Stuff...

Still just an incredible lazy sod...not feeling like writing at all, but sure need to get this blog back up and running...somehow...

Azure Blue has recorded this instrumental cover of Sweet Child O' Mine. Said to be "just a demonstration of a slightly new sound". In a way I hope so as, to be honest, the cover is pretty tedious. But I'm certainly looking forward to the new songs...
Azure Blue - Sweet Child Instrumental demo

Danish duo Dampfbahn has posted a brand new track named Love Like A Flower. They have always written some nice catchy pop songs and this one is no exception; though has some (intended?) novelty to it...
Love is like a Flower by DAMPFBAHN!

Has anyone given the new Richard Hawley album Standing at the Sky's Edge a listen? Not exactly the type of album I (or probably anyone else) expected, as it sounds like he had some serious anger to get off his chest. Whether or not it was the wrath that ignited it I obviously don't know, but musically the album heads off in a complete different direction (the first 4 tracks especially), when comparing it to previous releases, as gone are the strings and the guitars in complete control. But the songwriting is a good as ever, the production is fine, the man himself still possesses one of the best voices in music and the second half of the album is to some extent a return to the "old sound", which probably will please some...so summed up this is "just" another album to add to the list of excellent releases by Mr. Hawley!
Richard Hawley - Standing At The Sky's Edge

Check out this fine cover of the beautiful Don't Stare at the Sun (from the aforementioned) Sky's Edge by Lo-Fi Record Club (who?)!
Don't Stare At The Sun (Richard Hawley Cover) by Lo-Fi Record Club

Via Peter and Peter comes news about this new track by Get Well Soon.
Get Well Soon - You Cannot Cast Out The Demons (You Might As Well Dance) by City Slang

Steam railway...

Anyone remember DAMPFBAHN!? If you don’t I can hardly won’t blame you, as nearly 5 years have gone since they put out an EP containing 5 free to download tracks; which they later followed up by having the track All Is Swell remixed by 9 other artists. But despite all their efforts the splash they made was hardly noticeable and since those busy days in 2007 the duo has been completely quiet. Though lead singer Peter (at least I assume he’s the one singing) has been busy recording and releasing song under the alias One Weekly Gun, which you’ve probably heard of, if you happen to be a semi-regular visitor around here. Now the duo is finally back together writing and recording, and so far two new songs have been released. Same As Me sort of follows nicely in the footsteps of the older tracks and is a nice uptempo electro pop dance kind of thing. However their second output You’re The First (purchase) has completely knocked me off my feet. After a short electronic intro it evolves into a grand and catchy pop song, which perhaps makes them sound more mainstream than ever, but at the same time makes them sound perhaps better than ever! Hadn’t really missed them all – now I wonder why?

You're The First by DAMPFBAHN!

Same as Me by DAMPFBAHN!

And:
+ All Is Swell (EP version)
+ All Is Swell Lummertmix (remixed by Oliver North Boy Choir)

Shorties...

My copy of Downhill, you know that debut EP by Days that everyone has impatiently been waiting for, has finally arrived. The cover art is simply beautiful and to finally being able to play those amazing songs on the stereo is nothing but a sheer pleasure. You can order the EP at Shelflife right here and why shouldn't you want to buy the EP that will dominate everyone's year end lists? Now we are just waiting for the boys to announce their grand world tour (or at least a few concert dates!)!
+ Never Came To Last
+ Simple Thing

Links to 10 different blogs featuring a remix of Loop A Loop are now up at The Crimea's official webpage. Was originally told that 16 blogs would participate, but now it looks more like 10 is the number. In case you missed it yesterday, I'll post The Brute Chorus Remix one more time.
+ Loop A Loop (The Brute Chorus Remix)

The abovementioned Loop A Loop remix project by The Crimea do remind me quite a lot of the equally ambitious All Is Indeed Swell Enough for a Remix project by DAMPFBAHN! last year, where the track All Is Swell was remixed by 9 different artists/dj's etc. With the only exception really being that the Danish duo didn't get various music blogs involved.
+ All Is Swell - Fidel Astro RMX
+ All Is Swell In The Grinding Light - A Kid Hereafter

5 tracks by Death Valley Sleepers are free to download from Last.fm. No further introduction should be needed, as I've featured this excellent Danish one-man project a few times before.
+ In The Valley
+ White Noise

Bark Bark...

