Avasaxa is a new postrock/shoegaze band from Finland featuring a member from On Volcano and this is their self-titled debut EP. You can definitely hear comparisons between the two bands, but this stuff seems far more dreamy and that's by no means a bad thing.
Much in the same way that "The explorer" takes its time to fully flower, On Volcano's latest release took its time making a lasting impression, but once it did, it stuck with me. If you still haven't downloaded the "New blood EP", you're missing out: http://www.onvolcano.com/
As is so often the case, the best things in life are free.
On Volcano - The explorer
Sleeping in Airports is yet another in the long line of female-fronted Finnish acts exploring the realms of shoegaze and they have two tracks they are giving away for free: http://soundcloud.com/sleeping-in-airports
Not as immediately appealing to me as On Volcano or Murmansk, but definitely not without potential.
Though not as immediately gripping as debut EP "My sleep was filled with dreams", On Volcano's newest work "New blood" is likewise great. No surprise as far as I'm concerned, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth noting as these things often fall through the cracks and I would be completely to blame if such a thing should happen. "Mission" is my pick of the litter for it's absolutely killer bass hook, both in sound and melody. Skirting the edges of both goth etherealism and postrock-informed moodiness, On Volcano has crafted a track fit for the dancefloor and headphone listening. "Wave your flag and dance to the mission" Download the rest of the EP here: http://www.onvolcano.com/
On Volcano - Mission
It's been awhile since Finnish indie/shoegazers On Volcano promised us a new EP, but the end result is finally here and available for free download: http://www.onvolcano.com/
I have yet to listen myself, but if it's anything like their previous work then it's sure to be great.
Check out Finnish act On Volcano performing a brand new song live for Finnish radio: http://areena.yle.fi/video/1224300
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Makthaverskan - Inside of me
03. Swedish House Mafia - One
04. Elias & the Wizzkids - Waste of time
05. TALK 2
06. The Animal Five - Dancing on my own
07. Miasmal - Creation of fire
08. The Aches - Count slowly to ten
09. Karin Ström - Reptilian brain
10. TALK 3
11. Dear Euphoria - No more time to weep
12. Delay Trees - Cassette 2012
13. Sort Sol - Marguerita
14. TALK 4
15. The Tallest Man on Earth - The wild hunt
16. Cut City - The sound and the sore
17. The Hives - Civilization's dying
18. The Nature - Din medicin
19. TALK 5
20. Kaka - Below this sun
21. The Scrags - Psycho cyclone
22. On Volcano - Ride the wolf
23. TALK 6
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.
Finnish shoegaze/indierock act On Volcano reports that they are working on a new EP for release in July, probably as both a free download and limited CD.
Finnish shoegazers On Volcano have parted ways with drummer Eino due to lack of time and energy and will continue on as a trio until they find a permanent replacement. Jarno Alho (Sister Flo, Kytäjä, etc.) will be filling in for live appearances in the meantime.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Kommun - I don't say anything
03. On Volcano - Out of sight
04. Turboweekend - Something or nothing
05. TALK 2
06. The Idle Hands - Hearts
07. Thåström - Linnéa
08. Fronda - Mitt allt
09. TALK 3
10. We Are the Storm - A song for our city
11. High Hats - The end
12. Wardruna - Kauna
13. Halph - New money
14. The Scrags - TV messed up mind
15. TALK 4
16. They Live - Magic glasses
17. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
18. Nitad - Rädslan
19. TALK 5
20. Elmo - Shine down on us
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.
Finnish pop-shoegazers On Volcano start recording their new album today.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Culkin - Breathholders
03. Max Peezay - Boven i droven
04. Detektivbyrån - En annan typ av disco
05. Billie the Vision & the Dancers - You'd better watch out, 'cause I like you
06. TALK 2
07. Sad Day for Puppets - Marble gods
08. Viola - The hardest hit
09. Samuraj Cities - Spoonful of talk
10. Kalle J - I skydd av mörkret
11. TALK 3
12. Murmansk - Vague language
13. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Radius (Dmitry Fyodorov Radius Relaxation Remix)
14. The Low Frequency in Stereo - Texas fox
15. David Åhlén - We sprout in thy soil
16. TALK 4
17. Paper - Out of it into it
18. Andreas Tilliander - Caught in a riot
19. On Volcano - Out of sight
20. Entombed - Seeing red
21. TALK 5
22. Säkert! - Någon gång måste du bli själv
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.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Tomas Halberstad - Travel as I wait
02. TALK 1
03. Robert Svensson - 1991
04. Auton - El Dorado
05. Parken - Jag har varit vilsen, Lisa
06. TALK 2
07. Tiger Lou - Trust falls
08. Promise and the Monster - Night out
09. Park Hotell - Black hole
10. TALK 3
11. Sort Sol - Excalibur
12. Convoj - The shovel
13. Satyricon - Black crow on a tombstone
14. On Volcano - Out of sight
15. TALK 4
16. Hello Saferide - Anna
17. Him Kerosene - Ventilate
18. Tobias Hellkvist - Ships of the North Atlantic
19. TALK 5
20. Division of Laura Lee - LAX
21. Oskar Schönning - Nino casino
22. Haust - Success
23. TALK 6
24. Passiv Dödshjälp - Helvetet, tur och retur
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XM U. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
On Volcano reports that their excellent debut EP "My sleep was filled with dreams" is sold out, but have no fear - copies are still available through me at a reasonable price: [click here]
Like On Volcano, Idoru is a great example of what's possible in modern DIY indierock. I strongly disagree with my colleague's assessment of the former - while so many current, big-label bands are caught up in fey pretension, pointless experimentalism or worse, it's so good to hear new acts like this. And by that, I mean that they actually know how to write good songs, an all too rarefied quality. Idoru's EP isn't as consistent as On Volcano's, but high points like "Chase" show great potential. The sound is contemporary, but it's also strongly informed by the past: classic shoegaze, early postpunk or 90s noiserock, it's all there. Just listen to the way they tease you with bits of a well-known melody on the coda! However, most of all, I appreciate that they know how to rock. Pop music need not be limpwristed, nor does rock demand power over melody. The two can coexist! Imagine that! Strange times indeed...
Idoru - Chase