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Sunday Music Spotlight – I’m From Barcelona

November 11, 2007 in Music, Spotlight by Sean

I’m From Barcelona - an eclectic Swedish indie-pop group
With 29 members and impeccable pop sensibilities I’m From Barcelona is like The Polyphonic Spree without the creepy cultish overtones. Unlike the Spree they don’t dress in robes or black military outfits. But like the Spree, I’m from Barcelona leverages their large membership and unusual instrumentation into uniquely catchy songs.

Emanuel Lundgren, the founder and ringleader of the group, is from Sweden, not Barcelona (the name draws inspiration from an episode of the classic British sitcom Fawlty Towers). He originally wrote a bunch of songs and asked a bunch of his friends to help him record them. That grew into what was supposed to be a one-time performance in August 2005. That show was far from their last however, as the band soon grew a following that demanded more performances and material from the band.

With a wide range of instruments from accordions to xylophones and everything in between, including banjos, horns, and kazoos, the band’s strength is in it’s deceptively complicated arrangements and strikingly simple melodies. The lyrics are straightforward, simple, and, I’ll admit, a little vapid. But I’m willing to chalk that up to Lundgren being a non-native English speaker. And really, with hooks this good who’s listening to the lyrics anyway?

After a couple of EPs the band released their first full-length album Let Me Introduce My Friends in the summer of 2006.

Im From Barcelona - Were From Barcelona

“We’re From Barcelona” is pretty much the acme of infectious pop. From the opening horn riff to the sing-a-long sections it will force you to be happy, if only for three minutes. This song is similar to “Young Folks” from IFB’s country mates Peter, Bjorn, and John in that it has an incredibly sharp hook that’s nearly impossible to dig out of your brain once it gets stuck.

Im From Barcelona - Oversleeping

“Oversleeping” brings a little more power to the pop than “We’re From Barcelona” does. Check out the descending chime line leading into the verse. It’s the type of thing you can do when you have band members to spare.

Bonus Videos
Official Video for “Collection of Stamps”