Premiere: Lee Noble / Hobo Cubes.

04 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Dropping split tapes, 7 inches or even EPs might be artistically challenging, a way to connect like-minded musicians who are able to inspire each other, but on the other hand it might also be considered a very effective way to put out tunes at times when your material won't suffice to finish a full-length. Anyway, the latter suggestion is without any doubt no problem these four artists have to deal with. Upon Austin, Texas drone experimentalist Derek Rogers' initiative, he, Eric Hardiman aka Rambutan, plus NFOP darlings Lee Noble and our favorite Québécois Frank Ouellette aka Hobo Cubes have gathered to compose a double cassette, quadruple split release that's gonna be put out later this month via Oakland's Deep Tapes. Every single musician got 15 minutes of finest magnetic tape to fill, and below you can take an exclusive first listen to two tracks by Lee Noble and Hobo Cubes. Noble's Indian Princess marks another milestone in his already impressive oeuvre, nearly seven minutes of beautiful contemplation, an ambient playground for Noble's calm and comforting voice over layers of synth and some gentle guitar lines. The first track on Hobo Cubes' side, Waiting to Return, is a different matter but no less intriguing. The tune is a fine example of Ouellette's incredible synth craftsmanship, a six minute trip of drone-infused psychedelia that draws quite heavily on kosmische and even subtly on early 80s minimal synth. (Photo) Lee Noble - Indian Princess Hobo Cubes - Waiting to Return Read more → Dropping split tapes, 7 inches or even EPs might be artistically challenging, a way to connect like-minded musicians who are able to inspire each other, but on the other hand it might also be considered a very effective way to put out tunes at times when your material won't suffice to finish a full-length. Anyway, the latter suggestion is without any doubt no problem these four artists have to deal with. Upon Austin, Texas drone experimentalist Derek Rogers' initiative, he, Eric Hardiman aka Rambutan, plus NFOP darlings Lee Noble and our favorite Québécois Frank Ouellette aka Hobo Cubes have gathered to compose a double cassette, quadruple split release that's gonna be put out later this month via Oakland's Deep Tapes. Every single musician got 15 minutes of finest magnetic tape to fill, and below you can take an exclusive first listen to two tracks by Lee Noble and Hobo Cubes. Noble's Indian Princess marks another milestone in his already impressive oeuvre, nearly seven minutes of beautiful contemplation, an ambient playground for Noble's calm and comforting voice over layers of synth and some gentle guitar lines. The first track on Hobo Cubes' side, Waiting to Return, is a different matter but no less intriguing. The tune is a fine example of Ouellette's incredible synth craftsmanship, a six minute trip of drone-infused psychedelia that draws quite heavily on kosmische and even subtly on early 80s minimal synth. (Photo) Lee Noble - Indian Princess Hobo Cubes - Waiting to Return