Danish electronica label VUFrecords is giving away another free compilation of electronica tracks featuring a wide range of interesting Scandinavian artists. I'm really no expert on this genre (or any other genre for that matter), but after a few listens it does sound like this could be a really cool compilation of tracks. The label's first compilation of freebies was downloaded more than 700 times and obviously they'd love to do even better this time. So give them a helping hand a go here to download it and the first one as well, which is still available.
+ DAMPFBAHN! - All Is Swell (Zvook Mescalin Remix)

Finnish electro pop trio Regina is giving away their Christmas single called Näinä mustina iltoina (wonder what that means?). The limited edition CDR (only 200 copies made) also includes a remix of the track done by Finnish DJ Sami Suova/Schmami.
+ Näinä mustina iltoina
+ Näinä mustina iltoina (Schmamix)

All this steam...

The happy lads in the Danish duo DAMPFBAHN! have been in the studio recording a new track called All This Time, which, as they always do, are giving away for free. In a bulletin posted earlier today the boys wrote "this time, we've gone stadium-rock. Hope you like it?"; and of course I do, though I'm not really sure whether I agree with that stadium-rock description or not. Anyway I hope you like it as well? Finally I won't miss the opportunity to once again recommend the band's ambitious and quite impressive remix project.
+ All This Time

Steam Train to Utopia...

Last night I finally received a message that I've been eagerly awaiting for quite some time now. DAMPFBAHN!'s ambitious project has been completed and 9 remixes of All Is Swell are done and ready, and have been published at the band's remix page (these are the days of Radiohead, so all the remixes are obviously free to download - a bit more information on the remixes/project can be found there as well). In the band's own words "It's a wonderful compilation of remixes of our song All Is Swell. Ranging from beautiful to bizarre!" and who am I to disagree? It certainly is quite a bumpy, but at the same time a highly entertaining, ride listening your way through all of the remixes. Have to admit that I simply love this concept (who doesn't love getting a string of new remixes for free?) and sincerely hope that other bands will get inspired to do the same!
+ All Is Swell - Zvook Mescalin
+ Hank Swelliams remix - Forest and Crispian

First single/teaser from the forthcoming Skywriter album has been published. I have no idea of what the album will be called or when it will be released, but several concert dates this fall have been announced, so hopefully something is brewing (just received info that the album won't be released until some time next year). The lyrics are dark/pessimistic, but listening to this really catchy track is still very uplifting indeed, as it promises well for the album. Finally big thanks to the band for letting me post the track!
+ Craving Utopia

Catching up...

As much as I like to think I'm the centre of the Universe, the World seems to have no problems whatsoever continuing its 24 hour schedule when I'm on holiday, which makes it painfully clear that it actually manages pretty well - even without my presence. So because of the world's lack of cooperation it just never fails that I find myself drowning in mails, messages and CD's whenever I return from being away from home (and the computer) for more than 72 hours. So once again this is one of those catching up posts!

Messages indicate that we'll soon be listening to new songs by The William Blakes and Us With Millions.

Ruined by Martin has launched the new website and gives away the new brilliant track Kaiser Star for free!
+ Kaiser Star

J.A. now has a Myspace profile. Hurry up and make him your friend!

emodreng & indiepige interviews Oliver North Boy Choir and posts the band's remix of the DAMPFBAHN! track All Is Swell. The remix is absolutely superb and I've asked (and been granted) permission to post the track myself. The vocals have been re-recorded (must be Camilla singing) and the track has that wonderful trademark ONBC sound. Speaking of DAMPBAHN! remixes - below another really cool version of the same track done by Body Lotion and the Bloody Hands. The title of the track has been changed to All Is Hell and contains new (and quite morbid) lyrics about a baby killed by a rattlesnake!
+ All Is Swell - (Oliver North Boy Choir lummertmix)
+ All Is Hell - (Body Lotion and the Bloody Hands)

Assasin has posted two new instrumental tracks. Still this doesn't sound like Phonovectra at all and dreamy post-rock is probably a good way to describe the new ones (never been good at this)?
+ Pause Between Friends
+ White Light

I believe every blogger knows this: You receive a mail from someone saying that you've posted his music some time ago and he'll be happy if you'd care to mention his new album, and your first reaction is; WHO? So you check back and realize that you've actually mention this guy before (in my case it was September last year). Then you check your computer and find that you haven't deleted the song you posted back then. Finally you listen to it and you're very surprised that this is a really great one (in my case it's an electro pop song that at times sounds a bit like New Order). In my case (for the third time) I don't know why I've forgotten about Chris Price, but now I'm certainly looking forward to hearing his debut album - Post Pop Parade.
+ And She Was

Ingenting on a Thursday...

