Best of 2011: Tracks #2.

13 Dec 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Thus NFOP guru Henning has already mentioned, he is indeed quite right: we know we would never have been able to agree on a common list of 2011, which is why we stay faithful to the tradition from last year and give you not only two, but four all bright n' shiny Best Of-lists for your fine ears to enjoy. And as some of you might or might not have predicted: I'm going straight in the direction of the atmospheric, post-electronic sounds, of course with some frequent Nordic presence (however less than last year). Before briefing a few of my top selections this year, let's just have one thing clear. I've decided, of reasons quite obvious (to me anyway) to try and not include tracks from albums that have already made my other list, this mainly because I wanted to include as many different names, 'mainstream' and unknown alike, which again results in what I would say, a more diverse, interesting line-up. With a few exceptions anyway. Naturally, both Holy Other and Stay+ are to be found on the top 10 selections. With an obvious exception of Clams Casino, Holy Other is definitely one of the most notable producers I've set my ears upon throughout this year, and his touch on How To Dress Well's "Suicide Dream 2" is another perfect example to how his minimal, ocean-deep beats can make unexpected and beautiful turns. While you could argue that Holy Other and Stay+ have a few things in common, the heavy, dark-scented track "Fever" is quite truly one of my favourite productions this year, even though it was hard to pick a favourite from Moses Gold and his mysterious "Positive" collective, having put up literally nothing but perfection since their sudden emerge earlier this year. As both Neon Indian's "Polish Girl" and The Antlers' "Rolled Together" are fairly unnecessary picks to explain (the tracks obviously speak for themselves) — another more interesting name has hit my top selection this year, the UK based producer S.Mahabra, whom possesses quite a few mindblowing releases back in 2008, but which somehow never truly saw the light of day in the blog masses. His take on Shlohmo's gorgeous "Ghosts Pt. 2", very recently featured on the re-issue of the two-year old Shlo-Fi EP is another example of this beatmaking, but cleaner in sound than his previous, dirtier instrumental hip-hop which had Soundcloud explode for a little while. Since we're already in the fields of glitch-hop and instrumental hip-hop, Star Slinger's nearly perfect remix of the Gold Panda track "Marriage" is another fine gem that has been brought to our ears this past year, and quite possibly one of his best remixes up to this date (which is my personal opinion anyway) and our friend has definitely found the formula to success, now bathing in the glory of Diplo remixes and Lil B collabs. From glitch to 80-s synth pop, Jensen Sportag's so-called remix of Shine 2009's "So Free" is literally my most played one this year, being so much more an original Sportag creation than a remix if you ask me, all though they've kept much of the warm and naked atmosphere from the original. Quite honestly the track is as close to flawless, and the same goes for a good, remaining bunch original work and remixes the boys have pulled off from their homes in Nashville these past years, much of it overlooked for a strange reason. This and that, I have to realize that we've finally reached the end of year's pretentious tracklisting, a track (and album) which I myself find ridiculously overlooked over at fellow sites and blogs this year. Only spinning for 2.5 minutes and hidden behind a band name which may or may not make you laugh, New York's Hooray For Earth's "Realize It's Not The Sun" is a little masterpiece of its own with a raw, stunning beauty and vast songwriting, which stops so unexpectedly but so right at the same time, like the very very last glimpse of light before the sun sets and casts a final shadow over the open landscape. Check out the whole list below: 30. Keep Shelly in Athens – Lazy Noon 29. Wintercoats - Working On A Dream 28. The Soft - Venus Breath 27. Bibio - Wake Up! 26. Radiohead - Codex 25. In Lieu - Stala Knight 24. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffrends 23. Torkelsen - Simple 22. UNISON - Brothers & Sisters 21. Glass Vaults - It Looks Like Winter Water 20. Chrome Sparks - Doubt, No 19. Zoo Kid (King Krule) – Out Getting Ribs 18. Ane Brun - Undertow 17. しsd (aka Shisd) - Without You, Walking 16. Sleep Party People - The Dwarf And The Horse (Trentemøller Remix) 15. m83 - Steve McQueen 14. Kuhrye-oo - Old Son 13. Purity Ring - Belispeak 12. Moddi - Thimbleweed 11. Clams Casino - Gorilla 10. James Blake - Lindesfarne 09. Shlohmo - Ghosts Pt. 2 (S.Maharba remix) 08. How To Dress Well - Suicide Dream 2 (Holy Other Remix) 07. Neon Indian - Polish Girl 06. Gold Panda - Marriage (Star Slinger remix) 05. Stay+ - Fever 04. The Antlers - Rolled Together 03. Immanu El - Skagerak 02. Shine 2009 - So Free feat. Paula Abdul (Jensen Sportag Remix) 01. Hooray For Earth - Realize It's Not The Sun Read more → Thus NFOP guru Henning has already mentioned, he is indeed quite right: we know we would never have been able to agree on a common list of 2011, which is why we stay faithful to the tradition from last year and give you not only two, but four all bright n' shiny Best Of-lists for your fine ears to enjoy. And as some of you might or might not have predicted: I'm going straight in the direction of the atmospheric, post-electronic sounds, of course with some frequent Nordic presence (however less than last year). Before briefing a few of my top selections this year, let's just have one thing clear. I've decided, of reasons quite obvious (to me anyway) to try and not include tracks from albums that have already made my other list, this mainly because I wanted to include as many different names, 'mainstream' and unknown alike, which again results in what I would say, a more diverse, interesting line-up. With a few exceptions anyway. Naturally, both Holy Other and Stay+ are to be found on the top 10 selections. With an obvious exception of Clams Casino, Holy Other is definitely one of the most notable producers I've set my ears upon throughout this year, and his touch on How To Dress Well's "Suicide Dream 2" is another perfect example to how his minimal, ocean-deep beats can make unexpected and beautiful turns. While you could argue that Holy Other and Stay+ have a few things in common, the heavy, dark-scented track "Fever" is quite truly one of my favourite productions this year, even though it was hard to pick a favourite from Moses Gold and his mysterious "Positive" collective, having put up literally nothing but perfection since their sudden emerge earlier this year. As both Neon Indian's "Polish Girl" and The Antlers' "Rolled Together" are fairly unnecessary picks to explain (the tracks obviously speak for themselves) — another more interesting name has hit my top selection this year, the UK based producer S.Mahabra, whom possesses quite a few mindblowing releases back in 2008, but which somehow never truly saw the light of day in the blog masses. His take on Shlohmo's gorgeous "Ghosts Pt. 2", very recently featured on the re-issue of the two-year old Shlo-Fi EP is another example of this beatmaking, but cleaner in sound than his previous, dirtier instrumental hip-hop which had Soundcloud explode for a little while. Since we're already in the fields of glitch-hop and instrumental hip-hop, Star Slinger's nearly perfect remix of the Gold Panda track "Marriage" is another fine gem that has been brought to our ears this past year, and quite possibly one of his best remixes up to this date (which is my personal opinion anyway) and our friend has definitely found the formula to success, now bathing in the glory of Diplo remixes and Lil B collabs. From glitch to 80-s synth pop, Jensen Sportag's so-called remix of Shine 2009's "So Free" is literally my most played one this year, being so much more an original Sportag creation than a remix if you ask me, all though they've kept much of the warm and naked atmosphere from the original. Quite honestly the track is as close to flawless, and the same goes for a good, remaining bunch original work and remixes the boys have pulled off from their homes in Nashville these past years, much of it overlooked for a strange reason. This and that, I have to realize that we've finally reached the end of year's pretentious tracklisting, a track (and album) which I myself find ridiculously overlooked over at fellow sites and blogs this year. Only spinning for 2.5 minutes and hidden behind a band name which may or may not make you laugh, New York's Hooray For Earth's "Realize It's Not The Sun" is a little masterpiece of its own with a raw, stunning beauty and vast songwriting, which stops so unexpectedly but so right at the same time, like the very very last glimpse of light before the sun sets and casts a final shadow over the open landscape. Check out the whole list below: 30. Keep Shelly in Athens – Lazy Noon 29. Wintercoats - Working On A Dream 28. The Soft - Venus Breath 27. Bibio - Wake Up! 26. Radiohead - Codex 25. In Lieu - Stala Knight 24. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffrends 23. Torkelsen - Simple 22. UNISON - Brothers & Sisters 21. Glass Vaults - It Looks Like Winter Water 20. Chrome Sparks - Doubt, No 19. Zoo Kid (King Krule) – Out Getting Ribs 18. Ane Brun - Undertow 17. しsd (aka Shisd) - Without You, Walking 16. Sleep Party People - The Dwarf And The Horse (Trentemøller Remix) 15. m83 - Steve McQueen 14. Kuhrye-oo - Old Son 13. Purity Ring - Belispeak 12. Moddi - Thimbleweed 11. Clams Casino - Gorilla 10. James Blake - Lindesfarne 09. Shlohmo - Ghosts Pt. 2 (S.Maharba remix) 08. How To Dress Well - Suicide Dream 2 (Holy Other Remix) 07. Neon Indian - Polish Girl 06. Gold Panda - Marriage (Star Slinger remix) 05. Stay+ - Fever 04. The Antlers - Rolled Together 03. Immanu El - Skagerak 02. Shine 2009 - So Free feat. Paula Abdul (Jensen Sportag Remix) 01. Hooray For Earth - Realize It's Not The Sun

Best of 2011: Tracks #1.

