5 Years of NFOP

Come celebrate with us: Urban Spree, May 24, 4pm

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Announcements: Indie Pop Days & Torstraßen Festival.

22 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
Before we all dive head first into Berlin Music Week, which starts on September 3 and ends with the two-day Berlin Festival at Tempelhof Airport (more on all that later), this city is about to get blessed by two other festivals worth mentioning, both taking place on the first weekend of September (in other words, you'll more or less have to choose). First, the girls from Let's Kiss and Make Up have organised the already third edition of their glorious Indie Pop Days, once again gathering the close-knit international scene of devotees of everything twee and shoegaze, and basically all strands of sweet, guitar-based and dreamy pop goodness. After two years at Wasserturm in Kreuzberg, the adorable festival has changed its location, this time happening at the NFOP-approved venue Marie Antoinette in Mitte. Go here for more, frequently updated information, go here for tickets, and check the line-up below. Friday, August 31 Fulhäst The Spook School Be Forest Azure Blue + Djs ++Special: Popquiz Saturday, September 1 The Fireworks Stars In Coma The Holiday Crowd Je Suis Animal + Djs Sunday, September 2 The Proctors The Just Joans Sleeping Policemen Cats On Fire + Djs Also in Mitte and right at its touristy heart (we mention that in the most neutral way), eight bars, cafés and clubs will host Torstraßen Festival, which sees its second edition on September 1 after a successful first in 2011. The line-up looks pretty amazing, with quite a few NFOP favourites performing, including D E N A, Dent May, Digits, Heatsick, Kool Thing, Touchy Mob, and Wintercoats. The whole schedule is too extensive to write down below, so check it out over here and listen to that neat playlist compiled by the organisers. For ticket information, see here. Read more → Before we all dive head first into Berlin Music Week, which starts on September 3 and ends with the two-day Berlin Festival at Tempelhof Airport (more on all that later), this city is about to get blessed by two other festivals worth mentioning, both taking place on the first weekend of September (in other words, you'll more or less have to choose). First, the girls from Let's Kiss and Make Up have organised the already third edition of their glorious Indie Pop Days, once again gathering the close-knit international scene of devotees of everything twee and shoegaze, and basically all strands of sweet, guitar-based and dreamy pop goodness. After two years at Wasserturm in Kreuzberg, the adorable festival has changed its location, this time happening at the NFOP-approved venue Marie Antoinette in Mitte. Go here for more, frequently updated information, go here for tickets, and check the line-up below. Friday, August 31 Fulhäst The Spook School Be Forest Azure Blue + Djs ++Special: Popquiz Saturday, September 1 The Fireworks Stars In Coma The Holiday Crowd Je Suis Animal + Djs Sunday, September 2 The Proctors The Just Joans Sleeping Policemen Cats On Fire + Djs Also in Mitte and right at its touristy heart (we mention that in the most neutral way), eight bars, cafés and clubs will host Torstraßen Festival, which sees its second edition on September 1 after a successful first in 2011. The line-up looks pretty amazing, with quite a few NFOP favourites performing, including D E N A, Dent May, Digits, Heatsick, Kool Thing, Touchy Mob, and Wintercoats. The whole schedule is too extensive to write down below, so check it out over here and listen to that neat playlist compiled by the organisers. For ticket information, see here.

Ombre: “Sense”.

21 Aug 2012 — Tonje Thilesen
According to Julianna Barwick's facebook page earlier today, Ombre is her new collaborative project together with Brooklyn's experimental musician Helado Negro. Believe You Me is their first LP effort together under the mentioned moniker, taking a piece of Barwick's harmonic cathedral-pop and merging it with the strength of Helado Negro's latino-infused psych folk, resulting in an absorbing trip into the minds of two relatively different, but indeed unique musicians. There is also an interesting gap between tracks on Believe You Me that seem completely under auspice of Barwick herself (but also the other way around), somewhat constructed like a mellow, intellectual conversation between their two musical beings, until their roads finally meet, creating some of the perhaps more interesting genre merges on the record. Below is an excerpt from their collab, which can be streamed in its entirety over at Bandcamp or purchased via Asthmatic Kitty Records now. Read more → According to Julianna Barwick's facebook page earlier today, Ombre is her new collaborative project together with Brooklyn's experimental musician Helado Negro. Believe You Me is their first LP effort together under the mentioned moniker, taking a piece of Barwick's harmonic cathedral-pop and merging it with the strength of Helado Negro's latino-infused psych folk, resulting in an absorbing trip into the minds of two relatively different, but indeed unique musicians. There is also an interesting gap between tracks on Believe You Me that seem completely under auspice of Barwick herself (but also the other way around), somewhat constructed like a mellow, intellectual conversation between their two musical beings, until their roads finally meet, creating some of the perhaps more interesting genre merges on the record. Below is an excerpt from their collab, which can be streamed in its entirety over at Bandcamp or purchased via Asthmatic Kitty Records now.

