Whining...

I miss the good ol' version of Myspace. I mean the really old version. Probably no one remembers it anymore, but back then you could download (and deeplink to) songs and the search function was really useful, having a number of parameters. Especially my hunt for “new indie bands from Denmark” was quite a success and helped me find several interesting bands (e.g. Kind of girl, Anamia and Northern Portrait just to mention a few). But that was the old version and sadly today’s version is really nothing but a waste of time. Some pages could probably be called alternatives, but so far none has really appealed to me or offered what I was looking for. So finding new music has become more and more difficult and today my only source for finding new music has (almost) been narrowed down to the infamous inbox. As mentioned numerous times before I receive bags of mails everyday and once in a while I do have the luck of finding some good stuff (usually after hours of frustration). But sadly (though very logically) most mails are sent to zillions of other blogs thus making it virtually impossible to be the first to cover anything. Plus it means that the bands will have to find me and not the other way around, which actually used to be the fun part of it all. Not that being first means all that much. However being different does feel quite good and definitely something that is worth striving for. But right now it’s really difficult trying to become just that (different).
+ Anamia - Butterfly In Paris
+ Northern Portrait - Crazy

Anamia...

Am giving my old favorite demo band Anamia a good listen today. Sadly the band is no more, but several of the old songs are still out there. Free to grab and enjoy!
+ The Silence And The Thoughts
+ I'm Your Matador
+ So Close Now
+ Hard To Realize
+ Talk is cheap
+ Death of the chain-smoking man
+ As I walk into the fight
+ Waiting for moonlight
+ The Step
+ Temptation Puzzle
+ Towards The Wind
+ Butterfly In Paris
+ Butterfly In Paris (Remix)

The swan song of Anamia…

As it was announced in November last year, Danish quartet Anamia decided to split up, but at the same time they promised that the band’s final recordings would be published whenever they had been mixed and mastered. Now nearly five months later the songs have finally been finished, posted and are free for all of us to download. I only had time for a few listens last night, but they certainly sounded like they have been worth the wait, as the songs (once again somewhat Mew inspired) follow very nicely in the footsteps of the songs recorded in 2006. Sadly this will (probably - never say never) be the last we'll ever hear from Anamia and thus ends the story of a what I believe had the potential to someday become a fantastic band...now we'll never know...
+ The Silence And The Thoughts
+ I'm Your Matador
+ So Close Now
+ Hard To Realize

No more Anamia...

From a recently posted Myspace bulletin:

"We are sorry to inform you that we - Anamia - hereby, officially stop working together. What lie behind this decision is different ambitions, among the band members, along with lack of motivation from some members. However, all four of us will focus on other musical projects. Mogens continues making music and remixing under the name tWAMi. Thorsten works on a, for the time being, secretly project and Michael and Patrick work with new songs under the band name Brilliantine. This summer we recorded four songs, which will be downloadable, for free, when the songs are mixed and mastered. We will like to thank all the people who have supported us during the years. Especially, the positive manifestations, concerning our live performances and recordings, have warmed our hearts."

Quite a shame, but I cannot say that I'm all that surprised! I wish the boys the best of luck!
+ The Step
+ Butterfly In Paris

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

Come out and take the step back to me.......

If you're observant you'll notice that I've added The Step by Anamia to the list of my current favorites (in the right column). It's difficult picking just one of the new tracks, but this one is the least noisy and most heartfelt of the 5 new ones. To cut a long story short; Music doesn't get more beautiful than this!

In the mailbox this morning I found a link for the 9 minute long single Come Out (etc.) by Norwegian band 120 Days. Spoofing everything from Kraftwerk to Primal Scream it's a cool danceable track.
+ Come Out (Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone)

Another one from the mailbox is the terrific Back To Me by US indie pop band The Positions. I agree with the press info that fans of Camera Obscura will (they really should) appreciate this one!
+ Back To Me

Two new (or old? - I'm not sure, because that dude is really productive) tracks by my favorite singer/songwriter Pete White are available for download. Check him out and be prepared to listen to the most amazing voice!
+ Hand Signals
+ When You Go From My Door

Go here if you want to download the new Depeche Mode track (Martyr).

Anamia - The Final Version...

