Premiere: Zambri - “Hundred Hearts (Teen Daze Remix)”.

16 Jun 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

It surprises me that we haven't mentioned the new Brooklyn-based pop duo Zambri here at NFOP before, having quite recently released her splendid debut LP House Of Baasa, of which 47 minutes spin has been on repeat in our respective "offices" for a week now or so. Our dearest Jamison from Teen Daze was also asked to put a touch of his dreamy (forgive me) bliss on "Hundred Hearts" from the album; exclusively for yours truly to enjoy below. Read more → It surprises me that we haven't mentioned the new Brooklyn-based pop duo Zambri here at NFOP before, having quite recently released her splendid debut LP House Of Baasa, of which 47 minutes spin has been on repeat in our respective "offices" for a week now or so. Our dearest Jamison from Teen Daze was also asked to put a touch of his dreamy (forgive me) bliss on "Hundred Hearts" from the album; exclusively for yours truly to enjoy below.

Exclusive: FAY - “DIN” (Album Stream).

15 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Already rightfully lauded by most esteemed publications such as XLR8R, Ad Hoc, and Dummy, the beat-heavy avant-garde pop of LA artist Fay Davis-Jeffers aka FAY bears quite a few striking resemblances to other SoCal projects such as Nguzunguzu or San Gabriel, to a degree that might even justify speaking of a distinct LA sound right now when it comes to club-ready electronic music. FAY's debut full-length DIN however is even more intricately constructed than the work of her contemporaries, and more focused on pure, bare rhythm experimentation, a fact that is partly the result of a very visual approach to beat making, as explained by the artist earlier. What we see here is one of the freshest, most soulful and without doubt most thoroughly surprising and unexpected efforts in 2012. Highly recommended. After premiering the fourth track off DIN, "What's the Use", back in April, we're delighted to exclusively host the complete album stream today. Listen to the whole, staggering record below. DIN is released by Time No Place, out now digitally and on vinyl July 2. Read more → Already rightfully lauded by most esteemed publications such as XLR8R, Ad Hoc, and Dummy, the beat-heavy avant-garde pop of LA artist Fay Davis-Jeffers aka FAY bears quite a few striking resemblances to other SoCal projects such as Nguzunguzu or San Gabriel, to a degree that might even justify speaking of a distinct LA sound right now when it comes to club-ready electronic music. FAY's debut full-length DIN however is even more intricately constructed than the work of her contemporaries, and more focused on pure, bare rhythm experimentation, a fact that is partly the result of a very visual approach to beat making, as explained by the artist earlier. What we see here is one of the freshest, most soulful and without doubt most thoroughly surprising and unexpected efforts in 2012. Highly recommended. After premiering the fourth track off DIN, "What's the Use", back in April, we're delighted to exclusively host the complete album stream today. Listen to the whole, staggering record below. DIN is released by Time No Place, out now digitally and on vinyl July 2.

NFOP x Noisekölln: Patten / UMA / Nihiti.

15 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Insanely excited and a little proud to have joined forces once again with our friends from Rive Gauche (yes indeed, you have simply never looked at Berlin this way), Noisekölln, this time to put on a show of epic dimensions featuring one of our favorite artists, London-based beat mastermind Patten, who's coming over for his first-ever Berlin show. The UK enigma, whose GLAQJO XAACSSO (No Pain In Pop) clearly was one of the freshest, most challenging and intricate instances of electronic music last year, will be supported by Berlin's husband and wife duo UMA (recently featured over on Ad Hoc), and the great, elusive NYC project Nihiti, whose stellar new album For Ostland is out now on Lo Bit Landscapes (you can read about it here). And if that weren't enough, the night will be completed by performances from our man dane //close, plus SFTSTPS. The whole thing happens at Neukölln's Raum and starts at 10pm. For more info go here. Listen to all artists below, and be sure you won't miss that night of total awesomeness: Read more → Insanely excited and a little proud to have joined forces once again with our friends from Rive Gauche (yes indeed, you have simply never looked at Berlin this way), Noisekölln, this time to put on a show of epic dimensions featuring one of our favorite artists, London-based beat mastermind Patten, who's coming over for his first-ever Berlin show. The UK enigma, whose GLAQJO XAACSSO (No Pain In Pop) clearly was one of the freshest, most challenging and intricate instances of electronic music last year, will be supported by Berlin's husband and wife duo UMA (recently featured over on Ad Hoc), and the great, elusive NYC project Nihiti, whose stellar new album For Ostland is out now on Lo Bit Landscapes (you can read about it here). And if that weren't enough, the night will be completed by performances from our man dane //close, plus SFTSTPS. The whole thing happens at Neukölln's Raum and starts at 10pm. For more info go here. Listen to all artists below, and be sure you won't miss that night of total awesomeness:

The Ecstasy Compilation.

