Various...

Been real busy the past couple of days as work has been taking its toll. It’s frustrating at times, but just to keep things in perspective I keep telling myself that work pays the bills. Not that it makes me any happier, but I should be old enough by now to understand that, from time to time, one has to do things one does not enjoy doing.

A Classic Education will be supporting British Sea Power on the band’s US tour this spring. The new is accompanied with a free download of new track I Lost Time, which is beautiful, dreamy and has a kind of 60’s feel to it. So a typical A Classic Education track you could say!
+ I Lost Time

More beautiful and dreamy pop music for you on this tired Wednesday morning, as wonderful folk-pop constellation High Highs shares brand new track Flowers Bloom. Imagine lying comfortably on your back on a carpet of soft green grass gazing at the clouds drifting by while listening to this...
+ Flowers Bloom

Leisure Alaska guitarist dondreas has entered this remix in the “remix Ginger Ninja’s Wet Like a Dog” contest at BandBase.
+ Wet Like a Dog (dondreas remix)

Long time Hits In The Car favorite Tower of Foil has released their first ever video. It's for new single Sunday Love and it is quite DIY(ish) and really, really nice! Check the band's homepage for more (several) free downloads.


+ Sunday Love

Shorties...

Things are awfully quiet around here these days. I wish things could be different, but unfortunately that’s how it is right now!

Going to Hamburg tomorrow with 6 of my real thirsty friends. A few train stops aside, this will be my first visit to the German metropol. Have been told that it's a real cool city?

This energetic and immediately catchy track by Rob Cowen and The Dissidents has had a permanent spot on my playlists the past week.
+ Heartache

Check out the solo project Devious Delight by Northern Portrait guitarist Jesper Bonde. It will be quite interesting to follow, if this evolves into something more serious or simply is the first indication of him (co-) writing future Northern Portrait songs.

Please vote for the excellent Cause & Effect remix (entry no. 65) in the remix contest for Andy Bell's upcoming single Say What You Want!.

Following a string of EP releases Tower of Foil has finally released a debut album. Named Driving North and available at CD Baby. The album can be streamed at Last.fm. or download the four promo tracks for free.
+ Shaping The Sky

Two brand new tracks by cool Swedish duo Ostrich can now be streamed at Myspace.

The Frozen Ocean...

Band of Horses will be at Vega on April 18, but am not planning attending this one. First of all April 18 is Sunday of the Copenhagen Popfest, so I expect to be worn out completely by then. And since I did see them a couple of years ago, I believe I’ll manage without seeing them this time, though I did think the show back then was absolutely brilliant. Copenhagen will be the last stop on a short European Tour (8 dates announced so far), which has made me start looking for news on any imminent release(s), though without much success so far!
+ Is There A Ghost
+ The Funeral

Tower Of Foil shares a second single from the band’s forthcoming album Driving North. The new track is called The Frozen Ocean is a real typical Tower Of Foil track in the sense that it’s sweet and beautiful. And with the weather being as it is right now, it’s hard to imagine a better timed release.
+ The Frozen Ocean

A Pleasant Dream is a pleasant Spanish blog (though I don’t understand a single word – you know; No habla español) focusing entirely on Nordic pop music.

Danny Provencher of Under Electric Light has teamed up with Rudy Behrnard of Les Incendiaries to form Those Weird, Dreamy Sounds. The first published track by the duo is the (rather oddly) named Á nœturnar, which does in fact sound weird and dreamy as well as somewhat incomplete.
+ Á nœturnar
+ Les Incendiaires VS Under Electric Light - Danaé (Under Electric Light Remix)
+ Under Electric Light – This Moment

Lucky Soul shares (in exchange for your email address) the title track of the band’s forthcoming album A Coming Of Age. “A lyrically dark, sonically dramatic Bond-theme-in-waiting, influenced by Scott Walker, Edif Piaf and brutal loss of innocence in equal measure”! Couldn’t have said that better myself...cough, cough.

Shorties...

Stuff is piling up again!

