Post-punk electro pioneers Minny Pops are back with their first new studio album in over 40 years. Following a string of abandoned sessions, recordings and re-recordings of songs, plus the sad passing of Minny Pops collaborator Louise Woodcock, the band have emerged with their unprecedented follow-up to 1984’s 4th Floor release...

Stockholm_1974 is an autobiographical new release, which finds Minny Pops maestro Wally van Middendorp musing on his formative years as a student in seventies Sweden. As he elaborates: "Stockholm_1974 is based on the year 1974-1975 when I was an exchange student in Brunna, Sweden about 40 minutes outside of Stockholm. It brings back memories of my new family and my own family; and I felt privileged that I had two dads and two mums that year. And a new brother and sister. At times I was homesick and lonely, I missed my dad, and I missed our dog, but that year and this experience helped me become who I am".

Over the course of these six tracks (36 min, 49 sec) we get more of an insight into Middendorp's formative years. The album is bursting with the band's sense of humour. I think it's the balance of off-the-wall humour and memorable riffs that make this such a pleasurable experience. As an example, the opening 'Dad Dog' has (on first appearance) nonsensical lyrics, backed up with an incredibly rewarding jazz chorus complete with a rousing trumpet solo.

'Stay Awake' is another example of unnervingly bizarre lyrics that are heightened with an intriguing musical backing. The rest of the album is as engaging as it is slightly unhinged.

Let's hope we don't have to wait another 40 years for another Minny Pops release.

8

Nick Smithson