Tag: Mp3s
Someone told me that Obscure is a supergroup of sorts featuring members from various fine Norwegian metal acts, but I'm not going to bother substantiating that because it really doesn't matter. I just know that I like it when they ditch their usual Pentagram/Candlemass-inspired doom metal plod to kick out some NWOBHM-style jams. "Conversensation" treads the middle ground more than I'd prefer, but the vocalist has got his Diano-isms down pat and those slower riffs are "Mob rules" enough to make me happy. Besides, it's Good Friday, a perfect day for metal. Don't forget to pour a bit of ale out on the curb for your dead homie Jesus.
Obscure - Conversensation
If I didn't tell you that Tobias Hellkvist was involved with Pixie Carnation, you'd never know from listening. This band sounds nothing at all like his solo material, though you may start to find parallel threads if you look hard enough. For instance, that soaring e-bow/delay guitar in the background? I'd bet money it's all Tobias. Anyhow, I'm not posting this song because Tobias is involved, I'm posting it because it's a damn good song, one of my current favorites. Our personal connection is merely the method of informational transference, I wouldn't bother talking it up if it didn't deserve it. It's a great opener to their new 5-song "Fresh Poems EP", from the haphazard tuning drone that run into the rhythm guitar jangle and kick/snare lead-off, to the way the strings and feedback eventually coalesce to create a heavy air of anticipation. When the band crashes in with those falsetto backing vocals, I'm won over completely. The future is wide open for these guys -- so very recommended.
Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out
This isn't the best song Shoot the Breeze has written, but it's definitely the best sounding. I've always felt like weak recordings were the one thing holding them back, so it's great to finally hear them sounding as powerful as I imagine they would/could. Producer/guitar hero Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT) did a great job helping them realize their potential; it's just a shame that "Feel as a victim" leans closer towards Nickelback-style overly-sensitive post-grunge arena-rock mediocrity than the classic hardrock they're so good at. I know they've always had those impulses though, so I'm not totally surprised. They've still got a strong sense of melody and the solo section is fantastic. Definitely a kind of 80s-throwback shredder thing, but kept short and sweet and it really does fit the song near-perfectly. I still get bummed by the excessive half-time parts though, that won't ever change, but I love hearing this band continually progress over the years. Looking forward to what comes next!
Shoot the Breeze - Feel as a victim
Remember Bad Hands? Per Nordmark's new solo project? Y'know, the drummer from Fireside whose played with all sorts of Swedish elite such as Christian Kjellvander, Britta Persson and so on? Well, I've just been handed their eponymous single and I'm happy to be able to share it with you. Apparently a 10-track album with 10 different guest vocalists is on the way via NONS later this year and this particular track (which you might have already heard via myspace) features Nina Kinert on lead. Sound-wise, it's kind of what I'd expect from a Stockholm-based drummer-led project. Very krauty with a bit of artsy electro, not too dissimilar from Existensminimum (drummer/engineer Magnus Henriksson's solo project). Not very flashy either -- drummers understand it's the supporting players who make the difference, so they often remain in service of the song even when they take the helm. Of course, the beat still takes precedence, even if it's subtle. As a drummer myself, I'm really looking forward to hearing what else he'll come up with.
Bad Hands - Bad hands (feat. Nina Kinert)
I fully did not expect Hjertestop to make it to the Pacific NW on their current US jaunt, but when 5pm rolled out yesterday evening I got a last-minute show announcement on my local email list so of course I went. How could I not? It was within easy walking distance and the weather was downright summery yesterday. They're still one of my least favorite bands doing that "diagonal punk" thing right now (it's a design thing more than just a sound; Hjertestop has the latter more than the former), but that's not saying much because they're still 100% solid and they proved it last night by delivering an equally solid set. As expected, it was no-frills hardcore punk performed with machine-like efficiency in that way that only the Scandinavians seem to master. My favorite: "Illegalt signal". Every break, every triplet: total precision. Even though it had me out until 1am on a Monday, I regret nothing.
Hjertestop - Illegalt signal
More and more bands are beginning to understand the value of giving away their music for free, but honestly, how much of it is actually worth downloading? Chances are you haven't noticed, but I've really tried to pare down on the amount of crap I post so it's more quality, not quantity. Even still, I can barely keep up with it all so I know the majority of readers are likewise behind the curve. Swedish indie act Penny Century posted a free EP last month, but it took me weeks to give it a thorough listen despite Mattias Alkberg illustrious name being attached to the credits. What's wrong with me, right? Like I said: too much music, too much crap, diminished expectations. Good thing that these guys are damn good because they jumped right out at me when I threw 'em into a shuffle playlist of new tunes not too long ago. It was one of those "I must know who this is!" moments when you hear something for the first time and immediately understand it's greatness. Penny Century are like that, a solid, instantly-gratifying indiepop act. Obviously reminiscent of early Bear Quartet, but also with their own identity and personality. Good songs, good feelings. Mattias' appearance is merely sugar on top of the frosting, by no means the main attraction. Check out the title track below and then go here to download the rest.
