The Legends

Last year Scandophiles in North America fell in love with a number of artists who just appeared out of nowhere in indie clubs like the Concretes, the Radio Dept. and the Legends. It was hard not to love the throwbacks each band revisited, but instead of sticking with their perfect ’60s era embrace, the Legends have moved ahead two decades. Thanks to some considerable cutbacks in band membership — they’ve dropped from a nine-piece to a one-man band — the focus has shifted from Spector’s songbook to the work of New Order and the Cure. The Legends is now basically the solo project of Johan Angergård (also of Acid House Kings), who has always been the songwriter, but now he’s done everything on his own to ensure that his vision is again realised. Public Radio may not hold the same immediate impact as Up Against the Legends, and in fact, sounds like a derivative blend of Power, Corruption and Lies and Seventeen Seconds the first time around. However, repeated listens reveal Angergård’s work is simply an homage to the music he loves, much like its predecessor. While it may be easier to tip your hat to the ’60s guitar jangle instead of the ’80s bass lines, there isn’t a doubt that he’s good at hitting his target. The songs may not be as memorable as his previous work, and it may take some work adjusting to the new sound, but the Legends can still get you dancing, just to a slightly different beat.