Aftertaste, the new album by Swordfishtrombones is the Czech answer to contemporary shifts in rock music, yet it would be impossible to call it trendy. It’s powerful, exceptional. SFT have changed their sound - Karel Krtička has written beautiful melodies rendering the album a pop indie-rock collection ready for the world. At the same time the songs retain a touch of SFT’s typical virtues, the scruffy vocals of Miloš Rejsek and the transcendence of guitar through unusual brass arrangements.
SFT consciously took a completely different approach to recording. Thanks to the formative help of producer Dušan Neuwerth they managed to make one the best albums of their career. Aftertaste aspires to match current developments in indie-rock sounds heard all over the world. But as Dušan Neuwerth says: “The aim was to make an album, that would be ‘in’ also in five or ten years, ideally for ever, but it is probably just a vain and preposterous wish these days, when artists are ‘in’ and ‘trendy’ for about a fortnight…”
Aftertaste took a long time to finish, the recording phase started in 2006, and the first single, Dandy, was released two years ago. The sound on the recording was the result of long and difficult debates among the band members and producer. “Dušan got a free hand from us to do absolutely anything with the songs, we actually ordered him to totally redesign them. Over the course of some time we naturally started to resist it, we were very surprised by the results. All of us, including Dušan, somewhat alienated from what we heard. Gradually we got more involved in the process and started incorporating these strange handmade acoustic sounds into the arrangements, layering vocal tracks, and eventually every song asked for and got what it needed to sparkle. Although we have yet again failed to make a happy album, the result is great and cathartic.”
"The music is fresh, unique, and accessible. The band creates sounds that are sure to be universal in appeal. They are extremely creative and uncompromising in their artistic vision." - Craig Shank (Jefferson Public Radio, USA)
„Sounds good to me!“ - Claus Kruesken (BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK, Bayern 2 Musikredaktion, Germany)
„This exciting new Czech band sound like Arcade Fire on a day out in Prague with Friendly Fires. They deserve a worldwide audience .“ Phil Meadley (Compiler for Nascente Records UK, DJ, producer, music journalist)
„I'd say „Aftertaste“ would not surprise me at all to hear on Top40 U.S. radio.“ Tom Schulte (Outsight Communications, U.S.)
"A refreshing new sound from Czech Republic! These guys have listened to great music, and they play a perfect blend of their influences. It's beautiful, varied and dynamic. If you like English indie bands, you'll love Swordfishtrombones" DJ Nerd (France)