The Birthday Cake is made of Lava...

I know some of you will find this difficult to comprehend, but there are a few tiny things in my life that are far more important than music. One of those little "things" is celebrating her second birthday today and even though she's a spoiled, ill-bred and self-willed rascal, life definitely wouldn't be the same without her!

Let's make it 3 days in a row! Here's another track by The Floor Is Made Of Lava taken from All Juice No Fruit. I received my hardcopy of the album yesterday and wasted little time giving it a good, loud spin in the car this morning on my way to work. Energy is probably the one word that describes the album the best and I certainly felt all pumped and energetic, when I parked the car outside the office! Order! Order! Order!
+ Sucker Love

Anders over at Frekvens.dk interviews American singer/songwriter Nathan Holscher and reviews his new album Even the Hills. The review is very positive and I can only support that, as Nathan Holscher has released a really wonderful americana/folk rock album. Below two tracks of the album posted with permission.
+ Hard, High and Blue
+ My Sweet

I've just downloaded In Rainbows (I actually paid for it - £5 - since Peter asked) and will give it a few listens today. Not that I care much about it, but I don't want to be the sole person in the universe (or at least in the bloggeruniverse), who isn't listening to it today. And who knows? I could end up being positively surprised?

The Lava keeps on flowing...

As promised yesterday "the week of the Lava" continues, so here's another track from the forthcoming The Floor Is Made Of Lava debut album All Juice No Fruit. I've listened to the album a few times now and it's a highly entertaining and very energetic piece that should be able to kickstart any party.
+ Told Her I'm From Compton

Another album getting lots of spins is Here Come The Floods by The state of Samuel. The album will be out on Humblebee Recordings on October 16 and can be ordered from the label's website for the bargain price of USD 9. Despite running for just 28 minutes the album is another fine exponent of the endless stream of wonderful Swedish indie pop. May the well never run dry!
+ The Residents of Gloom
+ Square Roots

Lovely UK/Candian indie pop/rock duo The Papertiger Sound gives away an old track named Seagrass. I cannot recall the story why the track is/was considered expendable, but I wouldn't mind reading or hearing it again, because the track certainly is far too great to simply be ignored.
+ Seagrass

What's the frequency...

The nice boys over at Frekvens.dk have asked me to join their small part of cyberspace, and I've happily accepted the invitation. Plans are that I shall post 2-4 times per month introducing their readers to the best "hits in the car" of the past week/fortnight. Sounds like the perfect concept to me. Will let you know when the first post is up (probably not this week).

Pitchfork reviews Black Kids and suddenly the number of visitors to this blog increases, because I've mentioned the band a few times. I like their music, but I certainly didn't see this sudden popularity coming. Download the rest of the Wizard of Ahhhs EP here.
+ Hurricane Jane

One more week and The Floor Is Made Of Lava debut album All Juice No Fruit will be out on Tabu Records. The band has sent out a promo mail including download links to 5 songs of the album, so I thought I'd turn this into "the week of the Lava" and post one song each day (Monday-Friday). If you like what you hear, you can pre-order the album right here.
+ Do Your Sister

Swedesplease has added me to the blogroll, so I've returned the favor...

Sad to say that I'm slightly underwhelmed by the four Celestial remixes that Music Is My Girlfriend is giving away for free today. I love the original tracks and cannot see why they had to be remixed; though getting them for free is obviously very nice and generous!
+ Lake Como (remix)

One-two-three clicks over at Myspace and I suddenly find myself listening to Icecold Kisses by Swedish electro/synth-pop duo Ostrich. Not groundbreaking in any way, but this really is a nice, sweet and catchy synth dominated tune.
+ Icecold Kisses

News from Starring Me...

Wonderful US shoegaze trio Starring Me has published two new tracks from the band's forthcoming album that will be released later this year or early next year (not sure, but I believe it will be named 11th Hour). If you're not already familiar with the band, you really should download all the tracks of the band's excellent 2005 album Perfect in the Night for free right here!
+ Goodbye
+ Since They Left

st famous...