12 Dec 2011 — Henning Lahmann

There's a good case to be made that no one really needs to know what random bloggers believe their top whatever songs/albums/videos/releases of a certain year are, however, here at NFOP HQ, we simply love lists. As we're well aware that our tastes and opinions do not really match, and to avoid a mess like this, we've agreed to continue our cherished tradition to make separate lists for the two of us. So tomorrow, Tonje will unveil her favorite tracks of 2011; our album lists will follow next week. A few words on the top entries - the track "Take 1/Leaf" is a perfect collaboration of two of this year's most interesting and convincing projects of the new hip hop underground (and in any case more compelling than most of the stuff the Odd Future folks have dropped in 2011), but above all it perfectly encapsulates why Clams Casino is by most considered this year's most important hip hop producer, and it once again shows in which context his beats works best, his very worthwhile Rainforest EP notwithstanding. The pretty and joyful lo-fi summer jam "Dear Les Friends" by Hotel Mexico, aside from its own stunning qualities, may also represent (alongside Jesse Ruins' "Dream Analysis") the entire electronic underground from Tokyo. The Japanese capital has really been put on the map in the past twelve months with a whole bunch of amazing artists, most loosely gathered around the Cuz Me Pain label/artist collective. Holy Other and Inga Copeland have, briefly speaking, delivered two of this year's most compelling EPs (both long out of stock), each compiling only a few tracks that nonetheless had a massive impact on our shores, the latter showcasing the Hype Williams member's unironic, infatuating pop sensibilities, the former bluntly handing in 2011's most terrific bass drop with EP standout "Touch". However, since June there was no real question that "Hour Logic" would top this list, Laurel Halo's intricate masterpiece that was released by Hippos In Tanks as part of the EP of the same name. In fact, the nine-minute marvel is one of the best tracks we've come across in years, revealing new details and depths with each listen. Though built on a straight beat and strictly speaking techno, "Hour Logic" feels less like a proper dancefloor anthem but rather a philosophical exercise on the conditions of the possibility of dance music in general, even a Prolegomena to any future electronic music. And albeit undeniably reverential to the past, the piece is the creation of an earnestly avant-garde mind, thus in a way serving as an anti-thesis to this year's most feverishly discussed book on music, Simon Reynold's Retromania. But to be clear, "Hour Logic" does not only serve the intellect: When, after seven and a half minutes, Laurel's faint vocals briefly set in for the tracks finale, the listener also witnesses one of 2011's moments of true aural magic. Check the whole list below: 30. Kuhrye-oo - Old Son 29. Brusque Twins - What Else Is There to Say? 28. Jesse Ruins - Dream Analysis 27. Raw Thrills - Both Ways 26. Yuck - Shook Down 25. Boy Friend - Egyptian Wrinkle 24. Grimes - Vanessa 23. Octo Octa - I'm Trying 22. Clams Casino - Gorilla 21. Terror Bird - Make Believe 20. Sleep ∞ Over - Casual Diamond 19. Hyetal - Dimepiece 18. Punks On Mars - Glitter On Mars 17. Oupa - Physical 16. Stay+ - Young Luv 15. Zoo Kid (King Krule) - Out Getting Ribs 14. Ela Orleans - Neverend 13. Keep Shelly In Athens - Our Own Dream 12. Balam Acab - Expect 11. Money - Lonely Sexy Death 10. Cool Angels - Are U Real? (feat. Stef Hodapp) 09. Maria Minerva - Gloria 08. Massive Attack vs Burial - Four Walls 07. John Maus - Cop Killer 06. Real Estate - Green Aisles 05. A$AP Rocky x Main Attrakionz - Take 1/Leaf (prod. by Clams Casino) 04. Hotel Mexico - Dear Les Friends 03. Holy Other - Touch 02. Inga Copeland - Trample 01. Laurel Halo - Hour Logic Read more → There's a good case to be made that no one really needs to know what random bloggers believe their top whatever songs/albums/videos/releases of a certain year are, however, here at NFOP HQ, we simply love lists. As we're well aware that our tastes and opinions do not really match, and to avoid a mess like this, we've agreed to continue our cherished tradition to make separate lists for the two of us. So tomorrow, Tonje will unveil her favorite tracks of 2011; our album lists will follow next week. A few words on the top entries - the track "Take 1/Leaf" is a perfect collaboration of two of this year's most interesting and convincing projects of the new hip hop underground (and in any case more compelling than most of the stuff the Odd Future folks have dropped in 2011), but above all it perfectly encapsulates why Clams Casino is by most considered this year's most important hip hop producer, and it once again shows in which context his beats works best, his very worthwhile Rainforest EP notwithstanding. The pretty and joyful lo-fi summer jam "Dear Les Friends" by Hotel Mexico, aside from its own stunning qualities, may also represent (alongside Jesse Ruins' "Dream Analysis") the entire electronic underground from Tokyo. The Japanese capital has really been put on the map in the past twelve months with a whole bunch of amazing artists, most loosely gathered around the Cuz Me Pain label/artist collective. Holy Other and Inga Copeland have, briefly speaking, delivered two of this year's most compelling EPs (both long out of stock), each compiling only a few tracks that nonetheless had a massive impact on our shores, the latter showcasing the Hype Williams member's unironic, infatuating pop sensibilities, the former bluntly handing in 2011's most terrific bass drop with EP standout "Touch". However, since June there was no real question that "Hour Logic" would top this list, Laurel Halo's intricate masterpiece that was released by Hippos In Tanks as part of the EP of the same name. In fact, the nine-minute marvel is one of the best tracks we've come across in years, revealing new details and depths with each listen. Though built on a straight beat and strictly speaking techno, "Hour Logic" feels less like a proper dancefloor anthem but rather a philosophical exercise on the conditions of the possibility of dance music in general, even a Prolegomena to any future electronic music. And albeit undeniably reverential to the past, the piece is the creation of an earnestly avant-garde mind, thus in a way serving as an anti-thesis to this year's most feverishly discussed book on music, Simon Reynold's Retromania. But to be clear, "Hour Logic" does not only serve the intellect: When, after seven and a half minutes, Laurel's faint vocals briefly set in for the tracks finale, the listener also witnesses one of 2011's moments of true aural magic. Check the whole list below: 30. Kuhrye-oo - Old Son 29. Brusque Twins - What Else Is There to Say? 28. Jesse Ruins - Dream Analysis 27. Raw Thrills - Both Ways 26. Yuck - Shook Down 25. Boy Friend - Egyptian Wrinkle 24. Grimes - Vanessa 23. Octo Octa - I'm Trying 22. Clams Casino - Gorilla 21. Terror Bird - Make Believe 20. Sleep ∞ Over - Casual Diamond 19. Hyetal - Dimepiece 18. Punks On Mars - Glitter On Mars 17. Oupa - Physical 16. Stay+ - Young Luv 15. Zoo Kid (King Krule) - Out Getting Ribs 14. Ela Orleans - Neverend 13. Keep Shelly In Athens - Our Own Dream 12. Balam Acab - Expect 11. Money - Lonely Sexy Death 10. Cool Angels - Are U Real? (feat. Stef Hodapp) 09. Maria Minerva - Gloria 08. Massive Attack vs Burial - Four Walls 07. John Maus - Cop Killer 06. Real Estate - Green Aisles 05. A$AP Rocky x Main Attrakionz - Take 1/Leaf (prod. by Clams Casino) 04. Hotel Mexico - Dear Les Friends 03. Holy Other - Touch 02. Inga Copeland - Trample 01. Laurel Halo - Hour Logic