Exclusive: Castratii - “Eora” (Album Stream).

21 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
Some groups, we like to believe, just materialise out of the blue, having left no trace whatsoever before, and then suddenly, they are the talk of town, or at least should be. Case in point: Castratii, Sydney-based, we've been informed, and carried by the fabulous, urging voice of Liela Moss, otherwise of The Duke Spirit fame. The hitherto elusive group's debut Eora is out today, and it's a truly marvellous affair. Classic, gloomy dream pop, informed by goth and shoegaze, with stunning soundscapes we so far haven't come across in 2012. And though the reference points are out in the open and dutifully mentioned by everyone: David Lynch, 4AD, Zola Jesus, to name but a few, Eora never lacks uniqueness or originality. The record's dense arrangements create an atmosphere of anxiety and longing, while motorik and industrial grooves like those on standout "Kingdom" place Castratii neatly between early 80s Manchester and some mid-western witchcraft from circa 2009. Stream the record in its entirety now exclusively below. Eora is released by the very prolific and constantly amazing LA imprint Time No Place. Pre-order the vinyl via Boomkat and get the digital version now here or via the band's bandcamp. Read more → Some groups, we like to believe, just materialise out of the blue, having left no trace whatsoever before, and then suddenly, they are the talk of town, or at least should be. Case in point: Castratii, Sydney-based, we've been informed, and carried by the fabulous, urging voice of Liela Moss, otherwise of The Duke Spirit fame. The hitherto elusive group's debut Eora is out today, and it's a truly marvellous affair. Classic, gloomy dream pop, informed by goth and shoegaze, with stunning soundscapes we so far haven't come across in 2012. And though the reference points are out in the open and dutifully mentioned by everyone: David Lynch, 4AD, Zola Jesus, to name but a few, Eora never lacks uniqueness or originality. The record's dense arrangements create an atmosphere of anxiety and longing, while motorik and industrial grooves like those on standout "Kingdom" place Castratii neatly between early 80s Manchester and some mid-western witchcraft from circa 2009. Stream the record in its entirety now exclusively below. Eora is released by the very prolific and constantly amazing LA imprint Time No Place. Pre-order the vinyl via Boomkat and get the digital version now here or via the band's bandcamp.

Stream: Holy Other - Held.

21 Aug 2012 — Tonje Thilesen
One of our favourite albums this year, Holy Other's first LP effort Held just went up for streaming a few hours ago via the friendly folks over at Tri Angle. Listen to its shivery beauty in its whole below. Read more → One of our favourite albums this year, Holy Other's first LP effort Held just went up for streaming a few hours ago via the friendly folks over at Tri Angle. Listen to its shivery beauty in its whole below.

NFOP SESSIONS #13: Phantom.

20 Aug 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

In courtesy of our 13th live session here at NFOP, we got a hold the exciting new Helsinki duo Phantom aka Tommi Koskinen and Hanna Toivonen, whom I met up with in their friends' apartment located in Berlin's Neukölln, shortly after their live appearance at Finnish Wave Night back in May. Having received a fairly successful amount of hype around their single "Scars" earlier this year, Phantom is one of my very personal excitements of 2012, and definitely a name we will hear more of in 2013. Let your mind get lost in the strange but beautiful universe of Phantom below, featuring the very first (stripped-down) recording of their new track "Albuquerque".

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In courtesy of our 13th live session here at NFOP, we got a hold the exciting new Helsinki duo Phantom aka Tommi Koskinen and Hanna Toivonen, whom I met up with in their friends' apartment located in Berlin's Neukölln, shortly after their live appearance at Finnish Wave Night back in May. Having received a fairly successful amount of hype around their single "Scars" earlier this year, Phantom is one of my very personal excitements of 2012, and definitely a name we will hear more of in 2013. Let your mind get lost in the strange but beautiful universe of Phantom below, featuring the very first (stripped-down) recording of their new track "Albuquerque".

Centurials: “Prestige”.

20 Aug 2012 — Tonje Thilesen
Little information is yet to be found about Richard behind the moniker Centurials, with a relatively fresh Soundcloud portfolio that so far only resides of three uploads. "Prestige" takes clever and unexpected turns throughout its fairly long 8 1/2 minutes, but succeeds to maintain our attention, something that other glitch infused, instrumental hip-hop efforts may have struggled with in the past. "Eight Months" on the other hand drives more in the direction of the emotional shadow of Shlohmo or MMOTHS, all in all a beautifully humane work of sound. Read more → Little information is yet to be found about Richard behind the moniker Centurials, with a relatively fresh Soundcloud portfolio that so far only resides of three uploads. "Prestige" takes clever and unexpected turns throughout its fairly long 8 1/2 minutes, but succeeds to maintain our attention, something that other glitch infused, instrumental hip-hop efforts may have struggled with in the past. "Eight Months" on the other hand drives more in the direction of the emotional shadow of Shlohmo or MMOTHS, all in all a beautifully humane work of sound.

