5 Years of NFOP

Come celebrate with us: Urban Spree, May 24, 4pm

Listen to the NFOP Radio Show on Berlin Community Radio

Every Friday at 4pm CET

Homage.

27 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann
Sweet Lights is the work of Philadelphia resident Shai Halperin, and his self-titled debut album compiles some of the most beautiful pop gems you're gonna hear all year - very splendidly composed tunes with an amazing sense for melody and sequencing. You can purchase the whole album for five bucks or download a few tracks for free via Halperin's bandcamp.

The song that particularly intrigued me when I first listened to the whole record yesterday was Ballad of Kurt Vile #2, a melancholic yet amazingly laid back guitar-laden tune with beautifully echoed vocals and a dreamy melody that captivated me upon first encounter. Moreover, the title kept me wondering about the background and the connection between our beloved Kurt Vile and Sweet Lights apart from the rather obvious fact that they both hail from Philly, and fortunately Halperin was kind enough to clear things up by telling me that they both had played guitar together for The War On Drugs for a short period of time, and that he admired Vile's work so much that he wanted to write some kind of homage, stylistically and lyrically leaning towards his friend's oeuvre. Accompanied by the more than sweet video below (with a slightly different mixing of the song), this adds up to one of the most wonderful stories I've come across all year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdhv10Bp4dw?fs=1]

Sweet Lights - Ballad of Kurt Vile #2

Read more →
Sweet Lights is the work of Philadelphia resident Shai Halperin, and his self-titled debut album compiles some of the most beautiful pop gems you're gonna hear all year - very splendidly composed tunes with an amazing sense for melody and sequencing. You can purchase the whole album for five bucks or download a few tracks for free via Halperin's bandcamp.

The song that particularly intrigued me when I first listened to the whole record yesterday was Ballad of Kurt Vile #2, a melancholic yet amazingly laid back guitar-laden tune with beautifully echoed vocals and a dreamy melody that captivated me upon first encounter. Moreover, the title kept me wondering about the background and the connection between our beloved Kurt Vile and Sweet Lights apart from the rather obvious fact that they both hail from Philly, and fortunately Halperin was kind enough to clear things up by telling me that they both had played guitar together for The War On Drugs for a short period of time, and that he admired Vile's work so much that he wanted to write some kind of homage, stylistically and lyrically leaning towards his friend's oeuvre. Accompanied by the more than sweet video below (with a slightly different mixing of the song), this adds up to one of the most wonderful stories I've come across all year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdhv10Bp4dw?fs=1]

Sweet Lights - Ballad of Kurt Vile #2

All My Friends #3

26 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

After a little break two weeks ago due to some traveling (in case someone noticed), this week the pretty warmly received All My Friends mix series continues with a rather calm early fall compilation. Hope you enjoy, I think it's the most coherent to date.

Download the whole thing in one neat .zip over here.

Cover photo by ramenlover.

1. Unison - Outside (myspace) // No Conclusion

2. How To Dress Well - Take It On (Holy Other Remix) (HO myspace) // Transparent

3. Totem Pole - Pointless/Love Gallery (myspace) // Life: Aquatic

4. Ice Cream Shout - Tattooed Tears (myspace) // Stadiums and Shrines

5. Ghost Animal - Tired (A Ceremony) (myspace) // No Modest Bear

6. Michael Parallax - Winter Teeth (myspace) // Delicious Scopitone

7. Cough Cool - Stolen (myspace) // Get Off The Coast

8. Wet Wings - Running Like a Man (myspace) // Gorilla vs. Bear

9. Wintercoats - The Overture (bandcamp) // Double Denim

10. Gem Trails - Old Kid (myspace) // No Modest Bear

Read more →

After a little break two weeks ago due to some traveling (in case someone noticed), this week the pretty warmly received All My Friends mix series continues with a rather calm early fall compilation. Hope you enjoy, I think it's the most coherent to date.

Download the whole thing in one neat .zip over here.

Cover photo by ramenlover.

1. Unison - Outside (myspace) // No Conclusion

2. How To Dress Well - Take It On (Holy Other Remix) (HO myspace) // Transparent

3. Totem Pole - Pointless/Love Gallery (myspace) // Life: Aquatic

4. Ice Cream Shout - Tattooed Tears (myspace) // Stadiums and Shrines

5. Ghost Animal - Tired (A Ceremony) (myspace) // No Modest Bear

6. Michael Parallax - Winter Teeth (myspace) // Delicious Scopitone

7. Cough Cool - Stolen (myspace) // Get Off The Coast

8. Wet Wings - Running Like a Man (myspace) // Gorilla vs. Bear

9. Wintercoats - The Overture (bandcamp) // Double Denim

10. Gem Trails - Old Kid (myspace) // No Modest Bear

Young Prisms.

26 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

Listen to this new dreamy late summer tune by San Francisco fuzzed-out quintet Young Prisms, kindly made available by our dearest French mates over at Atelier Ciseaux who have released this gem as a split 7 inch with the rightfully adored Canadian smooth criminals of Mathemagic on the flip side. You can order one of the 350 wonderfully crafted records right here.

These Daze is a slowly meandering seance drenched in fuzzy and reverb-heavy guitars, perfect for these fading summer days full of blurring memories.



Young Prisms - These Daze

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Listen to this new dreamy late summer tune by San Francisco fuzzed-out quintet Young Prisms, kindly made available by our dearest French mates over at Atelier Ciseaux who have released this gem as a split 7 inch with the rightfully adored Canadian smooth criminals of Mathemagic on the flip side. You can order one of the 350 wonderfully crafted records right here.

