Funeral...

Copenhagen Collaboration covers Band of Horses...nice...approved by Band of Horses themselves...

+ Band of Horses - Funeral

On the radio this morning...

Every morning when the girls and I are having breakfast the radio is on, and from time to time it does happen that some really fine stuff is aired, thus helping to make the start of the day a good one. The “On the radio this morning” posts are my humble attempt to make your start a good one as well!

If only...

…I wasn’t such a lazy sod, I’d probably be writing something about:

Young Danish duo Forgotten Fields of Fire and their charming pop tunes.
+ Live By Heart

The excellent debut album (download only) Acquaintances by Tetris = Therapy.
+ A Lack of Concentration

The amazing 180 song Peace compilation published by Buffetlibre in support of Amnesty International.
+ Cartridge – Black Roads

The new interesting and free to download Between Two Waves Volume A compilation released by Eardrums Pop.

How Clinging To A Scheme is getting better and better for every listen and how much I'm looking forward to (finally) seeing The Radio Dept. performing live.
+ Heaven's On Fire

How I quite like the new Band of Horses album, but still not completely won over by High Violet.

The William Blakes releasing a new album in September called The Way Of The Warrior, which will be the band’s third album release in the span of just 2½ years.
+ Violent God

Plus ???

While I was cleaning out the mailbox...

...lots of other things happened!

I finally bought myself a ticket for the Get Well Soon concert at Loppen on March 23.
+ If This Hat Is Missing I Have Gone Hunting

The new album by The National was announced. To be released May 11 and will be named High Violet. Frank says it's awesome! I’m almost prepared to wager next month’s salary that no song on the new album will be as fantastic as Fake Empire. If there is, then it will definitely be worth the price!
+ Fake Empire

Band of Horses quickly sold out their concert at Vega on April 18. And, as I expected, announced that they are about to release a new album. Infinite Arms will be out on May 17 (or 18 depending on your location), but sadly not on Sub Pop.
+ The Great Salt Lake

New song Andalucía by Doves was played on radio for the first time.

I received a promo mail with a copy of Plastic Beach. Stylo is a nice one, but the rest is definitely not my “cup of tea”.

The band formerly known as Ruined by Martin okayed a “in retrospect” post. So hopefully a post will be up next week containing every track ever recorded by the band.
+ Kaiser Star

Jeremy Sparrow mailed me a copy of his debut EP This Summer Was Just Such A Bore. I’m looking forward to giving it some thorough listens.
+ Outrunning Paper Tigers (demo version)

Received the rest of the Call Signs EP, I requested yesterday! At times the lead singer of Wires in the Walls really sounds like Angie Aparo, and that combined with some great songwriting makes this a truly fabulous EP!
+ Twin Jet Engines

Two decent cover versions of The Raveonettes' Heart of Stone landed in my inbox.
+ Dum Dum Girls - Heart of Stone
+ Amazing Baby - Heart of Stone

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.

On the radio this morning...

This was the first song on the radio this morning. Even though the title isn't the most optimistic you'll ever hear, I still expect today to be a fine one, with a start like that.



+ No One's Gonna Love You

Every morning when eating breakfast the radio is on, and from time to time it does happen that some really fine stuff is aired, thus helping to make the start of the day a good one. The “On the radio this morning” posts are an attempt to make your start a good one as well!

This and that...

The title of today's post could easily have been "Shorties", but I thought it was time for a change, so by using a maximum of creativity I came up with another really fine one...(OK - if you don't get it, I'm being sardonically sarcastic here!).

I'm a bit puzzled why reviewers weren't as excited about the Band of Horses concert as I was. Summing up these 4 reviews (1 2 3 4) the average is 3½ stars out of 6! Come on guys - you gotta be kidding! Or did you spend most of the night in the bar?

Last night I had the privilege of listening to the unmastered versions of two brand new tracks by A Classic Education. They are not up for streaming yet, but I promise you that this is something you should be looking forward to. I was also informed last night that the band is a six piece, so I will refrain from calling the band a trio in the future!

