Indiepop for the melancholy set. The connections to Magenta Skycode should be fairly obvious, though it must be said that Burning Hearts' sonic ambitions are a touch less grandiose. No matter really, I'm a big fan of both acts and BH's latest record "Extinctions" is getting lots of repeat plays 'round these parts in recent days. Dunno what took me so long to come around, but it finally clicked.
Burning Hearts - Into the wilderness
A beautiful new video from Finnish act Magenta Skycode for the track "Kipling", filmed in Lapland by producer/director Miikka Niemi.
400+ tracks on shuffle and this is the very first one that plays as I leave my driveway to head out on vacation. Like it was meant to be. Now it's day two back at work and I'm buried deep with no sign of relief coming anytime soon, thinking back to my time on the coast and missing it dearly.
Magenta Skycode - Escaping outdoors
There's quite a few American acts that aim to emulate the lush sound of the Beach Boys, but no one can nail their glorious melancholia quite like the Scandinavians. Magenta Skycode may lack a Hal Blaine to call their own, but that hardly matters when you got everything else required for a pop/rock symphony. Unlike Mandorla, who sound more like a convincing tribute (albeit a very good one, it must be said), these Finns go beyond the cutesy, sunshine pop to mine the darker undercurrents that made "Pet sounds" so unforgettable. Perhaps it's my overactive imagination, but I think there's a profound sadness to that album that oft goes overlooked and unrecognized. Magenta Skycode gives me that same feeling
In other Magenta Skycode news, will be celebrating the band's 5th anniversary on March 15 with the vinyl reissue of their first album "|||||" ("5 bars") on 180g LP + 7" with two extra tracks, packaged in a gatefold sleeve including full lyrics, liner notes and so on. The label will also be reissuing pre-Magenta Skycode act This Empty Flow's 1996 debut "Magenta skycode" (see the connection?) on April 27 in a limited 2xLP edition, the first time the record has ever been released on vinyl.
Magenta Skycode - King of the abstract painters
The lineup for this year's Great Escape Festival has been confirmed and will include a special Norwegian spotlight featuring the artists 120 Days, Adjagas and "Reader's companion" alums The Lionheart Brothers: http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=387899
Other Scandinavians include IAT artist Hello Saferide plus Consequences, Promise and Monster, Loney, Dear, Johnossi, Magenta Skycode, Oh No Ono, Rockettothesky, Kissaway Trail and probably a few others whose names I don't instantly recognize.
