Three quick ones...

Spent far, far, far too much time this morning installing my new computer at work, so today time is a valued commodity. So this will be short...

A couple of  months ago, I was (and actually still am) really high on the single Over & Over by UK singer Sivu and now he has a new track out called I Lost Myself...which (fortunately) is a pretty damn fine pop song as well!


You probably have done so already, but if you happen to be one of the few, who hasn't, I strongly urge you to stream the new Azure Blue album Beyond the Dreams There's Infinite Doubt (you can do that right here). Honestly, seriously, scout's honor, hand on my heart etc. Pop music rarely gets more delicious than this!


And while you're over at Soundcloud you simply "have to" stream the new and (by me at least) highly anticipated Prince of Spain album His Majesty. On the short side clocking in at less than 30 minutes, but it will certainly be among the best half hours you will spend this year!


Sorry, but I did tell you that it would be short!

Windsurfing on Azure Blue waters with the Prince of Spain...

A switch back to English means the revival of an old annoying habit; the creation of post titles that make no sense whatsoever.

This is probably my most anticipated release of the year; The full length (if you can actually call an 8 track release "full length") debut His Majesty from Prince of Spain will be out next week (on October 1). Digitally only I assume, though information do continue to remain sparse?


Actually I'm really, really looking forward to the new Azure Blue album Beyond The Dreams There's Infinite Doubt as well. Actually I've received a download link from the label, so perhaps I should just go for it and give it a listen (since it's bound to be fantastic, what exactly is stopping me?)?


Shame on me for completely forgetting to tell that Danish duo Windsurfing (which I briefly mentioned in a post last year) has released their debut 7" through Spanish label Discos Garibaldi. Lead track Never Too Late is a gorgeous pop tune oozing of summer and should the voice sound vaguely familiar, it's probably because the singing is provided by Caspar Bock, who used to front old blog favorites Champagne Riot.

Oneliners...

Having a rather busy day ahead of me, so will keep this short.

Don't know if I should risk an eye, but my back is steadily improving and is feeling better by the day.

Quite as expected, the new Azure Blue single Sunset is a yummy and delicious piece of pop.


A new track by Prince of Spain has popped up at SoundCloud and Brothers is of course a thing of beauty.


Frank's words on the new Arcade Fire single Reflektor is the funniest stuff I've "read" in a long time.

Harmonics is an interesting new Danish band, which I do recommend you check out (even though they are singing in Danish).

The road I know...

Ny single fra svenske Azure Blue...vidunderlig pop musik som skabt til sommer og solskin, så helt ok, hvis foråret så småt begynder at titte fremme...

Det går jo aldeles fremragende (omtrent)...

Sidst jeg var på banen, nævnte jeg at arbejde fyldte en del, hvilket det beklageligvis har valgt stadig at gøre. Og det åbenbart i en sådan grad, at min hjerne i perioder demonstrativt vælger at køre på nedsat blus (og det er ikke ligefrem super smart, når man i forvejen er kapacitetsmæssigt udfordret). Som eksempelvis i dag, hvor jeg havde den klare overbevisning om, at vi skulle have aftenmøde på arbejde. Til min store gru har jeg så netop erfaret, at det skam ikke er i dag, men først i morgen. Som udgangspunkt jo ikke den største katastrofe, hvis altså ikke lige virkeligheden er skruet således sammen, at huset derhjemme i morgen vil være fyldt med unger til lege-/spisegruppe arrangement. Der sidder jeg så solidt bænket til møde, og må derfor overlade fouragering og underholdning af de kære små til min bedre (i morgendagens anledning ophævet til "fortræffelige") halvdel. Budskabet blev efter tøven og bæven viderebragt til den øverst kommanderende på hjemmefronten, der forbløffende nok modtog det uden alt for bebrejdelser eller trusler om dette og hint i øvrigt. Hvorvidt det så skyldes chokket, ventetid hos advokaten eller slet og ret bare er ok, må tiden så vise…

Lidt musikalsk opdateringer, når vi nu er her alligevel...

