it took me a little while to get used to it. Unlike with other bands who have shifted this direction, e.g. Bel Canto, the tracks are interesting enough that I can get past my dislike of dance, or maybe it's just that this shift really is quite slight. In any case, when Nina Ramsby sings, even in her dispassionate way, "I've got to wake up now" or "I've got to be someone" I believe her. How does she manage to be so gripping and yet so restrained? (Neile)
Tell Me Like It Is
Release info:
2010—Baxter Records
Availability:
Europe
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of electronica
Group members:
Nina Ramsby, Carl-Michael Herlöfsson, Ricky Tillblad
Guest artists:
Hux Nettermalm—drums
Jonas Kullhammar—flute (6)
Rebecka Tönqvist—vocals (3)
Brent Hunter—vocals (8)
Martin Hederos—piano (11)
Produced by:
Baxter
Comments:
Another fine offering from the irresistible Baxter. This one is closer to the darker electronic sound of their first release than the more dance-y sound of their second. It's mostly melancholy in tone, though there it begins with a diatribe about Christian hypocrisy (a bit of an easy target for a song, but still the sound is nice). The rest of the album follows with similar but musically delightful songs. I would wish the lyrics were a little less didactic at times, but mostly love this album. (Neile)
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