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In the Spring of 2007, The Danish Government tore down a popular “youth house” in Copenhagen that had served as an underground venue for music and rendezvous point for varying autonomen and leftist groups since 1982 – inciting violent riots across the city. More than 600 were arrested after turbulent clashes with the police. The riots left a bitter taste in the mouths of Danish youth that grew up with the house, including Sebastian T.W. Kristiansen, who retreated with his band, The Setting Son, to their underground-bunker-converted-practice space and wrote the song “Spring of Hate,” the title track of what would become their second full length album of infectious psychedelic pop. Kristiansen began The Setting Son years ago, recording songs alone in his bedroom on a four track. In 2006, after much persuasion from friends to record a proper album, including Adam Olsson (the Good the Bad), who later joined the Setting Son as guitarist, Kristiansen entered the studio. Their self-titled album was released in early 2007 on cult garage-rock label, Bad Afro, and received rave reviews from the Danish media. Soon after its release Sebastian and The Setting Son were nominated for the Danish music award, “Steppeulv” in the Category “Årets Håb” (Hope of the Year). The album made waves while crossing the pond and iTunes in America listed it on their front page under “Albums We Love.” As the record gained momentum Sebastian realized he needed to form a permanent band instead of asking friends to play live with him when they could. Olssen was a natural choice for guitar and together they recruited Gregers Boye (Bass), Henrik Malm aka Heinz (Keys) and Adam Winberg (Drums). Heinz was secretly living in a World War II bunker in the middle of Copenhagen, which quickly became the band’s rehearsal space, as well as a general hangout for friends who would drop in and out all day long. On the heels of the debut album’s success and following the riots of 2007, the band began writing the rest of “Spring of Hate.” Tracks like “Soulmate” instantly stick in your head as you find yourself singing along out loud to it – even though the guitar line is too high to repeat and the voice is too nasal to emulate. The mix of psychedelia, pop and garage rock, especially considering the political climate from which it was derived, finds “Spring of Hate” reminiscent of ‘60s counter culture, anti-war escapism; The sentiment resonates well with today’s youth who, like the Copenhagen rioters, are just looking for a place to play and only want to get away from the shit for a moment. Through the fuzz, through the noise and the chaos, through the high pitched vocals and away from the rest of the world you will find wildly addictive and hypnotic pop that makes you want to retreat to your underground bunker and hang out with it until the storm clouds blow over.
Instrumentation The Setting Son is currently working on their third album, set for a release in 2010. stats
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