Premiere: Gabo Gulbenkian - “Ferdinand Magellan”.

09 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Individual blogs and websites may err in their judgments sometimes (oh yeah, that has happened to us before), but it's hard to argue with anything that has been blessed with the endorsement of 20 Jazz Funk Greats and the review staff of Boomkat, both such heavyweights when it comes to taste in music that seriously, we wouldn't even dare to disagree. Good thing then that there's also no need for quarreling here, as the new album by the curiously named fellow Gabo Gulbenkian is a terrific work, something so deliberately out of bounds that it left us puzzled and bemused, which really does not occur all that often. Explorers, as Gulbenkian's debut is called, is a work that revolves entirely around, well, explorers, albeit in the widest sense of the term, as it also includes a piece about Baron Münchhausen, for example. However, the track we have here exclusively for you is dedicated to the great Ferdinand Magellan, and thus it appropriately starts with the sound of waves and seagulls, before an intriguing piece of synth music unfolds that explores (!) the hidden realms somewhere between 70s kosmische and contemporary elevator muzak, probably appearing odd at first approach but quickly developing into marvelously captivating five minutes of artistic extravaganza. Brilliant. Explorers is out now on London's excellent Dramatic Records. Buy it here. Gabo Gulbenkian - Ferdinand Magellan Read more → Individual blogs and websites may err in their judgments sometimes (oh yeah, that has happened to us before), but it's hard to argue with anything that has been blessed with the endorsement of 20 Jazz Funk Greats and the review staff of Boomkat, both such heavyweights when it comes to taste in music that seriously, we wouldn't even dare to disagree. Good thing then that there's also no need for quarreling here, as the new album by the curiously named fellow Gabo Gulbenkian is a terrific work, something so deliberately out of bounds that it left us puzzled and bemused, which really does not occur all that often. Explorers, as Gulbenkian's debut is called, is a work that revolves entirely around, well, explorers, albeit in the widest sense of the term, as it also includes a piece about Baron Münchhausen, for example. However, the track we have here exclusively for you is dedicated to the great Ferdinand Magellan, and thus it appropriately starts with the sound of waves and seagulls, before an intriguing piece of synth music unfolds that explores (!) the hidden realms somewhere between 70s kosmische and contemporary elevator muzak, probably appearing odd at first approach but quickly developing into marvelously captivating five minutes of artistic extravaganza. Brilliant. Explorers is out now on London's excellent Dramatic Records. Buy it here. Gabo Gulbenkian - Ferdinand Magellan

Ilyas Ahmed: “Skin In Circles”.

09 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Justifiably deemed "a magical album" by the folks over at Volcanic Tongue, Karachi, Pakistan-born US transplant Ilyas Ahmed's new record With Endless Fire is a stunning effort, a superb drone-infused folk masterpiece that is haunting its way into the subconscious. His first full-length since 2009, when Goner was released via Root Strata, the album was written, performed and recorded direct to analog tape by the artist in Portland, Oregon, a surprising fact in view of the rich, expansive compositions that exploit the full potential of the employed guitars, harmonium, organ, and drums alongside Ahmed's distinct, mellow voice. The seven songs all share the same mildly psychedelic, hypnotic feel that enfolds you while wandering through seemingly endless, quiet landscapes just after nightfall. Magic, indeed. With Endless Fire is out now on Immune Recordings. Ilyas Ahmed - Skin In Circles Read more → Justifiably deemed "a magical album" by the folks over at Volcanic Tongue, Karachi, Pakistan-born US transplant Ilyas Ahmed's new record With Endless Fire is a stunning effort, a superb drone-infused folk masterpiece that is haunting its way into the subconscious. His first full-length since 2009, when Goner was released via Root Strata, the album was written, performed and recorded direct to analog tape by the artist in Portland, Oregon, a surprising fact in view of the rich, expansive compositions that exploit the full potential of the employed guitars, harmonium, organ, and drums alongside Ahmed's distinct, mellow voice. The seven songs all share the same mildly psychedelic, hypnotic feel that enfolds you while wandering through seemingly endless, quiet landscapes just after nightfall. Magic, indeed. With Endless Fire is out now on Immune Recordings. Ilyas Ahmed - Skin In Circles

How To Dress Well: “Clowne Towne (Xiu Xiu Cover)”

08 Feb 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

As you might have seen earlier today, FACT premiered this gorgeous cover of Xiu Xiu's "Clowne Towne" by How To Dress Well, which has so kindly been given to the Ad Hoc fundraiser compilation, the beautiful blog collective project which we have taken a part of. Listen to the song below, and seriously, your support means everything. Read more → As you might have seen earlier today, FACT premiered this gorgeous cover of Xiu Xiu's "Clowne Towne" by How To Dress Well, which has so kindly been given to the Ad Hoc fundraiser compilation, the beautiful blog collective project which we have taken a part of. Listen to the song below, and seriously, your support means everything.

NFOP x Noisekölln Present: White Hex.

