Teen Daze: “Daytrotter Session”.

14 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Our dearest friend Teen Daze stopped by at the Daytrotter Studios yesterday to deliver this utterly beautiful, stripped-down acoustic set that once again shows Jon's ability to write perfectly fragile little gems of sadness. Stream/download the whole session over here. Teen Daze - Violence Read more → Our dearest friend Teen Daze stopped by at the Daytrotter Studios yesterday to deliver this utterly beautiful, stripped-down acoustic set that once again shows Jon's ability to write perfectly fragile little gems of sadness. Stream/download the whole session over here. Teen Daze - Violence

Magic Trick: “Daylight Moon”.

14 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

The fine folks over at San Francisco's Empty Cellar Records recently sent over the forthcoming LP by Magic Trick, which is a solo project by Tim Cohen of the mighty psych-pop supergroup The Fresh & Onlys (who, as previously reported, really entertained us in Barcelona this past May). The Glad Birth of Love is a superb record, being a proper full-length despite featuring merely four tracks, with below posted Daylight Moon being by far the shortest, its rather expansive length of seven and a half minutes notwithstanding. All other songs easily exceed the ten minute mark while still remaining surprisingly tight compositions. Wide-spreading arrangements somewhere between free folk and outright psychedelia, the record is yet another proof of Cohen's immeasurable knack for writing ravishingly sun-embracing, decades-spanning and distinctly Californian pop masterpieces. The Glad Birth of Love will be released August 23 and is up for pre-order here. Magic Trick - Daylight Moon Read more → The fine folks over at San Francisco's Empty Cellar Records recently sent over the forthcoming LP by Magic Trick, which is a solo project by Tim Cohen of the mighty psych-pop supergroup The Fresh & Onlys (who, as previously reported, really entertained us in Barcelona this past May). The Glad Birth of Love is a superb record, being a proper full-length despite featuring merely four tracks, with below posted Daylight Moon being by far the shortest, its rather expansive length of seven and a half minutes notwithstanding. All other songs easily exceed the ten minute mark while still remaining surprisingly tight compositions. Wide-spreading arrangements somewhere between free folk and outright psychedelia, the record is yet another proof of Cohen's immeasurable knack for writing ravishingly sun-embracing, decades-spanning and distinctly Californian pop masterpieces. The Glad Birth of Love will be released August 23 and is up for pre-order here. Magic Trick - Daylight Moon

Video: “Figure in Isolation”.

12 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

The fine folks at MJ MJ Records gave us a heads-up the other day about this stop motion short film that was assembled over the course of no less 150 hours in a grim Wisconsin winter by Kaleb Dorucher and Michelle Chrzanowski of the wearefriends collective. It's a beautifully emotive and contemplating little motion picture, perfectly accompanied by an original score made by Andy Todryk aka Vacation Dad. In fact, the piece was actually based on Andy's music (and not the other way round as one might guess), as the two artists had initially asked him to provide some ambient soundscapes as an inspirational starting point. Get lost in the melancholic yet heartwarming result below. Read more → The fine folks at MJ MJ Records gave us a heads-up the other day about this stop motion short film that was assembled over the course of no less 150 hours in a grim Wisconsin winter by Kaleb Dorucher and Michelle Chrzanowski of the wearefriends collective. It's a beautifully emotive and contemplating little motion picture, perfectly accompanied by an original score made by Andy Todryk aka Vacation Dad. In fact, the piece was actually based on Andy's music (and not the other way round as one might guess), as the two artists had initially asked him to provide some ambient soundscapes as an inspirational starting point. Get lost in the melancholic yet heartwarming result below.

Gray Things: “Class”.

12 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Kinda weird but totally funky seducer's glam anthem by long-time Dent May friend/collaborator and (needless to add) Cats Purring fellow Thomas Cooper aka Gray Things. Class leaves no doubt whatsoever that we're dealing with an immaculate and mind-blowing female human being here. Really wish I could spend a weekend at the Cats Purring Dude Ranch sometime just to watch these rad folks come up with such amazing psych pop gems like no one's business all the time. Gray Things - Class Read more → Kinda weird but totally funky seducer's glam anthem by long-time Dent May friend/collaborator and (needless to add) Cats Purring fellow Thomas Cooper aka Gray Things. Class leaves no doubt whatsoever that we're dealing with an immaculate and mind-blowing female human being here. Really wish I could spend a weekend at the Cats Purring Dude Ranch sometime just to watch these rad folks come up with such amazing psych pop gems like no one's business all the time. Gray Things - Class

Maria Minerva: “Kyrie Eleison”.

