Mere løst end fast...

Manner, manner! Er seriøst ved at være et gammelt røvhul! Mit teenage idol Howard Jones har via sin facebook side annonceret, at han skal spille på Esbjerg Rock Festival til sommer. En festival (hvis hjemmeside tilsyneladende ligger i ruiner), som efter min bedste og lettere arrogante overbevisning, til dato kun har været for kunstnere med dårlig økonomi og besøgende uden andet i livet end fjerne minder fra ”der var engang”. At jeg nu selv overvejer at besøge festivalen, kan vel kun betyde at jeg enten skal revurdere min holdning til festivalen eller med gru acceptere, at jeg selv lever i fortidens skygge?

Crunchy Frog bliver ved med at prikke til mig for at få mig til at skrive noget pænt om Crunchy Christmas i Pumpehuset d. 8. december. Sådan kan jeg vel næsten kun opfatte det, når jeg nu har modtaget en tredje mail om arrangementet? Da familien får et for længst annonceret besøg fra det kolde nord, har jeg desværre ikke mulighed for at møde op den dag, hvorfor jeg har været lidt tøvende med hensyn til omtale. Men line-uppet for hele dagen (fra matiné til dj’s) ser jo brillant ud, så hermed min varmeste anbefaling.

Den britiske sanglærke med det poetiske navn Polly Scattergood har lagt dette (aldeles glimrende) nye nummer op til streaming på SoundCloud, som en ”appetizer” for hendes andet album, der skulle være på gaden engang i starten af det nye år.


Den helt igennem fænomenale single Sick Days fra de ligeså helt igennem fænomenale The Holiday Crowd (hvor føles det stadig pisse åndssvagt, at jeg missede koncerten på Stengade i September) kan nu bestilles via Shelflife eller New Romantic. En single der bør give enhver elsker af 80’er inspireret britisk guitarpop (altså endnu en tur ned af den nostalgiske memory lane) våde øjne…

Det supertalentfulde Birmingham band Victories at Sea irriterer mig noget så grænseløst. Der kommer konstant mails og opdateringer fra bandet om nye koncerter, men (stort set) ingen nyheder om nye sange. Så på en eller anden måde da rigtig gerne, at det var omvendt...

Picnic...

Watch or stream We've Only Just Begun by Estonian trio Picnic. From the forthcoming 7" single that will be out on Shelflife at the end of the month. Expect that shoegaze/dreampop fans will start drooling when they hear this!



 Picnic - We've Only Just Begun by shelflife

Mails and such...

Think I’ve been quite disciplined recently and done my best deleting mails from the inbox. Still the number has now reached and rapidly surpassed 10,000! Ten-thousand (or 10,103 to be exact)! Suck on that for a moment. If I spent one minute on each, it would take me a little more than 168 hours or exactly a week checking them all. So if you’re still awaiting a reply; forget about it and move on…

As always one of the big challenges, when your mailbox is cluttered like this, is to spot the important ones from the “spam”. Experience does help though, as there are some “safe bets”. Like for instance news from Shelflife Records that (almost) always equals good news. And in this case it certainly is, as the label has just released (co-released with New Romantic) the Over the Bluffs EP by The Holiday Crowd containing 7 ace guitar pop songs.
+ Never Speak Of It Again

Not all too happy to write this, but I do think that the new single by The Mary Onettes is a slight disappointment. But as it says in the promo mail: “Gone are the echoing reverbs, the 80's guitars and the big, splashing drums...”. That might explain some, though hopefully I just need to listen to it some more?
+ Love's Taking Strange Ways

Should have but haven’t mentioned that Jonathan Johansson will be playing at Koncertkirken in Copenhagen on February 10. Have (of course) bought a ticket, but have yet to find out if I’ll actually be able to go, as both kids are going to parties that evening…
Jonathan Johansson - Blommorna by HYBRIS

The annual Matinée fanclub poll is always a good reader. Even though it’s a Christmas song, Leave The Trees Alone by Northern Portrait won the category “song of the year”. Of course it did!
Leave the Trees Alone by Northern Portrait

On February 2 Fraction Discs will release the sophomore album from Liechtenstein. Promo package has been downloaded and looking forward to giving the album a listen!
+ Ambitions

Start! and more...

