Busy Tuesday...

I have a rather busy Tuesday ahead of me with plenty of work, meetings etc. So this is (once again) one of those "perhaps more will be added later today posts"!

5 new blogs have been added to the blogroll:

• Just Gimme Indie Rock
• lost in your inbox
• Puddlegum
  
• Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good
• Song, by Toad

Make sure to check them out!

Two songs from the mailbox:

I received a mail promoting Philly chamber pop band illuminea a few weeks back, but I didn't really like the included track Homewrecker the first time around. This morning I received a second mail (call it a "follow-up"), so I thought "what the heck" let's give it a second listen. Turned out to be a wise decision as it is charming little pop gem. It's taken from the album Out Of Our Months which is released today on High Two.
+ Homewrecker

In the same mail I found the track Planet New York which can be found on the Australian singer Sarah Blasko's second album What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have (to be released September 11 on Low Altitude Records). This is a surprisingly catchy pop tune that definitely is worth wasting more than a few minutes on.
+ Planet New Year

Those were the days...

A few years back I used to read these comments every week. Unfortunately I don't bother checking them out anymore, which actually is quite a shame as James Masterson is a pretty knowledgeable and entertaining writer. And it certainly isn't his fault that most of the music entering the UK Top 75 Singles Chart is pure garbage. But reading through his column these days is pretty darn close to being torture, as it becomes more and more rare that one band/artist I even remotely care about is being mentioned. I guess it's just another example of the injustice of the music world, when a good writer is being forced to write about bad music?

In the mailbox this morning I found the album Different Places by electro pop duo Plastic Operator. The album was released on Fine Day Records 3 months ago and has received some great reviews. And upon first listen it does actually sound pretty good.
+ Another Sound

Danish surf pop band Charlie, Don't Surf has just finished recording 4 new tracks - all of them produced by Ebbe Frej of EPO-555. The first result of this interesting collaboration; Starting Low, Aiming High, is now available to download, and from the first listen it's very clear that this is a quite fruitful combination. We already knew that the boys could write charming pop songs, but with the assistance of a more experienced producer, the sound has been taken to the next level. This is instantly loveable and I'm impatiently looking forward to hearing the remaining four tracks!
+ Starting Low, Aiming High

German indie rock trio Tornister has recorded a new track called A Point Of View that they are giving away for free over at Myspace. The track is a nice follow-up to the previous two tracks published by the band (download).
+ A Point Of View

former bee-keeper...

Celestial has uploaded a new track to Myspace called former bee-keeper. Actually it's not quite new as the song was the band's contribution to the Let it bee compilation released on My Honey Records earlier this year. Some JAMC inspiration and the right mix of noise and jangling guitars make this another fantastic song by this Swedish band.
+ former bee-keeper

Murder the (S)ambassadeur...

Last year I posted a few words on the EP by NY quartet Murder Mystery and now that the band has released their debut album, it's time to post a few more. The name of the 12 track album is Are You Ready for the Heartache Cause Here it Comes and perhaps it's a bit on the short side with a running time of just 33 minutes. But all 12 tracks are little pop gems (I used that description the first time round as well) and certainly no time is wasted on unnecessary fillers, which makes those few minutes very well spent. The band uses the term "Television-esque guitar arrangements" in the press material, and this is actually a fine way to describe the sound of the band (a bit more "popish" perhaps, but listen to Marquee Moon and I'm sure you'll agree). Now if only the band hadn't removed the picture of Peter Lorre from their webpage!
+ Love Astronaut
+ Honey Come Home
+ Grab one more track over at You Ain't No Picasso

Peter wrote in his post yesterday about how convenient it is to receive music in your mailbox. I fully agree - especially when the music is great, as this makes your life as a music blogger a lot easier. The fine new single I Am History by Swedish trio The Bell is just a perfect example of why some promo mails are worth checking out!
+ I Am History

The new single by Sambassadeur is already all over the bloggerworld, but I thought I should mention it as well, as it's exactly as sweet and catchy as you expected it to be.
+ Subtle Changes

Compilation CD...

My youngest daughter isn't feeling all that well today, so while I'm home looking after the little one, I've made myself this nice compilation CD (must be the first one for ages) containing some of my favorite tracks of the past few months. Guess what will be on the carstereo tomorrow?

