I really dug the Shout Oud Louds previous work, the Björn Ytling produced "Our Ill Wills", so I was eager to hear what they've come up with on their new album, titled "Work". The Swedes' new album is produced by Phil Ek, who also worked on Fleet Foxes' brilliant debut album and the "Sun Giant" EP.
The leading track "Walls" lacks the crazy, lush percussions that characterized much of "Our Ill Wills", but that only gives more space for the band to develop their sound in a more focused way. After the marching band drums of the intro the song starts with a pretty straightforward guitar strum and finally develops, with the aid of brief horn parts (that are more like breezes of fresh air than the usual indie-pop horn-hook-slaps), into a magnificent almost-larger-than-life chorus: "Whatever they say we're the ones building walls!"
You can pre-order the album on CD and limited edition LP from the Merge shop now and it will be officially out on 23rd of February. The video for the song is directed by Ted Malmros.