Weekly Retrospect 33/12

17 Aug 2012 — NFOP

A selection of tracks you should've been listening to this past week."Now Tom Krell has leant his fragile-yet-beautiful vocals to a moving rendition of Janet Jackson's "Again". The song hits me on some personal levels I'll spare you of, but regardless of how much you relate, there's just no denying that Krell manages to make you feel his woes. It's a strange and awesome power that he wields." — Jheri Evans, Decoder Total Loss is out September 17 via Weird World/Domino and in North America September 18 via Acéphale."With the first drum beat at 11 seconds and a delicate drop following, the powerful beats intoxicate; combine this with Bath’s dreamy vocals, here is a song of crushing emotion." — Francesca Davison, Dummy From Feel Me, out August 28 via Friends Of Friends."It's the kind of brogue that'd set adrenaline streaking through your body if you heard it yelling after you down a dark alleyway, but here, the only threat of violence manifests in the still-sore "wounds on [your] back." It's a tale of knowing better next time offset by Marshall's turning-trademark cockiness: all, "See, girl…" and dedications to an oblique old guard, the only lineage in which Marshall seeks to establish himself." — Laura Snapes, Pitchfork From the Rock Bottom/Octopus 7 inch, out September 24 via Rinse."[T]he first single from the band’s sophomore album is “Die Life,” an exhilarating burst of release-less tension that pairs a “She Lost Control” shuffle with a jacked tempo and animalistic melodies." — Self-titled Mag From Zeros, out September 30 via Captured Tracks."This is the most eccentric and mellow collection of tunes Traxman has released yet-- if the hypermanic lullaby of "Da World Around Us" and his rework of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" are any clues-- but it's another, almost undeserved peak into the mind of a juke giant, as well as a precursor to his forthcoming release on Lit City Trax. We can't help but be grateful for it." — Brad Stabler, Ad Hoc From Heat, out on Sewage Tapes.

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A selection of tracks you should've been listening to this past week."Now Tom Krell has leant his fragile-yet-beautiful vocals to a moving rendition of Janet Jackson's "Again". The song hits me on some personal levels I'll spare you of, but regardless of how much you relate, there's just no denying that Krell manages to make you feel his woes. It's a strange and awesome power that he wields." — Jheri Evans, Decoder Total Loss is out September 17 via Weird World/Domino and in North America September 18 via Acéphale."With the first drum beat at 11 seconds and a delicate drop following, the powerful beats intoxicate; combine this with Bath’s dreamy vocals, here is a song of crushing emotion." — Francesca Davison, Dummy From Feel Me, out August 28 via Friends Of Friends."It's the kind of brogue that'd set adrenaline streaking through your body if you heard it yelling after you down a dark alleyway, but here, the only threat of violence manifests in the still-sore "wounds on [your] back." It's a tale of knowing better next time offset by Marshall's turning-trademark cockiness: all, "See, girl…" and dedications to an oblique old guard, the only lineage in which Marshall seeks to establish himself." — Laura Snapes, Pitchfork From the Rock Bottom/Octopus 7 inch, out September 24 via Rinse."[T]he first single from the band’s sophomore album is “Die Life,” an exhilarating burst of release-less tension that pairs a “She Lost Control” shuffle with a jacked tempo and animalistic melodies." — Self-titled Mag From Zeros, out September 30 via Captured Tracks."This is the most eccentric and mellow collection of tunes Traxman has released yet-- if the hypermanic lullaby of "Da World Around Us" and his rework of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" are any clues-- but it's another, almost undeserved peak into the mind of a juke giant, as well as a precursor to his forthcoming release on Lit City Trax. We can't help but be grateful for it." — Brad Stabler, Ad Hoc From Heat, out on Sewage Tapes.

Highasakite: “Indian Summer”.

16 Aug 2012 — Tonje Thilesen
Berlin Music Week is coming up in only a few weeks, and as usual, we've teamed up with our friends at Nordic By Nature, co-presenting their BMW showcase at Postbahnhof on September 5th. Having just caught Highasakite live at Oslo's Øya festival last week, we're very eager to once again witness the pop orchestra take over the stage, now also with a brand new EP coming up on August 20th. Listen to their beautiful single "Indian Summer" below — a luscious and quirky pop jam that will make your heart skip a beat. Don't forget to RSVP to the Nordic By Nature showcase here. Read more → Berlin Music Week is coming up in only a few weeks, and as usual, we've teamed up with our friends at Nordic By Nature, co-presenting their BMW showcase at Postbahnhof on September 5th. Having just caught Highasakite live at Oslo's Øya festival last week, we're very eager to once again witness the pop orchestra take over the stage, now also with a brand new EP coming up on August 20th. Listen to their beautiful single "Indian Summer" below — a luscious and quirky pop jam that will make your heart skip a beat. Don't forget to RSVP to the Nordic By Nature showcase here.
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