WORLD OF ECHO EXCLUSIVE - EXCLUSIVE POSTER WITH EVERY COPY
Following the release of the second Loopsel last year, DFA extend their relationship with the axis of creativity centred around Julius Pierstorff & Elin Engstrom with a third volume of material under the JJULIUS moniker. The name is suggestive of a solo project, which might have been more the apparent on previous outings, but this time out is far from the case, especially with the addition of the very obviously present Viagra Boys drummer, Tor Sjödén. It's not the only change. If you've followed the JJULIUS output from day one, Vol. 3 might initially be received as a bit of a surprise. The lo-fi gloom of Vol. 1 in particular is now almost entirely absent, in its place a more kaleidoscopic type of alterna post-punk pop built from dual vocal parts, a Can-styled rhythm section, various synths and horns, and a surprising sense of good-time sunshine melody. This is far less tied to the Gothenburg underground to which Pierstorff was first associated than it is the more indiepop-led activity that pre-dates it, thinking in particular of Engstrom's stint in the Slumberland-affiiliatd act, Lichenstein and Skifthande Enheter. The still mostly Swedish language lyrics might instill an obvious ceiling, but make no mistake, this is avidly ambitious, intentionally accessible music that might with a bit of luck equally switch on the freaks and poptimists in the same way as Cindy Lee, Dean Blunt or Milan W have. However it plays out, huge respect to an underground artist willing to push themselves further towards the brighter lights.
