Albums

Oh Laura - A Song Inside My Head, A Demon In My Bed

Owain Paciuszko 29/05/2008

Rating: 3/5

Sweden has a knack for producing bands crafting pretty good, twinkly, snow-covered pop bands and Oh Laura can be safely added to that list. The songs are centred around lead-singer Frida Öhrn's vocals, a fact the band acknowledges; Jörgen Kjellgren - the guitarist, co-songwriter and founding member says “It's all about Frida's voice, really. It's why we started and it's why we keep going. And it's most likely the reason why you're here.” And, that's fair enough, her voice is a strong anchor for the band, but it isn't as instantly appealing say as - fellow Swedes - The Tiny's Ellekari Larsson. It is, a good voice, but a pretty standard kind of American country sounding one.

The songs themselves are as middle-of-the-road as the previous barbed compliment might suggest, pretty standard country tunes which enable the band to rattle on pretty undisturbed by too much in the way of invention and Frida to coo and swoon over the top with effortless sonorous beauty. Lyrically the band also seems happy to paddle in the pool of the average, although the chorus of 'Black and Blue' is pretty troubling; "Beat me black and blue / as long as you forgive me / lock me in your room / as long as you are with me".

Ultimately it's a fine recording, but once slipped in amongst a CD collection it may be quickly forgotten; it's the kind of inoffensive music that would trundle on in the background of a lazy, hazy desert road trip.