In the, admittedly, less than competitive world of Scandinavian pop Denmark have hardly been a force to be reckoned with in recent years. Whilst the Swedes seem effortlessly able to produce sweetly melodic power pop in the Cardigans/Wannadies mould all Denmark have been able to muster of late are the vacuous wailing's of over grown nursery school kids Aqua.
With this in mind, Copenhagen three piece Kashmir, have embarked on a one band mission to prove that the Danes are a nation not entirely bereft of musical integrity. With such lofty ambitions in mind, the single 'Gracelands', is something of a disappointment. Kashmir's routine guitar based approach, complete with vocals dripping in heartfelt sincerity, may sit well with the insipid nature of Travis/Stereophonics style contemporary indie rock. However, by the time the predictably rousing final chorus comes around all this passionate authenticity begins to wear a bit thin.
Kashmir are all about 'real' music, for 'real' people, played on 'real' instruments and in the face of such earnest sincerity the inane triviality of Aqua actually sounds quite refreshing.