These Daze is a slowly meandering seance drenched in fuzzy and reverb-heavy guitars, perfect for these fading summer days full of blurring memories.



Young Prisms - These Daze

Borrowed Beams of Light // Invisible Hand

25 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

Matt Leech of Charlottesville, Virginia label Funny/Not Funny Records just sent over two tunes of their upcoming split 7 inch release of Borrowed Beams of Light and Invisible Hand, out October 1 on limited vinyl (300 pieces).

While Invisible Hand's Video Games is a fine fuzzy and upbeat garage tune, Julie by Borrowed Beams of Light (whose mastermind Adam Brock is Invisible Hand's drummer) might well be this year's most innocent and most beautiful love song, three minutes of absolutely heartbreaking longing. Julie, you're making my head feel lighter.

Borrowed Beams of Light - Julie (What's That Spell?)

Invisible Hand - Video Games

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Matt Leech of Charlottesville, Virginia label Funny/Not Funny Records just sent over two tunes of their upcoming split 7 inch release of Borrowed Beams of Light and Invisible Hand, out October 1 on limited vinyl (300 pieces).

While Invisible Hand's Video Games is a fine fuzzy and upbeat garage tune, Julie by Borrowed Beams of Light (whose mastermind Adam Brock is Invisible Hand's drummer) might well be this year's most innocent and most beautiful love song, three minutes of absolutely heartbreaking longing. Julie, you're making my head feel lighter.

Borrowed Beams of Light - Julie (What's That Spell?)

Invisible Hand - Video Games

Stormy Black.

25 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

Carlos Gonzales appears to be a very nice dude from Clifton, New Jersey, and he raps under the moniker CL Sosa. He was featured on the Salad Fork Compilation For World Hunger that we'd written about on Monday and he kindly sent over his latest tune Stormy Black later that night. Though you might know that NFOP isn't that much into covering hip hop (though we like it), after having this one on constant repeat for almost two days now we just have to admit that we simply cannot afford to ignore such a huge talent who lists The Jesus And Mary Chain and M83 as his influences, raps with a very nice flow, and with Mylkeyz he has a man in charge of the knobs and buttons who knows some things about the importance of a tight production. And man is that an irresistible beat.

CL Sosa - Stormy Black

Read more →

Carlos Gonzales appears to be a very nice dude from Clifton, New Jersey, and he raps under the moniker CL Sosa. He was featured on the Salad Fork Compilation For World Hunger that we'd written about on Monday and he kindly sent over his latest tune Stormy Black later that night. Though you might know that NFOP isn't that much into covering hip hop (though we like it), after having this one on constant repeat for almost two days now we just have to admit that we simply cannot afford to ignore such a huge talent who lists The Jesus And Mary Chain and M83 as his influences, raps with a very nice flow, and with Mylkeyz he has a man in charge of the knobs and buttons who knows some things about the importance of a tight production. And man is that an irresistible beat.

CL Sosa - Stormy Black

Lay Bac.

25 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

Last night, Austin, Texas pal Josef Calamus aka Lay Bac made his latest jams available as a digital 7 inch, and the a-side Stay Out Tonight is his most beautiful tune so far, a blissful and dreamy, eighties-infused beach jam built upon a pretty danceable beat. We won't come home till the morning light.

Lay Bac - Stay Out Tonight

Lay Bac - Shibuya

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Last night, Austin, Texas pal Josef Calamus aka Lay Bac made his latest jams available as a digital 7 inch, and the a-side Stay Out Tonight is his most beautiful tune so far, a blissful and dreamy, eighties-infused beach jam built upon a pretty danceable beat. We won't come home till the morning light.

Lay Bac - Stay Out Tonight

Lay Bac - Shibuya

Free flow.

25 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

Up Died Sound are a pretty fresh quartet from Brooklyn made up of former members of bands such as Effi Briest, La Otracina, and The Occasion, and their deep and heavy guitar-laden psychedelia is a slightly tough yet absolutely rewarding, mesmerizing listen that has left us amazed for days now.

Up Died Sound's self-titled debut LP will be available sometime in September via Shinkoyo.

Up Died Sound - Dust

Up Died Sound - Kissed

Read more →

Up Died Sound are a pretty fresh quartet from Brooklyn made up of former members of bands such as Effi Briest, La Otracina, and The Occasion, and their deep and heavy guitar-laden psychedelia is a slightly tough yet absolutely rewarding, mesmerizing listen that has left us amazed for days now.

Up Died Sound's self-titled debut LP will be available sometime in September via Shinkoyo.

Up Died Sound - Dust

Up Died Sound - Kissed

Light Leak.

25 Aug 2010 — Henning Lahmann

All the way from Erlangen, Bavaria has 16-year-old Henrik Stelter aka Light Leak set off to add some new perspectives to the ever-expanding universe called chillwave. Stelter's approach is very sound-centered and rather ambient in its feel, though there are some tunes on his debuting Thoughts of Mirth that do lean towards the big names of this strand of contemporary electronic music, only with a slightly darker, almost pessimistic exposure. You can download the whole EP for free via Stelter's bandcamp.

Light Leak - Holga

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All the way from Erlangen, Bavaria has 16-year-old Henrik Stelter aka Light Leak set off to add some new perspectives to the ever-expanding universe called chillwave. Stelter's approach is very sound-centered and rather ambient in its feel, though there are some tunes on his debuting Thoughts of Mirth that do lean towards the big names of this strand of contemporary electronic music, only with a slightly darker, almost pessimistic exposure. You can download the whole EP for free via Stelter's bandcamp.

Light Leak - Holga

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