Ad Hoc Mix: Bloksberg.

22 Jun 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

Originally posted on Ad Hoc The Norwegian space-electronic quartet 120 Days unexpectedly called it quits a few weeks ago, only a year after their second studio album and a rapidly growing career since their debut in 2006. In a musical landscape dominated by the likes of Todd Terje, Lindstrøm, and Diskjokke, Oslo might just have lost one of the more exciting electronic artists to emerge from the '00s. It is still interesting to see how Oslo's DIY scene has taken shape during the last couple of years, much of its success thanks to festivals such as Bylarm, annually introducing new, exciting sounds that seem to be springing up from the surface. Having recently moved out of the safe surroundings of their hometown and into a small apartment of Prenzelauer Berg in Berlin, the techno duo Bloksberg have already established a certain hype around their surrounding Scandinavian inhabitants. The break-up of 120 Days had a big impact on the conversations between my Scandinavian friends, too, as I happen to catch a fragment of an interesting statement last weekend: "do you know who are the new 120 Days?", and knowing what was coming, I replied: "Bloksberg". Arguably, there's a big gap between them sound wise, but a sparkle of truth may also be found in this remark: the space dipped, slow-building compositions, the energetic, dancy live shows, and of course (forgive me for sounding pompous), the fact that it feels oh-so-very 2012. Bloksberg kindly provided us with this superb mix in true Berlin spirit below; featuring classics and newcomers side by side, as well as their own (but still unmastered) psych-jam "Goma". Tracklist: Bloksberg: "Goma" AFX: "Flutternozzle" Bjørn Torske: "Nedi myra" Luke Abbott: "Brazil" (Slow version) François De Roubaix: "La Frite Équatoriale" Miles Davies: "One on one" Model 500: "Night Drive" Sven Nyhus: "Fanitullen" Underground Resistance: "The lightning" Read more → Originally posted on Ad Hoc The Norwegian space-electronic quartet 120 Days unexpectedly called it quits a few weeks ago, only a year after their second studio album and a rapidly growing career since their debut in 2006. In a musical landscape dominated by the likes of Todd Terje, Lindstrøm, and Diskjokke, Oslo might just have lost one of the more exciting electronic artists to emerge from the '00s. It is still interesting to see how Oslo's DIY scene has taken shape during the last couple of years, much of its success thanks to festivals such as Bylarm, annually introducing new, exciting sounds that seem to be springing up from the surface. Having recently moved out of the safe surroundings of their hometown and into a small apartment of Prenzelauer Berg in Berlin, the techno duo Bloksberg have already established a certain hype around their surrounding Scandinavian inhabitants. The break-up of 120 Days had a big impact on the conversations between my Scandinavian friends, too, as I happen to catch a fragment of an interesting statement last weekend: "do you know who are the new 120 Days?", and knowing what was coming, I replied: "Bloksberg". Arguably, there's a big gap between them sound wise, but a sparkle of truth may also be found in this remark: the space dipped, slow-building compositions, the energetic, dancy live shows, and of course (forgive me for sounding pompous), the fact that it feels oh-so-very 2012. Bloksberg kindly provided us with this superb mix in true Berlin spirit below; featuring classics and newcomers side by side, as well as their own (but still unmastered) psych-jam "Goma". Tracklist: Bloksberg: "Goma" AFX: "Flutternozzle" Bjørn Torske: "Nedi myra" Luke Abbott: "Brazil" (Slow version) François De Roubaix: "La Frite Équatoriale" Miles Davies: "One on one" Model 500: "Night Drive" Sven Nyhus: "Fanitullen" Underground Resistance: "The lightning"

Dylan Ettinger: “Tipoff”.

