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New York, NY – 30 May 2024 – Abstract Crimewave (formerly Smile) – the more than a decade’s long project of Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) and Joakim Åhlund (Teddybears, Caesars) – is returning with a new full-length studio album The Longest Night featuring Lykke Li, Chrissie Hynde, and Dungen. Due out October 3rd via Chimp Limbs/Red Eye, news of the new LP comes with the release of the album’s lead single “The Gambler” featuring good friend and frequent collaborator Lykke Li – listen HERE. Along with the song, Abstract Crimewave has released the official music video for “The Gambler” featuring all three artists, watch HERE, and quotes from each below about the single. “I like to think that it reminds me of…Eurythmics, washed up on a beach. At least that’s what we were aiming for.” – Jocke “I came up with this moody but pretty riff that kind of played itself with a weird sound I got from my led 80’s Casiotone synth plugged into an old tube amp. Jocke liked it and added some tape echo guitar. That was all we had for a while, but then I was in LA and played it for Lykke and she came up with that great vocal melody and some of her trademark beautifully sad lyrics, and so she and I finished it together.” – Björn “Björn is my favourite person to write with. This was one of the songs we wrote in between playing very competitive tennis.” – Lykke The duo, that now goes by Abstract Crimewave (thanks in part due to The Smile), sees the new album as a rebirth for their longstanding studio and production project that began in 2012 under the Smile name. That same year they released their debut album A Flash in the Night and followed that LP in just 9 short years with their Phantom Island LP – released in 2021 and featuring Swedish pop icon Robyn on the lead single “Call My Name.” Now with just two years since Phantom Island the longtime friends – Åhlund – a legend of the Swedish underground, who has played in numerous bands including Teddybears, Caesars and Les Big Byrd and is a producer of international renown, having written for and produced the likes of Robyn, Charli XCX and Giorgio Moroder – and Yttling – an artist with a vastly impressive resume – he is the Björn in Stockholm indie pop stalwarts Peter Bjorn and John, and has produced and written for Lykke Li, Primal Scream and Neko Case, among many others – have come together again for a new full-length studio album. The Longest Night is a record that streamlines the ethos of this band and boils it down to its purest essence; this is the sound of Åhlund and Yttling paying tribute to the many different styles of music they love. Where previously they would work loosely in the studio with a revolving door policy for friends of the band to come in and jam, this time they handled everything but the drums between the two of them, allowing their interpersonal musical chemistry to come to the fore. It wouldn’t be an Abstract Crimewave album without a few special guests. Lykke Li turns in a sultry vocal turn on today’s single – the enigmatic “The Gambler,” Chrissie Hynde (whose debut album Stockholm was written and produced by Åhlund and Yttling) lends her unmistakable vocals to the psych-tinged pop of the title track “The Longest Night” and Dungen frontman Gustav Ejstes sings and plays flute on the chirpy “Flyga Fram.” “It’s amazing that we can still trick people into being on our records!” laughs Yttling. “These wonderful people put their precious time aside for us, and I really think we got the best of all three of them on this record.” It all adds up to Abstract Crimewave’s strongest work yet, an infectiously sunny journey into their wonderfully weird world, and the perfect way to launch their new identity. “In Sweden, when you get to around the 22nd of December, there’s something uplifting about knowing that it’s the longest night, because it's the turning point of something,” says Yttling of the record's title. “And maybe that’s what this album is for us as a band, a turning point.” He might just be right: this is the sound of Abstract Crimewave moving boldly towards the light. Look for The Longest Night out on October 3rd and you can pre-save/preorder the album now HERE. Out today is “The Gambler” featuring Lykke Li – listen HERE and watch HERE. Plus, the band is scheduled for some EU and UK dates, follow them on Instagram for the most up-to-date info! |
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