My conscience is black. I promised to write a few words on the Sleep Party People debut album, but won’t be able to do so, before it’s released on Monday. Shame on me! Will try to make amends next week!
+ I’m Not Human At All

Scottish trio AirSpiel shares a brand new recording named Freerider. A really nice anthemic indie rock track and the first taste of things to come, as the band is preparing a single release in March.
+ Freerider

So far the new album Vexations by Get Well Soon has failed to impress me. But I'm certainly going to give it plenty of chances to win me over, before the band's concert at Loppen on March 23.
+ 5 Steps / 7 Swords

Tower of Foil shares the track Driving North from the band’s forthcoming debut album of the same name. Lovely stuff as always and great that the band will finally be releasing an album!
+ Driving North

Music bloggers everywhere have joined forces (or at least so it seems) and made up their minds that Swedish duo, with the close to ungoogleable name, jj is the next big thing. Personally I'm still trying to figure out exactly why!
+ Let Go

Chris writes about a new alliance he nicknames “A Champagne Portrait”. Think I'd prefer “A Northern Riot”, but I definitely share his excitement!

Chromewaves gives us the lowdown on the much anticipated third album from The Radio Dept.

Chief of the Tribe by Blue Swan is currently topping the “most played track” chart at BandBase.dk. The track was originally published in August 2008, so where did this sudden increase in popularity come from?
+ Chief of the Tribe

Ah-ah-ah-choo...

Catching a cold and am sneezing every 30 second; or at least it feels like every half minute. I’m fully aware that right now I’m paying the price for my behavior Saturday evening (and night for that matter), where I was running around outside in the cold drinking and partying like an 18 year old, and completely ignoring that I am in fact a middle-aged man, who should always go to bed before 10 pm, never leave the house when it’s freezing and refrain from drinking anything stronger than mineral water. Luckily I have my own office, so my colleagues don’t have to watch me suffer through my misery. And I felt even worse yesterday, where I was eerily close to dying! I swear I was! Oh man! Will I ever learn? Probably not!

Not being the cleverest of people (the above should provide you with all the proof you need) and incredibly naive as well, I started searching for news on that Clinging to a Scheme album. But there was no unexpected Christmas present for us, as Labrador still lists March next year as the (expected?) time of its release. But please! No more postponing!
+ David

According to Tower of Foil frontman Daniel Björck the band has mailed their debut album to the label. That’s all the information available, but still sufficient to be classified as great news!
+ Faster Than Your Eye

No quite sure if this is official yet, but I’ve been told that Moto Boy will release his sophomore album in Denmark on March 1 next year on Slow Shark Records (and probably in Sweden as well on Song I Wish I Had Written). However it is official that he will be supporting moi Caprice on the band’s Danish tour in February.
+ Blue Motorbike

Continuing the Swedish theme the new single by Karin Ström is free to download from the artist’s webpage.
+ Hon som älskade dig

Danes Tetris = Therapy have announced that they have finished the recordings of an album worth of music and are now working on how to get the record released. Quite eager to get my hands on this one!
+ Big Tasty

At the beginning of the learning curve...

Wonder if I’ll ever learn. Spending Saturday night drinking and dancing, and not going to bed until 3 AM takes it toll on an old man like me. Problem is that once I have completely recovered; only the fond memories and the funny picture (I do look goofy I know) will remain. Long forgotten are the hangovers and the way I felt the following Monday morning when going to work. So I guess I can answer the question myself; NO; I will never learn. And a fun time we had Saturday night going to a birthday party. The jukebox was really crappy. It took ages in-between songs, you never knew if the songs you had ordered would ever be played and the selection of CD’s was downright horrible. But somehow the dancefloor was packed all night, so something tells me that it wasn’t that bad after all? Or maybe people aren’t that picky about music, when partying? I even spent an interesting half hour discussing music with some poor soul, who didn’t knew what was coming, when I asked him about music he’s playing (he’s a musician). Hopefully he didn’t feel that much under siege, and I actually thought it was quite an interesting talk, where among topics we discussed the local venue, the future of the music business, promotion, concerts vs. CD sales and of course my favorite "is music tangible or intangible?". But there’ll be no parties for the next few weeks, which should give me plenty of time to recover!

