Four Best Kept Secret Releases

reviewed by nadav carmel

The Higher Elevations, Who's Sleeping? (Best Kept Secret)

Italy's Best Kept Secret tape label is exactly that, as is most of their international roster. This tape by Sweden's the Higher Elevations is an odds-and-ends collection released, oddly, even before their debut album, but it hardly feels slapped together. Like all things Swedish, the songs are impeccable; never mind the parenthetical "rough mix", "alt. vocal", or "demo" tag appended to many of the tracks here. Who's Sleeping? is tight. Think a less caffeinated Television Personalities, a way less bombastic Soundtrack of Our Lives (a TSOOL alum guests on the actual album), or just fellow Swede Pet Politics (who you should know if you don't!). In short, the Higher Elevations combine classic power pop moves with a nuanced, deep-voiced delivery for a pretty satisfying listen. "In the Night" even features Richard Lloyd of Television (Television?!) supplying the solo; "Something Holds Me Back" quotes the bass line from "A Day in the Life" before turning on the rock; and album closer "Days Like These" throws in just the right amount of melancholy to actually leave you wanting more. Good thing there's a full-length out!

The Danny Says, Not Like That (Best Kept Secret)

The Danny Says mines the other end of the Swedish pop spectrum, playing fast, bouncy, catchy, and mid-fi (but no less sophisticated) twee. It's impossible not to move while listening to Not Like That, especially since the tempo seems to speed up as the tape goes along. If Heavenly and the Beach Boys gave birth to a bearded Swede with a drum machine and killer Farfisa chops- hey, maybe they did- he would sound like this. Add your own handclaps (and you will!), and you've got an instant dance party.

Jean Pilot, The Art of Falling Down a Mountain (Best Kept Secret)

Jean Pilot's tape, on the other hand, despite its great cover, starts out a downer. At first The Art of Falling Down a Mountain sounds like a curious but accomplished take on moody, bedroom New Wave. Opener "Birds" sounds like Coldplay with tinny Nintendo beats (and for the record, that's not a disparaging comparison), but the album slowly opens up from there. The squiggly synth trill that sneaks into the background of the emotive "Outer Space" is the first tip; but by the end of the head-bobbing future-bossa of "Snow Flake", all bets are off. Rather than more Stereolab-worthy cuts on Side B, "No Time For Inspiration" changes tack into Steward ( a.k.a. Stewart Anderson) territory, clearly taking a lesson or two from Boyracer's electronic side project: the vocals become noticeably more nasal, the batteries begin to die and the circuits bend, the melodies don't quite cohere. It's great, and if anything, even more infectiously catchy. Either side Jean Pilot decides to go with in the future is fine by me!

Aujourd'hui Madame, Des Hommes Modernes (Best Kept Secret)

The only non-Swedish release in this batch of Best Kept Secret cassettes may be the best. Des Hommes Modernes by French-language popsters Aujourd'hui Madame isn't really modern at all, recalling the best parts of Big Star and March Records' breezy and great Moshi Moshi: Pop International Style comp from a few years back. With the exception of album closer "L'ivrisse", every song will have singing along, regardless of whether or not you speak French. And in another star turn,former Undertone Damian O'Neill plays on three tracks. In a more just world, bands like Aujourd'hui Madame would be international celebrities, and Best Kept Secret would be an ironic name. In the meantime, we can all enjoy these little shots of modest perfection.