5 Years of NFOP

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

Listen to the NFOP Radio Show on Berlin Community Radio

Every Friday at 4pm CET

Another day at the beach.

18 Apr 2010 — NFOP

It's getting warmer every day. So have a barbecue, prepare a picknick, go to the park, invade the beaches, summer's coming soon. And if you should record a nifty mixtape for those hazy evenings, don't forget to put Brooklyn's latest lo-fi outfit Beach Fossils on it. Just in time for the sunny season, their self-titled debut will neatly accompany everything you're up to in the months to come. The album features tracks aptly titled Vacation or Daydream and will be released by Captured Tracks on May 25.


Beach Fossils - Youth

Read more →

It's getting warmer every day. So have a barbecue, prepare a picknick, go to the park, invade the beaches, summer's coming soon. And if you should record a nifty mixtape for those hazy evenings, don't forget to put Brooklyn's latest lo-fi outfit Beach Fossils on it. Just in time for the sunny season, their self-titled debut will neatly accompany everything you're up to in the months to come. The album features tracks aptly titled Vacation or Daydream and will be released by Captured Tracks on May 25.


Beach Fossils - Youth

Burger King.

17 Apr 2010 — NFOP

We all sensed that you could have one hell of a good time with Ronald. Watch Bethany Cosentino's (formerly one half of Pocahauted) new hazy girl pop project Best Coast's video to the fabulous track When I'm With You below. By the way, according to Bethany, the song's lyrics aren't meant ironically at all. On the other hand, the video is, I hope.

In May, Best Coast will finally come to Germany for a couple of shows:

17 May 2010: Hamburg, Molotow
18 May 2010: Berlin, White Trash Fast Food
23 May 2010: Mannheim, Café Blau
24 May 2010: Dresden, Ostpol

According to Last.fm, there's another show in Munich, Atomic Café, on 25 May, which is not confirmed by their Myspace.


Best Coast - When I'm With You

Read more →
We all sensed that you could have one hell of a good time with Ronald. Watch Bethany Cosentino's (formerly one half of Pocahauted) new hazy girl pop project Best Coast's video to the fabulous track When I'm With You below. By the way, according to Bethany, the song's lyrics aren't meant ironically at all. On the other hand, the video is, I hope.

In May, Best Coast will finally come to Germany for a couple of shows:

17 May 2010: Hamburg, Molotow
18 May 2010: Berlin, White Trash Fast Food
23 May 2010: Mannheim, Café Blau
24 May 2010: Dresden, Ostpol

According to Last.fm, there's another show in Munich, Atomic Café, on 25 May, which is not confirmed by their Myspace.


Best Coast - When I'm With You

Consider paying for music a sane idea.

16 Apr 2010 — NFOP

Tomorrow, 17 April, is Record Store Day! So go to your local independent dealer and actually spend real money for a record, just like in the good old days. Cause if you're honest, you miss this:


Downloading ain't half the fun, right?


Here are a few recommendations for my two cities:

Berlin:

Musik Department, Invalidenstraße 159 (Mitte)

Space Hall, Zossener Str. 33 (Kreuzberg)

Hard Wax, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 44a (Kreuzberg)


Hamburg:

Michelle Records, Gertrudenkirchhof 10 (Altstadt)

Zardoz, Schulterblatt 36 (Schanze)

Groove City, Marktstraße 114 (Karo)


Support all those lovely people behind the counters, they need us.

To celebrate the day and add their contribution, a lot of artists will release exclusive records tomorrow. Among those is Beach House's 12 inch Zebra EP which includes the new song The Arrangement, streamed below (no download this time, of course).



Beach House - The Arrangement by subpop
Read more →

Tomorrow, 17 April, is Record Store Day! So go to your local independent dealer and actually spend real money for a record, just like in the good old days. Cause if you're honest, you miss this:


Downloading ain't half the fun, right?


Here are a few recommendations for my two cities:

Berlin:

Musik Department, Invalidenstraße 159 (Mitte)

Space Hall, Zossener Str. 33 (Kreuzberg)

Hard Wax, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 44a (Kreuzberg)


Hamburg:

Michelle Records, Gertrudenkirchhof 10 (Altstadt)

Zardoz, Schulterblatt 36 (Schanze)

Groove City, Marktstraße 114 (Karo)


Support all those lovely people behind the counters, they need us.

To celebrate the day and add their contribution, a lot of artists will release exclusive records tomorrow. Among those is Beach House's 12 inch Zebra EP which includes the new song The Arrangement, streamed below (no download this time, of course).



Beach House - The Arrangement by subpop

When will I learn?

15 Apr 2010 — NFOP

In principle, I'm not the biggest fan of German lyrics as long as they don't come out of Dirk von Lowtzow's mouth, but this beautiful piece definitely marks an exception. Actually, I'm not sure if Paris by Hans Unstern works at all without understanding the words - still, I'll abstain from translating as that would inevitably result in a sad attempt.

Tomorrow, Unstern's debut album Kratz Dich Raus is out on Nein, Gelassenheit. And if you happen to be in Berlin, you have the opportunity to watch him perform tonight as a support to Kristof Schreuf at Festsaal Kreuzberg. Next week, he's going to play twice at Bimah (19 & 20 April).



