With Ronderlin on its roster, it looks as if Hidden Agenda has the U.S. quotient for Swedish indie pop rooted in the Smiths cornered. Ronderlin is one of the most obvious to takes its cues from the great post-punk band and with Wave Another Day Goodbye it’d be difficult for them to escape any comparison. It’s mostly due to the vocals of Kalle Grahm, though the organ and horns give the six-member band some chamber pop to play with. Though the jovial instrumentation makes each song sound bright, the lyrics tell a different story. Aside from the constant imagery of scenery (“nothing can reflect the sun like water/only hills can make me feel that way” or “summer likes the wind/summer lights the day”), there’s a decidely mournful feeling that a girlfriend has been lost (“but eyes please be strong and know that she’ll be gone” is one of many examples). With such constant grieving, Wave Another Day Goodbye becomes a little redundant. Still, this is a pleasant listen. – Kenyon Hopkin
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