Video premiere: Teaadora - Pre-Agricultural…

03 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

There is something about Teaadora Nikolova's music that you won't find anywhere else these days. Driven by an ethereal and otherworldly beautiful voice, her slow-burning experimental folk songs never entirely step out of the darkness, there always remains something very unsettling about them despite a blooming surface. Pre-Agricultural Languageless Culture, taken from her forthcoming full-length, is a perfect example for her approach, an eerie, sparsely instrumented ballad that calmly meanders along, the quietness constantly being obstructed by heavy use of tape manipulation, until the whole song finally disappears in emerging clouds of drone and sheer noise. A masterpiece all along. The accompanying video, shot by Theodore Darst and Chelsey Hoff, perfectly transfers the music's eeriness - there is something twisted and impalpable about the blurry images of the bathing nude in the peaceful, green and blue forest landscape. The viewer is put into the position of a hidden voyeur, but at the same time, there might actually be more to this scene: Who (else) is watching her - and why? We won't get an answer. Teaadora's album À Jamais Vierge / Virgin Forever will be released soon, on vinyl by Hot Releases and on CDr via the Belgian imprint MNÒAD. Teaadora - Pre-Agricultural Languageless Culture Read more → There is something about Teaadora Nikolova's music that you won't find anywhere else these days. Driven by an ethereal and otherworldly beautiful voice, her slow-burning experimental folk songs never entirely step out of the darkness, there always remains something very unsettling about them despite a blooming surface. Pre-Agricultural Languageless Culture, taken from her forthcoming full-length, is a perfect example for her approach, an eerie, sparsely instrumented ballad that calmly meanders along, the quietness constantly being obstructed by heavy use of tape manipulation, until the whole song finally disappears in emerging clouds of drone and sheer noise. A masterpiece all along. The accompanying video, shot by Theodore Darst and Chelsey Hoff, perfectly transfers the music's eeriness - there is something twisted and impalpable about the blurry images of the bathing nude in the peaceful, green and blue forest landscape. The viewer is put into the position of a hidden voyeur, but at the same time, there might actually be more to this scene: Who (else) is watching her - and why? We won't get an answer. Teaadora's album À Jamais Vierge / Virgin Forever will be released soon, on vinyl by Hot Releases and on CDr via the Belgian imprint MNÒAD. Teaadora - Pre-Agricultural Languageless Culture

Ira Rat.

03 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

In the current issue of The Wire, Joseph Stannard tells us that "some of the most compelling music of 2010 has drawn inspiration from the sickly phantasmagoria of international horror cinema". Why am I telling you this? Well, first, Ira Rat's music comprises some considerable, horror movie-infused scariness, which particularly applies to the video that accompanies Catatonic, one of the few tunes that this band seems to have dropped so far. Second, I'm cheaply referring to other authors' thoughts to write anything at all, as Ira Rat apparently like to remain in the shades of anonymity, by the way another phenomenon that got extremely popular among up and coming bands in 2010. Last year. Got it? Anyway, Ira Rat seem to hail from Iowa, a fact that is kinda scary in and of itself. Just saying. And they make some extremely fine tunes, obviously, so watch out for more to come. Oh, and I really hope the two girls are fine. Ira Rat - Catatonic Ira Rat - Cellar Door Read more → In the current issue of The Wire, Joseph Stannard tells us that "some of the most compelling music of 2010 has drawn inspiration from the sickly phantasmagoria of international horror cinema". Why am I telling you this? Well, first, Ira Rat's music comprises some considerable, horror movie-infused scariness, which particularly applies to the video that accompanies Catatonic, one of the few tunes that this band seems to have dropped so far. Second, I'm cheaply referring to other authors' thoughts to write anything at all, as Ira Rat apparently like to remain in the shades of anonymity, by the way another phenomenon that got extremely popular among up and coming bands in 2010. Last year. Got it? Anyway, Ira Rat seem to hail from Iowa, a fact that is kinda scary in and of itself. Just saying. And they make some extremely fine tunes, obviously, so watch out for more to come. Oh, and I really hope the two girls are fine. Ira Rat - Catatonic Ira Rat - Cellar Door

Welcome, 2011.

02 Jan 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Hello. It's a new year, but remember, after all this is just another name for another string of days. Nothing has changed. Everything is changing. Don't make resolutions. They're useless. Do make plans though. And never, never ever stop trying. Here's to you. Pink Mist - Touchdown Kid (myspace) Seabright - Playground (myspace) David Kanaga - Mr. Nowhere (myspace) Photograph by Florian Reischauer Pieces Of Berlin buy this print! 15x15cm | 30x30cm

Read more → Hello. It's a new year, but remember, after all this is just another name for another string of days. Nothing has changed. Everything is changing. Don't make resolutions. They're useless. Do make plans though. And never, never ever stop trying. Here's to you. Pink Mist - Touchdown Kid (myspace) Seabright - Playground (myspace) David Kanaga - Mr. Nowhere (myspace) Photograph by Florian Reischauer Pieces Of Berlin buy this print! 15x15cm | 30x30cm

Mixtape: Norwegian Inquiries II.

