New CDs from Finnish acts Fun and Viola just showed up on my doorstep - look for 'em in the webstore shortly Go on and get 'em!
Artist: Viola
Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock
http://www.pophurts.com/
Reviews: Wonderabilia / Ordinary teenage sensation (mp3) / Tedium rock (mp3)
Kristofer Åström's amazing new record "RainawayTown" is now available for non-Record Club subscribers and I also have the new The End Will Be Kicks "Ass of a friend" EP in-stock and ready for ordering as well. Lots more stuff on the way too, including new releases from Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words, Tobias Hellkvist, Viola, Fun and Mixtapes & Cellmates. Go shopping!
Viola
Wonderabilia
Jupiter
There's an unnatural beauty in darkness, in bleak moments spent looking out over cities that once held such magic, and reviewing events, now etched into memory, longing for cities we've long since departed, friends we haven't seen in years, and for that vibrant cord that seemed to tie us energetically to the unfolding events of the world around us. Viola's most recent release, "Wonderabilia", is a complicated portrait of barren expanses, of isolation, and of the beauty that is so often crafted within the shadows. While the album is based around a few simple mechanisms – dark pop sensibilities, electronic atmospherics, and powerful, building arrangements – "Wonderabilia" isn't an 'easy' record. There are songs that are immediately appealing, such as the openers "Unreal life" and "Stay unknown", but there are also songs that are difficult to fully appreciate on the first listen, or are, at the very least, augmented and better understood with repeated listens. During my first few run-throughs, I felt almost distracted by the glittering layer of electronics in a few of the songs, but the depths present themselves as I became more acquainted with the tone of the record and the songs themselves. This isn't at all to say the record is flawless, very few records are, but as a whole "Wonderabilia" functions extremely well. Viola have crafted a solid album from the fragments of daily unhappiness, from the influences of bands like Depeche Mode and New Order, and incorporated these splinters deftly into their own unique, flowing sound.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Last night's playlist for my show on Sirius Blog Radio:
01. Isolation Years - Yellow cross on blue
02. TALK 1
03. Johndoe - Nattskift
04. Montys Loco - Wasteland
05. Once We Were - Cut corners
06. TALK 2
07. [ingenting] - Mycket vasen for ingenting
08. Margaret Berger - Robot song
09. Namur - Marching
10. Lampshade - New legs
11. TALK 3
12. Maia Hirasawa - Gothenburg
13. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet
14. Fattaru - 100:-
15. Juvelen - Hanna
16. TALK 4
17. Säkert! - Allt som är ditt
18. Sonores - 16th of June
19. Detektivbyrån - E18
20. TALK 5
21. At the Gates - The swarm
22. Barra Head - Kill the lights
23. TALK 6
24. The Tough Alliance - Leg 7
25. Torpedo - My evil twin
26. Alog - Catch that totem!
27. TALK 7
28. Valley Days - 10k angels
29. A-ha - Celice
30. Victims - Who the fuck are we?
31. TALK 8
32. The Vicious - Alienated
33. Viola - Unreal life
34. Zweizz - Nowadays the only boring everything is so frustrating
35. Viktor Sjöberg - Winter guitars
36. TALK 9
37. Closer - The talker
38. Aerial - My god, it's full of stars!
39. The Kissaway Trail - La la song
40. Laakso - Italy vs Helsinki
41. The Psyke Project - Panic
42. TALK 10
43. C.Aarmé - We are the world
Next week: expect lots more killer jams including totally a brand new track from Closer and maybe even a spotlight set on post-rock/ambient music. Good times!
MP3: Viola - Ordinary teenage sensation
"Fast forward to the good parts." Indeed, the most ordinary of teenage sensations, especially in this age of ever-decreasing attention spans. Viola makes modern pop for the disaffected, a feeling they capture in both the lyrics and the music. This is dark music that works just as well on the dancefloor as on headphones in the bedroom. Alienation is a prevalent theme on the band's new album "Wonderabilia", a problem that seems to be growing in this modern age. I should know: despite my constant online interactions with people all over the world, I sometimes go days without ever straying too far outside since I work at home. Ah, the miracle of the Internet age! Simultaneously freeing and damning! It's no wonder I feel renewed teen angst as I get closer to my 30s.
Viola - Ordinary teenage sensation
Viola has posted another taste of what's to come from thier forthcoming album "Wonderabilia": http://www.ifsociety.com/files/Viola-Since_Forever_Now.mp3
As mentioned before, it comes out April 4 via Jupiter.
Viola has just posted the first taste of what's to come from their forthcoming album "Wonderabilia ": http://www.ifsociety.com/files/Viola%20-%20Outsider%20Code.mp3
Really looking forward to this one - it comes out April 4 on the Jupiter label.