Det lykkedes ved fælles anstrengelser at få stemt Dags Dato Jonas Villumsen ind på Barometerlisten. En ny uge og en ny liste truer, så stem venligst på den gode herre nok en gang!


De meget fine og ganske så 80'er inspirerede UK elektropopper New Arcades er ved at køre deres debut EP i stilling, og åbningsnummeret, den instrumentale Dreamers, kan nu streames via SoundCloud.


Der forefindes endnu ingen smagsprøver (desværre), men den svenske popsnedker Tobias Isaksson (a.k.a. Azure Blue) skriver på projektets hjemmeside, at album nummer to er meget tæt på at være klar. Vi væbner os med tålmodighed og glæder os!

Mere svensk pop. Den fine nye single Hit the Waves med The Mary Onettes er allerede over det hele, men fortjener da også et lille pip her fra, med en velment opfordring til de få tilbageværende om at set at få givet den et lyt.


Smutter tilbage til arbejde...ses i næste uge...håber jeg!

This and that...

Still busy...and lazy...

This sucks in a major sucking way. The utterly brilliant The Holiday Crowd will be at Stengade on September 7 and since months I have other and completely non-cancellable plans for that evening. If ever, now is the time to us the f-word!
+ Never Speak Of It Again

Check the line-up for this year's Indie Pop Days Berlin and let your heart be filled with envy...unless of course you're one of the lucky bastards who are going!
+ Azure Blue - Little Confusions

In a promo mail Victories At Sea promises that "there will be something new for your eyes and ears very soon". Future Gold was (and remain) one heck of a track, but can't live on that track forever, so new material is eagerly awaited!


On his Facebook page, Northern Portrait frontman Stefan confirms that the rumours about a new EP are in fact more than just rumours. Another rumour, started by Stefan himself, suggests that it will be released in September, though of course it doesn't say what year...!
+ Crazy

Azure acid...

Wow...for a second there I thought it was New Order! Azure Blue remixes Acid House Kings and impressively makes them sound even lovelier than usual...been a while since I listened to the original version and a bit surprised how different the remix manages and still being able to improve on the appeal of the original...



Grab the original version...
+ This Heart is a Stone

Two remixes...

Really busy at work these days so no time at all for typing. Have to share these two pretty fine remixes...

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

The undefeated...

Heads up to J.A. for this one. Seems like Caspar, who once used to be one half of Champagne Riot, has found himself a new alias and is now creating music as The Undefeated. Not much information available (yet?), but it seems like his working on creating his own songs, so ironically (that’s a quote) his first effort is a remix. However the remix in question is quite a feat, as he’s somehow managed to make the nearly perfect The Catcher In The Rye by Azure Blue sound even more fantastic.

The remix:
Azure Blue vs. The Undefeated - The Catcher In The Rye by foreverundefeated

The original:
+ The Cather In The Rye

Plus a Champagne Riot "oldie":
+ Moonstruck

Azure Blue news...

Of course they decided to post the new Azure Blue video right after I left work yesterday...so a little more than 12 hours late; here's the video for Seasons. I've mentioned before that Seasons was one of the best, if not the best, pop songs to be released last year, so of course it needs a video and a single (?) release. Perhaps the timing of the video release is a bit odd though, as the track seems far more suited for long, warm summer nights than this ice cold winter that has suddenly hit us!



A decent stream for the stunning Azure Blue remix of Jonathan Johansson's Stockholm was posted yesterday afternoon as well.

Jonathan Johansson - Stockholm (Azure Blue remix) by Azure Blue

Jonathan Johansson vs. Azure Blue...

This is a match made in heaven! Azure Blue remixes Jonathan Johansson and as expected the outcome is absolutely fantastic! Starts after approx. 38 seconds...

Seasons...