Unlike previous years I’m not going to write a lengthy report from this year’s Start! (previously Vesterbro) Festival. Primarily because I’m afraid that most of it will be spent on discussing the line-up and the criteria used for selecting the artists. So no in-depth analysis this year I’m afraid. But fact is that I was there, and during the three days I heard lots of music of varying quality and got introduced to a string of (to me at least) unfamiliar artists. A few made a good impression and will perhaps be included in a blogpost some fine day. Several made a not so good impression and most likely will never be featured around here. Those artists I knew beforehand did (for most parts) a fine job and I will continue following them and bring updates whenever there is something interesting to tell. The always reliable Ginger Ninja (picture) was the last band I saw at this year’s festival and whenever the band releases a debut album, it will be most welcomed.
+ OnePlusOneIsThree

No Blood In Bones has been picked "band of the week" at BandBase.dk.
+ Safe Way Out

Canadian artist Under Electric Light has remixed the track Danaé by fellow Canadians Les Incendiaries and has made it a free download. No clue what the song is about, as I've never bothered learning a single word of French. But it's good stuff!
+ Danaé (Under Electric Light mix)

New, small indie label Odd Box Records had the busiest of days yesterday and announced three new releases!

The Really Like to See You Again 12” single by Thieves Like Us will be out on Shelflife Records tomorrow. 500 copies have been pressed, so act swiftly!
+ Really Like to See You Again

Snotty nose...

I’ve received a little feed back on my previous blog post, and whether we call it live blogging or not; a few people seem to like reading those kinds of posts. And I quite enjoy writing them too, though they do require that you have a few undisturbed hours available.

This piece of Pitchfork news on the upcoming Mew album is probably old news by now. Sounds creative and innovative, but hopefully the boys saved some creativity for writing music as well? Should be interesting. Very interesting! But I'm also somewhat nervous that the album will be utter crap.

Wrote Saturday that I didn't know how to buy the Winding Stairs album Everything. I've since been informed that it should be available from record stores (if you live in Scandinavia) as well as digitally.
+ Shadow Stripes

Oliver North Boy Choir are no more, but the band's music lives on. So when watching the news Sunday evening, it was fun (and extremely cool) to hear a few seconds of Holy Wars being played during a documentary on cod farming in Norway!



Always worth mentioning a new release by fine label Shelflife, though I'll never be a fan of that CD/7" combo. Tactical POP! for Coffee Cadets by Socialist Leisure Party will be out tomorrow, and it will be a 300 copies only limited release.
+ Head in the Hay

Want you to know...

Every blogger probably knows what it feels like finding a song that you cannot wait for the rest of the world to hear? If so, you should completely understand the feeling I’ve had for the past 24 hours since I stumbled upon Broken Satellite by Dennis Mejdal, as I cannot recall the last time I heard a song so truly gorgeous and loveable as this one. No chance that the world will be reading this, but those of you who actually do, make sure you don’t miss out on it. Just don’t!
+ Broken Satellite

Despite being a fairly new constellation, Danish trio The Minor Collective is off to a rapid start. Three new tracks were published yesterday, to go along with the three published less than two months ago. At first I was a bit unimpressed, but these songs just grow for every listen, and this is the kind of stuff I feel certain will work really, really well if/when performed live some day.
+ Want You To Know
+ Endless Lane
+ Denial

The LP edition of the debut album Play Music by Thieves Like Us will be released by amazing indie label Shelflife Records on Tuesday, March 10. I’ve been listening to the album a couple of times today, and I’m still trying to digest what I heard. More dark and electronic than anything I can recall being released on this label, and right now I'm in need of a few more listens before making a verdict. Eardrums has written a fine review.
+ Drugs In My Body

The Green Concorde sophomore album Down the Corridor to the Exit Through the Gates Out into Safety is out in the German speaking countries today and drops in Denmark on Monday.
+ Flowers of Romance

One Weekly Gun comments the return of “the King of pop”.
+ Hail the King

This has sort of turned into an ongoing feature, so here’s another fine rocker from Detroit 5-piece The Respectables.
+ Where You Are

Plan to post my comments on the Dear Unknown Friend album by The William Blakes on Monday, as well as a promo track from the excellent debut by The Blueflowers.

No hablo español...

Or is the correct expression“no habla español”? J.A. can you please guide me?

