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

Lights are out...

Check out this new track by Sweden's Loud as Light...it's grand, it's epic and it's simply beautiful!!!

Lights are Out by Loud as Light

Dead end...

Think I streamed the video for new Loud As Light single Dead End 10 times or more last night. Yup! The song is really that great!



Dead End by Loud as Light

Modern History...

The new OMD album The History of Modern is (finally) out today, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I’ve been able to give a few listens prior to the release. The band still sounds unmistakably like OMD, as they have found inspiration everywhere in their back catalogue from Enola Gay to Walking on the Milky Way. Obviously the album is neither a new Architecture & Morality nor a new Sugar Tax, but less will do just fine, as long as the band doesn’t sound like a sad copy of their former self. And fortunately they don’t, which I probably wasn’t the only one who feared, as they haven’t lost the ability to pen catchy pop songs. Perhaps a new OMD album isn’t what the world has been missing, but sure it's great having them back!

Thanks to Shuffler.fm the number of visitors to this blog has increased significantly the past month. And this weekend the total number of page views since the launch of the blog surpassed 1 million.

Dane Oh Land will release her US debut EP next month, so the promo mails have started to arrive. When her debut album was released in Denmark two years ago, I received exactly zero promo mails.
+ Son of a Gun

Swedish quartet The Idle Hands is now called Loud as light and offers their fine new single There’s a clock as a free download.
+ There’s a clock

Here’s a really fine one from the mailbox.
+ In Grenada – Distance & Temptation