14 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Portland's Ecstasy Records first appeared on our radar recently with the excellent I-VII by Temples aka Avalon Kalin. Now, the label/west coast artist collective has dropped its first compilation to showcase not only its roster but also the work of friends and collaborators, who all share the imprint's love for early house and techno culture. The pretty impressive 16-track collection is now available via the label's website and highly recommended. Check out the tracklist below and listen to the contributions by The Miracles Club and Leech, the latter being the recording moniker of Brian Foote. 01 Discodromo Feat. Steev Lemercier - Happily Ever After 02 The Miracles Club - The Wheel 03 Etbonz - Roland Times 04 Alexis Blair Penney - Secret City 05 Robotalco - If She Only Knew 06 Emotion II Emotion Feat. Ryann - Night & Day 07 John Barera - The Party 08 Gemini Lion - None A Me 09 Bobby Browser - Original Owner 10 Boy Joy - Get Out My Head (Dub) 11 Acid Farm - Acid Trance 12 Jason Kendig - Transmit 13 Leech - Edgewise 14 Breath Control - Apheresis 15 Garben Eden - Feel Good Agency 16 Temples - XXII Read more → Portland's Ecstasy Records first appeared on our radar recently with the excellent I-VII by Temples aka Avalon Kalin. Now, the label/west coast artist collective has dropped its first compilation to showcase not only its roster but also the work of friends and collaborators, who all share the imprint's love for early house and techno culture. The pretty impressive 16-track collection is now available via the label's website and highly recommended. Check out the tracklist below and listen to the contributions by The Miracles Club and Leech, the latter being the recording moniker of Brian Foote. 01 Discodromo Feat. Steev Lemercier - Happily Ever After 02 The Miracles Club - The Wheel 03 Etbonz - Roland Times 04 Alexis Blair Penney - Secret City 05 Robotalco - If She Only Knew 06 Emotion II Emotion Feat. Ryann - Night & Day 07 John Barera - The Party 08 Gemini Lion - None A Me 09 Bobby Browser - Original Owner 10 Boy Joy - Get Out My Head (Dub) 11 Acid Farm - Acid Trance 12 Jason Kendig - Transmit 13 Leech - Edgewise 14 Breath Control - Apheresis 15 Garben Eden - Feel Good Agency 16 Temples - XXII

Jeans Wilder: “Spanish Tile”.

14 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

After "Limeade", here's the second tune off the very anticipated new Jeans Wilder record Totally. With its sundrenched feel yet subdued sadness and unfulfilled longing, "Spanish Tile" is a very distinctive Jeans Wilder tune, which is the same as to say that it's a wonderful pop song. Judging from the two tracks we've heard so far, chances are high that the new album will be even better than our 2010 favorite Nice Trash. Totally will be out June 26 via Everloving. Read more → After "Limeade", here's the second tune off the very anticipated new Jeans Wilder record Totally. With its sundrenched feel yet subdued sadness and unfulfilled longing, "Spanish Tile" is a very distinctive Jeans Wilder tune, which is the same as to say that it's a wonderful pop song. Judging from the two tracks we've heard so far, chances are high that the new album will be even better than our 2010 favorite Nice Trash. Totally will be out June 26 via Everloving.

NFOP Recommends: Nordic By Nature’s Berlin Midsommar!

