Arc Light: “The Pains”.

16 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Brooklyn-based deranged synth-pop project and NFOP regular Arc Light, the one-man venture of Albuquerque, New Mexico native Ryan Gabel, just released its new full-length Bronze Fortune, the follow-up to last year's excellent Calcium. Still weird and deliberately lo-fi, the nine new/no wave-y tunes on the album all showcase an exciting amount of playfulness and a bold inclination to experiment with left-field sonic possibilities. Watch the video for the second single "The Pains" below, and go here take a fresh listen to "Psychics", the first track that was featured here last summer. Bronze Fortune is now available via bandcamp. There will be a cassette release soon as well. Arc Light - The Pains Read more → Brooklyn-based deranged synth-pop project and NFOP regular Arc Light, the one-man venture of Albuquerque, New Mexico native Ryan Gabel, just released its new full-length Bronze Fortune, the follow-up to last year's excellent Calcium. Still weird and deliberately lo-fi, the nine new/no wave-y tunes on the album all showcase an exciting amount of playfulness and a bold inclination to experiment with left-field sonic possibilities. Watch the video for the second single "The Pains" below, and go here take a fresh listen to "Psychics", the first track that was featured here last summer. Bronze Fortune is now available via bandcamp. There will be a cassette release soon as well. Arc Light - The Pains

Video: Ela Orleans - “My Friend Angel”.

15 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Brand new, Klaus Von Barrel-made video for "My Friend Angel", a song off Ela Orleans' wonderful full-length NEO PI-R, which had originally been released on cassette prior to her listed LP Mars Is Heaven, and that recently got a proper vinyl reissue that is still available via Clan Destine Records. Read more → Brand new, Klaus Von Barrel-made video for "My Friend Angel", a song off Ela Orleans' wonderful full-length NEO PI-R, which had originally been released on cassette prior to her listed LP Mars Is Heaven, and that recently got a proper vinyl reissue that is still available via Clan Destine Records.

Video Premiere: Glass Vaults - “Gold Star”.

15 Feb 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

We're very stoked to give you all the first view of the video for Glass Vault's "Gold Star", arguably amongst the best musical acts that has come out of New Zealand in a while. Last year, we premiered the track "Golden" off the rather amazing Into Clear, their second EP so far on this journey, with an ethereal sound spreading its wings over clouded, minimal landscapes. The video is filmed and directed by the band themselves, and is indeed a rather stunning piece of work, perfectly fitting to the contrast of solitude and warmth of the song itself. As we've also previously reported, Into Clear is available as a 300 LTD 12 inch via JUKBOXR, fifty of them pressed on beautiful green vinyl. And of course, you can also stream or download it. Glass Vaults - Gold Star Glass Vaults - Into Clear Read more → We're very stoked to give you all the first view of the video for Glass Vault's "Gold Star", arguably amongst the best musical acts that has come out of New Zealand in a while. Last year, we premiered the track "Golden" off the rather amazing Into Clear, their second EP so far on this journey, with an ethereal sound spreading its wings over clouded, minimal landscapes. The video is filmed and directed by the band themselves, and is indeed a rather stunning piece of work, perfectly fitting to the contrast of solitude and warmth of the song itself. As we've also previously reported, Into Clear is available as a 300 LTD 12 inch via JUKBOXR, fifty of them pressed on beautiful green vinyl. And of course, you can also stream or download it. Glass Vaults - Gold Star Glass Vaults - Into Clear

MM/KM: “Bust a Move”.

14 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

London-based imprint The Trilogy Tapes is about to drop a collaborative six-track mini LP by two of Germany's finest producers of electronic music, Leipzig/Berlin-based luminary Gunnar Wendel aka Kassem Mosse and his pal Mix Mup, aptly named MM/KM. Gloomy, analogue, playful, blurred, gripping, haunting, bustling - I could go on and on, but I'll keep it brief: This one's just stellar, seriously a must-have. MM/KM is out March 1. Pre-order now over here. Also preview two other excerpts from the vinyl below: Read more → London-based imprint The Trilogy Tapes is about to drop a collaborative six-track mini LP by two of Germany's finest producers of electronic music, Leipzig/Berlin-based luminary Gunnar Wendel aka Kassem Mosse and his pal Mix Mup, aptly named MM/KM. Gloomy, analogue, playful, blurred, gripping, haunting, bustling - I could go on and on, but I'll keep it brief: This one's just stellar, seriously a must-have. MM/KM is out March 1. Pre-order now over here. Also preview two other excerpts from the vinyl below:

Piotr Kurek: “Heat”.

