As you might have read somewhere yesterday, we've finally decided to go one little step further and founded a 7" label together with our friend Tim of Oslo/Berlin-based imprint Splendour. The reasons for this move are manifold, as people like to say, and some of them I've tried to explain in an interview with Jarri over at the wonderful Disco Naïveté, who was kind enough to officially announce the (ad)venture. Stratosfear Recordings, meant as an outlet to channel our constant over-excitement about new music into more fertile pathways, so to speak, will properly take off very soon with a single by our favourite Montréal duo Solar Year. We'll keep you informed, watch this space. In the meantime, head over here to learn more about Stratosfear, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud to stay updated.
Everyone I know in this business seems to be very fond of every single member of seminal synth proponents Emeralds, no matter if the three are acting as part of said outfit, or indeed individually. While we have to admit that not every solo effort excites us in equal measure, Steve Hauschildt's "Constant Reminders" is a compelling example of a surprisingly pop-leaning work of post-human synth extravaganza, probably slightly self-ironic, probably dead serious, hard to tell. The track meanders along pleasantly, and the motorik vocoder lines indeed sound like, as Matt put it so beautifully and aptly, "a lone cyborg singing Maria Minerva to himself in his spaceship, wishing he hadn't outlived his beloved crew". Sigh.
"Constant Reminders" is taken from Sequitur, out November 12 on Kranky.
Stockholm-based trio Postiljonen, it becomes more and more obvious, not only are immensely talented musicians in the best of Swedish pop traditions (we might have mentioned that before), but they seem to be marketing geniuses as well. While there still is no word about any official release (or have we missed something?), single tracks are unveiled every other month, casually announced a day or two before via social media and usually accompanied by a professionally shot, blue-eyed video that is enough to create a remarkable hype, as it leaves us dreaming about the northern countries and how much more easy and above all how stylish life must be. Case in point is the group's latest coup "How Will I Know / All That We Had Is Lost", another picture-perfect dream pop single somewhere between Balearic summer vibes and wintry Scandinavian cosiness - as if there was a difference. Oh, and the video features young and pretty Swedish people in beautiful surroundings. Of course.
Throughout the last week of October, we were finally given the first listen to Lindstrøm's excellent new full-lenght Smalhans, andshortly after, the announcement of a new Casiokids LTD 12"via our friends (and now colleagues) at Splendour. It seems like we're approaching a golden season for new releases coming out of the two Norwegian cities Oslo and Bergen this fall, and in honor to the release of Smalhans, we've been given the exclusive first listen to Casiokids' remix of the Lindstrøm classic "Den Lange Veien Hjem", which you can listen to below. It may not seem very 'new' in any way (it was originally released in 2008), but nonetheless, a tasteful and joyous tribute to one of Norway's greatest producers, and to a record that has already been blowing our minds.
Skip I Natten is available for pre-orders via Robotbutikken.
For long-time readers of this blog, you might know that Oslo has a very special place in our hearts, as it has proved to develop into portal for new musical discoveries in all different outfits of pop music, be it from the likes of Bloksberg to the impressive showgaze quartet Dråpe. Presented by yours truly and our friends and collegaues at Spoon Train, we're excited to bring you 2012's most buzzed-about Brooklyn act DIIV, with support from Oslo's finest pop piece (and Riot Factory signees), Angelica's Elegy.
We're fashionably late on posting this one I must admit, but if you're by any chance stuck in Oslo tonight, get yourself over to John Dee right now. Angelica's Elegy will be on at 9PM.
Ever since we've stumbled across his timeless masterpiece "Just Like Monday" back in the days when the world was still young and oh!, Transparent was still with us, Bologna's most cherished son Jonathan Clancy aka His Clanceness has had a very special place in our hearts. His debut Always Mist was absolutely marvellous, so it leaves us beaming to learn that the record's successor is on its way, set to arrive sometime next year via our friends at Splendour. In the meantime however, Jon treats us with another gorgeous cover, and we all know he's got a knack for gorgeous covers, "I Can't Talk About It", originally written and performed by El Perro Del Mar. It is another delicate and fragile affair, and before leaving you alone with these enchanting three minutes, let's listen to the master's words:
"I first heard this song a lonely night in the summer of 2006. I was lost and did not want to explain things to anyone. I dreamt about covering this song for years until I started His Clancyness and have used it to open shows always ever since. It has some of the simplest lyrics I've ever heard, also some of the deepest. Four lines, that's all you need to explain."
A little while back, we premiered "Second Nature" off the forthcoming full-length by Chicago experimental musician Jaime Fennelly aka Mind Over Mirrors. Today we're happy to host the exclusive stream of the whole LP, Check Your Swing, a mesmerizing collection of seven movements of slowly meandering drone, all dominated by Fennelly's signature instrument, the harmonium. The subtle variations in an otherwise calming sea of bubbling and roaming sounds demand the listener's attention but are nothing short of astonishing. Check Your Swing is of course highly conceptual, but nonetheless invariably a truly pleasant example of ambient listening, made by an exceptional artist whose unique approach is a rare gem in today's overcrowded psych underground. Get lost below.
As we've implied before, Chris is right to call London/Brighton outfit Fear of Men one of the most exciting new bands in 2012. The band's latest single "Mosaic" once again combines Jess's sweet and enchanting voice with some of the most honest, pure and gifted indie pop we've come across in the last years. Get the 7" over here, and watch the aptly gloomy video below.
