December is here so that means it's time to look back and reflect on the year past as we prepare for the holidays and 2007. I normally try to reach back a few years for my Friday mp3 posts, but today I'm only taking a small step back to last year for a song from the criminally underrated Hyacinth House. The Swedish roots/country act's self-titled debut easily made my 2005 top 10 and continued to stay in steady rotation throughout '06. Every time I listen to them I can't help but wonder why these guys aren't more popular? I cannot thing of a single other up-and-coming act in this genre that even comes close to touching their level of quality. The album's artwork may be a bit lackluster (they are 100% DIY fwiw), but the music is top notch. Great songs, perfectly balanced recording, the whole package. If you dig twang, you need to hear this. The band reportedly has something new in the works, too. Can't wait to hear it.
Hyacinth House - Ghost town
Got a new batch of reviews added late last night: [click here]
I know I've been slacking on video mixes the last couple weeks, but I'll have a new one for you later today.
120 Days has a new website: https://www.120days.no/
Marilyn Records has confirmed that Achordian's sophomore album "Product of the 80's" will be released in February. Listen to four tracks at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/achordian
Finnish moshcore act Cold Inside (nee Unity Murder) will release their debut 7" "Ends, starts and broken hearts" via On Our Own and Brown Records this coming January. Listen to the track "Winter push on" at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/coldinsidehc
I dunno why it is, but the Finns seem to rule at keeping this sound alive.
Frida Hyvönen on tour in Europe:
12/06 - 93 Feet East, London (UK)
12/07 - Water Rats Theatre, London (UK)
12/08 - ULU, London (UK)
12/09 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
12/10 - Privatclub, Berlin (GER)
12/11 - Boa Bar, Luzern (CH)
12/12 - Le Divan du Monde, Paris (FRA)
Norwegian metal act Borknagar has posted a brand new track on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/borknagar
The staff at Gaffa reveal their top picks for 2006, both albums and singles, international and Danish: https://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=16723
This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:
01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
02. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
03. Jan Werner - Stronger
04. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
05. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
06. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
07. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
08. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
09. Arve Tellefsen/Nidarosdomens Guttekor - Aria
10. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes & Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
11. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
12. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
13. Aleksander With - Coming Home
14. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
15. Maj Britt Andersen - Onger er rare
16. Sondre Lerche - Duper Sessions
17. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
18. Christian Ingebrigtsen - Paint Christmas White
19. Ole Paus - Hellige jul - Jul i Skippergata
20. Malin - Malin på månen
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Darin - Break the news
02. Björn Skifs - Andra Decennier
03. Martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
04. The Refreshments - It's gotta be both rock & roll
05. Magnus Carlsson - Spår i snön
06. Vikingarna - Bästa
07. Orup - Faktiskt
08. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
09. Peter Jöback - Flera sidor av samma man
10. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
11. Linda Sundblad - Oh my god!
12. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
14. The Boppers - Jingle bell rock
15. Lisa Miskovsky - Changes
16. Helena Paprizou - The game of love
17. Roxette - A collection of Roxette hits! Their 20 greatest
18. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
19. Anders Ekborg - Äkta vara
20. Agnes - Stronger
Sudd will be presenting a special mp3-download Advent calendar starting tomorrow: https://www.sudd.org/
Artists confirmed and revealed so far include Firefox AK, Laakso, Sophie Rimheden, Björn Kleinhenz, GOTO80 - one each day until Christmas.
Pitchfork reviews the collaboration between Norwegian electronic duo Fe-Mail and American artist Carlos Giffoni: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39699/FeMail_and_Carlos_Giffoni_Northern_Stains
For most folk, all you need to know about the new Once We Were is contained in these four little word: post-rock double album. Chances are high that'll either get you super stoked or make you run screaming. For you rare wish-washy types, let me attempt to earn your approval. As for you brave, skeptical people who are courageous enough to still be with me, you can come along too. First, it should be noted that the album "Contra" is not the sort of sprawling epic (read: boring) you might expect. Yes, it's two CDs, but it's only a tad over an hour long in total. Each half works well as its own self-contained work and splitting the record in two was a great idea to make it more palatable for the masses. I can think of quite a few other recent post-rock releases that would've benefitted greatly from the same sort of self-editing. It's also worth noting that Once We Were's music goes beyond the usual loud-quiet-loud noodly riffs one might normally associate with the genre. There are certainly elements of that, but they are employed with skill and restraint. Listen to the track I've posted today for a solid piece of proof. If you're even a casual fan of instrumental rock, you're sure to find something to admire here. Very recommended.
Buy "Contra": [click here]
Once We Were - Carnival