A Camp, London King’s College

May 6th 2009

Walking in to King’s College on a balmy May evening, I’m not sure what to expect. Surely a bar in Camden would be a more fitting venue for the Swedish colonial rock we are about to hear? But as I enter a room filled to the brim with university students and intellectuals I realise that these people are waiting in suspense, and the crowd erupts with cheers as the band enters the room at 9.30.p.m. sharp and not a minute too late. The stage, which is in perfect alignment with their image, is wonderfully propped with everything from antique looking furniture to feathers stuck to the microphone stands. I can’t help but think that the lead singer Nina Persson had something to do with the pretty little haven created on the stage. It oozes the same 1920s sophistication as her wardrobe.

The band starts playing with no foreword as they break out into a perfect version of the ‘The Crowning’, an ideal but obvious introduction. Nina’s emotional soprano vocals are as clear as ever, her tone is honest and reminiscent of the days when she used to be a part of the Swedish group The Cardigans. The immense chemistry between the triple Ns, Nina, her husband Nathan Larson and long time friend Niclas Frisk is evident as they play music which is clearly inspired by different century. There’s a little keyboard placed on a wooden coffee table next to Nina and it serves its purpose in the Daniel Johnston remake of ‘Walking the Cow’. It’s this kind of great attention to detail that makes the gig all the more intimate. Nicolai Dunger then joins the stage for a heartfelt duet of ‘Golden Teeth and Silver Medals’, a rare treat which the audience undoubtedly enjoys.

More familiar songs follow after their version of Grace Jones’ ‘I’ve Done It Again’ and the mellow spine tingling ‘Bear on the Beach’. Nina then asks guest guitarist Kristoffer Astrom if they should do “the one about math” as he nods in agreement and proceeds to play to the first notes of ‘Algebra’. They continue with ‘Buy You’ off their first self titled album, an instant way to lift the crowd before the grand finale of their current single ‘Stronger Than Jesus’. The wonderful show was their last one in Europe before they take on the big beast also known as the U.S. What an uplifting way to start off the English summer.