22 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Moon Glyph's incredible split 7 inch between two of the finest talents of contemporary synth experimentalism, Xander Harris and Dylan Ettinger, was already released back in February. But while you'd already been able to stream Harris' superb contribution "The Driver", Ettinger's side "Tipoff" had so far not been made public on the interwebs, so it is a real pleasure for us to finally see the tune turn up on Soundcloud. The track is considerably grittier and more (positively) aggressive than the artist's latest material on his superb (and wildly overlooked and underappreciated) LP Lifetime of Romance, especially in terms of pure and raw synth attack, though it does also feature Ettinger's newly developed inclination to vocalize his anguishes, a combination that works out supremely well. There seem to be a few copies of the 7 inch left, so be quick and order yours over here. Lifetime of Romance is out on Not Not Fun. Read more → Moon Glyph's incredible split 7 inch between two of the finest talents of contemporary synth experimentalism, Xander Harris and Dylan Ettinger, was already released back in February. But while you'd already been able to stream Harris' superb contribution "The Driver", Ettinger's side "Tipoff" had so far not been made public on the interwebs, so it is a real pleasure for us to finally see the tune turn up on Soundcloud. The track is considerably grittier and more (positively) aggressive than the artist's latest material on his superb (and wildly overlooked and underappreciated) LP Lifetime of Romance, especially in terms of pure and raw synth attack, though it does also feature Ettinger's newly developed inclination to vocalize his anguishes, a combination that works out supremely well. There seem to be a few copies of the 7 inch left, so be quick and order yours over here. Lifetime of Romance is out on Not Not Fun.

Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk: “Lillerne Dream Club”.

22 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

A little while back, we featured the first Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk track in over a year, "Little George" off the group's latest cassette on Lillerne, named Soda. Plus, we told you how excited we are regarding that release, and let me tell you we still are, especially since another of the three tracks arrived this week, the blissfully droning, slowly meandering "Lillerne Dream Club". Take a listen below. Soda is out now and available over here. Photo by Ray Ellingsen. Read more → A little while back, we featured the first Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk track in over a year, "Little George" off the group's latest cassette on Lillerne, named Soda. Plus, we told you how excited we are regarding that release, and let me tell you we still are, especially since another of the three tracks arrived this week, the blissfully droning, slowly meandering "Lillerne Dream Club". Take a listen below. Soda is out now and available over here. Photo by Ray Ellingsen.

Indian Wells - “After The Match”.

22 Jun 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

Having pretty much been drowning in dreamy, Scandinavian pop music to comperhence with the lack of sunny days in Berlin, this brand new, icy cut off Indian Wells' debut album Night Drops sucks our minds back to reality again. Brought to us by none other than the lovely Bad Panda Records, the album is available for orders (limited to 100, hand-signed CD-s) via their website. Listen/download "After The Match" below. Read more → Having pretty much been drowning in dreamy, Scandinavian pop music to comperhence with the lack of sunny days in Berlin, this brand new, icy cut off Indian Wells' debut album Night Drops sucks our minds back to reality again. Brought to us by none other than the lovely Bad Panda Records, the album is available for orders (limited to 100, hand-signed CD-s) via their website. Listen/download "After The Match" below.

Premiere: Blanche Blanche Blanche / Yves Son Ace.

22 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Two brand new LP offerings by the mighty La Station Radar, and one tune of each for an exclusive first Friday afternoon listen right here. Moreover, it's also a blissful juxtaposition of finest contemporary outsider pop. The first record is another full-length by Blanche Blanche Blanche, who'd only recently released their first LP in 2012, the brilliant Wink With Both Eyes on Night-People. Follow-up Papas Proof was recorded in March 2011 on a Yamaha MT8X - needless to say, the twelve tracks on this effort take the same line as those on the outfit's previous work. Listen to the title track below, a typically brief, stupendously catchy pop gem. The other LP comes across as a little more cumbersome, but beneath a surface of raw noises, Yves Son Ace's Unsung does know how to reveal some true delights. The album was first released last year by Night-People in a tiny tape edition, now receiving its well-deserved reissue treatment on LSR. Yves Son Ace, which is the solo project of Factums and Love Tan member Matthew Ford, delivers a collection of distinctly weird, slightly psychedelic outré pop, something we're just glad to see still exists. Both LPs are out June 22. Order Papas Proof here and Unsung here. Read more → Two brand new LP offerings by the mighty La Station Radar, and one tune of each for an exclusive first Friday afternoon listen right here. Moreover, it's also a blissful juxtaposition of finest contemporary outsider pop. The first record is another full-length by Blanche Blanche Blanche, who'd only recently released their first LP in 2012, the brilliant Wink With Both Eyes on Night-People. Follow-up Papas Proof was recorded in March 2011 on a Yamaha MT8X - needless to say, the twelve tracks on this effort take the same line as those on the outfit's previous work. Listen to the title track below, a typically brief, stupendously catchy pop gem. The other LP comes across as a little more cumbersome, but beneath a surface of raw noises, Yves Son Ace's Unsung does know how to reveal some true delights. The album was first released last year by Night-People in a tiny tape edition, now receiving its well-deserved reissue treatment on LSR. Yves Son Ace, which is the solo project of Factums and Love Tan member Matthew Ford, delivers a collection of distinctly weird, slightly psychedelic outré pop, something we're just glad to see still exists. Both LPs are out June 22. Order Papas Proof here and Unsung here.