More than once have I labeled Mancunian quartet Kni9hts "the best unsigned band in the world". Now the band is no more! Instead say hello to The Number, which is the new name for the exact same constellation. I’ve always thought that Kni9hts was a pretty cool and (more importantly) rather unique band name, which made google searches etc. much easier. The Number definitely will generate a slightly different “number” of google matches. Haven’t seen any explanations for this sudden change of name, so your guess is as good as any. The back catalogue, which consists of 16 terrific demo tracks, is still free to download from (what once was) the official webpage.
+ Coastal
+ Jolan District
+ Golden Triangle

Probably had nothing to do with my whining, but it seems like that the Ruined by Martin debut concert won’t happen on April 25 after all. A new date has been mentioned, but I’ll refrain from posting anything until it has been verified. But at least chances are better that I’ll be able to make it on that new date.
+ Burn The Sun

As soon as I had mentioned that Tower of Foil was recording a full length album, the band announced that it has been signed by Series Two Records. The debut album is scheduled for release sometime during 2009.
+ Faster Than You Eye

One Weekly Gun has published his second song of 2009.
+ This Mean Tweeter

More shorties...

One eye is weeping and one eye is laughing. Ruined by Martin has finally announced a live date. The band’s debut concert will take place on April 25 at Lades in Copenhagen. This is news that I’ve been waiting impatiently for, and then the first date collides with a trip to Tallinn with the boys. But hopefully this is just the first of many live dates to come? If RbM is still unknown territory to you, 5 tracks are free to download from this post.
+ Kaiser Star

Lovely Swedish (somewhat jazz inspired) indie pop quartet Tower of Foil are (according to the band's myspace blog) busy recording, what should end up being their first full-length album. The entire back catalogue (well almost) is free to download from the band’s webpage.
+ Everlasting

Perhaps to celebrate their record contract, which I mentioned yesterday, Ginger Ninja is giving away a free remix of the track Red Lips at BandBase.dk.
+ Red Lips (We Know You Love It Remix)

According to their webpage; the venues for the White Lies concerts in the UK are being upgraded. No upgrade necessary in Denmark (yet), as tickets are still available.

The incomparable Cloudberry Records has just released a split 3 inch CD-R featuring Kevin McGrother and My Laundry Life. This is the purest of indie pop.
+ Kevin McGrother - A Week of Wednesdays
+ My Laundry Life - Sons & Guns

Feeling better...

though not as great as I hoped I would. But still fine enough to continue the catching up I began last week.

I have a really soft spot for Swedish quartet (one-man project?) Tower of Foil and new freebie single Everlasting is yet another quiet and lovely piano dominated piece. And if you don’t know this already, the entire back catalogue (well almost) is free to download from the band's webpage as well!
+ Everlasting

UK quartet Kni9hts is (in my humble opinion of course) one of the best unsigned bands in the world and new track Abyss does nothing to change my opinion. This is another band giving away the back catalogue for free and one band that should have been signed ages ago!
+ Abyss

Those music playing Playmobil figures calling themselves Play People have recorded a new track and like the ones before it's a infectious little pop tune. And after all it does seem like that there were some truth to those Cloudberry Records rumors I started a while back.
+ Square One

Ola of Moonbabies has produced the excellent new track Istanbul by Emerald Park and at times one can be lead to believe that it's a new track by Moonbabies rather than an Emerald Park track. But does it really matter when it's this great? Free to download as it's featured on the afmusic Various Artists - 25 sampler.
+ Istanbul

Windy Friday...

My first thought was to call this post Stormy Friday (the weather report explains why), but apparently this also happens to be the name of some adult actress/dancer/performer/whatever, so I thought changing the title was the better solution, as I really don’t want this blog to be associated with that kind of stuff. It could be tempting though, as I believe those pages have multiple times more visitors than a humble music blog like mine.

