This Weekend I’ll Mostly be Listening to… The Radio Dept.

Anti-fascist, anti-racist, deeply political pop? Go-Betweens covers? Synths?

Look no further than the Radio Dept. – Swedish, formed in the early 2000s or so, starting out as shoe-gaze before shifting towards a sort of dream-pop, more synth, even dance-oriented position not a million miles away from New Order at their poppiest moments. Almost needless to say that ticks a lot of boxes on my musical preferences list.

But add to that their cover of the Go-Betweens Bachelor Kisses. There’s an understatement to them that I find particularly enjoyable and yes, more than an hint of a Go-Betweens influence. All to the good. As is their increasing tilt towards dance beats and sounds.

And did I mention political? Because The Radio Dept. are extremely, albeit quietly – or should that be softly, political. Their last album, Running Out of Love, is a meditation on their homeland and issues more widely, including the Swedish arms industry (Swedish Guns), racism and so on. Check out this interview here for a sense of where they stand.

They are also a group that has consistently released large numbers of EPs – frankly I think the quality of same is even higher than the albums (the brilliantly titled ‘I Don’t Need Love, I’ve Got My Band’ is from one). They’ve been through line up changes but the core duo have been together from the off and I think it shows.

A great band.

Swedish Guns

Sleeping In

Bachelor Kisses (Go-Betweens Cover)

Death to Fascism

The New Improved Hypocrisy

I Don’t Need Love, I’ve Got My Band