08 Feb 2012 — NFOP

Words: Michael Aniser White Hex are Jimi Kritzler and Tara Green who got together in their native Australia, where they both lived in a “decrepit old house for neighborhood criminals, junkies, scumbags and teenagers“. This environment perhaps explains songs such as the sluggish drag "Holiday", which sounds like listening to early Bauhaus songs on loads of downer. Now residing in Berlin, the duo's main influence is, as they say, the Whitehouse album Erector. This early record by the über-sexual noise gang based around William Bennet became important in the shift from industrial sounds to harsh noise back in the early 80s. But no worries, White Hex are everything but a harsh noise project. Their sound is a perfect antidote for the cold winter hours, oscillating between lush guitars and Tara's beautifully worn-out voice. The latest venture of Jimi Kritzler, who is also member of the critically acclaimed Brisbane band Slug Guts, takes the post-punk of his main outfit's 2011 album Howlin’ Gang a step further and resolves into something the duo likes to calls “tropical goth”. White Hex's debut record Heat is due sometime in the first half of 2012, but in the meantime you should catch them for a secretish basement show presented by NFOP and Noisekölln Berlin at Neukölln's The Zone, Reuterstraße 95, tomorrow. For further details go here. Read more → Words: Michael Aniser White Hex are Jimi Kritzler and Tara Green who got together in their native Australia, where they both lived in a “decrepit old house for neighborhood criminals, junkies, scumbags and teenagers“. This environment perhaps explains songs such as the sluggish drag "Holiday", which sounds like listening to early Bauhaus songs on loads of downer. Now residing in Berlin, the duo's main influence is, as they say, the Whitehouse album Erector. This early record by the über-sexual noise gang based around William Bennet became important in the shift from industrial sounds to harsh noise back in the early 80s. But no worries, White Hex are everything but a harsh noise project. Their sound is a perfect antidote for the cold winter hours, oscillating between lush guitars and Tara's beautifully worn-out voice. The latest venture of Jimi Kritzler, who is also member of the critically acclaimed Brisbane band Slug Guts, takes the post-punk of his main outfit's 2011 album Howlin’ Gang a step further and resolves into something the duo likes to calls “tropical goth”. White Hex's debut record Heat is due sometime in the first half of 2012, but in the meantime you should catch them for a secretish basement show presented by NFOP and Noisekölln Berlin at Neukölln's The Zone, Reuterstraße 95, tomorrow. For further details go here.

Violetness: “The Coal”.

08 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

"The Coal" is the first track to be unveiled off the upcoming debut by Violetness aka Vanessa Upson, a Peruvian-American artist whose outré electronic pop draws on traditions of tribal music to come up with a sound that sometimes evokes the work of other mysticism-infused female artists such as Prince Rama or also Bat For Lashes. It's a finely arranged, sophisticated pop tune that shows more than enough promise to leave us longing for more. Last Night in My Dreams, I Was Talking to You will be released March 16 on Portugal's LebensStrasse Records. Violetness - The Coal Read more → "The Coal" is the first track to be unveiled off the upcoming debut by Violetness aka Vanessa Upson, a Peruvian-American artist whose outré electronic pop draws on traditions of tribal music to come up with a sound that sometimes evokes the work of other mysticism-infused female artists such as Prince Rama or also Bat For Lashes. It's a finely arranged, sophisticated pop tune that shows more than enough promise to leave us longing for more. Last Night in My Dreams, I Was Talking to You will be released March 16 on Portugal's LebensStrasse Records. Violetness - The Coal

Oupa and Tony Crow: “Backwords (Porcelain Raft Cover)”.

08 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Oupa, to the readers of this publication known as the much-adored solo project by Yuck's Daniel Blumberg, has recorded a wonderful live session with Tony Crow (Lambchop, ex-Silver Jews) at Beech House Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. It's gonna be released as a hand stamped limited edition run of 300 7 inch vinyl on March 12. Pre-order it now over here and listen to their cover of "Backwords" below, the most beautiful song from Porcelain Raft's recently dropped debut album Strange Weekend. Read more → Oupa, to the readers of this publication known as the much-adored solo project by Yuck's Daniel Blumberg, has recorded a wonderful live session with Tony Crow (Lambchop, ex-Silver Jews) at Beech House Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. It's gonna be released as a hand stamped limited edition run of 300 7 inch vinyl on March 12. Pre-order it now over here and listen to their cover of "Backwords" below, the most beautiful song from Porcelain Raft's recently dropped debut album Strange Weekend.

Video: LX Sweat - “Touch Your Body”.

08 Feb 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Sleazy, sultry late night electro funk by LX Sweat, a one-man project hailing from the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. His debut cassette Sweat Sweat Sweat is out soon via Not Not Fun. Watch the official video for "Touch Your Body" below, directed and edited by Adriana Donatella. Read more → Sleazy, sultry late night electro funk by LX Sweat, a one-man project hailing from the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. His debut cassette Sweat Sweat Sweat is out soon via Not Not Fun. Watch the official video for "Touch Your Body" below, directed and edited by Adriana Donatella.