Ruined by Martin has finally released a new track and once again it’s a dark, melodic and (most importantly) absolutely brilliant electronic pop tune. The boys are currently rehearsing and will hopefully announce some live dates very soon. New material has been written, but with their usual speed of work in mind, we probably won’t hear anything new until late 2009 (OK - I'm just kidding guys).
+ Defy the Odds

This week's song by One Weekly Gun.
+ Through Me

Does such a word as "neonlagkage" exist? According to Google it doesn't, but I just read it right here. And what a fantastic word it is!

The Storm "storms" into the Danish album chart at no. 2. After listening to the album a few times, it really isn't as bad as some reviewers would want us to believe. Far more interesting is the news that the Yoav debut album Charmed And Strange debuts at no. 33!
+ Club Thing (Ghislain Poirier Remix)

Tower of Foil sent out the great news yesterday that they are currently recording new songs. Download the entire back catalogue (well almost) right here.
+ Faster Than Your Eye

Angmoh - a new and really fine Danish music blog written in English - has been added to the blogroll.

Download the OF ALL THE THINGS WE'VE MADE - A Cyberspace Tribute To OMD right here. Thanks to J.A. for the info!!

Peter has already posted this, but I too should inform you that the lovely indietronica, shoegaze act The Papertiger Sound has a new brilliant EP out called Lost Tapes EP. And of course it's free to download, but you can make a small donation if you like.
+ cold fingers, smiling

Friday blurbs (bullshit! bullshit!)...

The boys from Anamia have mailed a brief update (including a few pictures) and accordingly the recording of 4 new tracks was quite a success. The band is still in the process of mixing the songs, but I'm really looking forward to listen to the new "babies". Hopefully they will spend a little more energy on promoting the new EP than they did on last year's An Extraordinary New Fitness Product, because this band is simply too great to go unnoticed. Will keep you posted whenever there is something new to tell.
+ As I Walk Into The Fight (from last year's EP)

Part II of the J.A. recommends post has been postponed for now. But when I look at my mailbox I'm certain there'll be another post like that in the near future.

The great new Tower of Foil EP Faster Than Your Eye is released today. Grab all 3 tracks for free here.
+ Faster Than Your Eye
+ Robin and wrens
+ Soft stars

I've finally made up my mind that I will post a few tracks by Cause and Effect. I just need to find the time to write a "worthy" post. I could of course just post the songs, but wouldn't that be a rather weak solution? Last year the band gave away a remix of Into The Light from the 2003 Sunrise EP for free, so this one will have to do for now...
+ Into the Light (DJ Jeff Barringer & J-Star Remix)

If DJ Jeff Barringer rings a bell it's probably because of this remix that I've posted a few times before.
+ Mighty Six Ninety - Keeping You In Mind (Keeping It Electro Club Mix)

Yesterday Music of the Moment temporarily changed its name to Weather of the Moment. At the same time J.A. is complaining about the heat and drought in Spain. We live in a paradox world - don't we?

In a cyclone of stones has posted a new remix of the Oliver North Boy Choir track Adrenaline. The remix was done by TAT2000 and I agree with Ivan (who runs the blog and more importantly is a member of ONBC) that the remix is darker than the original version (which I probably like better). Big thanks to Ivan for letting me post the remix in the blog.
+ Adrenaline (farm animals remix)

Electronically yours (remember to check out the page for several other interesting remixes) has posted John Von Ahlen's excellent remix of We Live So Fast by Heaven 17. Is it a guilty pleasure enjoying the music of Heaven 17?
+ We Live So Fast - the tenth stage remix 07

Tower of Foil - Faster than your eye...

