I'm from Barcelona - Who Killed Harry Houdini? (CD)

All Music Guide

I'm from Barcelona's first album was called Let Me Introduce My Friends; the followup could be titled Let Me Introduce My Melancholy Friends. If the debut was giddy, innocent, and lighter than air, Who Killed Harry Houdini? is glum, confused, and troubled. Instead of songs about stamp collecting and the joys of making music, you get "Music Almost Killed Me" and "Ophelia," which has the telling lyric "He didn't believe in anything/He didn't believe in joy." Instead of cheerful songs about oversleeping and chicken pox, death and ghosts and tears dominate the lyrics. The band's leader, Emanuel Lundgren, has either had some rough times since the first album or is a very good actor, as the songs reflect a tortured soul. There is an overcast and moody feel that even the poppiest, peppiest song, "Paper Planes," can't break through (it doesn't help that the song is about the dehumanizing effects of city living). Just knowing that the album isn't the pure blast of sunshine that the debut was mi...ght be enough to turn off the group's fans. Hopefully that won't happen, because it turns out that the band does melancholy quite well, using dynamics and pacing to keep things from getting too gloomy and giving the most depressed songs the liveliest backing the rockedout "Houdini" or the hookyasanythingonthefirstalbum "Mingus," for example. And there is some hope among the teardrops and sighs, like "Mingus"' rallying cry "In my heart still a kid" or the power of music to free you from your troubles for a while ("Headphones"). Lundgren's producing and arranging skills have grown; the production is clearer and the arrangements show a lighter touch. He doesn't call in the vocal choruses on every song, and instead picks their spots carefully. The instrumentation of the album is also more restrained and stripped down; there are large stretches within the songs that are sparse, which fits the somber mood of the lyrics. It's still a unique sound when the whole band gets together and makes a lovely racket (as on "Rufus" or the very Spectorish "Andy"), but the gimmick of the huge band can't hide the fact that there is some real stuff going on behind the scenes. All the emotion and soulful melancholy on display is a shock, and it may take a few spins to get past the feeling that the band is just too different, too gloomy. But if you stick with Who Killed Harry Houdini? and let it sink in, the quiet beauty of the songs and performances will make your efforts worthwhile. - Tim Sendra, All Music Guide Read more Less