The moi Caprice webpage is finally up and running.
+ For Once in Your Life Try Fight for Something You Believe In

Last night I also managed to find some time to check out a few new tracks, and one that really stuck was Smooth Brotha by L.A. quartet Rue Melo. Mixing Hip Hop, dance, R&B etc. this is not something one should expect would appeal to me at all, but after a few listens I found myself tapping my feet and moving my upper body to the beat of the song. Don't worry - I can still be super indie cool if need be, but this track just has this something that makes it so damn hard to resist.
+ Smooth Brotha

Midweek shorties...

The Band of Horses concert last night was just brilliant (though at least this reviewer begs to differ) and I can only recommend that you check them out the next time they visit a venue near you. Someday soon I hope! Oh – and having a couple of beers and pizza with three of the Frekvens boys was pretty cool as well.
+ The Great Salt Lake

The new single Someone you replaced by Kind of girl is now streaming at Myspace. And a mighty lovely one it is! Hopes are that the debut album will be out in August...

According to the band's Myspace blog, Rich Costey, who produced Frengers, will also produce the next/new/forthcoming Mew album. So it's time for all of you who didn't like And The Glass Handed Kites, to start hoping that this means a return to the "old sound". Recordings are scheduled to take place somewhere in NY in May...

Excellent Italian trio A Classic Education informs us in a Myspace bulletin, that new songs have been mixed and should be up in a few days (hopefully). Will the new ones be as good as these?
+ Victories At Night
+ Stay, Son

In another Myspace bulletin The Monday Photo does a little advertising for a live concert tomorrow. Guys – when will you announce the release of an album? We are quite a few impatiently awaiting exactly that piece of information! As much as I’d love to see you live, Miami Beach is simply too far away – especially on a Thursday night!

A few more Loop a Loop remixes are now available.

Another episode of Desperate Housewives (yikes) will be aired on Danish TV tonight, which hopefully gives me 50 minutes of quality time without untimely interruptions, where I can check out some new music.

Shorties...

My wife just sent me this picture. Click on it, spot the red circle and then you know where to find me during working hours. Unfortunately it's not a snapshot captured today!

I seriously need to get some speakers for this ancient computer at work. March Song by Biker Boy is now available to stream and download (for free during the first seven days of March) and for the aforementioned reason (no speakers equals no music) I haven’t listened to it yet. But hopefully it's just as excellent as the previous two tracks of this interesting and quite ambitious project.

It’s Band of Horses night tomorrow. Looking forward to see what I've read should be a very good live act. Also looking forward to meeting a few of the friendly lads from the Frekvens team.
+ The Funeral

You’re probably fed up by how I’m trying to hype Northern Portrait, but all I can say is get used to it. My copy of the Fallen Aristocracy EP arrived Saturday and I promise you that it will take you on a trip to indie pop heaven for12 minutes 20 seconds. Angmoh has posted one of the older tracks not on the EP.

Danish electronic pop/rock act Volvoe is looking for a new bass player. So if you live in Copenhagen (or somewhere close), are serious about your music, know how to play the bass etc. etc. – why not send the boys an email?
+ Organized Faults

Band of Horses...

will be playing live at Vega in Copenhagen on March 4 next year and I've just bought two tickets. Anyone seen them live? Any good?
+ The Funeral
+ Is There a Ghost

Off to London...

Thanks to those of you who left a comment on yesterday's post. As always it's great to learn that someone is actually reading the words!

I'll jump the bandwagon and add to the hype, so here's the new track Is There A Ghost by Band of Horses. The band's second album Cease To Begin will be out on October 9 on the amazing Sub Pop Records, which is (another) one of those visionary labels knowing and understanding the importance of giving away a track or two from future releases as "teasers". Judging by the first track one could guess that the new album will be a bit more "rocky", but soon we'll be much wiser. However Is There A Ghost certainly doesn't disappoint (after a few listens), so expectations remain pretty damn high.
+ Is There A Ghost

Want to win the debut album by The Floor Is Made Of Lava? Visit the band's blog and guess who utters "WHO THE FUCK ARE ARCTIC MONKEYS?"! Nice!

