MF/MB/

Is music perfectly suited for your mood, not matter which one you find yourself in? So varied are the genre’s on offer, much like our many frames of mind, that we are free to search for – and eventually locate – the perfect fit. Perhaps the question should always be, what mood are you in and what mood do you want to be in? It’s just as valid to wallow in the darkest depths of music if you’ve just split from your partner, or indeed simply bounce around in the glorious sunshine if your mind fancies it. Today’s mood therefore is dedicated to MF/MB/. We think this band is perfect for those people who need re-energising, as it’s virtually impossible to remain sedentary having tried a few of their tunes out.

They’re a Swedish five-piece who blast out a rocking brand of electro, kraut pop. They’re capable of LCD Soundsystem‘s level of tenderness, but much like the fuzz of The Big Pink, you’re often hit with a Berlin-sized wall of sound, with an industrial attitude that brings up thoughts of Nine Inch Nails, (were Trent Reznor to start staring at his shoes instead of soundtracking awesome skate videos from the early 90s). Their tracks come in a variety of waves, but all of them are consistently powerful.

If you consider their recent single, Seconds Away, you get their signature clash of characters, as rocket-fuelled guitars, that are as rough as stubble, grind over an otherwise melodic tune. The lead singer swings from sounding a little like Jim Kerr, or occasionally Ian McCulloch, were they riding aboard a bomb that’s aiming to blow up your mind. It showcases their pensive energy whilst keeping one ear on making rather excellent pop music.

They first entered The Recommender’s ‘queue’ way back in October last year when their LP, Folded, came out, which goes to show just how long it can sometimes take for a band to eventually reach this blog’s pages. The album begins with a pace and relentlessly runs through to the finish, without much pause for breath, but rather than leaving you knackered it’s in fact a proper pick up. Along the way it hits many utterly brilliant peaks and sticks with you long after it’s close, like a strong espresso.

Additionally you might have caught their remix of the Health tune, USA Boys, which floated around a few blogs last year, although the word ‘float’ isn’t quite accurate, as the track slams and bounces like Big Daddy. Once again it finds them starting a song with a sense of urgency, increasing the pace throughout like one long wind up. It’s this trick that they seem to have learned from Arcade Fire – an inspiration they’re steadily distancing themselves from with synths and electronics. However, much like said Canadians, they’ve mastered the art of securing the audience in the palm of their hands, before lifting their spirits skywards. It’s this tidy ability, alongside their really enjoyable tunes, that will snare your heart from the outset, no matter what mood you’re in. (MB)