"Decembergatan 7", a new netrelease from Swedish drone artist Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words: https://www.fukkgod.org/whenskiesaregrey/2006/06/decembergatan-7.php
Candlelight has announced the signing of Norwegian avant-metal act Manes. A full-length album is expected in early 2007.
The Observer lists Gorgoroth's new album "Ad Majorem Sathanas" as one the month's top 10 picks: https://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,1797278,00.html
Download the Le Sport remix of Richard Reagh's "Squirrel man": https://www.reagh.net/downloads/remixes/richard_reagh-squirrel_man-le_sport_remix.mp3
Finnish electronic act Lackluster has a new netrelease entitled "Lax EP" on Greek netlabel Digilog: https://digilog.gr/diginet002.htm
El Perro Del Mar has posted the video for "God knows (You gotta give to get)" over at myspace: https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=841507660&n=2
The new Ohm single "Spoon me" is now available for free download via Sing Your Life!: https://www.singyourlife.se/artists/ohm/index.php
Updated Nicolai Dunger tourdates:
07/06 - Slussens Pensionat, Orust (SWE)
07/08 - Brännö Visfestival, Brännö (SWE)
07/12 - Stadsmuseet Parkteatern, Stockholm (SWE)
07/17 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
07/18 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
07/19 - Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR w/Gjallarhorn
07/21 - Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA w/Jesse Sykes
07/22 - The Media Club, Vancouver, BC
07/24 - Dogfish Head, Rebot Beach, DE
07/25 - Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
07/27 - Iron Horse, Northhampton, MA
07/28 - Seaport Atrium, New York, NY w/Richard Hawley
07/29 - Narrows Art Center, Fall River, MA
07/30 - T.T. The Bears, Boston, MA w/Jim & Jennie and the Pinetops
07/31 - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, Burlington, VT
08/01 - Lee's Palace, Toronto, ONT
08/02 - The Lager House, Detroit, MI
08/03 - Schubas, Chicago, IL w/Jim & Jennie and the Pinetops
08/11 - Atelje Tidvatten, Lidköping (SWE)
08/15 - Gustav Adolfs Torg, Stockholm (SWE)
Swedish rockers Hell n' Diesel have posted the video for "Miss cocaine" for free download/streaming: https://www.hellndiesel.net/
Johnossi is coming to the US for a few showcase dates later this month:
06/21 - Pianos, NYC
06/22 - Pianos, NYC
06/27 - Safari Sam, LA
06/28 - Spaceland, LA
Tsukimono will soon have a release on the 3" CDR label Müssiggänger. It will be called "Études" and has been described to me as "invisible music" featuring "highpitched ghosts and sounddust." Also on the way from Tsukimono is an album entitled "Née" to be released soon on Kalligrammofon and another full-length entitled "Time canvas" to be released via Swedish avant label Kning Disc in the fall. Listen to a sample of the former here: https://www.myspace.com/tsukimonoswe
Lastly, Tsukimono will also be doing a prepared guitar-duet record with Mattias Nihlén from Testbild!. I'm not sure when/where that one will be released, but I'll keep you posted.
MP3: Holiday For Strings - I got two hands
Even though Holiday For Strings aren't purely an instrumental act, the vocals they do employ are most certainly not of the pop verse/chorus variety. Dub-by, spaced-out beats and droning guitars and repetitive, understated vocal lines - no, it's definitely not pop. Imagine Silverbullit on 'ludes and you'll get a better picture. The particular track I've posted today is especially great because of the way it builds off of the drum figure. The way the cymbal hits shimmer and distort is lovely and I really dig the way the melody builds and expands from the original rhythm. The guitars slowly open up with chiming, fingerpicked chords and become more and more insistent as they get busier and busier. The only downside is that the piece drifts into chattering noise without much of a resolution, but realize that in the context of the full album, it works perfectly.
Holiday For Strings - I got two hands
Audrey
Visible forms
A Tenderversion Recording/Stereo Test Kit
What is it with Swedish bands and spectacular debut albums? Audrey's first proper full-length could very well be the defining indie record of the year. I can hear a range of influences varying from Cursive to "Gran turismo"-era Cardigans (minus the electronics) to Nick Drake and Spiritualized. However, Audrey entirely owns their sound. This is a band that has grown into their first album and realized their potential. Songs like "The significance of being overt," "Treacherous art" and "Views" are beautiful (actually, this whole album has left me stunned, as it is so melancholy, formal and beautiful). I tip my hat to them for creating this, and whomever is their booking agent - get this band to tour with Sigur Rós, they deserve it.
- Matt Giordano
The Celophane Flower
In their best album so far
Flower Productions
The Cellophane Flowers owe a lot to Britpop. "In their best album so far" the subdued, layered melodies familiar to fans of Travis and James are quite prevalent, as are the grooving basslines and soaring lead guitar lines. Don't get me wrong, all of the songs are executed well, it's just that other than "Never too late" (which is easily the best of the lot; so beautiful and understated) nothing else really stuck out. Maybe it's because deep down I was prepared to hear a pop song pop up and send my ears into a whirlwind. In fact, every time I played the album I hoped that would happen.
- Matt Giordano