Chris explains why we all should donate blood. In a comment I explain why I'll never be a blood donor (it has something to do with needles).

1 2 3 4 is sharing one more track from the band's forthcoming debut album In Your Faith.
+ Coltrane

Charlie Don't Surf gives away the remaining three of four newly recorded tracks over at Myspace. Wonderful stuff!
+ I'm Surprised By Your Eyes

Best news of the day: Northern Portrait joins Matinee Recordings.

Yep - tomorrow I'll be heading to London with 7 of my very thirsty friends, and during our 4 day stay I expect to gather enough information to be able to write a small booklet about beers and pubs in greater London!
+ Null Device - Walk In London (Null Device Brick Lane Mix)

One of the new tracks by Danish indie rock band I Am Bones is called The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing. I think I'll use the title as a quick test the next few days. As long as anyone can say it without stumbling over the words, he's simply not drunk enough! On a complete sidenote - the song (from the band's forthcoming album The Greater Good) is actually pretty good!
+ The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

Midweek musings

I was really surprised by the number of people interested in the 80's songs yesterday, because the blog received nearly 600 hits, making it the most successful day by far. I thought most people owned several 80's compilation CD containing most of those songs anyway! But apparently that's not the case or people simply wanted to listen to the songs at work? Another 80's soundtrack is in the making. However it was quite a disappointment that hardly anyone had the "courage" to check out some of the lesser known bands mentioned here.

Soundvenue reviews debut Everything All The Time by Band Of Horses and gives it 5 (out of 6) stars.

Waiting for Peter to mention this song by Bombs Over Berlin, since he's the one who introduced me to the band in the first place. Sorry Peter, but I couldn't wait any longer, because I simply had to recommend this superb and very, very catchy new wave, pop song!
+ Love Asylum

2 unreleased songs by The Field Mice are available at Myspace.
+ I Wish I Meant More To You
+ A Winter's Dawn (The Yesterday Sky)

The brilliant In The Woods by Levy is available for free as well.
+ In The Woods

I've mentioned Venice Is Sinking before, but this one is still highly recommendable.
+ Pulaski Heights

A quartet of nice ones found at Myspace:
+ Budapest - Lost
+ Colder - To The Music
+ The Consultants - Contents Of My Head
+ The Notwist - Pick Up The Phone

Evening music:
+ The Raveonettes - Love In A Trashcan
+ South - Paint The Silence Old but nice!
+ Audio Bullys - I'm In Love
+ Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want - Best I've Ever Had - I'm Still Here
+ The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony - The Drugs Don't Work - Sonnet

Hype / Playlist

Every music blogger seems to be going crazy over Tapes 'N Tapes these days. I've been a bit puzzled over this, because the music didn't appeal to me at all when I listened to it last year! Yesterday I gave the band another try, but it didn't change that I'm still puzzled.
Another band getting a lot of exposure is Band Of Horses and I was more or less expecting that this would be another over-hyped band. But lo and behold. The Funeral [mp3] is a wonderful epic song and definitely among the best ones I've heard so far this year. So I immediately bought into the hype and ordered the album. And once I got started I also ordered the new albums by Morrissey (receiving 5 out of 6 stars by Gaffa), The Flaming Lips (5 out of 6 stars by Gaffa and by Soundvenue) and The Radio Dept.

............................................from the playlist:

Snowfight In The City Centre - No Light Left [mp3] Another noteworthy band name!
Self Stereo - That's Enough [mp3] Spanish alternative.
Grow - Not A Love Song [mp3] The vox could easily be a bit better, but I think the music is quite good.
Hotels - Atlantic [mp3] A mix of Joy Division and something indescribable. Forgot to mention that I found this band via Loveless Music Group.