14 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Warsaw-based composer Piotr Kurek has just released his full-length Heat, an eight-track work that spans roughly over 37 minutes and that features some of the most curiously captivating, deeply arresting sounds I've heard so far in 2012. This is all pretty psychedelic and experimental, yet in a completely different manner from the vast majority of the current output in this field of music. Kurek weaves intricate, utterly complex arrangements by utilizing organs, Rhodes, modular synth, his own voice, and "found sounds", that all remain fascinatingly clear and bright, compellingly avoiding the murk of indifferent drone soundscaping that can be found all too often in contemporary psychedelia. On Heat, every measure sets a new task for the listener's sensory organs, constituting a demanding aural experience throughout, but with its light, tropical feel, at the same time also a very rewarding one. Highly recommended. Heat is out now on cassette via Digitalis Ltd. Order it here or here. Edition of 75. Below, watch the video for "She" and listen to the title track. Piotr Kurek - Heat Read more → Warsaw-based composer Piotr Kurek has just released his full-length Heat, an eight-track work that spans roughly over 37 minutes and that features some of the most curiously captivating, deeply arresting sounds I've heard so far in 2012. This is all pretty psychedelic and experimental, yet in a completely different manner from the vast majority of the current output in this field of music. Kurek weaves intricate, utterly complex arrangements by utilizing organs, Rhodes, modular synth, his own voice, and "found sounds", that all remain fascinatingly clear and bright, compellingly avoiding the murk of indifferent drone soundscaping that can be found all too often in contemporary psychedelia. On Heat, every measure sets a new task for the listener's sensory organs, constituting a demanding aural experience throughout, but with its light, tropical feel, at the same time also a very rewarding one. Highly recommended. Heat is out now on cassette via Digitalis Ltd. Order it here or here. Edition of 75. Below, watch the video for "She" and listen to the title track. Piotr Kurek - Heat

Video: Fluorescent Heights - “Nightmare Beach”.

14 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

As already indicated here and here, Tourism, the debut LP by Stockholm-based Henrik Stelzer aka Fluorescent Heights, is a stellar example of hazy, drone-infused hypnagogic guitar melancholia, something you definitely don't want to miss. After some delay as regards the actual release, you can finally order the beautifully blue 12 inch now over here, courtesy of Copenhagen's Subsuburban. As a reminder, re-visit two of the album tracks and watch the brand new, appropriately murky, surf-themed video for "Nightmare Beach" below. Previously: Fluorescent Heights - Nightmare Beach Fluorescent Heights - Paranormal Experience Read more → As already indicated here and here, Tourism, the debut LP by Stockholm-based Henrik Stelzer aka Fluorescent Heights, is a stellar example of hazy, drone-infused hypnagogic guitar melancholia, something you definitely don't want to miss. After some delay as regards the actual release, you can finally order the beautifully blue 12 inch now over here, courtesy of Copenhagen's Subsuburban. As a reminder, re-visit two of the album tracks and watch the brand new, appropriately murky, surf-themed video for "Nightmare Beach" below. Previously: Fluorescent Heights - Nightmare Beach Fluorescent Heights - Paranormal Experience

Video: Terror Bird - “She Kissed Me (and I Fell Ill)”.

14 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Terror Bird's "She Kissed Me (and I Fell Ill)" originally appeared on the Waiting For Nothing 7 inch that was released by London's Verulamium Records roughly a year ago, only a couple of weeks after Night-People had dropped the Vancouver outfit's debut full-length Human Culture together with Adagio 830. The latter imprint will put out Terror Bird's sophomore record Secret Rituals in May (that's the cover art above), and the perfect pop song, which still is my favorite tune by Nikki Never and co., will receive the proper album treatment. Watch the new video for the track below. Read more → Terror Bird's "She Kissed Me (and I Fell Ill)" originally appeared on the Waiting For Nothing 7 inch that was released by London's Verulamium Records roughly a year ago, only a couple of weeks after Night-People had dropped the Vancouver outfit's debut full-length Human Culture together with Adagio 830. The latter imprint will put out Terror Bird's sophomore record Secret Rituals in May (that's the cover art above), and the perfect pop song, which still is my favorite tune by Nikki Never and co., will receive the proper album treatment. Watch the new video for the track below.