Agnas Bros.: Sista Forsoket

There is something about the Agnas Bros. that evokes the Beastie Boys—not in sound, but in spirit. Like Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch and Michael Diamond, the four Agnas siblings channel a mix of playfulness, precision and deep musical chemistry. On Sista Försöket— translated as The Last Attempt—the quartet releases its fifth recording, and perhaps its most adventurous to date. The brothers have a history of woodshedding the material in a basement rehearsal space, and with this disc recording directly to analog tape, giving the album a warm, old-school vibe reminiscent of Check Your Head (Capitol/Grand Royal, 1992) and Ill Communication (Capitol/Grand Royal, 1994).

The lineup—Kasper Agnas on guitar, Max Agnas on piano, Mauritz Agnas on bass and Konrad Agnas on drums—embodies that sibling intuition where friction and familiarity fuel creativity. The title itself nods to the brothers' recognition that artistic breakthroughs often emerge from familial push-and-pull, from the arguments and reconciliations that only siblings can truly understand.

The album opens with "Sviten" ("The Suite"), which begins as if lifted from a classic bebop record—piano trio swinging briskly— before the needle slows, the sound distorts and the groove mutates into an Afro-Caribbean pulse. The track twists tempos, teases expectations and finally resolves back into a tight bebop signature. The transition into "Cheeseburger" comes via a brief collage of warped LP samples, setting up one of the record's most infectious grooves. Mauritz Agnas' taut bass solo leads the way as piano and guitar exchange sharp, percussive dialogue, the band snapping through rhythmic corners before another burst of vinyl crackle propels them into "Outro."

"Stumbles" slows the pace with acoustic warmth—a chamber-like meditation for guitar, piano, bass and drums that oozes sincerity and restraint. Spoken word (in Swedish) drifts over organ on "Deras Rykte Växer" ("Their Reputation Grows"), a smoldering piece inspired by electric Miles Davis, with Kasper Agnas' guitar recalling Bill Frisell's lyricism as the group keeps the simmer just below boiling. The live closer, "Någon Hyllade En Glass" ("Someone Praised an Ice Cream"), brings the set full circle—melding chamber melody, hip-hop pulse and agile bebop phrasing into a joyful, genre-bending finale.

With Sista Försöket, the Agnas Bros. reaffirm what makes them unique: a band grounded in family, unafraid of tension and fearless in their blend of styles. Like the Beastie Boys before them, they have crafted something that's both deeply referential and refreshingly their own—a reminder that when chemistry and curiosity collide, the results can be timeless.

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