The Concretes formed in 1995 as a trio in Stockholm, Sweden. The original line up consisted of Lisa on drums, Maria on guitar and Victoria handling the vocals. By 1998 the group had gone through a revolving cast of other musicians before solidifying into the six member line up featured on their first full length release, "Boyoubetterunow." When playing live they often have up to eighteen members on stage, incorporating horns, strings, harmonica as well as a balliani. Together they make sparse orchestral pop music that is at once familiar and new sounding.
The Concretes are: Martin Hansson – bass, Lisa Milberg –
drums, Daniel Värjö – guitar, Maria Eriksson – guitar,
Victoria Bergsman – vocals, Per Nyström – organ, Ulrik Karlsson –
trumpet, Ludvig Rylander – saxophone.
Honorary Concretes are: Jari Haapalainen – (producer,
mandolin, percussion), Erik Bünger (backing vocals), Nicolai Dunger
(backing vocals), Tomas Hallonsten (piano), Malte Holmberg (backing
vocals) , Christian Hörgren (cello and string arrangements), Irene
Kastner (harp), Petter Nyhlin (backing vocals), Anne Pajunen (viola),
Thomas Ringquist (viola), Anna Rodell (violin) and Jonna Sandell
(violin).
Their first proper album is called The Concretes and it is released on their own label Licking Fingers. Distributed in Scandinavia by Playground Music. The album has been preceded by 3 EP's and two singles. The two first EP's were released as an album in America, by us. (from The Concretes official website)