I somehow find it very difficult writing my personal thoughts on the new CD An Extraordinary New Fitness Product by Anamia. As some of you may recall, I meet the 4 guys from the band during my summer holiday and found them to be really friendly lads. So if I write something too positive, people will probably start thinking that I’m biased, which I’m always trying NOT to be. But feel free to think whatever you like (which you obviously will do, no matter what I say!).
The first 5 tracks (out of 13) on the CD are the new recordings from July, and the remaining 8 tracks are re-mastered versions of older ones. The new tracks take the band (as expected) in a new and noisier direction, and none of the songs are as immediately catchy as some of the older tracks (e.g. Butterfly in Paris). Michael of the band told me back then that he got some inspiration from bands like Sonic Youth and Traening, but (though I might be dead-wrong here) I do hear some (actually quite a lot) Mew in it as well!
So be prepared that it will require some work getting into the new songs, but if you’re ready to invest a little time, I’m certain you won’t regret it, because they are truly fabulous.
My only complaint (but also another reason for making this such a difficult post to write) is the length of the CD. I love the new tracks and I still very much enjoy the older ones. But in all honesty, I just don’t think they belong on the same CD. I fully understand that Anamia wants to showcase to the world what they are capable of, but when I listen to Fitness Product, I always get the feeling that a new (and quite different) album starts following the 5th track. Instead I’m sadly left with the feeling that with more time and money (?) on their hands; these guys could have recorded a few more songs, which a long with the 5 new tracks would have given us nothing but a fantastic album.
But! Despite leaving me starving for more An Extraordinary New Fitness Product is indeed an “extraordinary” compilation of songs, which deserves to catch the eyes and ears of the world!
+ Talk is cheap
+ Death of the chain-smoking man
+ As I walk into the fight
+ Waiting for moonlight
+ The Step

Anamia - The short version...

All songs from the new Anamia album An Extraordinary New Fitness Product are now available as free downloads at the band's wepage. I hope to find the time to write "the longer version" tomorrow. But for now I've posted a few "appetizers" below!
+ As I walk into the fight
+ The step

Anamia - CD release party

If you happen to be anywhere near Holsterbro on September 23, I suggest that you drop by Café Cremer and join the release party of Anamia's new CD! I don't think that the title of the CD has been revealed yet, but I recall it as quite "interesting"!
+ Butterfly In Paris (Remix by Twami)

Forgot writing a title - now it's got one, though it's not really a title.....

This is the view from my desk at work (I know the photo is really bad, but this is really the best my phone can do). Please notice the Anamia poster right there in the middle. I told my wife that we should find a real nice spot for it in the living room, but for some reason she never got back to me on that one....! Now it's hanging in my office instead and hopefully it will inspire a few of my colleagues to check out the band!
+ ... but wasn't it so back then

One of my few regular readers (José Antonio from Spain) is doing his best to convince me that Nightmare Of You is a terrific band. Now that I've (finally) listened to the band I have to admit that these guys aren't bad at all.
+ My Name Is Trouble

I took a stroll around Myspace this morning searching for new Danish bands and as usual it didn't take long before I found something that caught my attention. Placenta is a quartet based in Jutland and the band describes their music as powerpop with lots of vocal harmonies. A few classic artists are listed as the band's main influences (e.g. The Moody Blues, The Smiths, Depeche Mode) and the music does indeed sound like it has been heavily inspired by some of those bands. So this is not highly original, but definitely not a rip off either. Just charming and catchy!
+ Brittle Eyes
+ I Never Denied My Weaknesses

Peter over at Coast Is Clear ranks the album Reprint by Hungarians Amber Smith as his favorite one of 2006. I haven't bought a copy of the album even though every song I've heard from the album is very good. Time for that to change I guess?
+ Hello Sun
+ Holograms (Stonecastle remix)

The Danish Album Chart is a surprisingly interesting read this week. Muse enters the chart at no. 5. Raconteurs move up 45 spots and Broken Boy Soldiers is now at no. 16. Pink Floyd The Wall is the 19th best selling album and the debut albums by VETO and Spleen United re-enter the Top 40. Several other bands make remarkable re-appearances in the Top 40, but I assume this has something to do with them performing at the Roskilde Festival?

Meeting Anamia

One of the (many) highlights of my recent holiday was that I got the opportunity to meet the boys from Danish alternative/indie rock band Anamia. Regular readers of my blog should know that I've been enjoying the music of the band for quite some time now, so when I learned that the band would be recording in their Easter dé la créme studio, only a few hours drive away from where we were staying, I (modest as I am) immediately invited myself to pay them a visit.