2 days ago I couldn't think of anything to post. A day off yesterday certainly took care of that problem, so today there's a little more to tell!

First of all and most importantly; The video for the Kent single Ingenting is here and a weird one it is. The band does seem to have some kind of passion for animals?


The Williams Blakes is heading for Sweden (Hultsfred to be more specific) where the band will record their debut album. Seems like the album will be called Wayne Coyne, but it's obviously far too early to tell when it's going to be released and if it's actually going to be called just that. Whenever it's ready it will be released on new Danish label Speed Of Sound.
+ The Reality (link taken down)

The DAMPFBAHN! track All Is Swell is currently being remixed to pieces by various friends, DJs and other music freaks in general. I'm not sure how many different versions will be the final result of this project, but "rumours" tell that there will be some really weird, funny and interesting ones among them! I believe that the intention is that all the mixes will all be released/compiled on the same CD at some point (please correct me if I'm wrong!). The first appetizer - a mix done by Portuguese DJ Vitor Silveira - is now available to download for free. Another mix can be streamed here.
+ All Is Swell (All Is Indeed Swell Enough For A Remix)

I've just received the message that a promo of the Hot Springs album Volcano should arrive in my mailbox any day soon. If the rest of the album sounds like this first sample track, it could very well be a quite interesting rock thing!
+ Headrush

Division Day has recorded an excellent cover version of my favorite Depeche Mode track Enjoy The Silence. It's pretty impossible screwing this track up (not saying that the band is even close to doing that), and I really like this almost acoustic approach. Once a week the band's label Eenie Meenie Records is sending out remixes and cover songs, so hopefully more interesting stuff is on the way?
+ Enjoy The Silence

If you're tired of me constantly promoting the tracks Poetry Boy and Slave To Your Charms, it's now possible to stream a brand new one by Kind of girl over at the band's EPK.

Via fine Danish blog emodreng & indiepige comes word on the new Oliver North Boy Choir video for Baby Cool. Gotta love this band!

Music, Music, Music...

Beirut was one of the most popular artists in the bloggerworld last year and now the track A Sunday Smile from the forthcoming album The Flying Club Cup (to be released October 9) is available as a free download from his webpage. Time will tell if the world needs more Balkan inspired trumpets, mandolins, accordions etc., but for every listen I certainly like his music more and more (thanks Jonas!).
+ A Sunday Smile

Swedish 5-piece Radio LXMBRG definitely belongs to a completely different genre, but still the band's 80's inspired electro/pop sound is very appealing (I'm a sucker for that stuff). New track Score On The Floor is a freebie over at Myspace and is taken from the forthcoming album Trivial Matters (to be released September 12).
+ Score On The Floor

And of course you shouldn't miss (and of course you haven't) the new single by Club 8. Gorgeous indie pop!
+ Heaven

This week (and this week only) it's possible to stream the new Baby Cool EP by Oliver North Boy Choir over at Myspace. As always this is wonderful stuff and once again I cannot help hoping that the band will change its strategy, so we all get a chance to buy an album and to see them live.

Victor Silveira has remixed the DAMPFBAHN! track All Is Swell. Stream it here. Should add that it's pretty cool!

DAMPFBAHN!...

Steam isn’t exactly what I’ve needed the past few days, as the sun has insisted on shining, thus making the heat in my office almost unbearable. But somehow a band with the unappealing name Dampfbahn! (Dampf = steam in German) has still managed to bring some coolness into my working life the past few days, as I’ve been listening to the duos new EP (DAMPFBAHN! EP 2007) over and over. The duo describes itself as “An explosive neon-coloured dance-duo…hailing from disco town”, and after a few spins you know this is the kind of stuff that will kick start any party. So this is not music that will make you lean back and help you stop sweating, but instead it will constantly try to make your feet start moving (and thus make you sweat even more). But these guys are really cool and the 5 catchy songs with their haunting beats had the same effect on me as a fresh breeze on warm summer day, so what the…let’s forget about work, grab some beers, turn up the volume and let the beach party begin!
+ Houseman
+ Go Higher
+ All Is Swell