Ass Ass

ASS (CD by Headspin Recordings)

Last week I saw a great evening with Tape, Tenniscoats and Ass, where all members from all bands played as guestmusicians on each others sets. In the case of Ass that is certainly quite necessary, since it's an one-man band consisting of Andreas Söderström.

On CD he is capable of playing everything himself, but not live. Söderström plays guitars, organ, sings and plays various percussive things, such as maracas. Despite the hideous name Ass (no doubt referring to his own name, rather than wanting to have a stupid name) the music is rather sweet.

Ass plays folktronics, but more folk than tronics. Careful playing his guitar, which is the main instrument here, with the organ and percussion being the ornaments, these are beautiful pieces of music. The voice is not present in every song, and as such the emphasis is not on being a singer-songwriter. Which is actually fine, since I am not overtly blown away by his voice (or perhaps anybody in this genre). Music wise Ass is quite close to the better known Tape, but his melodies are a little less complex and of course the use of the voice marks a big difference.

Whereas Ass is a bit more simpler, or perhaps more direct in what he wants, he crafts the perfect late night album together, full of romantic notion, and perhaps one of the nicer records not on Häpna.

Frans De Waard