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THE RADIO DEPT. - PET GRIEF [20TH ANNIV]
ARTIST:
TITLE:
Pet Grief [20th Anniv]
LABEL:
CATNO:
JUSTSO003LPV1
FORMAT:
Vinyl record
DESCRIPTION:
Dream Pop, Indie Pop & Rock - The Radio Dept. have announced a twentieth-anniversary vinyl reissue of Pet Grief, their sophomore album and one of the most quietly distinctive records in their catalogue.
Originally released on 12 April 2006, Pet Grief emerged from a period of false starts and reinvention. The band had already recorded much of a more electronic album before deciding that it felt too close to what was happening around them at the time. They put most of it aside and began again, bringing guitars back into the process and reconnecting with some of the melodic instincts behind Lesser Matters. But the result was not a return to Lesser Matters. Instead, Pet Grief became its cleaner, more restrained counterpart: twelve songs built from soft-focus synthesisers, programmed rhythms, piano, strings and guitars allowed to shimmer rather than overwhelm. What initially seemed like a very pop record later revealed itself as something calmer, mellower and sadder.
Around the same time, music supervisor Brian Reitzell approached The Radio Dept. about contributing music to Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. The film ultimately featured three earlier Radio Dept. songs, while some of the unused music developed during that period found its way into Pet Grief.
Pet Grief was also a deliberate attempt to escape the language that had formed around The Radio Dept.'s debut. Rather than repeat the distortion-heavy, reverb-soaked sound of Lesser Matters, Johan Duncanson and Martin Carlberg, credited at the time as Martin Larsson, looked towards a cleaner strain of 1980s pop, with Prefab Sprout, The Blue Nile and Pet Shop Boys among the reference points. Recorded and produced by the band themselves, Pet Grief remained rooted in the same fiercely independent idea that had guided them from the beginning: pop music made at home, without surrendering creative control. The title refers to the idea of grief as something one keeps close and tends to, almost like a pet. Rather than a passing emotion to be overcome, it becomes a familiar companion and part of one's way of seeing the world.
That atmosphere is present before the record even begins. The cover photograph was taken by Johan Duncanson's father, Alan Duncanson, at Skånes Djurpark in southern Sweden in the mid-1980s. Rediscovered years later among his parents' photographs, its kilts, cigarettes, children and slightly blurred distance became inseparable from the album's identity.
Originally released on 12 April 2006, Pet Grief emerged from a period of false starts and reinvention. The band had already recorded much of a more electronic album before deciding that it felt too close to what was happening around them at the time. They put most of it aside and began again, bringing guitars back into the process and reconnecting with some of the melodic instincts behind Lesser Matters. But the result was not a return to Lesser Matters. Instead, Pet Grief became its cleaner, more restrained counterpart: twelve songs built from soft-focus synthesisers, programmed rhythms, piano, strings and guitars allowed to shimmer rather than overwhelm. What initially seemed like a very pop record later revealed itself as something calmer, mellower and sadder.
Around the same time, music supervisor Brian Reitzell approached The Radio Dept. about contributing music to Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. The film ultimately featured three earlier Radio Dept. songs, while some of the unused music developed during that period found its way into Pet Grief.
Pet Grief was also a deliberate attempt to escape the language that had formed around The Radio Dept.'s debut. Rather than repeat the distortion-heavy, reverb-soaked sound of Lesser Matters, Johan Duncanson and Martin Carlberg, credited at the time as Martin Larsson, looked towards a cleaner strain of 1980s pop, with Prefab Sprout, The Blue Nile and Pet Shop Boys among the reference points. Recorded and produced by the band themselves, Pet Grief remained rooted in the same fiercely independent idea that had guided them from the beginning: pop music made at home, without surrendering creative control. The title refers to the idea of grief as something one keeps close and tends to, almost like a pet. Rather than a passing emotion to be overcome, it becomes a familiar companion and part of one's way of seeing the world.
That atmosphere is present before the record even begins. The cover photograph was taken by Johan Duncanson's father, Alan Duncanson, at Skånes Djurpark in southern Sweden in the mid-1980s. Rediscovered years later among his parents' photographs, its kilts, cigarettes, children and slightly blurred distance became inseparable from the album's identity.
PRICE:
£24.99
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TRACK LISTING:
Click to listen - add to playlist or download mp3 sample.PLAY
CUE
MP3
a1
It’s Personal
a2
Pet Grief
a3
A Window
a4
I Wanted You to Feel The Same
a5
South Side
a6
The Worst Taste in Music
b1
Every Time
b2
What Will Give?
b3
Gibralter
b4
Sleeping In
b5
Tell
b6
Always a Relief
Last FM Information on The Radio Dept.
