Info about Club 8
Club 8 was formed in 1995 by Karolina Komstedt (from the band Poprace) and Johan Angergård (Acid House Kings, Poprace). They immediately signed with the Spanish label Siesta and released a single called "Me too" and an album called "Nouvelle". Their sound at this point could almost be categorised as "anorak pop" with influences ranging from Sarah bands, Jim Ruiz, and The Smiths.
In 1998/1999 their 2nd album - "The friend I once had" - and single - "Missing you" - were released. "Missing you" became a club and radio hit in Spain and a college radio fave in North America. The band started playing live, their first gig was in New York at March Records' 1998 CMJ event. Their sound had developed into a more bossa nova and dance oriented one.
Striving for constant change and improvements, the band once again changed musical direction on their 3rd album in 2001. "Club 8" is a beautifully laidback - almost a chill out - album, though it was often compared to Portishead, Air, and called triphop upon release.
Club 8 did not rest after the release of "Club 8". In the autumn of 2001 the band locked themselves in the famous Summersound Studios; writing songs and experimenting with different sounds and songs. Dub, C-86, triphop, chill out, 80's and bossa nova were mixed-up here, without ever losing focus on those wonderfully Scandinavian and melancholic pop melodies. The album was named "Spring came, rain fell" and was released in 2002.
Later in 2002, Club 8 started working on a follow up for "Spring came, rain fell". This time Club 8 crept closer to the listener with a more focused sound theme. It's warmer, possibly more acoustic, and definitely more sensitive. The result is "Strangely Beautiful" - and yes, it is their best album so far. The album peaked at #18 on the CMJ charts. For the first time since 1999 the band released a single and video from the album. Backed by 5 exclusive tracks, the song "Saturday night engine" was released as a single in the spring of 2003 and the video made it to #16 on the Up North chart on MTV Nordic.
After having released 3 albums and 2 EPs in two years, Club 8 is now slowing down the tempo. This means you will probably have to wait until 2004, or even early 2005, before the next album is released...