14 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Up north were winters are grim and summers notoriously short, the longest day of the year almost naturally becomes something you want to make as special as possible, which is why the amiable folks of Scandinavia invented Midsommar, a day for dancing, drinking, music, and finding your future husband or wife (so we've been told). And as Berlin nowadays happens to be one of Scandinavia's biggest cities, population-wise of course, it's nearly impossible not to stage this festivity here as well. So luckily next Thursday, June 21 (thus neatly coinciding with but not being an official part of the Fête de la Musique), our friends of Nordic By Nature have organized a day of music and fun at Flamingo, together with NORR Magazin and a couple of other partners, including us, which makes us incredibly happy. The whole thing starts at 5pm and will definitely not end before the break of dawn, cause after all, there's only one Midsommar each year, so you shouldn't waste it by going to bed too early. From 5 until 8, we'll be standing outside contributing some lush sommer tunes that fit a lazy Thursday afternoon's atmosphere (which means that you'll be able to lie down in the grass, watch tourists cruising the Spree, if that's your thing, and chill, though we'll attempt to avoid chillwave). So come by, have a chat, and tell us how much you liked No Fear Of Pop before we went mainstream. At night there's even gonna be a screening of the Euro quarter finals match, so if you happen to be one of those (cough), we got you covered. Go here for more information and follow the official blog for further updates. While the day program is free, admission for the night is 7 Euros (one person) or 10 Euros (two persons). Get your ticket right here or send us a mail to submissions@nofearofpop.net, tell us your favorite Midsommar activity and win a ticket for you and your friend (and/or lover). We give away 3x2 tickets. Here's the complete program for the day: DAY PROGRAM (Free) 5pm Festival Opening GAMES 5.00 - 8.00 flower wreath workshop 5.00 - 8.00 Fjällräven wax station 7.30 - 8.00 Maypole dancing 8.00 - 10.00 Indie Speed Dating 8.00 - 10.00 Euro 2012 (Screening) BANDS 6.00 Azure Blue Azure Blue is the solo project of Sweden's Tobias Isaksson, a venture that is all about summery, bright synth pop in the cherished and close-to-cliché tradition of his home country. Is it dreamy? Yes. Is it lush? Yes. Has it more catchy hooks than an average Eurovision Song Contest? No doubt. Probably all you need on the longest day of the year, we'd say. 7.00 Husky Rescue Helsinki and Stockholm-based trio of Johanna Kalén, Marko Nyberg, and Antony Bentley aka Husky Rescue, an outfit that has been around since 2002, recently unleashed the stupendously picture-perfect pop anthem "Deep Forest Green", most likely the most sticking Scandinavian song since you know which one (including whistling!). DJs 5.00 - 8.00 No Fear Of Pop NIGHT PROGRAM BANDS 11.00 Nelson Can Another trio, another lush tune that features whistling, yet still something completely different. All-female outfit Nelson Can hail from Denmark and are rather obviously influenced by the lot of bluesy retro rock'n'roll bands such as The White Stripes or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and "Apple Pie" proves that they perfectly know how to deal with that kind of heritage. 00.00 Berndsen Finally, Iceland, or more specifically, Berndsen, who not only looks hilarious (in a good way) but is also known to put on a hilarious live show, which should be perfect for celebrating summer's start. Watching his video below, you might actually get an idea about what might happen. DJs Mainfloor: 10.00 - 2.00am Nordic by Nature 2.00am - 4.00am Justlikesnow 4.00am Nordic by Nature Bar: 10.00 Montauk Read more → Up north were winters are grim and summers notoriously short, the longest day of the year almost naturally becomes something you want to make as special as possible, which is why the amiable folks of Scandinavia invented Midsommar, a day for dancing, drinking, music, and finding your future husband or wife (so we've been told). And as Berlin nowadays happens to be one of Scandinavia's biggest cities, population-wise of course, it's nearly impossible not to stage this festivity here as well. So luckily next Thursday, June 21 (thus neatly coinciding with but not being an official part of the Fête de la Musique), our friends of Nordic By Nature have organized a day of music and fun at Flamingo, together with NORR Magazin and a couple of other partners, including us, which makes us incredibly happy. The whole thing starts at 5pm and will definitely not end before the break of dawn, cause after all, there's only one Midsommar each year, so you shouldn't waste it by going to bed too early. From 5 until 8, we'll be standing outside contributing some lush sommer tunes that fit a lazy Thursday afternoon's atmosphere (which means that you'll be able to lie down in the grass, watch tourists cruising the Spree, if that's your thing, and chill, though we'll attempt to avoid chillwave). So come by, have a chat, and tell us how much you liked No Fear Of Pop before we went mainstream. At night there's even gonna be a screening of the Euro quarter finals match, so if you happen to be one of those (cough), we got you covered. Go here for more information and follow the official blog for further updates. While the day program is free, admission for the night is 7 Euros (one person) or 10 Euros (two persons). Get your ticket right here or send us a mail to submissions@nofearofpop.net, tell us your favorite Midsommar activity and win a ticket for you and your friend (and/or lover). We give away 3x2 tickets. Here's the complete program for the day: DAY PROGRAM (Free) 5pm Festival Opening GAMES 5.00 - 8.00 flower wreath workshop 5.00 - 8.00 Fjällräven wax station 7.30 - 8.00 Maypole dancing 8.00 - 10.00 Indie Speed Dating 8.00 - 10.00 Euro 2012 (Screening) BANDS 6.00 Azure Blue Azure Blue is the solo project of Sweden's Tobias Isaksson, a venture that is all about summery, bright synth pop in the cherished and close-to-cliché tradition of his home country. Is it dreamy? Yes. Is it lush? Yes. Has it more catchy hooks than an average Eurovision Song Contest? No doubt. Probably all you need on the longest day of the year, we'd say. 7.00 Husky Rescue Helsinki and Stockholm-based trio of Johanna Kalén, Marko Nyberg, and Antony Bentley aka Husky Rescue, an outfit that has been around since 2002, recently unleashed the stupendously picture-perfect pop anthem "Deep Forest Green", most likely the most sticking Scandinavian song since you know which one (including whistling!). DJs 5.00 - 8.00 No Fear Of Pop NIGHT PROGRAM BANDS 11.00 Nelson Can Another trio, another lush tune that features whistling, yet still something completely different. All-female outfit Nelson Can hail from Denmark and are rather obviously influenced by the lot of bluesy retro rock'n'roll bands such as The White Stripes or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and "Apple Pie" proves that they perfectly know how to deal with that kind of heritage. 00.00 Berndsen Finally, Iceland, or more specifically, Berndsen, who not only looks hilarious (in a good way) but is also known to put on a hilarious live show, which should be perfect for celebrating summer's start. Watching his video below, you might actually get an idea about what might happen. DJs Mainfloor: 10.00 - 2.00am Nordic by Nature 2.00am - 4.00am Justlikesnow 4.00am Nordic by Nature Bar: 10.00 Montauk