Please note the information is done on a artist keyword match and data is provided by LastFM.
The Radio Dept. is a Swedish dream pop band formed in Lund, Sweden in 1995. Originally signed to Labrador Records and now release under their own label, Just So!. They have released four full length albums, and a series of singles and EPs. The band originated in Malmö, Sweden.
In 1995, The Radio Dept. was formed by Elin Almered and Johan Duncanson (who were old school friends). The name was taken from a gas station/radio repair shop in Lund, Sweden, which had a large sign with the name Radioavdelningen, ("The Radio Department" in Swedish) hanging outside their shop.
Since 1995 members have been coming and going and at some points there has never really been a Radio Department at all.
Martin Carlberg and Johan Duncanson started playing together in 1998 and decided to use the name The Radio Dept. Since then the band has done lots of gigs and lots of recordings. The Radio Dept. recorded 4-tracks in friends' living rooms or at home, in smelly warehouse, in demo studios with blinking fluorescent lightning and at schools.
In the autumn of 2001 Lisa Carlberg and Per Blomgren (Bass & drums respectively), joined the band and they started rehearsing in the way bands so often do. Soon afterwards they were all joined by Daniel Tjader on the keyboards. Their recordings were sent to the music magazine Sonic and got a nice review. They were also on the free CD sampler that comes with the magazine. That's where Labrador Records discovered and learned to love the band. Now they're a part of Swedish indie label, Comings and goings
Original band member, Elin Almered, left the band before the recording of The Radio Dept.'s debut (lesser matters), but still made an appearance singing vocals for "Strange Things Will Happen".
Per Blomgren, Drummer, left the band before the release of Lesser Matters. The band opted instead for digital assistance with regards to drums & percussions for their songs.
Lisa Carlberg, bassist, departed from the Radio Dept soon after the release of "This past week EP". The band no longer felt the need for a member that solely specialized in bass. The band was taking a new direction and preparing for their second album, "Pet Grief", which wouldn't require a member that played bass guitar.
The current line up of the band is:
Johan Duncanson (Guitar & Vocals), Martin Carlberg(Guitar) and Daniel Tjäder (Keyboards & Synth) (2006).
More details can be found on the radio dept. website: theradiodept.com.
Record Labels.
Slottet:
Created in 2001, this is the Radio Dept's original label. Created & managed by the band themselves. They published and distributed their own recordings in order to spread their music to the world.
The "Against The Tide EP" & coveted "Annie Laurie EP" were both released on this label in 2002.
At sporadic moments over the years, whenever the band have wanted to release something quickly or for free, they'd do so through the Slottet label (e.g. bachelor Kisses in 2008).
Labrador :
After the success of the self released records and some glittering reviews in local publications, several major labels came calling. The Radio Dept. rejected most of these offers and instead signed with Labrador records. Although the band don't consider themselves connected ideologically or musically with Labrador and the other bands on the label, they have much respect for the label which has officially become the home of The Radio Dept.
Shelflife records:
Shelflife are an american indie label that operate on a similar philosophy to that of Sarah Records. They select highly innovative, creative & melodic bands and offer them transatlantic distribution. Several labrador bands had achieved success through shelflife, so it seemed an obvious choice to use them again for the distribution of 'Lesser Matters'. No futher Radio Dept records were released through shelflife.
Rex records:
Rex records was an London based experimental indie label started by an ex-XL employee. The aim was to release demos and promote leftfield indie music. Only two Radio Dept. records were released on Rex, Why Won't You Talk About It and the rare Liebling 7".
XL Recordings:
During 2004/05, XL funded, distributed and promoted The Radio Dept.
During this short partnership 4 records were released. Lesser Matters, Where Damage Isn't Already Done, Why Won't You Talk About It? and Ewan. A short european tour was organised for the band as well as lots of press and an appearance on an XL compilation with the likes of Ratatat & MIA.
Track & Field Records:
Track & Field are another London based record label that took a chance on The Radio Dept.
In 2006 Track & Field were employed to distribute Pet Grief in the UK. They also promoted the band and planned for an extensive UK tour. This plan was abandoned and a series of special one-off London shows were organised to supplant the tour.
Pony Canyon:
After years as an experienced distributor of DVD's & kids toys, Pony Canyon, tried their hand at promoting & distributing indie records. So far they've only distributed a special edition of Pet Grief in Japan.
Soundtrack
Three tracks by the Radio Dept. have been featured on the Sophia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette (2006). They are: Pulling our Weight, Keen on Boys, I Don't Like It Like This. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.