Hans Unstern - Paris

Read more →
In principle, I'm not the biggest fan of German lyrics as long as they don't come out of Dirk von Lowtzow's mouth, but this beautiful piece definitely marks an exception. Actually, I'm not sure if Paris by Hans Unstern works at all without understanding the words - still, I'll abstain from translating as that would inevitably result in a sad attempt.

Tomorrow, Unstern's debut album Kratz Dich Raus is out on Nein, Gelassenheit. And if you happen to be in Berlin, you have the opportunity to watch him perform tonight as a support to Kristof Schreuf at Festsaal Kreuzberg. Next week, he's going to play twice at Bimah (19 & 20 April).



Hans Unstern - Paris

The end is neigh.

13 Apr 2010 — NFOP

It's about time to quote the great Karl Valentin: Everything has been said already, but not yet by everyone. So, I guess now it's my turn to praise The Drums: If they don't become really really, like seriously big this year, then those two overwhelmingly kind Jehovah's Witnesses that knocked on my door recently were probably right after all.

After last year's smash Summertime EP, the four Brooklyn lads have just released their new single Best Friend, which has been named hottest record in the world by BBC's Zane Lowe back in early February. Here's the song's puristic video:


It appears safe to say that their debut album is something to look forward to.

The Drums will come to Germany soon for a couple of shows you definitely shouldn't miss:

18 May 2010: Cologne, Gebäude 9
31 May 2010: Berlin, Fritzclub im Postbahnhof
01 June 2010: Hamburg, Molotow
17 August 2010: Munich, Atomic Café


Listen to the single's B-side below. Just another splendour.

The Drums - You're The One That Makes Me Happy

Read more →
It's about time to quote the great Karl Valentin: Everything has been said already, but not yet by everyone. So, I guess now it's my turn to praise The Drums: If they don't become really really, like seriously big this year, then those two overwhelmingly kind Jehovah's Witnesses that knocked on my door recently were probably right after all.

After last year's smash Summertime EP, the four Brooklyn lads have just released their new single Best Friend, which has been named hottest record in the world by BBC's Zane Lowe back in early February. Here's the song's puristic video:


It appears safe to say that their debut album is something to look forward to.

The Drums will come to Germany soon for a couple of shows you definitely shouldn't miss:

18 May 2010: Cologne, Gebäude 9
31 May 2010: Berlin, Fritzclub im Postbahnhof
01 June 2010: Hamburg, Molotow
17 August 2010: Munich, Atomic Café


Listen to the single's B-side below. Just another splendour.

The Drums - You're The One That Makes Me Happy

As weird as expected.

08 Apr 2010 — NFOP

Hands up who thinks they can afford missing Dan Deacon remixing one of the songs from Owen Pallett's wonderful album Heartland. Right, that's what I thought.

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt (Dan Deacon Remix) (via Pitchfork)

Read more →
Hands up who thinks they can afford missing Dan Deacon remixing one of the songs from Owen Pallett's wonderful album Heartland. Right, that's what I thought.

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt (Dan Deacon Remix) (via Pitchfork)

News from the Gold Coast.

08 Apr 2010 — NFOP

GROUP, a band of five musicians from all over the planet (well, Brooklyn, London, L.A., which is not even virtually all over the planet, but hell...) who met at the Greek island of Crete some time ago and have now all relocated in Los Angeles, makes dreamy pop music that lets you float away to warm and sandy places you remember from your childhood. Anthemic is an expression that comes to mind. They're gonna have their self-titled debut EP released soon, and what we are allowed to hear by now makes us pretty impatient. Listen to their first free MP3 Colours below and head over to their myspace to savour the even more beautiful Gold Coast.

GROUP - Colours (via Neon Gold)

Read more →
GROUP, a band of five musicians from all over the planet (well, Brooklyn, London, L.A., which is not even virtually all over the planet, but hell...) who met at the Greek island of Crete some time ago and have now all relocated in Los Angeles, makes dreamy pop music that lets you float away to warm and sandy places you remember from your childhood. Anthemic is an expression that comes to mind. They're gonna have their self-titled debut EP released soon, and what we are allowed to hear by now makes us pretty impatient. Listen to their first free MP3 Colours below and head over to their myspace to savour the even more beautiful Gold Coast.

GROUP - Colours (via Neon Gold)

The NFOP Radio Show #4

07 Apr 2010 — NFOP

Listen to the latest edition of the NFOP Radio Show either via the embedded player above or here. Enjoy.

Listening note: The show is streamed via 8tracks. Their license requires a mix to be shuffled the second time someone listens to it. Moreover, the number of tracks the user can skip while listening to a mix is limited.


