A quick preview of The Late Call's forthcoming album "Pale morning light", produced by John Roger Olsson (The Grand Opening, Hearts No Static, etc.) and also featuring Ylva Ceder and Patric Thorman (Tvärvägen). The video for the first single "Look At You Now" will be up soon with the actual album to follow on September 14 via .
Swedish ambient/postrock act Hearts No Static has gone through a bit of a personnel shuffle recently -- drummer Jens Pettersson has left the band, so John Roger Olsson (also in The Grand Opening) has put down his six-string and picked up the sticks and brought in his friend Mikko Singh (Haleiwa) as their new guitarist. The new lineup is now working on basic tracks for the band's sophomore album and hopes to have it out by the end of the year.
It's December so that means it's time once again for our annual top 10 lists! First up: John Roger Olsson of The Grand Opening/Hearts No Static/Will Gambola Sing
There's still a few slots available should any readers, in the music biz or otherwise, care to contribute -- simply get in touch and we'll work out the details.
This has been a loooong time coming: famed engineer/producer Linus Larsson (Peter Bjorn and John, Tobias Fröberg, Theresa Andersson etc.) and artist John Roger Olsson (The Grand Opening, Hearts No Static) recorded the album "Leve hogrän" together back in the fall of 2007 and it will now finally be released as a digital download via on October 11. I posted a track back when I first heard it and can definitely say that it is highly recommended. Read more: http://www.headspinrecordings.com/releasedetails.php?ID=39
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU, a special post-SXSW extra-mellow episode:
01. TALK 1
02. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Lost & losing
03. Raison d'Étre - Withstand the fire
04. The Bear Quartet - Carry your weight
05. TALK 2
06. Rasmus Kellerman - Five years from now
07. Jóhann Jóhannsson - Theme
08. Håkon Kornstad - Oslo
09. TALK 3
10. Patrik Andersson & Vegar Vårdal - Gråtaren
11. Folkvang - Myrmark
12. Hello Saferide - Arjeplog
13. David Åhlén - Great is thy faithfulness
14. TALK 4
15. Tsukimono - Gloomy Sunday
16. Hearts No Static - Happy holidays
17. Ted Gärdestad - Come give me love
18. TALK 5
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
The Silent Ballet is not too pleased with Hearts No Static's debut full-length: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2959/Default.aspx
Bureau B is offering a track from the new Hearts No Static album as a free download: http://bureau-b.com/HNS_for_free.php
Recommended!
Hearts No Static's free EP download "The monthly noise" got a nice write-up at The Silent Ballet: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2866/Default.aspx
As I've said before and as the review suggests, it really is the warm-up precursor to the album "Motif" which is indeed far more fully fleshed-out than this first release. Download "The monthly noise" for free right here.
New items in stock in the It's a Trap! mailorder:
Björn Kleinhenz - B.U.R.M.A. (CD)
Björn Kleinhenz - Head held high on fearsome pride (CD) + Recording diary
Hearts No Static - Motif (CD)
If you dug the free EP download from Hearts No Static, you'll love the album. Or even if you didn't dig the EP, you might still be into the full-length because it's way better. I stand proudly behind my netlabel's releases, but I know when I'm licked! And as for Björn Kleinhenz's new releases, what more can I say about the man and his work? I've heaped loads of praise on him before and he's deserved every bit of it, but I really do truly believe that he's outdone himself with these two new records. And the recording diary? A stellar addition, perfect for anyone who appreciates the personal touch of a physical release. As always, all items are in-stock and ready to ship.
Also! I know I probably don't have many local readers, but I will be tabling at the Olympia Record Swap here in Olympia, WA on November 14. In addition to a couple crates of quality used vinyl items I've picked up here and there, I'll also be dragging out a good portion of the IAT! distro and will be selling items for dirt cheap, in addition to giving away a whole bunch of stuff I'm sick of looking at. Many CDs will be a buck or less, so if that sounds good, I hope to see you there! And feel free to get in touch if you have special requests as I won't be bringing everything.
Here's the playlist for this week's "Blog Radio" show on Sirius XMU:
01. Obliteration - Exterminate
02. TALK 1
03. Dmitry Fyodorov - Coconut office
04. Cut City - Replacement
05. High Hats - The end
06. TALK 2
07. The Skull Defekts - Millions
08. Marvins Revolt - Organize your arms
09. Interlace - Nemesis (Infect My Black Dub by Void)
10. Hearts No Static - Motif
11. TALK 3
12. We Live in Trenches - White knuckles
13. Makthaverskan - Vi var människor från början
14. Cilihili and DaBook - Orinoco flow
15. TALK 4
16. Frivolvol - It smells like something died in here
17. Björn Kleinhenz - I hate it when you go
18. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
19. TALK 5
20. Bruket - Stockholm kaller
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
I'm about to head out for a three-day jaunt into eastern Oregon to watch some of the world's smartest dogs compete, but before I go, let me cover a few things:
1. Tomorrow night It's a Trap! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö celebrates it's 2-year anniversary (!!!) with a show featuring the excellent acts Pixie Carnation and Rolf Fabian & the Industry of Cool. Download a sample from the former here. I'm sure it's going to be a great time, so head on down! DJs will be playing tunes and hanging out 'till 3.
2. The new CD from "Reader's companion" alums The First Miles is here and ready for purchase. I've also posted the opening number for download below to further entice you.
3. There's a bunch of new feature content worth reading -- new reviews (finally!) of Hello Saferide (live) and Golden Kanine plus an interview with Múm.
4. And don't forget to check out our new netrelease from Hearts No Static! Five tracks of quality ambient rock for free download!
See you next week!
The First Miles - In town
Lots of great site news today! In addition to the awesome new netrelease from Hearts No Static (see here and here), I've also just received our confirmed schedule for the rest of 2009's It's a Trap! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö! And OMG, it's gonna be great because we've got some amazing bands coming -- check it:
09/26 - Pixie Carnation, Rolf Fabian & the Industry of Cool
10/17 - Per Egland, Industri Royal
11/14 - Kristofer Åström
12/19 - Sator
Expect local support acts to be announced for the November and December dates soon. Otherwise, mark your calendars and make sure to be there!
Hearts No Static are a trio from Stockholm and this digital EP is their debut before their debut, a small taste of what's to come when their full-length album is released in November. The songs on this release are rooted in improvisation, but you might not ever know, so connected are the three members as a single, cohesive unit. They all play in other, far more gregarious bands, but consider this is their playground; the place they can experiment with new ideas, new textures, new feelings.
"The monthly noise" was originally slated to be the 4th in a 4-part series of digital EPs, but now it is the first. The full-length record "Motif" will be releasing on November 20 via Bureau B. All tracks are self-recorded by the band at Möre Studio outside Stockholm in early 2009 and mixed my Linus Larsson (Peter Bjorn and John, Ane Brun, Theresa Andersson, etc.) of Gotland in late summer.
Download the full 5-song EP here.
Hearts No Static - Part 3