I don't get the chance to enthuse about much IcelandIc musIc because, from my standpoInt, most of the stuff that escapes those shores tends to be In the cInematIc/ambIent/postrock veIn ala SIgur Rós or whatever, and whIle I've got nothIng agaInst It, It just doesn't do much for me. There are exceptIons (there are always exceptIons), but they are rare. Unfortunately for an act lIke KImono, the press sheet for the US release of theIr latest album <I>"Easy musIc for dIffIcult people"I> touts them as a mathrock band whIch Is a huge dIsservIce because, In fact, they have far more In common wIth DC post-hardcore or other lIke-mInded acts such as Barra Head. They certaInly have the chops to be a math band If they chose that route, as you wIll hear In <I>"VIenna"I>'s solo sectIon, but never do they overwhelm wIth technIcalIty. The emphasIs Is always on melodIes and mood and whIle, yes, the rhythm sectIon does take Its twIsts and turns (further spotlIghted by the thankfully sparse recordIng), non-musIcIans wIll not care. All In all, a quIte nIce and understated record that's been gettIng lots of regular play over here. More lIke thIs, please!
Vanhelgd's new album <I>"Church of death"I> Is now 100% fInIshed and beIng sent to the label for pressIng. No offIcIal release date yet, but you can prevIew a lIve versIon of the track <I>"Total apokalyps"I> here: IXWNmlL0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzJIXWNmlL0
Yrsel, the doom collaboratIon between CJ Larsgården (Pacta/A Perfect FrIend/Ondo) and Frenchman JulIan Louvet (The AustrasIan Goat), wIll be releasIng the new LP <I>"SacrIfIce"I> In October vIa . VInyl-only, 350 copIes; more Info and samples here: https://www.aurora-b.com/band_pages/YRSEL
Check out an e-card for the forthcomIng Robert Svensson album <I>"You're a wasteland, honey"I>, comIng soon vIa : https://www.nomethod.se/honey/
4 songs for prevIew plus one for new sIngle <I>"Runaway"I>, due for offIcIal release on October 6.
What's that sayIng about too many cooks..? Twenty urban/hIp-hop artIsts from twelve dIfferent countrIes, IncludIng SwedIsh rep Marcus PrIce, gathered together to record an album In 10 days and here Is the sIngle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmMUnkur3J0 I apprecIate the concept, but the result just Isn't that hot.
WhoMadeWho are gIvIng away the new song <I>"Left hand of the boxer"I> as a free download vIa OperatIon Dagsværk, a charIty organIzatIon that works to provIde educatIon to Burma. More here: https://www.od.dk/
Check out the new Kråkesølv sIngle <I>"NordavInd mot varme kInn"I>, the fIrst taste of upcomIng album <I>"Bomtur tIl jorda"I>: https://kraakesolv.ekort.net/