Finnish melancholy pop act Viola has confirmed that their new album "Wonderabilia" is done and confirmed for an April 4 release. Another album I'm really looking forward to.
If Society didn't just put out new albums from both noiserockers Vene and hardcore punks Valse Triste, no they are also putting out the new album from Finnish scene legends Radiopuhelimet in February (read more about them here). Look for a new album from Viola around March as well. You want more details and a few downloads? Go here: http://www.ifsociety.com/news.php#100
Aversionline likes Viola: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2006/07/i-say-its-critters-today.html
Listen to what the man says: that is one surprisingly good disc. I was kinda so-so on the band on my first few listens, but eventually something clicked and now I love it. I'd even go as far to say that it's destined for classic status. Also, let me reiterate: beware the return of goth/darkwave. It's coming.
Finland's Viola (as heard on "Reader's companion volume two") will be doing their annual special summer show on Saturday, June 6 and this year's festivities will include a set of classic power-ballads and a cover set by indiepop act Red Carpet. Read more: http://www.ifsociety.com/viola/news.php?newsid=39
I'm not posting a new mp3 today because I have something even better for you, the tracklist for "It's a trap! reader's companion volume two". Behold:
01. HELLO SAFERIDE - If I don't write this song, someone I love will die (SWE)
from the album "Introducing: Hello Saferide" (Razzia)
02. RICOCHETS - Cold outside (NOR)
from the album "Isolation" (KongTiki)
03. VIOLA - Invisible revolution (FIN)
from the album "Anyone can stop us" (If Society)
04. BJÖRN KLEINHENZ - Pocket of gold (SWE)
previously unreleased
05. PLAIN FADE - Itä-Aure (FIN)
previously unreleased
06. THE BEAR QUARTET - Birds are singing deep within the greenery (SWE)
from the album "Saturday night" (A West Side Fabrication)
07. MOONBABIES - Take me to the ballroom (SWE)
from the as-yet-untitled forthcoming third full-length album (Moonbabies Music)
08. MUNCK//JOHNSON - Slavesong (DK)
from the album "Count your blessings" (PonyRec)
09. PHONOPHANI - I.F.A. (NOR)
from the self-titled album (Biophan [1998]/Rune Grammofon [2006])
10. MONEY.PAPER.THEPOLICE - Jim Morrison (SWE)
previously unreleased
11. DET GAMLA LANDET - När vi vaknar (SWE)
previously unreleased
12. THE FIRST MILES - The best one around (DK)
from the album "Aim for the heart, go!" (Little Bad Bear)
13. PARIS - Captain Morgan (SWE)
from the album "Secrets on tape" (Parismusic/V2)
14. THE END WILL BE KICKS - Medicine and airbags (SWE)
previously unreleased
15. DON JUAN DRACULA - Run away with you (NOR)
from the album "Young debutantes II" (Switch Off)
16. TIGER LOU - Nixon (SWE)
from the album "The loyal" (Startracks)
17. THE GRAND OPENING - Slow motion (SWE)
previously unreleased
Artwork is still being finalized, but if you head over to my myspace page you can see the cover art and listen to Björn Kleinhenz's track. Exact release date is still tbc, but I expect CDs in-hand by early April.
Today's new mp3 is from Finland's Boys of Scandinavia. Along with labelmates Viola, these guys are making some of the best retro-goth/new-wave dance-pop you can find. It would sound a bit out of place at your local Necropolis night or what-have-you. I think that's where a lot of the also-rans seem to go amiss - they forget that all the great bands from the 80s had a serious dark edge to them. Sure, it's got a nice beat that you can dance to, but it's also got a sinister, more mysterious side as well. BoS aren't just copying their influences either. There are obvious nods to all the usual suspects (I shouldn't have to list them, so I won't), but they've got something different that sets them apart. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it doesn't really matter 'cuz it's meant to be enjoyed, not dissected. If you like, you should buy it.
MP3: Boys of Scandinavia - Beautiful as a person
Today's new mp3 is from Finland's Boys of Scandinavia. Along with labelmates Viola, these guys are making some of the best retro-goth/new-wave dance-pop you can find. It would sound a bit out of place at your local Necropolis night or what-have-you. I think that's where a lot of the also-rans seem to go amiss - they forget that all the great bands from the 80s had a serious dark edge to them. Sure, it's got a nice beat that you can dance to, but it's also got a sinister, more mysterious side as well. BoS aren't just copying their influences either. There are obvious nods to all the usual suspects (I shouldn't have to list them, so I won't), but they've got something different that sets them apart. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it doesn't really matter 'cuz it's meant to be enjoyed, not dissected. If you like, you should buy it.
Boys of Scandinavia - Beautiful as a person