The Concretes

I was down at the record store the other day and picked up a super cheap used copy of the Concretes self-titled debut. The Octet from Sweden has always been on my horizon since You Can't Hurry Love came into my life a few years back and became the go to guy in all mix tapes made the following two years.

I've spent my free time this weekend quietly distilling the album. It has its hits and misses, but overall, a great mood album if you ever catch it around. Part of the appeal of The Concretes lies with ex-lead singer Victoria Bergsman. You probably hear Victoria this summer singing on Peter, Bjorn and John's Young Folks. She is recording her solo debut under the moniker of taken By trees. If you go to the Taken By Trees website, here, you can here some demo versions (good quality ) of what I imagine will be her impending debut. Go for the music, stay for the umlauts. Lost and Found seems to be the strongest track and definitely worth a listen

The Concretes carry on as a septutlet, with Lisa Milberg steeping up to the mike. Their new album, Hello Trouble should see a release sometime in 2007 on the band's Licking Fingers imprint. For now, assuage yourself with first single, Kids, released last week, which is currently streaming at their myspace, as well as their temporary web home at Licking Fingers.

The Concretes' You Can't Hurry Love shares the same name as the old Supremes hit. The connection continues a few tracks later with Diana Ross, which pays homage to Ross' Love Hangover. The last track is fairly disco-ish but included today for all you folks out there who ever had a desire to wear a leisure suit.

The Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love mp3
The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love mp3
The Concretes - Diana Ross mp3
Diana Ross - Love Hangover mp3

Buy The Concretes on amazon