Jori Sjöroos is clearly a strong believer in not rushing things, and so it’s been four years between the release of Magenta Skycode’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘IIIII’ (2006) and this second full length titled ‘Relief’, written, recorded (in a wooden house from the 1800s in the small town of Turku) and produced entirely by Sjöroos with just a little help from a few friends on backing vocals and violin and long time collaborator Maurice Hawkesworth (former manager of Leila K, Ace Of Base) on the lyrics.

To some extend abandoning the post-punk stylings of the debut for ecstatic wall-of-sound post-rock with an impressive array of (pop) hooks, the result is grand. In every sense. When aiming for the majestic it can sometimes end in overkill, and a song like ‘Trains Are Leaving The Yard’ does come across as little more than an exercise in “how much sound can be crammed into one song”, but that’s easily forgiven when you’re also offered uplifting brilliance as ‘We’re Going To Climb’, sounding like Sigur Rós teaming up with Fleet Foxes for a 1980s benefit single for Africa.

Elsewhere ‘Montag’, a beautiful, dark ballad slowly making its way to a movingly desperate crescendo, wrestles love gone sour, joyous album opener and should-be hit ‘The Simple Pleasures’ salutes just that (nakedness involved), despondent ‘Night Falls On The Rifle’ sounds like Mew gone indierock, while ‘King Of Abstract Painters’ could be what Animal Collective would do together with The Beach Boys. And then there’s Sjöroos’ vocal shining throughout with great variation and emotion.

‘Relief’ was released in Finland back in October and took home the Emma Award 2010 for the Best Alternative/Indie Album of the Year as well as giving Magenta Skycode slots on several Best Of 2010 lists. And I can reveal that it will be no different when time comes (it won’t be long now) for the ALL SCANDINAVIAN Best Of 2010 retrospect…

Genre: Rock/Post-rock/Indierock
Who: Magenta Skycode
Album: Relief
Label: Solina Records/Sony Music
Year: 2010
Country: Finland
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
The Simple Pleasures – Night Falls On The Rifle – King Of Abstract Painters – Montag – We’re Going To Climb