Rum 37 "Guldstol mod yderste kaj" (2017)

Guldstol mod yderste kaj

release date: Jan. 27, 2017

format: vinyl (TARGET1703LP) / digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]

producer: Rum 37?

label: Target - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Caligula" - 3. "L.L.R." - 4. "Der går et smil gennem skovene i år" - 5. "Mestervaerk" - 6. "Kalifornien" - 8. "Brænder dæk" - 10. "Svanerne sang"

2nd full-length album by Rum 37 follows 4½ years after Mellem rum (Oct. 2012). Like the band's self-titled ep debut Rum 37 from 2011, no producer credits are listed on the album, only recording, mixing, and mastering personnel, and the album is recorded by Klaus Sandberg and Rum 37. The main reason to the long interval from their most recent release to this must be attributed the fact that during the recording sessions in 2014 - with intentions to release the album in late 2014 / early 2015 - drummer Mikkel Lumbye all of a sudden passed away, Nov. 2014, 37 years old, leaving the band reduced to a trio of vocalist Kristian Helmuth, guitarist Camillo (Gino) Askjær, and bassist Søren Adolph. The release was naturally much delayed and has only been realised with the aid from friends and the support from former associates [source: targetgroup.dk].

All songs are credited Rum 37. The album contains ten tracks - tracks #2 and #9 are short instrumentals - with a total time running just below 37 minutes. The end track "Svanerne sang" is the longest composition with a playing time of 7 minutes.

Guldstol mod yderste kaj [translates to strangely sounding 'Sedan Chair on the Last Pier'] (the title is a line from "Caligula") is with lyrics entirely in Danish and when comparing with the 2011 and 2012 albums, it's evident that the band here has transformed to something of more substance. The music is still in the light-end of alt. rock and indie pop with a strong influence from other Danish acts, such as Love Shop, Minds of 99, and Mellemblond, and with a strong musical influence from Swedish band Kent, however, whether the band takes notes from this or that, they here appear in their most original shape so far, which ultimately makes Guldstol mod yderste kaj a more than well-crafted album. The album was met by positive reviews and following the album release, the band was expanded to a quartet as drummer Rasmus Holmboe was included as official member. Rum 37 played a few concerts in 2017 and now appears to be on a hiatus. There are no further info to be found regarding touring dates or other news, and the band's Facebook-profile hasn't been updated since 2017, so Guldstol mod yderste kaj remains the most recent release from the band and it could very likely be the final release by this promising quartet.

Recommended.

[ Gaffa.dk 4 / 6, GFRock.dk 5 / 6 stars ]

Rum 37 "Mellem rum" (2012)

Mellem rum [debut]

release date: Oct. 22, 2012

format: cd (TARGETCD1222)

[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,98]

producer: Stefan Boman

label: Target Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "De stærke" - 2. "Alle her beundrer dig" - 3. "Dagen er ny" - 4. "Sølvstænk" - 6. "Alt hvad vi har"

Full-length studio album by Rum 37 following the ep Rum 37 (Dec. 2011). For this, the quartet has managed to get hold of Kent-producer Stefan Boman, who may also have been there for the ep. Now, he secures a sound than closely follows that of Kent anno 2005 when they released Du & jag döden. Three tracks from the Rum 37 ep are included here, and they don't appear as new recordings, which makes me suspect that Boman also stood behind the 2011 release.

Mellem rum ["Between Spaces"] doesn't add or subtrack from what we heard on the ep. The band still strikes me as someone who could do very well making tribute concerts for Kent, Love Shop, or Suede, but as an original band with something new to offer they still have to walk other paths.

The album comes with ten tracks and a total running time of 43 minutes but if we subtract the running times of the songs from the ep, they only give us 28 minutes of new material. Another issue is that the songs more or less play on the same matrice one after the other. It's uptempo indie rock with room for guitar and chorus but no song in particular stand out as one to remember. You could say it's quite coherent, though, but that doesn't do it alone. So back on the horse guys, and make something essential.

Rum 37 "Rum 37" (ep) (2011)

Rum 37 (ep)

release date: Dec. 5, 2011

format: digital

[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]

producer: ?

label: Target Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Sabotør" - 2. "Dagen er ny" - 4. "Mozarts Plads"

Studio ep debut by Danish indie rock band Rum 37 consisting of vocalist Kristian Helmuth (son of actor Frits Helmuth), guitarist Camillo (Gino) Askjær, bassist Søren Adolph, and drummer Mikkel Lumbye. The ep counts 5 tracks with a total running time of just under 23 minutes.

Stylistically, it's indie rock echoing the early days of Danish band Love Shop and especially Swedish band Kent with some influence from Suede. Lyrics are held in Danish but without a strong original output it becomes so-so in terms of contributing with more than addressing familiar musical sources. The positive side to it, is that we get to meet a Danish band who dares playing indie rock.