01 Jan 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

It's finally the first day of 2011, and we've got a pretty exciting but hectic year ahead of us — musically speaking, I mean. So, how do we celebrate this lovely, ice-cold first day of January? That's right, with some super melancholic Norwegian tunes! It's almost three months since we first introduced you to the Norwegian Inquiries mixtape in collaboration with my other blog The Technicolor Sleep, where I wanted to focus on the musical gems that can be found within the borders of homeland Norway. Norwegian Inquiries II is the follow-up mixtape with the same intention, once again setting the focus on rather unknown bands within the indie, lo-fi and electronic genre. You might remember some of them already from earlier posts (Einar Stray, Lovecult, Dråpe, Benjamin Finger and Young Dreams to mention a few), while names such as The Summer Ends, Adobe Houses, Machine Birds and Aluco might still be rather unknown to your ears. Now, rest your head against the pillow and let these nordic tunes drift away the hangover from last night's new year's eve party and the consumption of champagne that followed. DOWNLOAD. (click the 'DL' link next to the tracks below to download more free music from the particular band/artist) Tracklist: 01. Benjamin Finger - Drowned In Elbows 02. Young Dreams - Young Dreams [DL] 03. Dråpe - By Heart [DL] 04. Lovecult - One In Five [DL] 05. Synne Sanden - Traces [DL] 06. The Summer Ends - You Spin Dizzy For a Year [DL] 07. Ben Born - Love Is [DL] 08. Anana - The Easy Path [DL] 09. Einar Stray - Chiaroscuro [DL] 10. Post - Broken [DL] 11. Adobe Houses - Fedora [DL] 12. Aluco - There Is Nothing [DL] 13. Machine Birds - One Last Try [DL] 14. Per - Ensom Nebula [DL] 15. Fivrel - Andre Rom [DL] Read more → It's finally the first day of 2011, and we've got a pretty exciting but hectic year ahead of us — musically speaking, I mean. So, how do we celebrate this lovely, ice-cold first day of January? That's right, with some super melancholic Norwegian tunes! It's almost three months since we first introduced you to the Norwegian Inquiries mixtape in collaboration with my other blog The Technicolor Sleep, where I wanted to focus on the musical gems that can be found within the borders of homeland Norway. Norwegian Inquiries II is the follow-up mixtape with the same intention, once again setting the focus on rather unknown bands within the indie, lo-fi and electronic genre. You might remember some of them already from earlier posts (Einar Stray, Lovecult, Dråpe, Benjamin Finger and Young Dreams to mention a few), while names such as The Summer Ends, Adobe Houses, Machine Birds and Aluco might still be rather unknown to your ears. Now, rest your head against the pillow and let these nordic tunes drift away the hangover from last night's new year's eve party and the consumption of champagne that followed. DOWNLOAD. (click the 'DL' link next to the tracks below to download more free music from the particular band/artist) Tracklist: 01. Benjamin Finger - Drowned In Elbows 02. Young Dreams - Young Dreams [DL] 03. Dråpe - By Heart [DL] 04. Lovecult - One In Five [DL] 05. Synne Sanden - Traces [DL] 06. The Summer Ends - You Spin Dizzy For a Year [DL] 07. Ben Born - Love Is [DL] 08. Anana - The Easy Path [DL] 09. Einar Stray - Chiaroscuro [DL] 10. Post - Broken [DL] 11. Adobe Houses - Fedora [DL] 12. Aluco - There Is Nothing [DL] 13. Machine Birds - One Last Try [DL] 14. Per - Ensom Nebula [DL] 15. Fivrel - Andre Rom [DL]

Happy new year.

