Starmarket was formed ten years ago in Pitea, a small industrial town in the north of Sweden. Fronted by talented songwriters Fredrik Brändström and Patrik Bergman, the band soon got a reputation in the burgeoning Swedish indie scene through furious live-shows and an ability to combine pop-sensibility with hardcore-intensity. Over the years Starmarket have reached a dedicated audience all over the world. Even if they have never sold millions of records they have inspired a lot of people, even to go ahead and form their own bands.

With the release of their latest album "Song of Songs" the band toured extensively in Japan, North America and Europe. Afterwards the members took some time off to concentrate on other things. Lead singer Fredrik Brändström did two acclaimed records with his solo project The Crystal Committee and played and toured with bands like Randy and Fireside. Drummer-kid Pontus Levahn has also been on the road, playing with other Swedish artists such as Marit Bergman and Tiger Lou, while guitarist Jesper Löfroth has been focusing on his work as an award-winning graphic designer. Patrik Bergman, the bass player has been occupied in his studio, among other things.

Those who were confused by the band's direction on the last album will probably cheer up when they hear "Abandon Time". Gone are the flirts with country and soul that were prominent on "Song of Songs". Even though "Abandon Time" is far away from the crust-pop that characterised the bands early days it is rooted in a much more well-known landscape.

The stuff has been recorded live, capturing the spirit that characterises the band's live performances. The recordings took place in their rehearsal basement in Stockholm, where bass player Bergman has built a studio, thus allowing Starmarket to work without time- or money pressure. The stimulating atmosphere can be traced in the music. They play vigorously, and switch effortlessly between sweet pop tunes like "Cologne" or "Headfirst", majestic epics like "The Vanishing Gates" and reckless abandon like "Biscuits for Everyone" or "Antichrist". The record has been mixed by Randy's Johan Gustafsson at the now legendary Studio Gröndahl (The Hives, Sahara Hotnights etc.).

On "Abandon Time" the romanticism that was evident on Starmarket's early records is replaced by a harsh, bleak atmosphere, much like Bruce Springsteen's step from "Born to Run" to "Darkness on the Edge of Town" (without any other similarities between the two artists). But even if the lyrics may seem desperate, disillusioned and sometimes even cynical - dealing with stuff like lay offs, violence, over consumption, greed and personal turmoil - the tone is always defiant, resistant, refusing to give in. All in all, "Abandon Time" is definitely one of the most cohesive and uncompromising records Starmarket has ever released.

But like The Minutemen said it, the record is just a flyer for the live show. After the release of "Abandon Time" the 15th of October the band will play dates in Scandinavia and then embark on a longer stretch in mainland Europe. Later this fall "Abandon Time" will be released in Japan, where a tour will follow. Don't miss to see and hear one of the best kept secrets of the western world!