Video Sunday vol. 39

12 Aug 2012 — NFOP
Here's a little collection of some remarkable videos of the past week, including Stephanie Wuertz's latest masterpiece for Alice Cohen, beautifully debuted by Coco Zoabi over at Ad Hoc and International Tapes, and the animated piece for "Charly Wingate" by our old friend Ryan Hemsworth, who's seriously on fire as of late and finally starts getting some well-deserved attention. The selection is completed by new videos for Twigs, Astronauts, etc., and Washed Out. Enjoy. Alice Cohen - The Lacemakers (by Stephanie Wuertz) Twigs - Ache (by Grace Ladoja) Ryan Hemsworth - Charly Wingate Astronauts, etc. - Mystery Colors Washed Out - A Dedication (by Yoohna Park) Read more → Here's a little collection of some remarkable videos of the past week, including Stephanie Wuertz's latest masterpiece for Alice Cohen, beautifully debuted by Coco Zoabi over at Ad Hoc and International Tapes, and the animated piece for "Charly Wingate" by our old friend Ryan Hemsworth, who's seriously on fire as of late and finally starts getting some well-deserved attention. The selection is completed by new videos for Twigs, Astronauts, etc., and Washed Out. Enjoy. Alice Cohen - The Lacemakers (by Stephanie Wuertz) Twigs - Ache (by Grace Ladoja) Ryan Hemsworth - Charly Wingate Astronauts, etc. - Mystery Colors Washed Out - A Dedication (by Yoohna Park)

Youthfall: “From Fallen Eyes”.

11 Aug 2012 — Henning
Here's a new one from London brothers Youthfall. "From Fallen Eyes" is a hard-hitting dream pop song full of everything that we love - lo-fi production, a driving drum line, and hazy vocals and guitar licks. The duo has offered it as a free download so get it while you can. While you're at it you should be sure to check out their older tracks as well. Read more → Here's a new one from London brothers Youthfall. "From Fallen Eyes" is a hard-hitting dream pop song full of everything that we love - lo-fi production, a driving drum line, and hazy vocals and guitar licks. The duo has offered it as a free download so get it while you can. While you're at it you should be sure to check out their older tracks as well.

Cape: “Anyong”.

10 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
Wonderfully uplifting little pop gem by still fairly new Berlin-based project Cape, perfect both for ending your week or to start your Friday night adventures. Warm, hazy synth waves riding on a simplistic drum machine beat and some saccharine, crystal-clear female vocals, "Anyong" is in equal measure inspired by contemporary K-Pop and deeply infused by classic Western pop music tropes from circa 1982 to 1994. Just lovely. Get Cape's digital single No. 2 for free over here. Read more → Wonderfully uplifting little pop gem by still fairly new Berlin-based project Cape, perfect both for ending your week or to start your Friday night adventures. Warm, hazy synth waves riding on a simplistic drum machine beat and some saccharine, crystal-clear female vocals, "Anyong" is in equal measure inspired by contemporary K-Pop and deeply infused by classic Western pop music tropes from circa 1982 to 1994. Just lovely. Get Cape's digital single No. 2 for free over here.

SEEKERSINTERNATIONAL: “InVoiceDub”.

10 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
Still struggling to wrap my mind around this thing but this massive piece of heavy dub straight from the netherworld totally caught us off guard, silently dropping into our inbox the other day just to unleash a storm of unheard post-reality jams. "InVoiceDub" never really gets off the ground properly yet somehow manages to create a simply mesmerising stream of broken rhythms and off-kilter sampling that never eases its relentless grip, a truly mind-boggling track all the way. Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland could probably come up with something like this if they were, well, if they were much more deranged than they already appear to be. The Call From Below is out on Digitalis. Get it over at Boomkat. Edition of 500, highly recommended. Read more → Still struggling to wrap my mind around this thing but this massive piece of heavy dub straight from the netherworld totally caught us off guard, silently dropping into our inbox the other day just to unleash a storm of unheard post-reality jams. "InVoiceDub" never really gets off the ground properly yet somehow manages to create a simply mesmerising stream of broken rhythms and off-kilter sampling that never eases its relentless grip, a truly mind-boggling track all the way. Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland could probably come up with something like this if they were, well, if they were much more deranged than they already appear to be. The Call From Below is out on Digitalis. Get it over at Boomkat. Edition of 500, highly recommended.

