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Montt Mardié "Clocks"
Hybris 2007 HYBR049
從「Clocks」專輯內首支歌曲"In which we meet the clocks and a song is reveled (Too many songs unwritten)"響起的一刻，肯定勾起了許多人聽Marvin Gaye、The Cure、Simon and Garfunkel，甚至New Order、Wham、Brian Wilson(The Beach Boys)的記憶；而那些煽動的歌聲與無限緬懷的情緒，在頃刻間頓時忘了方寸，掉入了蒙特馬爹(Montt Mardié)宛如春藥般的妖氣男高音世界裡。自兩年前的首張大碟「Drama」普獲英美樂壇好評之後，這位渾身散發六Ｏ迷幻與八Ｏ摩登復古唱詠的瑞典男歌手，稍早推出了令人引頸期待的第二張專輯「Clocks/Pretender」；原裝專輯裡特別加收馬爹最愛的10首翻唱金曲，重新詮釋了Andreas Mattsson、Le Sport、Jens Lekman、The Legends與Hello Saferide等眾家瑞典藝人的作品。默契音樂終於引進了馬爹這張全新專輯的全創作部份「Clocks」，讓馬爹與管弦樂隊的合作帶我們重新回到那個無限青春與盈眶記憶的美好年代。Buy

One always hopes that the sophomore album is an improvement, a realisation, and when it is just that, the results can be glorious. Such is the case with the second proper full-length effort from Montt Mardié (and it's a double-disc nonetheless). With the two CDs clocking in at a hour combined, there is no filler attached, yet one can choose just thirty minutes of listening enjoyment at once should they desire. The first disc, "Clocks", is where David Pagmar's vision of everything swinging is pulled off properly, with the instrumentation and vocals working so well. Take note of the pitch-perfect harmonies on "Birthday Boy (drama)", the sad spoken word of "Set sail tomorrow (strings)", and the stellar minimal instrumentation of "Travellers". Disc two, conversely, is comprised of collaborations, and harkens more to the 80s in its sound. Montt Mardié not only delivers ballads ("Surprised" with Andreas Mattsson and "Pretenders" with Hello Saferide), dance numbers ("Metropolis" with Fredrik Hellström of Le Sport and "My girlfriend is in the Grand Prix finals" with Mr. Suitcase) and even one in his native Swedish with the always-stellar Vapnet ("När ni gett dom våld ska vi ge er kärlek"). "Clocks/Pretender" is the sound of a matured Montt Mardié, and this album floored me with how much every single thing has been improved. Lastly, I'd recommend picking up a physical copy of this, as the packaging amazing. ─Matt Giordano From It's A TRAP!

馬爹的懷舊時間
第一次聽見馬爹是兩年多前的單曲"Highschool Drama"，後來也收錄到首張專輯「Drama」裡頭；別忘了當時(OR)還曾經將它選為年度最佳單曲。馬爹的音樂創作在瑞典盛產Indie-Pop與Indie-Electronica的情況看來算是異數，也是少數中能夠真正站上大舞台接受眾多歌迷掌聲的那種超級巨星。第一次聽見他唱歌，內心大抵試想著這位年輕人也未免過於懷舊；直覺這樣的音樂創作與演唱方式勢必引來兩極化的評價。顯然絕大多數的樂迷早已融化在馬爹的歌聲裡頭，試圖從他的音樂軌跡裡去找尋那些曾經遺落的記憶。馬爹與瑞典斯德哥爾摩的流行音樂品牌Hybris掘起於兩年前，當時自己曾經大膽地預測Hybris勢必是繼Labrador後廣受Indie-Pop樂迷推崇的瑞典清新音樂品牌；如今看來，El Perro del Mar早已簽約至英國發展、Vapnet、The Kid、Hell on Wheels等人的發展無限，而馬爹則成為Hybris首席男歌手，他正用那脆弱、感性與易碎的磁性嗓音，唱出一首首令人忍不住尖叫或痛哭的glorious pop song。最近常有人拿著馬爹的男高音來比擬紅遍國際的男歌手MIKA，無非是從兩者充滿歡娛與熱烈的唱腔中得到了一種期待許久的感動；「Clocks」專輯的開場曲"In which we meet the clocks and a song is reveled (Too many songs unwritten)"彷彿是從雨夜的留聲機裡傳來，靈感來自Jean Goldkette and Orchestra的歌曲"Forgetting You"。另外像是"1969"的創作靈感也取自The Cure樂團的金曲"Boy's Don't Cry"，而"Birthday boy (drama)"則是重新改編他的首支單曲"Highschool Drama"，改以紐約百老匯式的管弦樂隊伴奏，充滿少男般的年青氣息、勢必也具備了舞池煽情魅力。聽聽"The windmill turns all the same"這首馬爹式的復古創作，是否也有著Marvin Gaye、ABBA、Simon and Garfunkel等人的音樂記憶呢？

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CLOCKS///
1. In which we meet the clocks and a song is reveled (Too many songs unwritten)
2. Set sail tomorrow
3. Birthday boy (drama)
4. I will write a book
5. Let's get away from it all
6. 1969
7. Travelers
8. The windmill turns all the same
9. How I won the war
10. In which a sailor returns and we say good-bye for now (Set sail tomorrow)

PRETENDER///
1. Surprised (with Andreas Mattsson)
2. Metropolis (with Fredrik Hellström of Le Sport)
3. Once I was so in love that I followed (with Bobby Baby)
4. Castle in the sky (with Jens Lekman)
5. Hurry home (with The Legends)
6. Daughters (with Peder Stenberg of Deportees)
7. Hacienda (with Christian Zellinger)
8. När vi gett dom våld ska vi ge er kärlek (with Vapnet)
9. Grand Prix finals (with Mr Suitcase)
10. Pretenders (with Hello Saferide)