Premiere: I Come To Shanghai - “In Your Own Way”.

11 Oct 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

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Exclusive: L’animaux Tryst’s latest batch.

11 Oct 2011 — Henning Lahmann

It's about time to dedicate ourselves to the fabulousness that is Maine's L'animaux Tryst (Field) Recordings, the tiny imprint founded and run (mostly) by free folk genius Matthew Lajoie aka Herbcraft. Almost two weeks ago, we'd already premiered Lajoie's latest project Brainshadows and its forthcoming 7 inch that's soon gonna be released by L'animaux Tryst. However, as of late there's been quite a few amazing things going on in up there in the rearmost northeast of the Union, namely the label's latest four-tape batch that was put out in mid-September: First, there's the latest effort by our very much adored interstellar psychedelic gathering Planets Around The Sun, a full-length put on magnetic tape cryptically named We O We and featuring both a nostalgia-free retrospective and a surprising outlook towards future endeavors of this admirable collective around Ian Paige, Caitlin King, and Matt Lajoie himself. The nearly nine minutes of the reworked "Saraswati" clearly are a look back, but one that is as du jour and mind-altering as anything could be in the current experimental folk scene of North America. Needless to say, this cassette is highly recommended. Planets Around The Sun - Saraswati Pete Fosco's Vacationlanded collects slow-burning, gently solipsistic meditations for solo guitar, warm and fuzzy, unagitated like a stormy late fall evening spent in front of a crackling, cozy fireplace. Just beautiful. Pete Fosco - Pemetic Though you probably wouldn't expect something like this on a label devoted to the more neglected side of modern folk, after a while Altered Gee's tape European Gees really starts to unfold its whole captivating nature. Truly unique and wildly bemusing, the eleven tracks collected on this C-69 unanimously and unashamedly celebrate cheapest and dirtiest yet subtly elaborated retro-futuristic analog synth wizardry. These tunes are supposed to be "g-funk instrumentals", and oh, funky they are indeed. Entirely recorded on an 8-track cassette, "I Wanna Lay You Down and Feel You Up" surely is the weirdest (and sexiest) thing you'll listen to today. Altered Gee - I Wanna Lay You Down and Feel You Up Sadly sold out already is this one, Creepy Power by Lightning strike Lightning. Sad not least because this release is probably the most stunning and coherent of the lot, a deeply enchanting piece of haunting folk mysticism, explorative and expansive compositions that leave a lot of space to sink in. Creepy Power is only the sophomore release by LSL after Turn Myself Into The Ocean from 2007, but the four years time it took to finish this work led to a rich and satisfying, fully matured work of folk, without any doubt one of the finest in its genre since quite some time. The C-40 came in a ridiculously limited art edition of only 33 tapes, but I really hope that someone's gonna step up to reissue this gem soon. Lightning strike Lightning - Dutch Borneo You may order everything (including special offers) over at the L'animaux Storefront. Previously: Brainshadows - Wild Cherry Read more → It's about time to dedicate ourselves to the fabulousness that is Maine's L'animaux Tryst (Field) Recordings, the tiny imprint founded and run (mostly) by free folk genius Matthew Lajoie aka Herbcraft. Almost two weeks ago, we'd already premiered Lajoie's latest project Brainshadows and its forthcoming 7 inch that's soon gonna be released by L'animaux Tryst. However, as of late there's been quite a few amazing things going on in up there in the rearmost northeast of the Union, namely the label's latest four-tape batch that was put out in mid-September: First, there's the latest effort by our very much adored interstellar psychedelic gathering Planets Around The Sun, a full-length put on magnetic tape cryptically named We O We and featuring both a nostalgia-free retrospective and a surprising outlook towards future endeavors of this admirable collective around Ian Paige, Caitlin King, and Matt Lajoie himself. The nearly nine minutes of the reworked "Saraswati" clearly are a look back, but one that is as du jour and mind-altering as anything could be in the current experimental folk scene of North America. Needless to say, this cassette is highly recommended. Planets Around The Sun - Saraswati Pete Fosco's Vacationlanded collects slow-burning, gently solipsistic meditations for solo guitar, warm and fuzzy, unagitated like a stormy late fall evening spent in front of a crackling, cozy fireplace. Just beautiful. Pete Fosco - Pemetic Though you probably wouldn't expect something like this on a label devoted to the more neglected side of modern folk, after a while Altered Gee's tape European Gees really starts to unfold its whole captivating nature. Truly unique and wildly bemusing, the eleven tracks collected on this C-69 unanimously and unashamedly celebrate cheapest and dirtiest yet subtly elaborated retro-futuristic analog synth wizardry. These tunes are supposed to be "g-funk instrumentals", and oh, funky they are indeed. Entirely recorded on an 8-track cassette, "I Wanna Lay You Down and Feel You Up" surely is the weirdest (and sexiest) thing you'll listen to today. Altered Gee - I Wanna Lay You Down and Feel You Up Sadly sold out already is this one, Creepy Power by Lightning strike Lightning. Sad not least because this release is probably the most stunning and coherent of the lot, a deeply enchanting piece of haunting folk mysticism, explorative and expansive compositions that leave a lot of space to sink in. Creepy Power is only the sophomore release by LSL after Turn Myself Into The Ocean from 2007, but the four years time it took to finish this work led to a rich and satisfying, fully matured work of folk, without any doubt one of the finest in its genre since quite some time. The C-40 came in a ridiculously limited art edition of only 33 tapes, but I really hope that someone's gonna step up to reissue this gem soon. Lightning strike Lightning - Dutch Borneo You may order everything (including special offers) over at the L'animaux Storefront. Previously: Brainshadows - Wild Cherry

Ensemble Economique: “Heat Waves”.

