Although the Longest Night is the debut album by Abstract Crimewave, it's the third album by this Swedish duo, who were previously called Smile before that name was taken by a Radiohead offshoot. They are made up of Swedish legends Joakim Ahlund and Bjorn Yttling who have been in among other bands The Teddybears, Peter Bjorn & John, Les Big Byrd along with producing among others Robyn, Charlie XCX, Neko Case and Primal Scream.
The album opens with the ambient drone tones of Damba Trask that adds acoustic guitars and piano to a mellow yet unsettling tune, that breaks down into odd electronic pulsars.
Dodmansgrepp has a piano riff that builds and builds, all the synths and drums rise with it, the insistence almost marching towards some indistinct fate that seems rather calming.
Flyga Fram Ft Dungen is the first tune with vocals in Swedish this feels like a bucolic Belle & Sebastian song, the song flutters back and forth gently intoxicating the listener.
The Gambler Ft Lykke Li has Lykke's seductive vocals, making sure you want to take a chance on her and this sylph like synth pop.
Heading Out builds as if you're ready to go out on the town and behave like a Punk Rocker who listens to synth pop as much as Iggy Pop.
The Lighthouse sounds like they have taken the spirit of fellow Swedes Hillman Lighthouse and sat staring out of Gothenburg harbour to create this almost ancient folk music, celebrating the wonders of surviving another storm.
The Longest Night Ft Chrissie Hynde has gorgeous vocals from Chrissie celebrating mid-winter, who is trying to avoid hiding in the past and look to the future, where spectral synth pop like this is played endlessly on the radio as it should be.
The album closes with Sailing Away that has a more insistent beat, they try to remember what happened on that night, that made them need to be Sailing away from everything that went on.
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