Watch (after the commercial) Azure Blue perform a live version of Seasons on Swedish TV (TV4 - Nyhetsmorgon). The track can be found on the debut album Rule of Thirds and was one of the finest (if not THE finest) pop songs released last year!

Blame the weatherman...

This is the time for year-end lists and even though I’m not going to compile any myself, it doesn’t prevent me from glancing through others. Especially to see if there are artists I’ve completely ignored, but “need” to check out before the year is over…and of course there are. One of those artists is James Blake, whom I’ve obviously heard on the radio etc., but never bothered checking out. Now that I’ve given his self-titled debut a listen, I fully understand why I never bothered. Dull is the first word that comes to mind…hopefully the rest of the “cannot miss and oh so fabulous albums of 2011” are less of a disappointment?

Ever heard of back-ups? Not funny when your computer breaks down halfway through the process of recording new songs; which was exactly what Cassolette just experienced. This track was the only one that survived, though I doubt the weatherman was to blame for the computer problems!
Blame the Weatherman (demo) by Cassolette

Chorus Grant has a new track up for streaming.
Golden Head By Golden Head by Chorus Grant

Check out the Matinée Recordings advent calendar. A nice freebie track is posted every day leading up to Christmas and gives you the perfect opportunity to be introduced to the label’s many fine artists.
+ Harper Lee - Fine Bones

Speaking of Matinée Recordings; The terrific Azure Blue debut album Rule Of Thirds is now available in the Matinée shop.
+ Little Confusions

This new track by School of Seven Bells has finally brought Chris back from his hiatus (although he doesn't seem sure if it will last for long).
School of Seven Bells - The Night

It's a Trap has posted some nice words on the new Loud as Light track Lights Are Out. Name your price and download it via bandcamp.
Lights are Out by Loud as Light

This and that...

The Azure Blue debut album Rule of Thirds is out today...stream the whole thing on SoundCloud...incredibly catchy stuff...
+ The Catcher In The Rye

Socio Peruvian pop musician Francois Peglau shares new track Lonesome Café. Good one!
+ Lonesome Café

Been a while, but seems like my filehost boxstr.net is (sort of) working again (crossing fingers)!

Danish favorites tung_nem has posted a new track called Evident...not one of their best tracks I'm afraid!
Evident by tung_nem

New band on my radar is UK duo The Approval...normally something I'd shy away from as it perhaps looks a little too "boy bandish" and the lads definitely have "poster boy" potential...but the duo's (free to download) EP Time Will Tell contains some really charming pop tunes, so I'll be a fan for now before they are discovered by the teenage hordes...
+ Hide & Seek

Datsyuk hasn't had the best start to the new (NHL) season, but luckily his namesake (obviously called) Datsyuk continues to record nice dreamy electronic pop tunes.
+ Turquoise (Ft. Derek Coburn)

Checking mails...day II...

Kind of depressing. Deleted numerous (which I believe is a nicer term than "shitload of") mails yesterday only to find 52 new ones when logging in this morning...a vicious circle if there ever was one...but here we go again...
+ Sea Weeds - Fall Boi
+ Dempsey - Late Night

not quite from the mailbox, but Matinée Recordings shares the title track from the forthcoming Strawberry Whiplash 7" Stop, Look and Listen.
+ Stop, Look and Listen

The label also shares the thrilling news that a new Northern Portrait release seems to be in the works as well as they are going to release the Azure Blue debut album in December...
+ Azure Blue - The Catcher In The Rye
+ Northern Portrait - Criminal Art Lovers

Back on track, so here's one more from the mailbox...
+ Silver Swans - He Doesn't Know Why (Fleet Fox cover)

...time to take a break...more later (perhaps)...

Little confusions...

Check out the new single from Sweden's Azure Blue. It's the second single lifted from the band's forthcoming debut album Rule of Thirds and needless to say it's absolutely brilliant. Some distorted guitar sounds and it could perhaps have been a perfect The Radio Dept. track...

Little Confusions by Azure Blue