The Mary Onettes Portico

Today Sweden's The Mary Onettes announces a new mini album called Portico: as well as a North American tour in March around SXSW.

"We wanted to create a scenario to fit with the songs. So we decided it could be a journey into space. A silent hunt for something else. We always end up seeing our albums as small films. And Portico: would definitely be our little space saga.

It's a bit of a spiritual album. I want to get connected to nothingness" says Philip Ekström.

Inspired heavily by science fiction and an obsession with old photography books, The Mary Onettes release the grand Portico: on March 4. If their two first albums were dramas, last year's Hit The Waves was an adventure film then Portico: is their own space odyssey.

Those who waited four years from Islands 'til the follow up, Hit The Waves from last year probably didn't expect a new album so soon, even if it's a rather short one. But The Mary Onettes are in a creative flow, unafraid to change.

"I'm in love with the idea of a constant flow of albums where you never know what's going to come next. The Mary Onettes move in that direction. Next album could be an ambient CD box or a 7" with two jangly pop tunes," says singer Philip. "It's a part of the longing to escape myself and dive into a void and the unknown."

"Besides this little space crush, this year has also been a lot about photographs. Endless pages in photo books has been a major influence for us. The pictures have served as portals into colors and emotions. I even sleep with the books in my bed" says Ekström.

The Mary Onettes are doing their first US tour in six years in March. Both volcanos and flight anxiety have stopped them past attempts to cross the Atlantic. This time it's really happening.

1. Silence Is A Gun
2. Naive Dream
3. Ritual Mind
4. Everything Everything
5. Your Place
6. Bells For Stranger
7. Portico: 2014