The Intake Form: Meet Dreamy Swedish Supergroup The Amazing

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The Intake Form is Flavorwire’s new questionnaire feature spotlighting emerging musicians worth your time, paired with a premiere. Here, we feature a short studio documentary chronicling the making of The Amazing’s third album, Picture You, out February 17 on Partisan Records, and talk about sex toys and “Blades of Glory” with the band’s singer, songwriter, and guitarist Christoffer Gunrup.

It’s a bit pointless to ramble off a list of bands recalled within Swedish supergroup The Amazing’s wonderfully hazy new album, Picture You, because it would be very, very long. What does it even mean to say, “This band reminds me of Cat Stevens, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Neil Young, Red House Painters, Sigur Rós, Pink Floyd, and Real Estate all at once”? So let’s just call this multidimensional dreamcatcher of four-minute guitar solos and angelic harmonies “sticky”: saccharine and lithe at times, heavy and slow-moving at others, like a humid day down south. Picture You has the kind of warmth I often crave from winter records: palpably sunny but not longing for any of summer’s frivolity. With it, The Amazing — comprised of members of Swedish bands Dungen and Granada — just may be in store for the kind of stateside fame afforded to their fellow psych revivalists and former tourmates, Tame Impala. Before they blow up, it’s worth getting to know their dark and succinct sense of humor.

Whose career would you most like to have? My own, however useless it might be.

What’s the best thing a critic could write about your music? “This is actually very good.”

What’s the worst thing a critic could write about your music? “Perfect music while doing the dishes.”

Lyric or piece of music you’re most proud of having written: The next album. Always.

Tell me about the weirdest night on tour (that you can remember, of course): There was one night in Hamburg when we played with Tame Impala that felt quite wonderful. You just reached out your arm and there was yet another shop selling the Fist or the Hand [ed. note: we asked Christoffer what this was — apparently they’re “toys for fist fucking”]. I remember (actually I don’t) [Swedish artist] Fredrik Swahn collapsed on the street, and we found that very natural and entertaining. All we did was take some pictures of him.

Has technology helped or hurt music culture? How so? It’s good that so much music is available, isn’t it?

If you didn’t play music, what would you do instead? Make money, I suppose.

A fictional character you personally relate to: Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory)

Your biggest fault: I do not know where to begin. You´ll have to ask the band, I guess.

Your personal philosophy: “Nah, I don’t like it.”

Something that makes you laugh without fail: Tequila.

How would your friends describe you/what role do you play in your social group? I am the dystopic clown.

How would you describe your personal style? Non-existant.

Something you have an irrational hatred for: People walking a bit too slow.

Preferred way to die: Massive heart attack on the subway early Tuesday morning.