Swedish Death Candy - Are You Nervous? - LP

Like so many young people, in 2019 the members of Swedish Death Candy find themselves living in a state of uncertainty, not just in reference to the obvious current political unrest in the UK. The London-based international acid rockers are gearing up for the release of their forthcoming second album Are You Nervous?, and it’s playing on their minds. “Environmental issues, technological advances…it feels like we’re on the brink of massive change,” says Perry, “Are You Nervous? felt like an appropriate title. I’m a big sci-fi fan, and the best science fiction is generally a social commentary based in a futuristic universe. I feel like we’re living in that time. We aren’t far from the future that a lot of the classic sci-fi novels refer to.” Completed by guitarist Francesco Codardo, bassist Jiwoon Whang, and drummer Marco Ninni, on the new album the band were able to spend much more time considering individual sounds and how they fit within the sonic spectrum, hand-selecting the perfect tone for each moment. “To use a painting metaphor,” says Perry, “it felt like each brush stroke and colour combination was considered, as opposed to the first record, which was more like a photograph in that it was an attempt to capture the energy of a moment.”
With their self-titled debut album very much a live record that was written and recorded through jam sessions, the band re-focused on their songwriting craft for album two, bringing fully formed tracks to the studio and working intensively on arrangements. As a result, AYN? is a more concise and considered injection of SDC’s influences than ever before. Whilst retaining their core psych-sound, there’s a heaviness to SDC that seems latent within the band; gut-twisting, rolling riffs, dripping in distortion. Early tracks released from the album—‘Green’ and ‘A Date With Caligula’— hinted at a leaner, meaner version of SDC; still retaining the swirling psych and drifting desert rock influences, but with their compact riffs distilled and weaponized to a new pinpoint accuracy. Elsewhere, album cuts like ‘Modern Child’—about an orphaned child born in the future to robot carers— weave Perry’s disparate cultural influences together perfectly, and taking a creative approach to the storytelling on the record allowed him to examine topics from multiple perspectives. “This story doesn’t feel that far fetched considering how large of an effect technology has on the youth of today,” reasons Perry. “My six year old sister can use computers and tablets like it’s second nature. The internet has had a huge influence on our upbringing, and even I can’t imagine what a modern child’s perception of technology is, considering that they’ve never lived without it.” The lyrics, especially on the new record, are important to Perry, a literary-minded songwriter with a keen interest in philosophy and poetry. “Music is conversational,” he contemplates, picking up the thread of his earlier thoughts on its transcendental nature. “It has a message. There’s something inexplicable about the way music makes you feel. The mystery of a melody can often make you question your consciousness; where do my feelings come from and why? Same goes for writing music; where do the melodies come from? It’s all a mystery. In a post-modern society where logic is generally valued over spirituality, music is one of those mysteries that slipped through the cracks.” “There’s an aspect of escapism in our music, so it’s important for us that the lyrics be somewhat ambiguous,” says Perry when he considers giving too much away. “The message is there if you want it, but you can just chill out and enjoy the tunes if you prefer.” And for those of us that are looking for that message, that profound insight experienced through the lens of SDC’s music? “One person’s truth is another person’s lie,” he rounds off, sagely.

Side A :
Interstellar Love Machine / Modern Child / A Date With Caligula / Always / Green / Space Holiday

Side B :
Mother (Earth) / Slowly / Journey To The 13th Floor / Charismatic Authority / The Scream