As regular visitors would know I've become quite a fan of the musical universe of Sweden's Tower of Foil over the past year. So needless to say I was pretty excited when the band contacted me a few weeks back offering me the opportunity to post an exclusive pre-download of the title track of the band's new EP Faster than your eye. The EP (which will be the band's 11th since 2000) will be released on Friday, August 10 (for the ridiculous amount of €3), but as always it will also be possible to download the 3 tracks for free from the band's webpage, if you cannot afford to spend a little pocket-money. The number of members has varied through the years, but on the new recording the band should more accurately be called a duo, as the current line-up consists of Daniel Björck (vocals, guitars, keyboards, music & lyrics) and Tomas Larsson (guitars). Both are also members of The Idle Hands and among several other side jobs Daniel played piano on the Celestial album Dream On released earlier this year. If you're already familiar with the music of Tower of Foil the new song certainly won't be a disappointment. It's arguably one of the best tunes in the history of the band and based around the piano (with acoustic guitars) it's so calm, soft and elegant that it should be difficult not to be captured by its beauty. Hopefully the remaining two tracks of the EP will be equally wonderful? Come Friday and I should be so much wiser.
+ Faster than you eye

Snow Fell.......

Every time it's snowing I cannot help posting this fabulous track by The Consultants! I guess the song will forever remain a classic even though the band split up shortly after the release of the (excellent) debut album Work from Home.
+ Snow Fell (It's Night)

I've always been quite slow, so it's completely new to me that the lead singer Marisha Chinsky of the aforementioned The Consultants went on to join (or form?) a band called Polar Bear Parade. In a post nearly 6 months ago Indie MP3 described the sound of the band "like a poppier version of early Sonic Youth", which I think is spot on.
+ Baby Bohemian
+ Firehouse
+ Mountain Lion

And the rest of the members of The Consultants went on to join My Teenage Stride. I've been familiar with this band for quite some time, but haven't really bothered listening to them at all. Once you've listened to Live and Die in.. you'll probably agree that this was quite a mistake!
+ To Live And Die In The Airport Lounge

And finally....3 more songs about snow - I haven't listened to the lyrics, so I damn hope that it's not THAT kind of "snow"!
+ Kuryakin - Snow
+ Tower of Foil - Silent Stream of Snow
+ Sambassadeur - Ice & Snow

Tower of Foil - just a quick note....

Brilliant Swedish indie pop band Tower of Foil has made two new tracks from the really fine EP Highland Lullabies available as free downloads over at the band's webpage.
+ Strange Diversion
+ the Golden shrine

Tower of Attorneys...

I've probably mentioned this several times before, but I cannot help thinking that it is extremely cool when you're contacted by bands/artists. Obviously I'm not thinking of those "please-listen-to-our-music" mails that are sent out in bunches or the superficial friends requests at Myspace, but instead it's the type of mails I received yesterday I'm having in mind. Two bands previously featured in the blog; Tower Of Foil and The Attorneys sent me some info on their recent recordings and in both cases a few mails were sent back and forth with additional info and finally a permission to "exclusively" upload one or two of the new song(s).

Tower Of Foil is (currently) a quartet from Sweden playing a laid-back and really beautiful kind of indie pop, which does find some inspiration in the music of Prefab Sprout (in his own words front man Daniel really likes this classic UK band!). This is the type of music, which should be enjoyed laying on the couch with the eyes closed and a glass of red wine in the hand. 5 new songs have been recorded and according to plans the band's 10th (!) EP Highland Lullabies will be released on November 10.

N.Y. rock trio The Attorneys are currently recording (what I believe) is their debut album, which is going to be called Stereocracy. No info to be found on any release date, but accordingly the recordings are well under way! Madison is an older (at least I've heard it before) powerpop kind of song (this is probably a new mix/recording/?) and Open Up is a really cool and quite catchy track, which is unexpectedly funky/groovy/? and almost danceable.
Stay tuned as I'm pretty certain that we'll hear much more from these two bands in the future!

Tower Of Foil
+ Highland Lullabies

The Attorneys
+ Open Up
+ Madison

The Swedish Invasion (Post I):

The State Of Samuel - Square Roots
The State Of Samuel - I Still Love You
Tower Of Foil - The Comedy Of Summer Rain
Tower Of Foil - Silent Stream Of Snow

Really nice indie pop songs from these two Swedish bands and simply perfect when the weather is typical Scandinavian gray as it is today! More songs can be found here and here!