PORTALS Feature on Music Scenes in Berlin.

10 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
A quick heads-up just for those of you who might have missed it, the kind folks over at one of the web's most beautiful and continuously best curated sites, US-based blog collective PORTALS, recently asked me to provide a feature about "Local Scenes: Berlin", which was published earlier this week. Without even getting close to exhausting the subject in any satisfying manner whatsoever, I've written a few things about three "scenes" that excite me in particular. You may read the feature over here. Below, listen to a track (premiered on this site a while back) by an artist who's part of one of those projects mentioned in the piece, Barker's oh so fabulous "I Feel": Read more → A quick heads-up just for those of you who might have missed it, the kind folks over at one of the web's most beautiful and continuously best curated sites, US-based blog collective PORTALS, recently asked me to provide a feature about "Local Scenes: Berlin", which was published earlier this week. Without even getting close to exhausting the subject in any satisfying manner whatsoever, I've written a few things about three "scenes" that excite me in particular. You may read the feature over here. Below, listen to a track (premiered on this site a while back) by an artist who's part of one of those projects mentioned in the piece, Barker's oh so fabulous "I Feel":

Weekly Retrospect 32/12

10 Aug 2012 — NFOP

A selection of tracks you should’ve been listening to this past week, in the words of our friends."Listening to it just once doesn’t quite do it—Loscil’s music is based on subtle patterns, muffled keys repeat gradually under layers of gauzy hums, which a single listen could never fully convey. But on repeat 'Coyote' works like a choose your own adventure: different sounds branch out into these textural worlds endlessly." — Sam Hockley-Smith, The Fader From Sketches of New Brighton, out September 10 on Kranky."And though the delivery is sunny the tone and temperament of the surrounding songs have gotten darker, slanted more bittersweet than they've driven in the past. In turn, with the complex emotions the complexity of the arrangements has grown, but without ever becoming encumbered by ideas. No matter what the supporting cast, the shuffle of drums, the short strums and Earl's voice remain the gravitational point of any Woods album." — Andy French, Raven Sings The Blues From Bend Beyond, out in September on Woodsist."Greene keeps his trademark woozy R&B samples and light synth hooks as a central part of the sound while beefing up the low-end: every kick and bass pop hits harder than before." — Brad Stabler, Ad Hoc From the Ready EP, out on 3024."The song is a good indication that Kisses has changed its direction a bit. Though it contains an innate disco dance core, it also features tropical instrumentation, making the track more fitting played at a beach party than a night club." — Katrina Nattress, Prefix"The main attraction here, though, is a remix from analogue synth maven and DFA stalwart Gavin Russom. Russom re-imagines the song in cosmic slow-mo, a chugging behemoth over which Cohen’s voice takes on newfound diva qualities – one for the endless, erotic slowburn of some imagined Balearic terrace." — FACT From Cascading Keys, out on Olde English Spelling Bee."The first track to surface from the nine-track effort is the opener “Sleepwalker”, a psych-metal fusion comprised of pounding guitar grooves and fuzzed-out vocals." — Chris Coplan, Consequence Of Sound From Circles, out October 1 on Souterrain Transmissions.