Video Premiere: o F F Love - “Close to U, I’m Not (Fan Art Bedroom)”.

12 Dec 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Watch the new video for o F F Love's delicious latest single "Close to U, I'm Not", a slightly creepy trip through a (teenage) fan's decorated room, featuring diy-induced works from a bunch of different artist (see the list below), filmed and edited by Jo Apps. Though surprising and also kinda curious at first, the video is an absolutely appropriate visualization of the Paris/Berlin enigma's frail, desolated and deranged bedroom r'n'b. The following artists have contributed to the video (in alphabetic order): Aischa Aude Levere Britta Thie Cedric Fargues Cibelle daniel chew Emilie Gervais FAUX/real Geneviève Belleveau Holly Magenta Diadora Melanie Bonajo Leslie Kulesh Linda Kantchev Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir Marie Kalberg Martin Kohout Nedalot ☯LIVER Stine Omar Midtsæter the theophany "Close to U, I'm Not" is out via m=maximal. Read more → Watch the new video for o F F Love's delicious latest single "Close to U, I'm Not", a slightly creepy trip through a (teenage) fan's decorated room, featuring diy-induced works from a bunch of different artist (see the list below), filmed and edited by Jo Apps. Though surprising and also kinda curious at first, the video is an absolutely appropriate visualization of the Paris/Berlin enigma's frail, desolated and deranged bedroom r'n'b. The following artists have contributed to the video (in alphabetic order): Aischa Aude Levere Britta Thie Cedric Fargues Cibelle daniel chew Emilie Gervais FAUX/real Geneviève Belleveau Holly Magenta Diadora Melanie Bonajo Leslie Kulesh Linda Kantchev Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir Marie Kalberg Martin Kohout Nedalot ☯LIVER Stine Omar Midtsæter the theophany "Close to U, I'm Not" is out via m=maximal.