Thanks to this post on the Shelflife blog and the irresistible enthusiasm oozing from the aforementioned J.A., I’m currently enjoying four brand new demo tracks by Spanish indie pop/shoegaze band Sundae. The band is not quite new to me, as J.A. recommended the quartet (?) to me exactly a year ago, which back then led to this post. Now the band is back again and sounding like The Radio Dept. singing in Spanish, which has to be one of the highest accolades imaginable. All four tracks are free to download and one can only recommend that you grab all of them before the band is signed and the tracks removed. And if there’s any justice in this world this could happen any day soon.
+ 92

Speaking of The Radio Dept., there’s still no news on the band’s third album. Last update indicated “an early 2009 release”, which unfortunately seems quite unlikely now.
+ Freddie and the trojan horse

Check the line-up for this year’s Indietracks Festival and start drooling!

Coming soon on German label afmusic is a digital release (EP or album?) by Swedish gothic/new wave quartet Diskoteket. Meanwhile enjoy the 2006 self-titled EP, which is free to download in its entirety.
+ Ge Mig Ljuset

Is This The Way The Good World Will End...?

In hindsight that “from the mailbox” mixtape I posted the other day was pretty damn good. Certainly not from a writing point of view, as the words weren’t really there. But most of the songs were of surprisingly high quality and 7 of them have been on repeat this morning, with only the Pet Shop Boys cover being ignored. To be honest, and being that every now and then do make you feel a lot better, I only posted it to attract some visitors, though the number of visits it actually did cause most likely can be counted on one hand. But to cut a long story short (which I’ve been told means that the story is already too long) two of the songs ended up in my current favorite list (in the right column in case you don’t know what I’m talking about) and thus deserves a few words along the way.

At first I ignored the promo mail regarding young UK singer Polly Scattergood, but then I read this excellent write-up at Chromewaves and thought “what the heck”. And I do agree with the take that Nitrogen Pink is an intriguing first single from what one could suspect will be a fine debut album, as the other songs streaming at myspace do sound rather interesting. Though the best moments are the ones where the young lady abandons her quiet and natural (?) singer-songwriter background and instead follow a less obvious electronic pop path, as she seems to be quite a force in this field. Whether or not there’s anything about my fear of an album dominated by this high-pitched voice (as beautiful as it may be), could end up being a little too much, I will put to rest for now and instead wait for the release of the self-titled debut album. And it won’t last long as it will be out March 9 in her native UK and preordering is already possible from the HMV webshop (and several others as well I guess).
+ Nitrogen Pink

Dead Heart Bloom is one of those bands that every music fan should love. If for nothing else then at least for its generosity, as every single song recorded by the band is available for free download. And quite a productive band this is, as 3 5-tracks EP’s were recorded and released last year. Just like the brilliant Flash in a Battle it’s all beautiful folk pop/rock, but suddenly something ignite and on the track Is This The Way The Good World Will End? the band decides to go shoegazing/noise-rocking, which as well as being unsuspected is both fascinating and refreshing.
+ Flash in a Bottle
+ Is This The Way The Good World Will End?

A few bits and bobs since you’re here already!

Calling new Danish band The Olympics a “super-group” might be a little over the top, but lots of skills is gathered, as all 5 band members have experience from other bands (Feet Don’t Fail Me and Surf In Stereo) or have worked as producers/remixers (john the electrician and Zvook Mescalin). Two songs have been published so far and though they don't convince me completely I still suggest that we keep an eye on these lads.
+ Superheroes

The Burning Hearts album Aboa Sleeping is out now on Shelflife Records. A month and a half ago I wrote that the 9 tracks had all been imported from “the indie pop heaven”, and they still sound exactly like that! It costs $10, so don't give me any "financial crisis" bullshit for not buying it!
+ I Lost My Colour Vision
+ Sea Birds

The video for the stunning new Doves single Kingdom of Rust.

Champagne at Emerald Park...

Two very interesting new releases by two Scandinavian artists have been spinning merrily in the office today. Sophomore album For Tomorrow by Sweden’s Emerald Park has been on the radar for quite some time now, and it will finally be released November 14 by small German web label afmusic. Ever since I featured the band for the first time back in September last year, a constant stream of fine new demo recordings and mixes of older tracks have been floating our way, which for my part helped to increase the expectations. Expectations are always difficult to deal with, but For Tomorrow just doesn’t leave any room for disappointments, as the album’s 12 catchy and well-produced (by Ola of Moonbabies) pop songs gives us far more than we could realistically hope for.
+ Pasadena
+ Lights of Sunday

The Shelflife webpage has been given a much-needed face-lift and the US label celebrates this by releasing the eagerly awaited Paris and I EP by Danish one-man project Champagne Riot. And this little gem containing 6 irresistible pop songs once again proves that Shelflife only signs the very best.
+ Scandinavian Warfare

Shorties (longer version)...