The four guys turned out to be surprisingly humble and friendly lads (stay that way once you get famous!!) and I spent a couple of interesting hours in their company, getting to know them, drinking a few beers, discussing music in general (influences, concerts, reviews etc.), talking about the future of the band (gigs, promotion etc.) and (most importantly) I got the chance to listen to the rough versions of the recently recorded songs.

The plan (if my memory doesn't fool me) is to put the 5 new songs and the 6 tracks of the first EP He Never Left The Room (in remixed/-mastered versions?) on a full-length "compilation" Album that will have a lenghty and quite spectacular title, which I very much doubt that I'm entitled to reveal at this point! So far the band hasn't been all the active when it comes to promoting itself, but once the new and more professional looking CD has been produced/printed this should (and really ought to) change and the band will start approaching radio stations, magazines etc. as well as trying to sell the CD through a few selected record stores.

The new recordings sort of indicate a change in the musical direction of the band as all of the songs were shorter, more "noisy" and not as instantly catchy as the songs of the first EP (the band's songwriter Michael revealed that among bands he has been inspired by Sonic Youth and Traening). That said the new songs still sounded damn great and once keyboardist/bassist Mogens (aka tWAMi) has added his magic touch to the recordings, I'm certain that we'll have another bunch of brilliant Anamia songs on our hands.

Unfortunately it will last a few months (at the very minimum) before the new songs are ready (I was told that they will be available as free downloads), so in the waiting period I strongly urge you to check out the older songs, if you haven't done so already!



+ Butterfly In Paris (the catchy one of the EP)
+ Temptation Puzzle (my favorite track of the EP)
+ More songs

Anamia

I know I have mentioned it once or twice before, but I still should have written in my post yesterday that Mogens Møller of tWAMi plays keyboards in talented Danish band Anamia. The band is one of my favorite newcomers of the year so far and hopefully you have already given these boys a listen? If not I strongly recommend that you do, because this is a really great sounding band with a huge potential.
+ Butterfly In Paris
+ Towards The Wind
+ The Mouse Is The Great Man

Hyping

If my blog was of even the slightest importance I'd immediately start hyping these 10 bands/artists (Well I guess I'm already doing my very best at hyping them, though I'm not all that successful/any good at it):

Anamia
Webpage
Myspace
...But It Wasn't So Back Then [mp3]

The Ballet
Webpage
Myspace
I Hate The War [mp3]

Celestial
Webpage
Myspace
Nothing Happens Twice [mp3]

El Video
Webpage
Myspace
Yo Mama's An Astronaut [mp3]

Kind Of Girl
Webpage
Myspace
Poetry Boy [mp3]

Mavis
Webpage
Myspace
Emotional Vampire [mp3]

Memoplay
Webpage
Myspace
Words Are Small [mp3]

The Monday Photo
Webpage
Myspace
Allies (No Tomorrow) [mp3]

Ruined By Martin
Webpage
Myspace
CC delight [mp3]

Pete White
Webpage
Myspace
Hold Your Hand [mp3]

Once I started creating the list I realized that there were several other artists deserving more focus as well. So I decide to pick those with less than 500 "friends" at myspace.

The quiet, but very beautiful Truest Thing by The Oxygen Ponies has been added to my Current Favorites list.

Chris recommends Always Alone by Vib Gyor. Great one :-)

Grand - I cannot think of better word to describe the music of Danish newcomers Anamia. The band's music is a quite unique (and very catchy) mix of alternative, indie and traditional rock and once again it's pretty hard to understand that music this great can be yours for free! Do yourself a favor; switch off the TV tonight and listen to these guys instead! I've ordered a copy of their Demo EP (and so should you!) and I will post more when I've received it!

Anamia - Webpage
Anamia - Myspace
Anamia - Butterfly In Paris
Anamia - Butterfly In Paris (Remix)
Anamia - Temptation Puzzle
Anamia - Towards The Wind

Talking To The Girls is a Dutch indie rock band. Cannot say that I know that many bands from The Netherlands, but now I know at least one. And the one I know is not bad at all!
Talking To The Girls - Try Again
Talking To The Girls - Backstabber
Talking To The Girls - Dream