Glass Vaults.

10 Jan 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Even though they already put out their first EP back in June on bandcamp, the New Zealand based two-piece Glass Vaults still somehow managed to pass my radar unheard. Had I only listened their Glass EP a little earlier (thanks to Shore Patrol for the tip), it might've even hit my top 50 of 2010, which I think says something about the quality of this. On the other hand, the importance of this isn't whether you're the first one to discover the music or not (as we all should know by now), which is exactly why I decided to post this anyway.

Like a more ambient Animal Collective, Glass Vaults takes us out on a unforgettable journey through overlapping tunes and droney synths often leading us into a more psychedelic and mysterious landscape — upon layers of diving colours drifting away into the black, ocean-like sky. Flourishing with life and shape-shifting figures, the music of Glass Vaults is like a never ending dream while in half-asleep, and somehow I can't help but almost feeling small and naked under this astounding soundscape.

There guys are just about to make it real big, I can assure you this. Download the EP for free from bandcamp, or order the 12" here. Glass Vaults - New Space

Glass Vaults - Set Sail

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Even though they already put out their first EP back in June on bandcamp, the New Zealand based two-piece Glass Vaults still somehow managed to pass my radar unheard. Had I only listened their Glass EP a little earlier (thanks to Shore Patrol for the tip), it might've even hit my top 50 of 2010, which I think says something about the quality of this. On the other hand, the importance of this isn't whether you're the first one to discover the music or not (as we all should know by now), which is exactly why I decided to post this anyway.

Like a more ambient Animal Collective, Glass Vaults takes us out on a unforgettable journey through overlapping tunes and droney synths often leading us into a more psychedelic and mysterious landscape — upon layers of diving colours drifting away into the black, ocean-like sky. Flourishing with life and shape-shifting figures, the music of Glass Vaults is like a never ending dream while in half-asleep, and somehow I can't help but almost feeling small and naked under this astounding soundscape.

There guys are just about to make it real big, I can assure you this. Download the EP for free from bandcamp, or order the 12" here. Glass Vaults - New Space

Glass Vaults - Set Sail

A nameless puzzle/a mistery beyond the realm of language.

10 Jan 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

The Norwegian duo Thinguma*jigSaw (meaning something like "a nameless puzzle/a mistery beyond the realm of language", hence the title) describes their music as splatter folk, which is supposedly a combination of the darker parts of American, British and Scandinavian folk music mixed with art music. According to their bio, they are inspired by anything from horror films and Fiodor Dostojevskij to 80's lo-fi cassette albums and experimental theatre. However, don't get me wrong: the music of Thinguma*jigSaw is far more beautiful than it is brutal. By using the power of silence as one of one of the main keys in their music, they manage to build up mysterious and witch-like soundscapes that belongs to a world where anything can happen if you don't watch your steps.

Order their 2010 album Ghoul's Out from Tigernet (Norway only) or purchase it via iTunes store here.

Thinguma*jigSaw - We're All Doomed

Thinguma*jigSaw - This Mockumentary

Read more →

The Norwegian duo Thinguma*jigSaw (meaning something like "a nameless puzzle/a mistery beyond the realm of language", hence the title) describes their music as splatter folk, which is supposedly a combination of the darker parts of American, British and Scandinavian folk music mixed with art music. According to their bio, they are inspired by anything from horror films and Fiodor Dostojevskij to 80's lo-fi cassette albums and experimental theatre. However, don't get me wrong: the music of Thinguma*jigSaw is far more beautiful than it is brutal. By using the power of silence as one of one of the main keys in their music, they manage to build up mysterious and witch-like soundscapes that belongs to a world where anything can happen if you don't watch your steps.

Order their 2010 album Ghoul's Out from Tigernet (Norway only) or purchase it via iTunes store here.

Thinguma*jigSaw - We're All Doomed

Thinguma*jigSaw - This Mockumentary

Salty.

09 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Philly's friendliest and most talented babyboy Yohsuke Araki aka BAnanas Symphony casually dropped this excellent gem on his tumblr last week, a song that instantly left me grinning in sheer excitement with its swinging, reverberated rhythmic guitar loop and the deliberately heavily distorted percussion and bass sections, some jangling and Yohsuke's sweet voice above everything else. This is all strangely twisted, but most of all, this is perfectly uplifting. (Photo) Read more → Philly's friendliest and most talented babyboy Yohsuke Araki aka BAnanas Symphony casually dropped this excellent gem on his tumblr last week, a song that instantly left me grinning in sheer excitement with its swinging, reverberated rhythmic guitar loop and the deliberately heavily distorted percussion and bass sections, some jangling and Yohsuke's sweet voice above everything else. This is all strangely twisted, but most of all, this is perfectly uplifting. (Photo)

Sorry, we are the Fruhstucks.

