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  • This Fiction

    STKCD018

    Artist: Band in Box

    Label: Stereo Test Kit Records

    Band in Box (based in Malmö, Sweden) was started by two friends, Siri af Burén and Elin Alvehag. It began as a playful project; based on the idea of bright pop melodies, teenage lyrics and a dash of irony. When Elin left the band, Siri decided to take the project to an entirely new level, based on a set of rules. The rules of the Band in Box bakery:

    1. Band in Box will explore a new instrument each month. December was all about the clarinet found in the trunk of a highly suspicious man's car. January is devoted to the ukulele. February concentrates on tambourines and March knows how to master a violin. Siri says, "If I don't know anything about playing a specific instrument, neither will I know when I'll make mistakes. Each instrument gets a tune of its own and each tune will have its own sound, smell and taste."

    2. Band in Box will, as illustrated by the name, never grow larger than approximately 1.5 by 1.5 metres. Thus, it will always fit in a large box and Siri will never have to learn how to play the double bass.

    3. No fake instruments allowed. Never use margarine instead of butter. Never go on a diet.

    The rules brought back long-forgotten inspiration and gave rise to a new sound. The melodies changed from yellow to dark green, new layers of words and voices were added; with the help of some creative synesthesia, Siri dresses her songs in shapes, colours and animal costumes.

    In between studying to be a practitioner of medicine, Siri: wrote, sung, played all instruments and recorded the album single-handedly (an extra pair of hands assisted in the mixing).

    Band in Box blossom in the live setting, becoming a 6-piece orchestra, adding: accordion, clarinet, saxophone, harmonica, guitar bass and drums, and whatever happens to be the instrument of the month.

    Band in Box influences: Infantilism. Hospitals and animals. Junkfood and whiskey.