Les Big Byrd Announce New Album, ‘Ruin Everything’ Out 5th June On Chimp Limbs

Stockholm quartet, Les Big Byrd, the Swedish psychedelic rock giants, are back with their eagerly anticipated fifth album, Ruin Everything, out 5th June on Chimp Limbs. Led by frontman Jocke Åhlund (Teddybears, Caesars and more), Les Big Byrd have established themselves as one of the premier Nordic rock acts over the past decade with their distinct blend of psych, kraut and melodic sensibilities.

They shared lead single, “Hökvind”, which showcases the band’s heavier side, ahead of an Australian tour supporting Brian Jonestown Massacre. Jocke Åhlund says of the single “A woolly fuzzed out riff drives a relentless freight train groove as deranged analog synths and feedbacking tape echo distorts the perspective. And on top of all that floats the spaced out, almost ethereal vocal harmonies.”

On their new album, Ruin Everything our dystopian surroundings have seeped into the universe of Les Big Byrd. “We all know what’s coming,” sings the band’s Jocke Åhlund in “Big Flood.” But as a band, Les Big Byrd find themselves in a much better place. Two years after their latest album Diamonds, Rhinestones and Hard Rain,Jocke Åhlund, Frans Johansson, Nino Keller and Christian Olsson are in a creative flow. A joyful sense of creation runs through Ruin Everything which, in classic Les Big Byrd fashion, alternates between Swedish and English, and between kraut-inspired improvisations and simple pop songs. “I can never stop myself from writing melodies. I don’t really enjoy singing that much, but there ended up being quite a few vocal tracks on this record”, says Åhlund.

Ruin Everything was recorded in Sollentuna in northern Stockholm, in a studio steeped in rich Swedish music history. Cornelis Vreeswijk, Pugh Rogefeldt and Monica Zetterlund have all recorded there – 50 years of Swedish music history lingered in both the walls and the analog equipment. And just like in the old days, Les Big Byrd aimed to preserve a live feel in the music. “We wanted to capture a certain feeling we’ve had, something that’s wonderful about the band, four people playing together and what arises between us,” says Jocke Åhlund.

Its been fifteen years since Les Big Byrd’s debut single and perhaps they have just as many years left to give. Everything has fallen into place, and now all that remains is to perfect the group’s characteristic sound. The band describe Ruin Everything as “peak Les Big Byrd.” Or, as Jocke Åhlund puts it: “We’re late bloomers. It’s finally starting to look like something!”

Ruin Everything is out June 5th via Chimp Limbs, new single “Hökvind” is out now.

Live dates in Australia supporting Brian Jonestown Massacre:
March 19 – Sydney, AUS – Enmore Theatre
March 20 – Newcastle, AUS – King Street Hotel
March 21 – Brisbane, AUS – The Tivoli
March 22 – Adelaide, AUS – The Gov
March 27 – Melbourne, AUS – Northcote Theatre
March 28 – Melbourne, AUS – Northcote Theatre
March 29 – Castlemaine, AUS – Theatre Royal