09 Jan 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

With the date of release still set to 'TBA' on Race Car Productions, the The Fruhstucks' upcoming 7'' Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks is the very first vinyl release of the lo-fi/synthpop duo Sutja Gutierrez and Miguel Camara. I'm pretty sure that 2011 will be a good year for The Fruhstucks, especially after listening to the the digital only track My Punk Is Alive (Inside) from their upcoming 7'' of which Sutja sent me the other day. Stream the album here.

The Fruhstucks - My Punk Is Alive (Inside) Read more →

With the date of release still set to 'TBA' on Race Car Productions, the The Fruhstucks' upcoming 7'' Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks is the very first vinyl release of the lo-fi/synthpop duo Sutja Gutierrez and Miguel Camara. I'm pretty sure that 2011 will be a good year for The Fruhstucks, especially after listening to the the digital only track My Punk Is Alive (Inside) from their upcoming 7'' of which Sutja sent me the other day. Stream the album here.

The Fruhstucks - My Punk Is Alive (Inside)

Video: Hobo Cubes - Frozen Coffin, Floating Soul.

09 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Video by Rachel Evans for Frank Ouellette aka Hobo Cubes' Frozen Coffin, Floating Soul, another track from the forthcoming quadruple split cassette on Deep Tapes that we've reported about earlier this week. Hobo Cubes - Frozen Coffin, Floating Soul Read more → Video by Rachel Evans for Frank Ouellette aka Hobo Cubes' Frozen Coffin, Floating Soul, another track from the forthcoming quadruple split cassette on Deep Tapes that we've reported about earlier this week. Hobo Cubes - Frozen Coffin, Floating Soul

Video: RxRy - Aertgo Lapsees.

08 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Brand new video by the amazingly talented Ezra Ewen (recently featured on our piece about last year's most remarkable videos) for RxRy's massive tune Aertigo Lapsees, taken from his latest album Ω, which is still available here (courtesy of the artist). RxRy - Aertgo Lapsees Read more → Brand new video by the amazingly talented Ezra Ewen (recently featured on our piece about last year's most remarkable videos) for RxRy's massive tune Aertigo Lapsees, taken from his latest album Ω, which is still available here (courtesy of the artist). RxRy - Aertgo Lapsees

Zero Gravity.

07 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Hobo Cult CEO Mr Frank Ouellette kindly hit me up with some very good news tonight, announcing the latest cassette on his rad label, a C-20 by the enigmatic Brooklyn artist Zonotope™ named Zero Gravity, an absolutely accurate title for this little collection of very futuristic, spaced-out cuts of finest minmal synth ambience that indeed take you on a weightless mind trip through space and time, or, in the artist's own words: A "piece commissioned by Anheuser–Busch InBev, NASA, and the VGBV Foundation paying homage to the groundbreaking work of Dr. Thames and Art Quark. All music composed by LWN and performed by Jerry Paper as channelled through a human who wishes to remain anonymous." Anyway, check out two of the six tunes below as well as the brand new, 80s dripping and simply excellent video by Frank's very own Moduli TV, and then order one of 50 copies over here. Highly recommended. Oh, the first ten tapes come with a vial of the artist's human DNA. Well then. Read more → Hobo Cult CEO Mr Frank Ouellette kindly hit me up with some very good news tonight, announcing the latest cassette on his rad label, a C-20 by the enigmatic Brooklyn artist Zonotope™ named Zero Gravity, an absolutely accurate title for this little collection of very futuristic, spaced-out cuts of finest minmal synth ambience that indeed take you on a weightless mind trip through space and time, or, in the artist's own words: A "piece commissioned by Anheuser–Busch InBev, NASA, and the VGBV Foundation paying homage to the groundbreaking work of Dr. Thames and Art Quark. All music composed by LWN and performed by Jerry Paper as channelled through a human who wishes to remain anonymous." Anyway, check out two of the six tunes below as well as the brand new, 80s dripping and simply excellent video by Frank's very own Moduli TV, and then order one of 50 copies over here. Highly recommended. Oh, the first ten tapes come with a vial of the artist's human DNA. Well then.