Video: Thought Broadcast - “Bonepolish”/“State Children”.

20 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Here's the first video for Ravi Binning aka Thought Broadcast's forthcoming LP on Olde English Spelling Bee, the second release by the resurrected Brooklyn label and after Alice Cohen's stunning Pink Keys also already re-emphasizing OESB's vindicated claim to being considered underground pop's boldest imprint. Both "Bonepolish" and "State Children" are muffled pieces of post hypnagogia proto-dance, if you know what I mean by that, something that is equal parts Cabaret Voltaire and Kassem Mosse, or in other words, basically the music we spend each and every day looking for. Regarding the video, here's what we got from those responsible for it: "HACKED TRAFFIC FEEDS, PARANOIA VIBE, EVERYWHERE AT ONCE, VANTAGE POINTS OF URBAN DESOLATION, MOVEMENTS CONTROLLED BY THOUGHT, CITY GOD-MIND, FLOW CONTROL, BUNKER FEED/BUNKER BROADCAST". Alright? Thought Broadcast's self-titled debut full-length will be out June 26. Limited edition of 400, 12 inch black vinyl featuring heavy duty covers silkscreened by Monoroid. Pre-orders should soon be possible again over here. Read more → Here's the first video for Ravi Binning aka Thought Broadcast's forthcoming LP on Olde English Spelling Bee, the second release by the resurrected Brooklyn label and after Alice Cohen's stunning Pink Keys also already re-emphasizing OESB's vindicated claim to being considered underground pop's boldest imprint. Both "Bonepolish" and "State Children" are muffled pieces of post hypnagogia proto-dance, if you know what I mean by that, something that is equal parts Cabaret Voltaire and Kassem Mosse, or in other words, basically the music we spend each and every day looking for. Regarding the video, here's what we got from those responsible for it: "HACKED TRAFFIC FEEDS, PARANOIA VIBE, EVERYWHERE AT ONCE, VANTAGE POINTS OF URBAN DESOLATION, MOVEMENTS CONTROLLED BY THOUGHT, CITY GOD-MIND, FLOW CONTROL, BUNKER FEED/BUNKER BROADCAST". Alright? Thought Broadcast's self-titled debut full-length will be out June 26. Limited edition of 400, 12 inch black vinyl featuring heavy duty covers silkscreened by Monoroid. Pre-orders should soon be possible again over here.

Patten to Perform New Material on Friday.

20 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Well, I guess what I wanted to say is what I already have said in that headline above - we've been informed that superb London producer Patten will not only play his first-ever Berlin show this Friday at Raum, hosted and presented by Noisekölln and us, but that he will also debut brand new material. So we just thought we'd tell you as this is definitely something you might not want to miss. Take a listen to that, admittedly rather brief, teaser below. Read more → Well, I guess what I wanted to say is what I already have said in that headline above - we've been informed that superb London producer Patten will not only play his first-ever Berlin show this Friday at Raum, hosted and presented by Noisekölln and us, but that he will also debut brand new material. So we just thought we'd tell you as this is definitely something you might not want to miss. Take a listen to that, admittedly rather brief, teaser below.