This week's m/group/itsatrap">It's A Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:
01. Shout Out Louds
02. Interpol
03. Justice
04. Feist
05. The White Stripes
06. Jens Lekman
07. The Arcade Fire
08. Death Cab for Cutie
09. Laakso
10. modest mouse
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Join us! Go here to learn more: m/help/" target=_blank>https://www.last.fm/help/
Badman Recordings has enlisted Curtis Vodka, Zzz and DiskJokke to do remixes for The Bell's (nee You is Stupid) debut single, due out in July. As for the band's debut full-length, that will be out in September.
John Roger Olsson from IAT.mP3 act The Grand Opening has a new project with his friend Linus Larsson and they just put a couple tracks up on myspace: myspace.com/linuslarssonandjohnrogerolsson" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/linuslarssonandjohnrogerolsson
Sounds great, as to be expected.
IAT faves Johndoe recorded a cover of "Når vi två blir en" by Per Gessle's old band Gyllene Tider with vocals provided by Norwegian comedian/blogger Rubenmann aka Harald Eia. I haven't heard it yet, but apparently Norway's biggest paper VG gave it the lowest score possible, so I'm sure it's amazing. It will officially be released on July 2.
The debut issue of Sounds Under the Surface webzine features extensive interviews with Norwegian acts manes and Tirill mohn and more: m/" target_blank>https://www.soundsurface.com/
Swedish indie act Loving Chokes will tour Germany in October as support for Dortmand-based band Pristine. Dates soon. Also, expect a Germany album release in early 2008. Listen to the band here: myspace.com/lovingchokes" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/lovingchokes
Pitchfork talks to José González about his angry new album and unveils a few new tourdates: media.com/page/news/43809-jose-gonzalez-talks-new-album-anger-the-knife" target=_blank>https://pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/43809-jose-gonzalez-talks-new-album-anger-the-knife
At a cursory glance, Death By Kite seems an awful lot like countrymates Figurines. A hyperactive, lock-step rhythm section; frenetic, jangly guitars; a squeaky, androgynous frontman. That is until the layers of delay start overlapping, turning the guitars into a shimmering beast and then you realize that, hey - those lyrics are quite a bit darker than anything you've heard from those other Danes. "Your love is a scar on my glass marble-eyes / It forces me to always keep you in sight / I cut myself quite severely / Blood and flesh filled the city I live in" and so on. And that's tame compared to some of the other suicidal musings on the record. Death By Kite puts noise catharsis to good use as therapy. Get it out, feel better.
Death By Kite - Himmelfahrtskommando
This is another one of those songs that makes me giggle like an idiot every time I hear it. Aside from the chorus refrain, there's very little about the lyrics that's distinguishable to my ears without the words laid out right there in front of me. Naturally, being The Bear Quartet and seeing as how the lyrics are from bassist Peter Nuottaniemi, there is poetry behind the gibber-gabber though I find the meaning to be inconsequential to the enjoyment of the song. And there's that ridiculous wanky-blues breakdown, too. Genius? Yes, absolutely. Unnecessary? Sure, but it throws you off just enough so that the final chorus can floor you. I was iffy on BQ's new, more electronic and obtuse direction with the unveiling of single "I have an itch" before the release of "Saturday night", but hearing this song sealed the deal. None can compare! All hail!
Extra-credit for the engineering geeks: check out the waveform for this track. It's ridiculous - nothing but boxes of sound, red-lining at 0db. When I was compiling all the tracks from "Reader's companion volume two" I was amazed at how unmusical it looked in comparison to everything else.
The Bear Quartet - Birds are singing deep within the greenery
For those unaware: IAT takes every Saturday to pay tribute to The Bear Quartet, Sweden's greatest indierock band. Want to contribute your own BQ post? m/contact.php">Get in touch.
The playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Kaizers Orchestra - Ompa til du dør
02. TALK 1
03. Logh - Thieves in the palace
04. Élodie - At the end of the line
05. Beem - Ducker
06. TALK 2
07. Hell On Wheels - Alexander
08. Isolation Years - Albino child
09. Honey Is Cool - Bolero
10. TALK 3
11. mob - Wait for me
12. Skywriter - For heaven's sake
13. menfolk - Zero is also a number
14. TALK 4
15. Plain Fade - Datura
16. Division of Laura Lee - Dirty love
17. Det Gamla Landet - Det heliga landet
18. TALK 5
19. Elope - Black eyed citizen
20. Fontän - You, me & a tree
21. Gehenna - Touched and left for dead
22. TALK 6
23. mustasch - I hunt alone
24. Cobolt - The Atlantic Ocean takes her back
25. Blinders On - Blinders are on
26. madrugada - Higher
27. TALK 7
28. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - I could have sworn I heard them SING
29. Notre Dame - Into the coven
30. TALK 8
31. The motorhomes - The man
Hey look! New in the webstore: Tsukimono's new album m/store/product.php?productid=492">"Time canvas" plus the new mixtapes & Cellmates EP collection m/store/product.php?productid=493">"A retrospective". Awesome!
Johan from Suburban Kids with Biblical Names has posted a detailed update on the group's current activities: mes.com/" target=_blank>https://www.suburbankidswithbiblicalnames.com/
Friendly Noise has signed The Dreamers, an Anglo/Swedish duo featuring Kevin Wright (ex-Always, mr Wright) and Sarah Nyberg Pergament (Action Biker). The group is recording with Toby Robinson and will be releasing an album in October. Listen to samples: myspace.com/thedreamersspace" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/thedreamersspace