Tag: reviews

The Silent Ballet reviews For a Minor Reflection

The Silent Ballet reviews For a Minor Reflection's new record "Höldum í átt að óreiðu": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/3601/Default.aspx

PopMatters reviews Nils Petter Molvær

PopMatters reviews the new Nils Petter Molvær album "Hamada": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/129613-nils-petter-molvaer-hamada/

Interment - Into the crypts of blasphemy
(Pulverised Records)

Ah, the good old days of Swedish death metal. They’ve never really gone away, with the early recordings of likes of Entombed, Dismember, Carnage and Grave still cited as the best, most influential death metal ever to disgust the planet. One band that was around back then -- having formed at the same time as all the aforementioned legends -- was fellow countrymen Interment. Having disbanded after the release of a few demos back in the day, they tested the water back in 2007 with a split with US death crew Funebrarum before going on to record this, their first ever full-length album. I could go on and on describing the sound and the songwriting in great detail but, to keep it short and to the point -- and to let you know exactly what this album sounds like -- one sentence will do the trick: it's the oldschool Stockholm sound and style, done with great authenticity and the aspiration to be the "Left hand path" of the 21st Century. Obviously, nothing can ever top "LHP" but, for those looking for something new in this particular style "Into the crypts of blasphemy" isn't too far away.
- John Norby

The Bear Quartet/The Skull Defekts - Millions 7"
(Deleted Art/Adrian Recordings)

The one track missing from the vinyl release of "89" gets a platter all its own, paired with a cover of the same by Göteborg noiseniks The Skull Defekts and released on the imprint of Malmö-based Deleted Art. Though The Bear Quartet has toned down the antagonistic experimentalism that peaked with 2006's "Eternity now", the lyrical sentiment remains pure contempt, as is most often the case with latter-day BQ tracks featuring words penned by Mr. Mattias Alkberg. Needless to say, I love it, especially when they pair their anger with a refined, stripped-down postpunk approach as is on display here. As for the flip, The Skull Defekts don't remake the track as much as you might expect, though they do amplify the noise and aggression quotient, taking the sublime and turning it darkly sinister. Less subtle, to be sure, but no less effective. Not sure about the pressing numbers, but the glued jacket and heavy black dustsleeve make it a package worth possessing.
- Avi Roig

Dusted reviews Sistol/Vladislav Delay

Dusted reviews the new album from Sistol, the straight-up techno alias of Vladislav Delay: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5924

Pitchfork reviews Kemialliset Ystävät

Pitchfork reviews the new record "Ullakkopalo" from Finnish freak-folk act Kemialliset Ystävät: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14593-ullakkopalo/

Night Minutes - Self-titled digital play
(self-released)

To be honest, I was a little thrown by the lo-fi, analog feel of Night Minutes' "Sweetheart at the funeral" on my first listen, but I've since fallen quite hard for the band's sound: the warm, viscous layers of guitars and keyboards, the slight hint of distortion on the vocals, even the digital drums. If anything, Phil Spector's Wall of Sound seems more at home on Night Minutes' self-titled EP than on more polished recordings, the dense strata of instrumentation providing a fine vehicle for both the strong songwriting and Anna Knutson's and Max J Hansson's wonderful vocal harmonies and tradeoffs. As noted in the mp3 post for "Sweetheart at the funeral", there is something infectious about Night Minutes, and their ability to evoke the summery, 1960s girl group feel without sacrificing depth is one of the band's greatest strengths. Despite only being three tracks long, I've yet to tire of the EP. There's not a weak song to be found, and for such a short recording it is well-paced: the upbeat "Sweetheart..." is followed by the slower, more contemplative "Queens", with the fabulous, building "Lord, I can never be your mirror" rounding out the record. There’s not much more you can ask of a young band. Having set the bar quite high with their debut effort, I am excited to see what Night Minutes have in store for the future.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

Pitchfork reviews Drivan

Pitchfork reviews the new album from Drivan, Kim Hiorthøy's full-band project: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14590-disko/

No Balls - Problems that will solve themselves 7"
(self-released)

Not much progression on this, the band's third release, though it's not as if I expected any from this pair of knuckle-draggers. No Balls are still purveying the same dismal caveman pummel as before and I suppose you either like it or you don't. I do, despite my best intentions to consider myself above this sort of grating drivel. Intentionally aggravating and often half-baked, but no one does it better. 4 songs, 306 copies.
- Avi Roig

Dusted reviews Wildbirds & Peacedrums

Dusted reviews the new Wildbirds & Peacedrums album "Rivers", the compilation of the "Retina" and "Iris" EPs: http://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5918