The Radio Dept.
Making political dissent gorgeous
Is there really enough political drama in the world right now? Is the pot being stirred energetically enough, or could we be doing better? I mean, sure, we have the Conservatives and that Elections Canada mess. And Barack Obama’s former minister is always good for a few kicks. But is it enough politico hubris to quench our thirst for scandal and dissent?
No! That is what I say to you this morning, gentle readers. And we’ll go overseas to get our fix if we need to. Which is why The Radio Dept.’s return with new material is doubly enticing, as they throw down a politically-charged song in Freddie And The Trojan Horse.
Basking in the band’s signature eager dreampop style, Freddie is a song written to criticise Sweden’s current right-wing government, helmed by Prime Minister Fredrik “Freddie” Reinfeldt. As singer Johan Duncanson exhales about how Reinfeldt “Trojan Horse’d” the blue collar electorate into voting for him, his distorted, trebled voice fittingly accompanying a sense of drama instilled by crisp piano work and effected synth pads, like a choral of downtrodden voices.
The glinting melody thrives off itself, maintaining its thirsty, tense atmosphere while shedding sounds and grafting new ones to remain spry and airy. And while the belligerent “You reap what you sow” lyric in the first verse seethes of confrontation, Duncanson ends with a pleading “Just let us go,” allowing the song to bloom into a dense, intricate, elevating conclusion, now that the ultimate call to reason has been made.
Social activism and great music. What more can you want? Sex? Oh. Right.
MP3: The Radio Dept. - Freddie And The Trojan Horse
Comments
Post a comment