Via Torr comes word on st famous; the new band of ex-Geneva front man Andrew Montgomery and Keris Howard of Harper Lee . Wonderful news as these are exactly the atmospheric and dreamy kind of songs I love to listen to on a tired and quiet Friday evening while sipping red wine (and the girls are sleeping). I loved Further (the Geneva debut) and if these recently recorded songs are any indication of what a future st famous album might sound like; I'm all set (though as Torr points out; this IS more electronic that Geneva). Information is sparse, but I believe that the band is unsigned, so only time will tell if the world will ever be able to listen to an album. The music is described by the band itself as "Cocteau Twins-meets-early New Order-meets-early OMD-meets the guy who used to sing in Geneva-meets him out of Harper Lee". Says it all; doesn't it?
+ Tired and Emotional
+ Lazy Opera

4 songs...

I've mentioned Manchester quartet Kni9hts several times before in the blog and I'll continue doing so as I honestly believe that this must be the best unsigned band in the world today. Despite all my worries the band itself seems very confident that they will be signed any day soon and why shouldn't they be that? All of the 12 demo tracks (that's already an album worth of songs) I've heard so far are just excellent and sounds like something Doves would have been proud of recording! Below what I believe is a new demo track.
+ Day of the Dove

Indonesian quartet Sunny Summer Day must be the nicest band on the planet. The band members are always friendly and always appreciating the interest and blog mentioning. Add to this the charming indie pop the band creates, and you cannot help simply loving this band!
+ Blue Light Pollution

Finally the mere result of a few hours spent the other day listening to songs found in the mailbox. Lots and lots of garbage and the only decent ones were the two tracks posted below. Both of them rock along nicely, so they are definitely worth a listen, though I'm still baffled by the low quality of the rest of the stuff.
+ Dog Day - Oh Dead Life
+ The Forms - Knowledge in Hand

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

Truth telling Mapmaker...

Fine Danish 5-piece Majorian has just finished recording an EP that is going to be called Truth Telling Peekholes. The title track is available as a "teaser" and it's an absolute cracker. This beautiful melody starts out quietly for the first minute and a half, giving you the impression that this will be a mellow and acoustic sounding track, but then it picks up the pace with the drums and an almost Keane/Coldplay inspired piano. Dominating the track (and getting all your attention) is the wonderful voice of lead singer Maria, which at times sounds like it's another instrument added to the mix. Oh well - I suck at these descriptions. Just check it out - it's absolutely gorgeous! It really is!
+ Truth Telling Peekholes

The 4 Danish youngsters in The Imaginary Orchestra of Mr. Kite are currently busy recording and new track The Mapmakers Dream is the first result of the band's hard work. This time it sounds a little less like Jeff Buckley (the inspiration is still there) and instead more like they are trying to create an experimental mix of two of the band's other inspirational sources; Muse and Radiohead. Still sounds great and very promising!
+ The Mapmakers Dream

Sometimes I just accept Myspace friend requests without really knowing anything about the band/artist (always hope to check them out at some later stage). So when I accepted the request by Topboy-500 I didn't know that this was another project involving Thomas of Volvoe. In his own words the songs by this alias will be the ones that turn out to be too fucked up or too different, but still cool in their own odd way. This one (a very laid-back electronic track with vocoder vocals) is certainly not too fucked up, perhaps too different to become a Volvoe track, but definitely very cool!
+ I am Snow

Two remixes...

Today is one of those dreaded days at work, where I have way too much work to do, so unfortunately I only have time for this short one...

Judging from the number of downloads; I believe that Club Thing by Yoav must be one of the most popular songs I've ever posted. Personally I still think it's an excellent track, so I was quite delighted to find this very cool RAC remix of the song in the mailbox this morning.
+ Club Thing (RAC Remix)
+ Club Thing

Another RAC remix received in the mail recently is this charming version of You're Alright by Norwegian twee/folk-pop duo Jeremy. I've previously posted the brilliant Make Love Not War by the band and an album should be in the making.
+ You're Alright (RAC Remix)
+ Make Love Not War

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