Video Premiere: Ela Orleans - “Elegy”.

14 Jun 2012 — Henning Lahmann

It feels like ages since we last came across new material by Polish-born and UK-based NFOP favorite Ela Orleans, whose wonderful Mars Is Heaven LP made 2011 so much better. Good news then that the lady is back with more of the modest and tender, slightly eerie chamber pop that has become her signature in the past year. High Moon Low Sun is the name of Orleans' new eleven-song collection, an effort that easily lives up to her past output. Below, watch the video for "Elegy", a gently shuffling piece of sad-eyed cabaret based on lyrics by Sara Ellen Lessard, an appropriately subdued and melancholic collage assembled and arranged by Nattymari. High Moon Low Sun is out now on cassette via Clan Destine Records. Get it over here. Edition of 75. Listen to another cut from High Moon Low Sun below, the elegant, blissful "In Spring": Alongside Ela Orleans' effort, Clan Destine is dropping two other very recommended tapes these days, Cattle Border by doom pop project German Army, and the self-titled cassette by Skylines, the rightfully lauded joint venture by Party Trash, Raw Moans and Top Girls. Listen to samples below and get both tapes at Clan Destine's webshop over here. Read more → It feels like ages since we last came across new material by Polish-born and UK-based NFOP favorite Ela Orleans, whose wonderful Mars Is Heaven LP made 2011 so much better. Good news then that the lady is back with more of the modest and tender, slightly eerie chamber pop that has become her signature in the past year. High Moon Low Sun is the name of Orleans' new eleven-song collection, an effort that easily lives up to her past output. Below, watch the video for "Elegy", a gently shuffling piece of sad-eyed cabaret based on lyrics by Sara Ellen Lessard, an appropriately subdued and melancholic collage assembled and arranged by Nattymari. High Moon Low Sun is out now on cassette via Clan Destine Records. Get it over here. Edition of 75. Listen to another cut from High Moon Low Sun below, the elegant, blissful "In Spring": Alongside Ela Orleans' effort, Clan Destine is dropping two other very recommended tapes these days, Cattle Border by doom pop project German Army, and the self-titled cassette by Skylines, the rightfully lauded joint venture by Party Trash, Raw Moans and Top Girls. Listen to samples below and get both tapes at Clan Destine's webshop over here.