As it was played on the radio this morning, I wanted to post the video for Zookeeper’s Boy by Mew, but all I got was the “embedding disabled by request” message! I’m tempted to post multiple question marks here, because what exactly is the motivation behind this decision? I’m truly sorry that I wanted to promote one of your songs. Sorry, sorry, sorry and I promise that I’ll never do it again! My big problem is that I absolutely adore Mew, so hopefully it’s just some label jerk showing his complete lack of judgment.

The lovely Someone You Replaced by Kind of girl was played on the radio as well. The debut album Lonely in a modern way will (finally) be digitally released August 11. What a long, long journey this has been.

Also on the radio this morning was the annoying Don’t Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders (video) and I seriously believe it must be one of the worst songs ever written.

Swedish male/female duo New Found Land has just finished recording their first release (?) and the track Leave It All Behind once again leaves me in complete awe how the stream of charming and catchy pop tunes by Swedish bands never seems to dry out.

Hits In The Car favorites Ether Aura are giving away an unreleased version of the album track Our Favorite Song. These guys deserve a major breakthrough, so they can go on a world tour, as I believe this will be my only chance to ever see them in concert.
+ Our Favorite Song

Another favorite act The Papertiger Sound will soon be releasing/publishing a new EP. It's to be called This Is How It Ends and hopefully there's no deeper meaning to the title? Every single track recorded by this amazing band is available as a free download.

I love small indie labels like Shelflife, matinée etc., but at the same time I do find it a bit frustrating when the “coming soon” signs are up for months. When will Shelflife release that Paris and I EP by Champagne Riot and it probably comes as no surprise to anyone that I cannot sleep at night, because I’m impatiently awaiting the Napoleon Sweetheart EP by Northern Portrait (hopefully out on matinée very, very soon)?
+ Champagne Riot – Heroes Of Our Time

Monday mix...

One Weekly Gun has broken one of his own rules and has written a song about himself. Happy to learn that this excellent project is reaching an ever-growing audience!
+ Weekend Man

Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies are giving away a new demo track over at Myspace.
+ Things I Used To Know

Has The Stone Roses reformed? Unfortunately no, but you certainly could get that impression when you listen to the Tour de Force EP by The Ruling Class. Rarely has an inspiration been more obvious than in this case. Another fine release by Shelflife Records!
+ Umbrella Folds

Zen Sucker by Larsen & Furious Jane is out today and the reviewers love it (1, 2, 3).
+ Widowers

Still here...

The past two days I’ve been listening several times to the new Still Here EP by Swedish duo Kuryakin. The 5 track CDEP and 2 track 7” combines for 7 lovely indie/electronic pop tunes that are as refreshing as the coolest summer breeze. As mentioned yesterday it’s a new release by Shelflife Records, which now are responsible for two of the finest EP releases so far this year (including Downhill by DAYS).
+ Peace of Mind

Crushing Digits by VETO debuts at no. 2 in the Danish album chart this week. For several reasons that’s good news to me. Obviously because I like the album, but primarily because I hope that other smaller bands will be encouraged that success (even commercially) can be achieved through hard work.

I've just received a Myspace friend request from at metal band...now should I approve or deny that one?

This and that...

The more I check the unknown bands playing at this year's Vesterbro Festival, the better the program looks.

The new fine tracks by Danish post rockers Mimas have already been posted by Frekvens and In a cyclone of stones, but good stuff deserves multiple postings.
+ Cats on Fire
+ Mac, Get Your Gear

I mentioned NY duo This Is Ivy League in a post last week and the more I listen to the self-titled album the more I'm convinced that this will be this year's summer album. Catchy melodies, jangling guitars and lovely harmonies - yummy!

The second single (and another freebie) Poets Dying from the forthcoming Björn Kleinhenz album Quietly Happy and Deep Inside is almost as good as the first single The Quest For Your Heart. Could very well have been the soundtrack of the summer along with This Is Ivy League, but it won't be released until September (on Tomt Recordings)!
+ Poets Dying

Still Here by Kuryakin and Tour De Force by The Ruling Class are the two recent releases by the rejuvenated Shelflife Records. More on those, when I've "chewed" my way through both of them a few more times, but first listen left me impressed.
+ Kuryakin - Take My Hand
+ The Ruling Class - Flowers

Finally. FINALLY! I have a new computer at work. The speakers are crap, but at least I'm able to stream some music now!

Danish label Speed Of Sound has launched their new webpage.