I'm From Barcelona

"There is a Bird for every occasion," begins the first track on I'm From Barcelona's third studio album, and though "Charlie Parker," the jazz hero name-checked in the title, isn't exactly evoked, the joy of his music certainly is. And that's the tone pervading this grown-up kids' party of an album, with its handclaps, gang vocals and assurances that "somewhere it's always spring." With their current membership holding at 27, the Swedish crew still managed to somehow record live in studio without overdubs, and the energy from all those warm bodies radiates throughout. Unlike other large format outfits (BSS, Arcade Fire), IFB's sound seldom feels crowded, often favouring a simple, but strong guitar or keyboard line to rally around, adding clever flourishes rather than competing melodies. Frontman/songwriter Emanuel Lundgren manages to convey the slight shakes that come with growing pains, all while steering his balloon around the darkest of clouds. It's not too early to feel that first summer breeze.