Francobollo – Harpholma EP review

It’s electronic, pop, fuzzy, addictive, and crazy! No better description for Francobollo’s new EP; Harpholma. If you are always eager about discovering new music and sounds, Hardholma EP should be going round at 10,000 RPM in your CD player.

FRANCOBOLLO is a four piece band which originates from an island where the Queen still has power to dissolve the parliament, aka United Kingdom, and the cold land of the Vikings, aka as dark Sweden. Simon Nilsson is on vocals and guitars, Sean Bean is the one who beats the drums, while the Swedish Petter Grevelius whacks guitar chords until they reach their elastic limit. Last but not least, is Londoner Sam Bailey, who tortures the bass with his fingers. Francobollo recorded their debut EP Harpholma in a log cabin studio in Sweden, during the Spring of 2011. It must have been nice up there guys, ay?

The EP’s first track is called Future Lover. I wonder how a lover from the future would look like! This anthem smells of an aggressive 70′s punk rock song, though it polishes out over time. Still the punkish influence could be felt throughout the whole song, thanks to the simple dual tone drum beat, scruffy bass and grunchy guitars. The ending of the song is particularly scruffy, in a good sense. All the instruments seem to go on their own way without respecting each other, including the shouting vocals, though still manage to sound fine together to form the closing part of this great EP opener.

Second track on Francobollo’s Hardholma EP is called Good Times. In this track one can smell odour of Cure’s early days music. Do not be misled by this comment though. This track is no shade of grey of another track. The singer’s vocal tones, the sturdy drum beats, simplistic guitar riffs, make it sound so. I love well produced songs, where each instrument is heard properly, and there is enough “breathing” space. Over produced songs typically sound like ten people farting at the same time in a confined space, such as a five persons lift. I also really liked the bubbly synth effect during the chorus; seems the guys were on a high when got this idea of bubbly sound effect.

I Found a Bike Today is the third track on Francobollo’s debut Harpholma EP. I never found a bike myself. Actually got mine stolen a couple of times and gave up buying new ones. I Wonder if it was Simon who stole it. Back to serious business. Unlike the first two tracks, I Found a Bike Today propagates a much darker sound. The gothic like bass riffs, drumming in a bottle effect and undistorted guitar solo gives this song a very distinct sound. It is like when you open your grandmother’s wardrobe; there is a lot to explore and there is a weird small coming out, which even though at first you think you don’t like, you can’t stop smelling it.

The last two tracks, even though not my favourite (still very good) come at a real surprise. I Hope Not is a catchy electro pop song as fizzy as a Fanta soft drink. The initial electronic riff is magnetic and the disoriented guitar gives this track a lot of originality. Other very noticeable things in this track are the effects on the vocals, which perfectly suited the song’s genre. Allow me to say that this song sounds how modern punk should sound. Very original track and definitely want to listen to it live one day. I heartily believe that instruments and people heads get smashed during such a song. On the other hand, the closing track Pretty Colours sounds like that never ending song which you hear when dreaming of yourself running naked through green fields, accompanied by squirrels on a mountain somewhere. Obviously a cartoon like rainbow should be in the sky. Sounds too cheesy? Who knows!

Well produced album, fine artwork, great lyrics, and a wide variety of music genres compressed in a five track EP called Harpholma. Most probably it won’t suite your ears the first time you listen to it, but the more time passes, the more it fits your brainwaves! And this is a good sign, since all the very good music never strikes you immediately. Below is a MUST SEE video of the track I Found a Bike today. This video confirms the guys are more than crazy! Hilarious music video.