Mixtapes and Cellmates - Soon

Currently awaiting the release of their second album ‘Rox’, Swedish band Mixtapes and Cellmates are giving the world a good teasing in the form of the aptly named ‘Soon’. They have recorded the songs for the album in the same studio in Sweden where the Hives and Fireside previously laid noise to tape and are following in good footsteps. If ‘Soon’ is anything to go by they could be set to follow this with far more exposure. They sound very much on it like a much more down to earth and completely ecstatic Muse. Singer Robert Svensson is superbly backed on it by his newly extended band which now features a live drummer Viktor Kallgren rather than a drum machine. They have with ‘Soon’ created something totally beautiful that has a real edge to it. Just when you think that you have got them sussed, something surprises you, and they drop suddenly from a huge-sounding chorus into crashing guitars and drums. With fuzzy bass and sweet guitar playing from Matilda Berggren and Henning Runolf, this is all blended out by Johan Fagerberg on keyboards who somehow has managed to give them that extra special sound that sets them apart from other run-of-the- mill poppy indie outfits. Citing the Sea and The Cake and Postal Service amongst their influences it is not hard to see where they are coming from, but in a way that is utterly their own. Not to be confused with wannabes, Mixtapes and Cellmates have their own sound and are sure to gain many more fans outside of their native Stockholm with the release of ‘Rox’. With festival appearance already in place for them, this could be an important year for the band.