Amason
Sky City
FAIRFAX/INGRID
6/10
Emerging from the nexus of the hipster universe, a place where Björn Yttling might stop by to make gluten-free pancakes while simultaneously whistling the new Top 20 alt-rock hit, Amason is a quote-unquote “supergroup” of musicians, just without the mainstream appeal, aging rock stars, and conflicting musical visions of the usual congealed collaboration. From Sweden. On Ingrid Records. If you’re familiar with the tastefully produced prior releases from the electro-folk-pop Ingrid stable such as Hortlax Cobra, Woodlands, and Smile, you’ll feel right at home with the falsetto vocals and wispy synth lines of Amason—the collective of Amanda Bergman (Hajen, Idiot Wind), Gustav Ejstes (Dungen), Nils Törnqvist (Little Majorette), Petter Winnberg (Little Majorette), and Pontus Winnberg (Miike Snow). “Duvan,” the current single du jour, is saved from being just another ’80s Euro new-wave rip-off by the admittedly compelling vocals and melody, courtesy of Bergman. Throughout, however, the line between Duran Duran–style cool and Hall & Oates–tinged schlock is forever in jeopardy of being crossed, wrongly.