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A selection of tracks you should’ve been listening to this past week, in the words of our friends."Listening to it just once doesn’t quite do it—Loscil’s music is based on subtle patterns, muffled keys repeat gradually under layers of gauzy hums, which a single listen could never fully convey. But on repeat 'Coyote' works like a choose your own adventure: different sounds branch out into these textural worlds endlessly." — Sam Hockley-Smith, The Fader From Sketches of New Brighton, out September 10 on Kranky."And though the delivery is sunny the tone and temperament of the surrounding songs have gotten darker, slanted more bittersweet than they've driven in the past. In turn, with the complex emotions the complexity of the arrangements has grown, but without ever becoming encumbered by ideas. No matter what the supporting cast, the shuffle of drums, the short strums and Earl's voice remain the gravitational point of any Woods album." — Andy French, Raven Sings The Blues From Bend Beyond, out in September on Woodsist."Greene keeps his trademark woozy R&B samples and light synth hooks as a central part of the sound while beefing up the low-end: every kick and bass pop hits harder than before." — Brad Stabler, Ad Hoc From the Ready EP, out on 3024."The song is a good indication that Kisses has changed its direction a bit. Though it contains an innate disco dance core, it also features tropical instrumentation, making the track more fitting played at a beach party than a night club." — Katrina Nattress, Prefix"The main attraction here, though, is a remix from analogue synth maven and DFA stalwart Gavin Russom. Russom re-imagines the song in cosmic slow-mo, a chugging behemoth over which Cohen’s voice takes on newfound diva qualities – one for the endless, erotic slowburn of some imagined Balearic terrace." — FACT From Cascading Keys, out on Olde English Spelling Bee."The first track to surface from the nine-track effort is the opener “Sleepwalker”, a psych-metal fusion comprised of pounding guitar grooves and fuzzed-out vocals." — Chris Coplan, Consequence Of Sound From Circles, out October 1 on Souterrain Transmissions.

Heyerdahl: “Mirage”.

10 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
With an irresistible knack for lush melodies and grandiose statements so significant for groups from the nordic countries, Oslo-based quartet Heyerdahl (yes, indeed named after this guy) release their debut single "Mirage" today via Red Eye Transit. A picture-perfect pop song that allegedly was recorded during a nasty storm in a lighthouse on the western Norwegian coast last winter, a story so stereotypic that we almost refused to believe it. In any case, listen to the very compelling result below. In very much related news, our friends at Nordic By Nature are gonna host Heyerdahl's single release party at Berlin's Monarch on August 22, presented by No Fear Of Pop and Zitty. Go here for more details on the event and sign up here for free guest list spots! Read more → With an irresistible knack for lush melodies and grandiose statements so significant for groups from the nordic countries, Oslo-based quartet Heyerdahl (yes, indeed named after this guy) release their debut single "Mirage" today via Red Eye Transit. A picture-perfect pop song that allegedly was recorded during a nasty storm in a lighthouse on the western Norwegian coast last winter, a story so stereotypic that we almost refused to believe it. In any case, listen to the very compelling result below. In very much related news, our friends at Nordic By Nature are gonna host Heyerdahl's single release party at Berlin's Monarch on August 22, presented by No Fear Of Pop and Zitty. Go here for more details on the event and sign up here for free guest list spots!

Video: Afterhours - “Salt On The Wound”.

10 Aug 2012 — Henning Lahmann
Sultry late night jam by elusive LA-based project Afterhours, something made for those nocturnal hours when for whatever reason, staying at the club is not an option anymore (it happens to all of us). "Salt On The Wound" is one of four instrumentals on the outfit's new 12 inch, aptly entitled Sleepwalker and "inspired equally by Mo’ Wax obscurities, sound poetry, “Moments In Love”, anime depictions of neo-futurist Tokyo, and Endtroducing". Love the negligent, blurred textures beneath the slowly lulling beat - indeed something like "Les Nuits" for the post-hypnagogic mind. Watch the obvious but totally appropriate video below, made by Victoria Cheong. Sleepwalker is out now on Not Not Fun. Mixed with assistance by Octo Octa, edition of 400. Read more → Sultry late night jam by elusive LA-based project Afterhours, something made for those nocturnal hours when for whatever reason, staying at the club is not an option anymore (it happens to all of us). "Salt On The Wound" is one of four instrumentals on the outfit's new 12 inch, aptly entitled Sleepwalker and "inspired equally by Mo’ Wax obscurities, sound poetry, “Moments In Love”, anime depictions of neo-futurist Tokyo, and Endtroducing". Love the negligent, blurred textures beneath the slowly lulling beat - indeed something like "Les Nuits" for the post-hypnagogic mind. Watch the obvious but totally appropriate video below, made by Victoria Cheong. Sleepwalker is out now on Not Not Fun. Mixed with assistance by Octo Octa, edition of 400.