31 Dec 2010 — Tonje Thilesen

Elanor Logan of Happy New Year kindly sent me her newest Twins / Hotel 7" all the way from Brooklyn, NY last week, and it has been playing on my speakers ever since. The 7" was originally released at the beginning of October, but is in my opinion the perfect way to end a wonderful year. Get your digital copy for free off her bandcamp, or order the physical copy here (highly recommended). Oh, and happy new year! Happy New Year - Twins Happy New Year - Hotel Read more → Elanor Logan of Happy New Year kindly sent me her newest Twins / Hotel 7" all the way from Brooklyn, NY last week, and it has been playing on my speakers ever since. The 7" was originally released at the beginning of October, but is in my opinion the perfect way to end a wonderful year. Get your digital copy for free off her bandcamp, or order the physical copy here (highly recommended). Oh, and happy new year! Happy New Year - Twins Happy New Year - Hotel

New Junior Low: Almost Forever.

31 Dec 2010 — Henning Lahmann

In the last two years, there has been a lot of talking about shoegaze's resurrection, and a lot of new and emerging artists have clearly been building their sound on the heritage of My Bloody Valentine et al. Still, few have ever attempted to stay as true to the spirit of the original as Colorado Springs, Colorado resident Justin Thomas Schweitzer. When he is not busy playing for Tim Perry's pretty popular (and NFOP fav) garage pop outfit Weed Diamond, JT is all about pedal effects with his solo endeavor Junior Low, producing distorted guitar gorgeousness that is heavily drenched in reverb, music that has the aim, despite an undeniable pop appeal, to blow you away with its rolling tide of noise and sheer loudness. Bloodlust is the latest example of JT's approach, six minutes of genuine shoegaze classicism. The tune is gonna be part of Junior Low's upcoming cassette Almost Forever, to be released sometime soon - probably via our friends at Bridgetown who had already dropped the appropriately titled Heavy CDr earlier in 2010. The other song, Shadow Corner, which has already appeared on Junior Low's self-titled debut tape on Leftist Nautical Antiques and will supposedly be a part of Almost Forever as well, serves as a breathtaking example of JT's skills as a songwriter - Shadow Corner is a slow-burning ballad of stunning beauty, with a warm and gently clipping electric piano that first the characteristic layers of distorted guitars and then survives the wall of sound's collapse towards the song's ending, giving the song a very unique feel. Junior Low may have been one of the most overlooked artists of the shoegaze revival, but considering the fact that he without doubt is one of the most talented devotees of late 80s/early 90s indie, we may hope that with Almost Forever, this will change in 2011. (Photo) Junior Low - Bloodlust Junior Low - Shadow Corner Read more → In the last two years, there has been a lot of talking about shoegaze's resurrection, and a lot of new and emerging artists have clearly been building their sound on the heritage of My Bloody Valentine et al. Still, few have ever attempted to stay as true to the spirit of the original as Colorado Springs, Colorado resident Justin Thomas Schweitzer. When he is not busy playing for Tim Perry's pretty popular (and NFOP fav) garage pop outfit Weed Diamond, JT is all about pedal effects with his solo endeavor Junior Low, producing distorted guitar gorgeousness that is heavily drenched in reverb, music that has the aim, despite an undeniable pop appeal, to blow you away with its rolling tide of noise and sheer loudness. Bloodlust is the latest example of JT's approach, six minutes of genuine shoegaze classicism. The tune is gonna be part of Junior Low's upcoming cassette Almost Forever, to be released sometime soon - probably via our friends at Bridgetown who had already dropped the appropriately titled Heavy CDr earlier in 2010. The other song, Shadow Corner, which has already appeared on Junior Low's self-titled debut tape on Leftist Nautical Antiques and will supposedly be a part of Almost Forever as well, serves as a breathtaking example of JT's skills as a songwriter - Shadow Corner is a slow-burning ballad of stunning beauty, with a warm and gently clipping electric piano that first the characteristic layers of distorted guitars and then survives the wall of sound's collapse towards the song's ending, giving the song a very unique feel. Junior Low may have been one of the most overlooked artists of the shoegaze revival, but considering the fact that he without doubt is one of the most talented devotees of late 80s/early 90s indie, we may hope that with Almost Forever, this will change in 2011. (Photo) Junior Low - Bloodlust Junior Low - Shadow Corner