Tracklisting:

1. High Places - On Giving Up: That's what we call progress. Brooklyn duo's second album High Places vs. Mankind, already available, is much more multifaceted and varying without losing sight of High Places' signature style. Highly recommended.
2. Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go: Probably one of the loveliest choruses I've heard in a long time. A melody that won't leave your ear canal for days. Taken from Twin Sister's new EP Color Your Life which you can (and should!) download for free right here.
3. Wolf Gang - Back To Back: Neon Gold's latest rough diamond Max McElligott calls himself Wolf Gang and makes lush pop music that goes right to the heart and refuses to leave.
4. Here We Go Magic - Collector: Luke Temple aka Here We Go Magic will have his sophomore album Pigeons out on 8 June, and judging from this piece, it's something to look forward to. So no worries, Brooklyn's still alive despite my outrageous skepticism.
5. Active Child - Wilderness: And on the eighth day, God created Transparent. Without those gifted Londoners, we wouldn't know how to sublimate our unfulfilled desires into listening habits. Active Child from Los Angeles perfectly fits their roster, otherworldly synth pop that immediately takes us to a better place. It's so cold but you know we belong here.
6. Zola Jesus - Night: I'm not sure if Nika Roza Danilova has a desperate heart, but her music definitely belongs to a darker sphere. Her latest Stridulum EP, released in March by Sacred Bones, leaves the lo-fi strand and slightly embraces the idea of up-to-date recording techniques, a development that actually benefits her creativity.
7. Caribou - Odessa (Nite Jewel Remix): I've already posted the original song. This is beloved Ramona Gonzalez' rework of the track, a blissful masterpiece brimmed with the 80s.
8. Washed Out - Track 07: Ernest Greene's allegiance eagerly and devotedly worships every single new note coming out of his synths and samplers. And oh yeah, I'm a believer, too. This one's from his tour-only CD-R.
9. White Hinterland - Cataract: Even though you may be out of the picture, Darling/You can rely on me/From time to time - Portland's Casey Dienel knows how to put unutterable things into words, accompanied by gorgeous melodies as in this one, taken from her second LP Kairos, released last month by Dead Oceans.
10. Beak> - Wolfstan: Compared to last year's LP, the title track of Beak>'s new 12 inch is comparatively accessible and focused. Portishead's Geoff Barrow's side project still composes kraut monsters, but this is a friendly one.
11. Holly Miranda - Ex-Factor: As a little bonus, here's sweet Holly's take on the wonderful Lauryn Hill classic, as appeared on the exclusive Rough Trade Shop bonus CD to her beautiful and acclaimed debut The Magician's Private Library.

Read more →
Listen to the latest edition of the NFOP Radio Show either via the embedded player above or here. Enjoy.

Listening note: The show is streamed via 8tracks. Their license requires a mix to be shuffled the second time someone listens to it. Moreover, the number of tracks the user can skip while listening to a mix is limited.


Tracklisting:

1. High Places - On Giving Up: That's what we call progress. Brooklyn duo's second album High Places vs. Mankind, already available, is much more multifaceted and varying without losing sight of High Places' signature style. Highly recommended.
2. Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go: Probably one of the loveliest choruses I've heard in a long time. A melody that won't leave your ear canal for days. Taken from Twin Sister's new EP Color Your Life which you can (and should!) download for free right here.
3. Wolf Gang - Back To Back: Neon Gold's latest rough diamond Max McElligott calls himself Wolf Gang and makes lush pop music that goes right to the heart and refuses to leave.
4. Here We Go Magic - Collector: Luke Temple aka Here We Go Magic will have his sophomore album Pigeons out on 8 June, and judging from this piece, it's something to look forward to. So no worries, Brooklyn's still alive despite my outrageous skepticism.
5. Active Child - Wilderness: And on the eighth day, God created Transparent. Without those gifted Londoners, we wouldn't know how to sublimate our unfulfilled desires into listening habits. Active Child from Los Angeles perfectly fits their roster, otherworldly synth pop that immediately takes us to a better place. It's so cold but you know we belong here.
6. Zola Jesus - Night: I'm not sure if Nika Roza Danilova has a desperate heart, but her music definitely belongs to a darker sphere. Her latest Stridulum EP, released in March by Sacred Bones, leaves the lo-fi strand and slightly embraces the idea of up-to-date recording techniques, a development that actually benefits her creativity.
7. Caribou - Odessa (Nite Jewel Remix): I've already posted the original song. This is beloved Ramona Gonzalez' rework of the track, a blissful masterpiece brimmed with the 80s.
8. Washed Out - Track 07: Ernest Greene's allegiance eagerly and devotedly worships every single new note coming out of his synths and samplers. And oh yeah, I'm a believer, too. This one's from his tour-only CD-R.
9. White Hinterland - Cataract: Even though you may be out of the picture, Darling/You can rely on me/From time to time - Portland's Casey Dienel knows how to put unutterable things into words, accompanied by gorgeous melodies as in this one, taken from her second LP Kairos, released last month by Dead Oceans.
10. Beak> - Wolfstan: Compared to last year's LP, the title track of Beak>'s new 12 inch is comparatively accessible and focused. Portishead's Geoff Barrow's side project still composes kraut monsters, but this is a friendly one.
11. Holly Miranda - Ex-Factor: As a little bonus, here's sweet Holly's take on the wonderful Lauryn Hill classic, as appeared on the exclusive Rough Trade Shop bonus CD to her beautiful and acclaimed debut The Magician's Private Library.

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