Search: m
Your search returned 39417 results. Viewing results 26656-26670
I'm not sure what my problem is, but I've only just recently started to really dig into the morningside Records catalogue. I've known about the label for awhile now, but never bothered getting a hold of any of their releases until Figurines started to get international attention. Lame, I know. However, I'm not going to talk about Figurines today (I'll wait until after I see them in Seattle next week). The morningside artist that has impressed me the most so far is Jomi massage, so that's who I'm posting an mp3 from today. The most obvious point of reference for Jm is "Dry"-era PJ Harvey. You know the sound: caterwauling vocals and noisy, lurching rock interspersed with quieter, more tender moments. But Jm trumps PJ by incorporating a much diverse and layered melodic sensibility. I like older PJ stuff a lot, but there's something more interesting going on here that's also, most importantly, much more consistent. This particular track that I've posted today starts off with a droning melody and then explodes into a fireball of white noise which keeps burning furiously until a sudden stop at the end. It's a total cliffhanger of a song, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Jomi Massage - Journal June II
Things have been looking up in a big way for this sincere and prolific Swedish band, especially with the generally warm reception given the US release of "Failures and sparks" last year. Now comes this modest little EP, which features the intense track "First blood" from the "Cold war classic" CD and three new tracks. "I've had it up to here/It won't last another year/I've had a good time/But the good times made me blind" is a pretty impactful lyric from that first song, especially with the close-mic'd vocals this group always deliver. Of the newer tunes, "Tonight I don't sleep" is a low-key charmer that features melodic, processed whistling and minimal guitar accompaniment. I like the gentle delivery this group is known for, even though you wish they'd kick it up a notch sometimes.. "Cold war classic" is more uptempo, but the percussion is barely audible; what you get is mostly vocal harmonies and some interesting metaphorical lyrics. And "Changing of the guards" is a very sparse, but compelling cover of an old Dylan tune, which offers nice muted keyboards, strong lead vocals and the added interest of having the Chrysler's distinguished brand of Swedish melancholy applied to Dylan's narrative detail. There's a kind of demo quality to this EP, but that unique Chrysler sensitivity and vocal clarity shine through.
- Kevin Renick
Talk about a name with a built-in contradiction! marybell Katastrophy, best known from her regular gig with Denmark's Tiger Tunes (she's "marie"), has a first name that evokes sweetness, flowers and old-fashioned femininity, but add an unsettling last name like "Katastrophy" and you've got a major bit of conceptual duality going on. There's some of that in the music on this fascinating solo EP, too. Of the 4 songs, two ("Hey Frank" and "His desperate voice") are basically ballads, although that first song puts out a fierce burst of energy after alternating verses (mK evokes a bit of Sinead O'Connor in the timbre of her voice and a sense of fiery conviction battling with uncertain emotions). But on the other two songs, "Hidden agenda" and "Lost ship", marybell serves up generous slices of chugging, eclectic electronica that are mesmerizing. A loopy synth loop grabs you and won't let go on "Hidden," and mK matches it with a vigorous, appealing vocal that's drenched with character. "Lost ship" has to be the highlight, though. This tune is three and a half minutes of bleepin' electropop weirdness, with smooth male-female harmonies competing for attention with the eccentric arrangement. Halfway through there's one of the most startlingly original moments I've heard on a disc in months, with an "electronic critter" making strange high-pitched utterances while tart backing harmonies and another powerful main vocal take turns blowing your mind. It's truly riveting. I was sorry this EP ended; ms. Katastrophy definitely left me wanting more. How about a full-length, marybell? You've got the smarts--and the art--to make that a stellar proposition
- Kevin Renick
"Floating in cool I've got my own little rules" may have many laud the title as an art project - the band may use visuals onstage, parade early '90s sampedelica as their own - but overall this is as solid as any current mainstream big hitting issue today. Just as Kaiser Chiefs cover KLF, you know something is in the air so if it needed earthing La Tour could offer that metal-to-earth connection. There are smidgens of many fine artists like Future Sound Of London or even The Orb in places, but La Tour really peg things through some deep house roots and the eerie beats on tracks like "Diskotek" and "Hus". The soundscapes on "A space before night" are gurn worthy. You can own the nine track CD disc via the band's website, but would someone please press a batch of 12" vinyl EPs of this stuff and get it out in the clubs. It works on all fronts.