+ The Papertiger Sound - The Papertiger Sound Forever
+ The Electric Pop Group - My Only Inspiration
+ The Dance Inc. - Dont run to the Suburbs (Erobique Remix)
+ Sunny Summer Day - You're the one for me
+ 1 2 3 4 - Saddest
+ Purplespace - Pretty in Pink (The Psychedelic Furs cover) - Shoegaze
+ Penny Century - Nothing Burns Like Bridges
+ Oliver North Boy Choir - Enola Gay
+ Northern Portrait - What happens next?
+ Northern Portrait - I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
+ Northern Portrait - Crazy
+ Munich - The Young Ones
+ Monomen - Drum Of Glass
+ Hari And Aino - Seasons
+ The Felt Tips - Treat Me Gently
+ Tower of Foil - Faster than your eye
+ Kristoffer August & The Red Apples - Desert Night Sky
+ Daylight - The Morning Call
+ Celestial - Somedays We Are
+ Amazonair - Because Tonight

Update: When I listened to the CD in the car this morning, it felt almost unbelievable that all these great songs are yours to grab, burn and listen to for free...

Ether & Velour...

Sometimes I cannot help thinking that life just isn't fair. I just read the great news that Ether Aura will be playing a free show on August 24th at The Berkley Front. The only, but quite significant problem is that the venue is located in Michigan, which is (at least) a 12 hours journey away from Denmark. But if you happen to be in the Detroit area next Friday don't miss the opportunity to see this fantastic band live. Below two tracks from this year's excellent album, Before We Could Sing.
+ Twist
+ Tell Me That I'm Nothing

According to the band's blog Entakt is currently recording new tracks. You all should know by now that I'm quite a fan, so this is great news indeed!

The catchy If You Really Want Me by Velour has been remixed by Emil Høiriss. The remix is absolutely cool, but it's really quite a shame that it's not possible to download it. Instead you can stream it here or download the original version below.
+ If You Really Want Me

Yesterday Peter posted a new track by Swedish shoegazers Fathom 5. Strongly recommend that you check it out!

Sometimes I find the Last.fm recommendation function quite amusing. This morning it suggested that I should listen to a band called Northern Portrait.........hmmm wait a second. That name does ring a bell - doesn't it?

The new and instantly loveable "free download only" single Nothing Burns Like Bridges by Penny Century is released today on Letterbox Records.
+ Nothing Burns Like Bridges

Spleen United Remixes...

Two tracks from the fantastic Spleen United album Godspeed Into The Mainstream have been remixed and the band likes the remixes so much that they have decided to make them both available as free downloads!
+ Streetfighter (Broken Spindles Remix)
+ She Falls In Love With Machines (VHS OR BETA DEEJAYS REMIX)

New track by Northern Portrait...

My recent favorite band, Northern Portrait continues to impress me. This new track is once again a wonderful, catchy and charming indie pop tune with lots of jangling guitars. A fourth track is on its way, which (still) is about all the information I can find.
+ What Happens Next?

Update: The band has sent me a message with a little info that I thought I'd share with you. Northern Portrait is a trio (all members have experience from other bands) that got together/assembled at the beginning of July to record a few tracks written by front man Stefan. The songs are all being recorded, mixed and mastered in his flat, but hopefully someday the band will get the opportunity to do it all in more professional surroundings. Unfortunately the band is not yet planning to perform live!

Update: The songs are now uploaded to Last.fm and it looks like the EP is/will be called The Fallen Aristocracy.

Mixed Monday...

SuperTroels has made a great remix of the Marvel Hill track In The Mess Together. The song is from the band's forthcoming album Heartless Is More (out September 10).
+ In This Mess Together (SuperTroels Remix)

Anyone remember The Lukewarm I mentioned a few times last year? The project is currently on hold, which probably is quite logic as the band's only member - Michael - is the drummer in the aforementioned Marvel Hill.
+ BlackRoom

Mushi has begun the recording of new songs. Unfairytales is still one of my favorite albums of 2007, so I'm already looking forward to his next release (though I doubt we'll hear anything soon)!
+ Pieces of Nothing

The entire 2006 self-titled debut album by Under The Influence of Giants is available as a free download at Last.fm.
+ Mama's Room
+ Stay Illogical

Weather update...

We went to visit some friends today and we had a really wonderful time. The weather was quite nice and we even went for a swim (not exactly the Mediterranean, so bloody cold it was). So when I read the news tonight I was quite surprised to learn that several roads in the Copenhagen area had been closed earlier today due to heavy rain?
+ Velour - Rain in the Summertime
+ Tower of Foil - Comedy of summer rain
+ Catch Me I'm Falling - Rain
+ Warm Morning - Silver Rain

Finally - if anyone know who The Legends are singing about - give him a call!
+ He Knows The Sun