12 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

I had always feared that moment when early 90s Euro-disco would be cool again, but well, here we are I guess. That certain decade had been very present in the work of Maria Juur aka Maria Minerva from the beginning, but it's only now that her trashy dancefloor obsession really starts to show. In the interview I've done with Maria via Skype last week (and that's up on Altered Zones now), she told me that what she had intended with her forthcoming Sacred and Profane Love EP actually was to do "in the underground what Lady Gaga had done in mainstream pop music", namely to produce shamelessly pure sugar-rush music - something I refused to believe until NNF's Amanda Brown eventually sent over Kyrie Eleison, the first track off the EP that's gonna be released on Amanda's own little sub-label 100% Silk sometime later this year. Now I do believe indeed. Speaking of, rumor has it that today someone's gonna premiere (I honestly don't know who) the next Maria Minerva video for Ruff Trade, the final track from her brilliant current album Cabaret Cixous, so I suggest you watch out for that. Also, the latest 100% Silk releases are absolute dope and highly recommended, be sure to get your hands on those while you can. Maria Minerva - Kyrie Eleison Read more → I had always feared that moment when early 90s Euro-disco would be cool again, but well, here we are I guess. That certain decade had been very present in the work of Maria Juur aka Maria Minerva from the beginning, but it's only now that her trashy dancefloor obsession really starts to show. In the interview I've done with Maria via Skype last week (and that's up on Altered Zones now), she told me that what she had intended with her forthcoming Sacred and Profane Love EP actually was to do "in the underground what Lady Gaga had done in mainstream pop music", namely to produce shamelessly pure sugar-rush music - something I refused to believe until NNF's Amanda Brown eventually sent over Kyrie Eleison, the first track off the EP that's gonna be released on Amanda's own little sub-label 100% Silk sometime later this year. Now I do believe indeed. Speaking of, rumor has it that today someone's gonna premiere (I honestly don't know who) the next Maria Minerva video for Ruff Trade, the final track from her brilliant current album Cabaret Cixous, so I suggest you watch out for that. Also, the latest 100% Silk releases are absolute dope and highly recommended, be sure to get your hands on those while you can. Maria Minerva - Kyrie Eleison

Computer Magic: “End Of Time (Stay+ Remix)”.

11 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Amazing rework by one of this year's more interesting enigmas of End Of Time by one of New York City's sweetest, Dannielle Johnson aka Computer Magic. Manchester's Stay+ might not be Christian Aids anymore but oh my God do they still know how to produce immensely dark, infective and absolutely stunning dance tunes. Computer Magic - End Of Time (Stay+ Remix) Read more → Amazing rework by one of this year's more interesting enigmas of End Of Time by one of New York City's sweetest, Dannielle Johnson aka Computer Magic. Manchester's Stay+ might not be Christian Aids anymore but oh my God do they still know how to produce immensely dark, infective and absolutely stunning dance tunes. Computer Magic - End Of Time (Stay+ Remix)

Breaking: Zak Mering is Philip La Fonde.

11 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Stumbled across these dope jams this morning, and a quick mail exchange proved what above pic already suggested: Gunk TV CEO Zak Mering aka Insted aka Raw Thrills aka Greatest Hits aka one half of The Sweethearts (check this post on Coco's OCD, it's still the standard reference for anything regarding Zak) has opted for just another recording moniker to keep up with his infinite creative impulses, and the distinctly French alias actually implies that his current summer refuge in Paris has turned out to be rather prolific. Zak calls Philip La Fonde his "80s new wave post punk funk project...but more influenced by world or European music as opposed to say 80s American funk". There are only three tracks recorded so far, but it already seems clear that this will turn out almost dangerously funky indeed. Both Eye Oh Ay and Searching The Past feature an absolutely irresistible groove that instantly makes you believe in the good times again. No fixed release plans as yet, but I hope you'll all agree that this shit shouldn't be left unwaxed. Read more → Stumbled across these dope jams this morning, and a quick mail exchange proved what above pic already suggested: Gunk TV CEO Zak Mering aka Insted aka Raw Thrills aka Greatest Hits aka one half of The Sweethearts (check this post on Coco's OCD, it's still the standard reference for anything regarding Zak) has opted for just another recording moniker to keep up with his infinite creative impulses, and the distinctly French alias actually implies that his current summer refuge in Paris has turned out to be rather prolific. Zak calls Philip La Fonde his "80s new wave post punk funk project...but more influenced by world or European music as opposed to say 80s American funk". There are only three tracks recorded so far, but it already seems clear that this will turn out almost dangerously funky indeed. Both Eye Oh Ay and Searching The Past feature an absolutely irresistible groove that instantly makes you believe in the good times again. No fixed release plans as yet, but I hope you'll all agree that this shit shouldn't be left unwaxed.