Video Sunday Vol. 9

12 Dec 2011 — NFOP

Tennis - Deep in the Woods (Directed by Scott Laidlaw and Frank Rinaldi) Trailer Trash Tracys - You Wish You Were Red Pigeons - The Welcome (Video by Camilla Padgitt-Coles) Sapphire Slows - Animal Dreams Fanzine - Tough (Video by Jacob Perlmutter) KLOAKS - Dreams Are Gone (by Matt Burgess) Read more → Tennis - Deep in the Woods (Directed by Scott Laidlaw and Frank Rinaldi) Trailer Trash Tracys - You Wish You Were Red Pigeons - The Welcome (Video by Camilla Padgitt-Coles) Sapphire Slows - Animal Dreams Fanzine - Tough (Video by Jacob Perlmutter) KLOAKS - Dreams Are Gone (by Matt Burgess)

Video: Einar Stray - “Yr Heart Isn’t A Heart”.

11 Dec 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

When Einar Stray played together with Moddi and Therese Aune in Oslo a couple of months ago, they brought a long a sign language interpreter to translate the music into silent words for the deaf. As hilarious as it might sound, the result was actually surprisingly beautiful, and looked more like a strange, mysterious dance rather than a 'plain' translation. The concept was taken one step further in the video for "Yr Heart Isn't A Heart" from his debut album Chiaroscuro, which indeed makes a pretty interesting watch below. Oh, and check out the dates for Einar Stray and Denmark's Me And My Drummer Europe tour that kicks off next month — highly recommended. Einar Stray - Yr Heart Isn't A Heart Read more → When Einar Stray played together with Moddi and Therese Aune in Oslo a couple of months ago, they brought a long a sign language interpreter to translate the music into silent words for the deaf. As hilarious as it might sound, the result was actually surprisingly beautiful, and looked more like a strange, mysterious dance rather than a 'plain' translation. The concept was taken one step further in the video for "Yr Heart Isn't A Heart" from his debut album Chiaroscuro, which indeed makes a pretty interesting watch below. Oh, and check out the dates for Einar Stray and Denmark's Me And My Drummer Europe tour that kicks off next month — highly recommended. Einar Stray - Yr Heart Isn't A Heart

Holy Other: “Know Where (Andy Stott Remix)”.

10 Dec 2011 — Henning Lahmann

We assume you've loved the Haxan Cloak remix of Holy Other that we posted yesterday as much as we do, so here's another treat from said Bleep compilation that we'd almost missed. This one is even more intriguing, Manchester's Andy Stott adding some frighteningly dark touches to the already pretty dark original, inducing trance-like states over the course of almost eight breathtaking minutes with a terrifying, relentless four-to-the-floor techno beat. Get the Tri Angle compilation on Bleep here. Read more → We assume you've loved the Haxan Cloak remix of Holy Other that we posted yesterday as much as we do, so here's another treat from said Bleep compilation that we'd almost missed. This one is even more intriguing, Manchester's Andy Stott adding some frighteningly dark touches to the already pretty dark original, inducing trance-like states over the course of almost eight breathtaking minutes with a terrifying, relentless four-to-the-floor techno beat. Get the Tri Angle compilation on Bleep here.

Bebe Tunes: “Madness”.

10 Dec 2011 — Henning Lahmann

So. Seems like h-pop is slightly going hip-hop recently. Apparently not only Outer Limits Recordings' Sam Meringue has joined the legion of beatsmiths now, the latest track from James Ferraro's new project Bebe Tunes is on a pretty massive hip-hop trip as well. His INHALE C-4 $$$$$ mixtape will drop December 13 at midnight, so keep an eye on this space. Read more → So. Seems like h-pop is slightly going hip-hop recently. Apparently not only Outer Limits Recordings' Sam Meringue has joined the legion of beatsmiths now, the latest track from James Ferraro's new project Bebe Tunes is on a pretty massive hip-hop trip as well. His INHALE C-4 $$$$$ mixtape will drop December 13 at midnight, so keep an eye on this space.