Dark Dose on Sonores: http://darkdose.com/?p=145
I passed the CD to Jesse when his band Daylight Dies passed through Seattle on tour with Katatonia and Moonspell. I didn't stick around for the latter (besides the fact that I'm not really a fan, it was raining hard and I had a long drive home), but the others were great. Good to read that he's enjoying the disc, just as I thought he would - it easily made to be one of my top picks from last year.

Top 10s for 2006: It's a trap!

Top 10s for 2006: Staff picks

Photos of IAT.MP3 artists Sonores on tour in the UK: http://www.flickr.com/photos/viktorsjoberg/sets/72157594372622600/

Aversionline on Sonores: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2006/10/sonores-elefanten-cd.html
One of the year's best records - very highly recommended.

MP3: Sonores - Jonathan

I'm anticipating that I will be totally exhausted and preoccupied on Tuesday morning since my friends from Kayo Dot are staying over while on tour, so I'm writing this on Monday afternoon. They're not Scandinavian, but I still highly recommend that you check 'em out regardless. They make the kind of progressive music that truly transcends boundries. Radiohead is a mere rockband by comparison. Don't believe me, click on that link and check out their myspace profile. Verses? Choruses? Don't be so narrowminded. In a lot of ways, the music of Sonores reminds me of Kayo Dot. Sonores doesn't really ever get all that heavy, but their chord voicings and unique sonic textures give me the same kinds of chills. It's that sinister undercurrent that does it to me, as well as the fact that their music is both evocative and intellectually stimulating. Kayo Dot is often far more overtly distressing, but the band's softer passages conjure up the same feelings. It's music that's not easily pinned down by tags according to genre though you may find other music with similar emotional attributes. It's a record I feel very strongly about, a no-brainer as a pick for October's album of the month. Seriously, if you don't like this, we may need to reevaluate our friendship.
Buy "Elefanten": [click here]
(Update: the dudes didn't actually sleep here last night, but man am I tired. Staying up 'till 3am gets harder the older I get. Amazing show though. "_____ on limpid form" was a definite highlight.)

Sonores - Jonathan

October's album of the month: Sonores - Elefanten
Brilliant band, brilliant album. The IAT.MP3 EP only hints at their talent, the full-length confirms it. This will definitely be one of my favorite albums released this year.

Speaking of Sonores, here's some upcoming live dates:

10/20 - Kulturhuset Underjorden, Göteborg (SWE)
11/09 - Qubar, Margate (UK)
11/10 - Lido, Margate (UK)

MP3: The Grand Opening - Secret view

The Grand Opening's debut full-length "This is nowhere to be found" is a perfect record for the segue into fall. Melancholy and full of yearning and nostalgia, the music evokes the same sort of feelings I associate with the season. The days grow shorter, shadows grow longer and the leaves fall from trees. It's a time of inward reflection as we prepare for winter. As with Sonores (who I posted about recently), this record marks the first steps of an IAT.MP3 netlabel act branching out into the 'real world' with a physical product. I couldn't be more proud - I feel like a father whose children are now grown up and leaving home for the first time on their own and I want them to do well. TGO's record is especially pleasing to me because I knew they had immense potential when I first heard their demo and now they've gone and proved it. The "Location EP" netrelease was pretty damn good I must admit, but "This is nowhere to be found" is miles ahead. Three of the songs make appearances on the new album and the difference between the two versions is astounding. However, you'll have to either visit myspace or buy the record to hear 'em because I've posted a different song today, "Secret view". I love the tone of that bassline as played on Rhodes keyboard (at least I'm fairly sure what they used) combined with a simple drum loop and smattering of overdubbed percussion. The guitar only provides atmosphere and the melody is carried solely by vocals and chimes. So beautiful, so sublime.
Buy the "Don't drop off" 7": [click here]

The Grand Opening - Secret view

Interview: Jonas Odhner (Sonores)

MP3: Sonores - That wish!

Spotty Internet access here in the Silicon Valley (who woulda thought?) means no Thursday post. But I'm still on vacation, so you should be happy that you get anything at all. Moving on to close out the week: IAT.MP3 netlabel artists Sonores and The Grand Opening both have new full-length albums. Both of course, are excellent. You'll have to wait a little while for TGO's record, but Sonores' "Elefanten" is out now. Download a new album track from the mp3 playlist and read an interview with mainman Jonas Odhner right here: [click here]

Sonores - That wish!

MP3: Élodie - Overload

A good follow-up to yesterday's post on Under Byen is today's mp3 from Élodie. Both bands are female-fronted and could be considered post-rock by the way they embrace slow-building dynamics. The main difference however is that Élodie is more of a pop band. Where Under Byen is unique for their heavy percussion, Élodie soothes with lush, gentle melodies. It's a shame that their new EP "At the end of the line" is the last we'll hear from them - the band recently played their final show at Trästockfestivalen in their hometown of Skellefteå. If you've been at all into any of the other dark and dreamy pop I've been raving about this year such as Lampshade or Namur, then this is definitely up your alley. Not only is there a ton of similar music in this vein being released now, a very high percentage of it is remarkably good. There's more on the way too - keep an eye out for posts on new music Sonores and The Grand Opening in the near future, both amazing bands (and also both IAT.MP3 artists releasing their first official full-lengths).
Buy "At the end of the line": [click here]

Élodie - Overload

I neglected to mention it the other day, but I've got new CDs from Kazakstan (see my fawning review here) and IAT.MP3 artist Sonores in the webstore now. Both of course are very highly recommended. I also took some time to throw some new tracks into the webstore's jukebox, so check it out if you've got the time.

IAT.MP3 artist Sonores has now released their official debut album: http://elefanten.blogspot.com/2006/08/structures-sonores-1-is-here.html
Highly recommended, of course.

Dark Dose, one of my favorite mp3 blogs that doesn't update nearly as often as they should, was kind enough to post their thoughts on IAT.MP3 artist Sonores: http://darkdose.com/?p=121
As I posted in their comments, Jonas from Sonores just told me over the weekend that the music for their album is done, he just needs to finish up all the details concerning the artwork. I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime you can still download the free netrelease on the right.