11 Oct 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Ensemble Economique's terrific Physical (Not Not Fun) had been one of our favorite releases of 2010, and now Brian Pyle's project returns with the follow-up LP named Crossing The Pass, By Torchlight, out sometime soon via Dekoder. Listen to the record's lead track "Heat Waves" below, another eerie piece of library music-inspired psychedelic drone. Read more → Ensemble Economique's terrific Physical (Not Not Fun) had been one of our favorite releases of 2010, and now Brian Pyle's project returns with the follow-up LP named Crossing The Pass, By Torchlight, out sometime soon via Dekoder. Listen to the record's lead track "Heat Waves" below, another eerie piece of library music-inspired psychedelic drone.

Arrange + Ricky Eat Acid: “P.S.L.W.”

11 Oct 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

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Tommy Toussaint: “Summer USA / Lucky”.

11 Oct 2011 — Henning Lahmann

The alert reader of our humble pages will be aware that we're very much into everything that arises from Oxford, Mississippi's Cats Purring Dude Ranch in general, and everything that a certain guy named Tommy Toussaint, or Jesse Thompson for his mother, comes up with in particular. Now, London's Make Mine Records is finally dropping the long-standing Dent May collaborator's first physical release under his solo moniker, a shiny 7 inch vinyl containing two even shinier pop gems of utmost perfection, "Summer USA" and "Lucky", up for all kinds of streaming pleasures below. Pre-order the single now over here. Read more → The alert reader of our humble pages will be aware that we're very much into everything that arises from Oxford, Mississippi's Cats Purring Dude Ranch in general, and everything that a certain guy named Tommy Toussaint, or Jesse Thompson for his mother, comes up with in particular. Now, London's Make Mine Records is finally dropping the long-standing Dent May collaborator's first physical release under his solo moniker, a shiny 7 inch vinyl containing two even shinier pop gems of utmost perfection, "Summer USA" and "Lucky", up for all kinds of streaming pleasures below. Pre-order the single now over here.

NFOP Showcase: Dylan Ettinger & Moon Wheel.

10 Oct 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Extremely happy and proud today to announce the first "proper" No Fear Of Pop Showcase with our dear friends over at Kreuzberg's own Madame Claude on Tuesday, October 25. We're gonna have long-standing blog favorite Dylan Ettinger performing his first-ever Berlin show right on time before Not Not Fun drops his forthcoming album Lifetime Of Romance, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's acclaimed and excellent New Age Outlaws (listen to the new LP's first cut "Wintermute" below). Mr Ettinger will be supported by the incredible h-pop vibes of Swedish-born, Berlin via Australia resident Olle Holmberg aka Moon Wheel, a seriously appealing new project that has stirred up quite a considerable amount of excitement among these shores since we first dove deep into the contemplating sonic virtuosity that is "Aleifr". The magic will start at 9 p.m., be there on time. For more information go here. Artwork by Jheri Evans (Get Off The Coast). Dylan Ettinger - Wintermute Moon Wheel - Aleifr Read more → Extremely happy and proud today to announce the first "proper" No Fear Of Pop Showcase with our dear friends over at Kreuzberg's own Madame Claude on Tuesday, October 25. We're gonna have long-standing blog favorite Dylan Ettinger performing his first-ever Berlin show right on time before Not Not Fun drops his forthcoming album Lifetime Of Romance, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's acclaimed and excellent New Age Outlaws (listen to the new LP's first cut "Wintermute" below). Mr Ettinger will be supported by the incredible h-pop vibes of Swedish-born, Berlin via Australia resident Olle Holmberg aka Moon Wheel, a seriously appealing new project that has stirred up quite a considerable amount of excitement among these shores since we first dove deep into the contemplating sonic virtuosity that is "Aleifr". The magic will start at 9 p.m., be there on time. For more information go here. Artwork by Jheri Evans (Get Off The Coast). Dylan Ettinger - Wintermute Moon Wheel - Aleifr

Grand Trine: “Here Comes the Night”.

10 Oct 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Pretty hooked on the gloomy, early rock'n'roll-inspired garage tones of Montréal's Grand Trine since Alex Zhang Hungtai aka Dirty Beaches gave us the heads-up via his blog last week. The group around Shub Roy and Tobias Rochman has actually already dropped quite a few very worthwhile things (go here), and now there's the excellent cassingle named Euthanize Me, recently put out via Craft Singles, the tiny yet incredible imprint that also brought us my secret obsession Omma Cobba, among others. Very stoked by the video, too. Order Grand Trine's three-track cassette Euthanize Me physically or digitally over here. Grand Trine - Here Comes the Night Read more → Pretty hooked on the gloomy, early rock'n'roll-inspired garage tones of Montréal's Grand Trine since Alex Zhang Hungtai aka Dirty Beaches gave us the heads-up via his blog last week. The group around Shub Roy and Tobias Rochman has actually already dropped quite a few very worthwhile things (go here), and now there's the excellent cassingle named Euthanize Me, recently put out via Craft Singles, the tiny yet incredible imprint that also brought us my secret obsession Omma Cobba, among others. Very stoked by the video, too. Order Grand Trine's three-track cassette Euthanize Me physically or digitally over here. Grand Trine - Here Comes the Night