Curtain Call by Midaircondo
2009, Twin Seed, 11 tracks at 43 min.
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RATING: 49 out of 50

Roughly four years have passed since Midaircondo’s phenomenal debut, Shopping for Images. The path’s been cluttered—one less bandmate, a label switch, and a sudden (or rather gradual) change in musical disposition for the Swedish gals. The brooding darkness of their debut is not entirely lost; it just happens to be a bit more subtle. In place of the furrowed-brow-gloominess that solidified their freshman LP? Why, a terribly violent and bittersweet feeling—and plenty of it.

The opening track (also the title track) instantly recalls images of days long since past—it’s sunny yet clinical, immersed yet detached from its source. Following track “Come With Me” shatters this formula, brining into play an industrial-esque, jazzy, evil dance sort of track, complete with distorted vocals and delicately grinding synth. If it’s meant to be intimidating, it is. Midaircondo has gone martial, it seems.

Then we get “Reports on the Horizon”, in which gently lilting horns are complemented by the characteristic Swedish-sorceress vocals and what sounds to be a reversed piano. It’s hopeful, glorious—and it crashes back down almost immediately into the threatening “Below” and “Bringing Me Home”.

And maybe that’s what makes this record not-quite-an-improvement over Shopping for Images but a companion. It’s two-faced, tricky, dramatic, perversely genteel. Removed from the intimacy of their debut (excluding “Silk, Silver, and Stone”), Midaircondo have now proven themselves to be some mighty furious ladies. I’m not entirely sure what they’re steamed about, but whatever is in their craw should stay there. With their ferocious new outlook and their ever-present talent, Midaircondo appears to be nigh-invincible. Or maybe the Swedes are just really cool people.