Finnish indie act Cats on Fire will be releasing the new odds'n'ends collection "Dealing in antiques" on may 12 via , compiling together much of the band's old EP and single material along with two new tracks including recent download-only single "The Hague" and a cover of "Your woman" by White Town.
Benni Hemm HemmProving that less is often more -- both in production and length -- Benni Hemm Hemm's "Retaliate" EP is a brilliantly hushed gem. Trademark horns diminished to a mere whisper, Benedikt H. Hermannsson (the brains behind the ostensibly solo project) gently guides his listener though an affecting five-song cycle of softly strummed guitars, plunked pianos, and ghostly harmonies.
Despite its pervasive lo-fi ambience, "Retaliate"'s minimalism never translates to boring. From the delicate rise and fall "Church loft" to the title track's slow-build instrumentals, Hermannsson crafts the sort of bedroom-Nick Drake compositions that could easily be lost in a slicker set-up. Left unadorned, his image-heavy prose glistens. No Sufjan Stevens-style narrator (even if his style often bares a passing resemblance), the listener is left to comprise his own story, awash in religious iconography, travels taken, days reborn and blood letting. Hermannsson may have settled into a period of personal quiet contemplation, but it's clear his restless creative spirit never will.
- Laura Studarus
Hellsongs are heading to the Baltics in June:
06/10 - Nabaklab, Riga (LAT)
06/11 - Svyturio menu dokas, Kiwi Club, Klaipeda (LIT)
06/12 - Fontaine Palace, Liepaja (LAT)
Watch moto Boy perform a couple songs in a Helsinki parking garage: meo.com/10287852" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/10287852
I tend to prefer the live versions of his songs, so this is definitely worth checking out as far as I'm concerned.
Swedish doom act Pyramido are streaming a new track at myspace: myspace.com/pyramidodoom" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/pyramidodoom
Said track will appear on an upcoming split 12" with the band Suma to be released via .
Swedish indiepop act Hari & Aino have a new EP that they're selling as a cheap download (it can also be streamed in its entirety): mp.com/album/all-that-remains" target="_blank">https://hariandaino.bandcamp.com/album/all-that-remains
Check out a video for the title track "All that remains": m/watch?v=6IPW1wg8UqQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IPW1wg8UqQ
Dusted reviews the new Love Is All record "Two thousand and ten injuries": magazine.com/reviews/5614" target="_blank">https://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5614
"A room/A box/A cell/A solipsism. A small preview of the full piece."
A claustrophobic nightmare of sound and vision. Direct link: m/watch?v=05XVrABgimE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05XVrABgimE
Swedish electronic artist Otur is streaming a new demo track at myspace: myspace.com/otur" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/otur
Popmatters reviews Norwegian mOR act Bigbang and their new record "Edendale": matters.com/pm/review/121969-bigbang-edendale/" target="_blank">https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/121969-bigbang-edendale/
The new Brothers of End single "Beats for you" is out now and the band has posted streaming previews for the two b-side remixes, by Rasmus Hägg (Studio) and Johan Sigerud: https://www.brothersofend.se/2010/03/new-singel-out-now/
The full version of Robyn's new track "Fembot" is now up on Soundcloud: m/robyn/fembot" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/robyn/fembot
Swedish rockers The Accidents have a new 3-song 7" coming out soon via German label .
Watch El Perro Del mar cover Big Star live in NYC: media.com/vlm/videos/el-perro-del-mar" target="_blank">https://vanloumedia.com/vlm/videos/el-perro-del-mar
says that they are working on a new boxset compilation (#2) to include No Balls, The Dements plust two other as-yet-unnamed acts: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=412756052&blogId=531273896" target="_blank">https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=412756052&blogId=531273896
The first box came out last year and included four 7"s from the likes of Brainbombs, Poppets, Black Bug and The Homostupids and sold out almost immediately.