NFOP x How Is Annie present: Immanu El (SE) + The Little Hands Of Asphalt (NO)

29 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen
Together with our friends at How Is Annie, we're proud to present two of the finest Nordic outfits around, one which also happens to be one of my very own favourites within the post-rock universe: none other than the Gothenburg based five-piece Immanu El. We've also managed to get our hands on Oslo's own indie pop favourite The Little Hands Of Asphalt, also known as the side project of Monanzo vocalist Sjur Lyseid. The whole thing will take place at the Revolver here in Oslo (which is therefore more likely to appeal to our Norwegian readers than the majority of our "fanbase", if such a thing even exist). However, if you happen to be in Oslo on November 4th, don't allow yourself to miss this beautiful little happening out. If this alone wasn't enough though, Immanu El also have an upcoming album entitled In Passage in the oven, which is supposedly to hit the shelves in October, following their critically acclaimed albums They'll Come, They Come (2007) and Moen (2009). In the meantime (while waiting for the fall to fully kick in), here's something to get you in the mood: RVSP here. Poster design/photography: Tonje Thilesen.

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Premiere: Jape - “The Oldest Mind”

28 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Three years after grabbing the Irish album of the year award at the Choice Music Prize, Dublin based electronic pop outfit Jape is back with their fourth studio album entitled Ocean of Frequency. We were lucky enough to get an exclusive premiere of the very first peak at the album which is due to September 30th, via our friends at music/is/for/losers, whom also happen to have a Sun Glitters EP in the oven for us later this fall. "The Oldest Mind" is an euphoric and glitchy harmony particularly fitted for late summer nights in the city, and I can't help but missing walks along the never-empty, rural streets of Berlin, with no particular destination in mind. The first single from the album, "You Make The Love" will be released September 23d over at music/is/for/losers. Read more →

Dark Captain: “Submarines”.

27 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen
Let your thoughts drift away into the open with the angelic sound of East London five-piece Dark Captain, whom recently released the first single on their upcoming second album Dead Legs & Alibis. Mixing folktronica with melancholic pop harmonies (and even throwing in some traces of soft rock), Dark Captain can easily be compared with the likes of Thomas Dybdahl or King Creosote, to mention a few. The album is out on LOAF recordings on October 17th, and can be pre-ordered right here. You can also download "Submarines" and "Bellcurve" for free via their soundcloud page. Dark Captain - Submarines Dark Captain - Bellcurve Read more →

Topographic Maps: “Hypnotropix Blues”.

26 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann
To get this out of the way, I am aware that there are approximately a gazillion things you could - and perhaps should - accuse Topographic Maps' music of: for being a rip-off; for being about two years too late; even for making accusations all too easy (that cover! that track title!). But damn, if you're about three minutes into the eleven and a half minute banger Hypnotropix Blues, this sick 80s TV series theme throwback unfolds its irresistible, mesmerizing qualities and becomes a dope trip through some sticky urban jungle with absolutely no way out whatsoever, and maybe that's all I need today. Topographic Maps - Hypnotropix Blues Read more →

Permanent Collection: “Let It Go”.

26 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann
This delicious piece of music has been around for a little while, but it was only last week that Permanent Collection's fine 12 inch vinyl named Delirium dropped into my mailbox. The five-song EP by San Francisco's Jason Hendardy, formerly of Young Prisms, showcases a tasteful blend of darker, drone-informed fuzz pop that is just about perfect for late August innercity stickiness. Delirium is available digitally via bandcamp and on beautiful transparent green vinyl via Loglady. Permanent Collection - Let It Go Read more →

Talvihorros: “Alpha”.

25 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann
Talvihorros is the solo recording project of London experimental guitarist Ben Chatwin. His new LP Descent Into Delta collects five pieces of supreme guitar-based ambient works, slow-burning tracks built around vast drones and subtle noise, immense walls of stripped sound that at times may become quite a demanding yet invariably rewarding aural experience. The tracks range between three and almost ten and a half minutes, with "Alpha" in a way serving as the center piece on multiple levels with its superb, meandering soundscapes that are instantly guiding the listener into deepest contemplation. Descent Into Delta will soon be released via Hibernate. Talvihorros - Alpha Read more →

A Classic Education: “Baby, It’s Fine”.

25 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann
After an almost endless stream of wonderful yet painfully short teaser videos we've finally been blessed with the first proper cut from the forthcoming full-length by Bologna, Italy-based fuzzy garage pop quintet A Classic Education, the band led by Jonathan Clancy aka His Clancyness. Call It Blazing was recorded last year at Woods' famous Rearhouse Studios in Brooklyn and will be dropped by Lefse on October 25. "Baby, It's Fine" is dripping with euphoria and positive energy and makes me once again regret that I've somehow missed the group at Primavera Sound this year. Hopefully they're gonna arrive at our shores soon. A Classic Education - Baby, It's Fine Read more →

Video: Gem Club - “Breakers”.

24 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann
It's a good day for friends of Gem Club (and who isn't), as the Somerville, Massachusetts duo not only unveiled another entrancing track, "Twins", from their forthcoming full-length Breakers which will be released on September 27 via Hardly Art, but we've also just been surprised with the marvelous video for the album's title track that we had featured a while back. The video was made by BriAnna Olson, who was already responsible for the visualization of Gem Club's 2010 fragile masterpiece "Spine", one of the most remarkable videos of last year. "Breakers" is yet another shy, gently contemplating marvel. Previously: Gem Club - Breakers Read more →