- Jason Christie
Here is something lacking in this world: any band that is able to bring the energy and intelligence of minor Threat. Something else: bands that like the DC hardcore sound enough to try to bring it somewhere else, like Fugazi did. Ian macKaye obsessed? Perhaps, but you have to admit that those two rocked pretty solidly. menfolk almost give both my wishes a reality. menfolk take the DC sound and add aggression, technicality and interesting syncopation in a move that reminds me of what Dillinger Escape Plan did to metalcore. It is not enough to drop me on my ass but it certainly rock enough for repeated listens.
- Simon Thibaudeau
An opening track strong enough to belt Tyson 'round the chops. "man overboard" is produced by Björn Yttling to provide that "Swedish sound" mixed with a lot of Tori Amos and Alanis morissette from the female duo. A folk hum, musical underlays, dubs and effects, plus mixed up quirky yet always emotive lyrics give the finese. Given the Cardigans unique early sound on "Emmerdale" and "Life!" albums, it is easy to see why montys Loco are slated to support them on the band's Scandinavian tour (ahead of Anna Ternheim we hear). There's a warble lyric thing going on in places and if singer Anja Bigrell let herself go a bit she would be out into Björk wilderness - at least, that is, via the production - mind, there are artists out there falling into the same strength, one to start with is Sara Culler. And why do these sort of record stop short of hitting full wackiness a la Imogen Heap? Leaves one thinking only: radio. All told this album is WOW!
- Jason Christie
Björn Olsson has musical wanderlust. So perfectly does he capture the ambiance (at least as presented by old Hollywood films) of the southwestern US on his latest album "The lobster", you figure he musta gone down there to check it out. Either that, or he's absorbed every nuance of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns (and the Ennio morricone scores that accompanied them) from the privacy of his living room. Every element of that southwest sound is there - the evocative acoustic guitar strumming, the clippity-clop percussion (you can almost see them horsies trotting down a canyon trail), and even some enchanting whistling on perhaps the finest track, "Lång låt i A-dur". The last track is nearly an hour long and reprises themes from the earlier tracks in a sleepier, more muffled form, a distinctively cinematic tactic. There's not a lot of variety on this disc, but the mood it evokes, it evokes quite strongly. And Olsson is a casually brilliant multi-instrumentalist, a guy who could head in several different directions of his choosing (including one scoring films) to peddle his sonic wares. "The lobster"is gonna be an acquired taste by design, but it's easily the best Swedish-made, crustacean-promoting, old American west-evoking platter I've ever heard.
- Kevin Renick
I think instrumental rock bands are flourishing right now as I have heard more of them in the past few months than I have in the past few years. Past the excesses of many post-rock bands, it seem that rocking out in a simpler manner is getting more popular. In the case of Samuel Jackson Five, they take familiar influences like Shellac and Don Caballero but infuse it with much more pop and indie sensibilities than any of the other instrumental bands I have heard lately. They sound almost like 70's prog-rock in many places. If there is one thing I don't particularly like is that the record is way overproduced.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Hey, look! New reviews posted today: m/index.php?article=168">[click here]
Swedish singer/songwriter Ed Greene will finally release his debut album on march 22 via I made This. Check out the video for the first single "When the sky is about to fall": mov" target=_blank>https://www.edgreene.net/video/edgreene.mov
A new month means a new "Acid test reel" from Kirlian Crossing: m/kirliancrossing/acid.htm" target=_blank>https://www.verdurarecords.com/kirliancrossing/acid.htm
The band's second album will be out in September on Verdura.
Norway's Loch Ness mouse will have their most recent album "11-22" released in Japan on march 20 through Rosemary Records. It will be out in the US on Danielson Famile label Sounds Familyre in the near future.
maryslim will be going into Abyss Studios with producer/engineer Peter Tägtgren beginning on may 5 to record their next album. Expect a fall release via Wild Kingdom.
Menfolk
Montys Loco
Björn Olsson