Penny Century - Valencia
I've been sidelined by the flu all week long, so I'm closing out this week of mp3 posts with something that doesn't require much thinking. It might get your imagination going though; I know it does for me in my doped-up fever-dream state (don't worry, I feel much better today, thanks). As I mentioned in my review of Øresund Space Collective's "The black tomato", my first impression of the group, the general MO of the band is practically self-explanatory: get a bunch of guys in the room, hit record and start jamming. I'm sure it doesn't always come out 100% awesome, but that's fine because they cull all the best material for their official releases so any and all missteps are left behind the scenes. On their new collection "Good planets are hard to find", they kick things off with an Eastern-themed jam that simmers and broods over the course of 10-minutes. It never quite peaks in an entirely satisfactory manner, but I dig it just the same - like I said, it fits my current mood and condition perfectly. No thinking, just relaxation.
Øresund Space Collective - Good planets are hard to find
It took me way too long, but I finally finished Daniel Ekeroth's masterful book not too long ago, the self-explanatory "Swedish Death Metal". Entertaining, informative and inspirational -- it's amazing that a handful of Swedish teenagers managed to create their own internationally-recognized genre. It was a unique time, to be sure -- the underground scene still lives on today, but it will never be like it was back in the days of fanzines and tape trading. I was a few years late to the party myself, so I missed out on the first wave, but I definitely dug deep starting around 1994/95 when the whole Gothenburg melodic metal thing started (before it turned to shit). Swedish Death Metal is, after all, the early impetus for this site's creation and my appreciation of Scandinavian music in general, and now, with this book as my guide, I get to dig even deeper, tracking down old demos and connecting the dots for all the great bands I missed. Of course, there's no better starting point than Entombed and this track from 2007's "Serpent saints" offers a lyrical primer for further research. Know your history! Hail!
Entombed - Masters of death
Videos games are no longer the niche domain of freaks and geeks, but I think it's safe to say that video game music still is. Sure, groups like Desert Planet have their crossover appeal, but you know that when fans are showing up wearing their Power Gloves, you're dealing with a limited audience. It's a shame too because there's actually a lot of good acts taking bitpop-inspired music in new directions, such as Norway's Next Life. They've got a lot of glitchy thrash that makes Single Unit so great 'cept not quite so ADD-addled. Songs play out as long as they need to, even if they max out at 2:40 at their most loquacious. "Sol blade" is median territory; a mere 1:19, but chock full of ideas and plenty epic. The tails-end lead-in to the next track ("Antartic blade", should you be wondering) is a total cliffhanger too. I don't fit the target audience of someone who can jam to this stuff daily, but it's way fun and always brings a smile to my face when I do put it on.
Next Life - Sol blade
Spring of hate? All I know is that it snowed here on Saturday and that is so not okay this close to April, certainly at this longitude. I don't think anymore, much less The Setting Son, can adequately express my displeasure at the failure of the seasons to turn. Still, it's a catchy little number and I can appreciate the fact that they mine the more ominous side of 60s psychrock revivalism. Hard to back that squeaky voice though, that's a tough one.
The Setting Son - Spring of hate
Here's something I picked up on a blind recommendation from a friend: Parasite was a short-lived Swedish metal band who only managed to release one self-titled EP back in 1984. The sound is ballsy NWOBHM, not too unlike Angel Witch but without the high-pitched vocals. The drummer Johan Billerhag went on to play with thrash also-rans Hexenhaus and Memento Mori, but beyond that, they don't seem to have left much of a dent. So yeah, by no means a lost classic, but the price was right and it's got plenty of oomph as you'll hear on the track I've posted today. Very melodic, lots of tasteful leads, good atmosphere -- more than enough reasons to dig in. Especially when it's got such bad-ass coverart too! Tech note: there's a bummer rip of this floating around with some channel dropping at the end, so I ripped this one myself. It red-lined a few times, but the overall quality is far better than the other one I copped. You're welcome!
Parasite - Nightwinds
I seem to remember Taake being reviled back in the day for using too many keyboards, but that's definitely not the case on his latest album as this is pure, cold Norwegian black-metal. Pure, as in purely by-the-book though; regardless of however long he's been making music (or stirring up controversy), nothing can hide the fact that this record (the third in a trilogy) is boring. Or maybe I'm just over this style of cold black metal. I like the various NWOBHM-touches on the riffs and some bits of the doomy breakdown, but it never really goes anywhere. It just keeps going and going and going and going... until it finally peters out. Why bother?
Taake - Umenneske
Here's one that's been on my to-do list for awhile now, mostly due to the fact that I've had trouble wrapping my head around its abstract expansiveness. Had I actually read the bio text and known that Skogar (aka Johannes Brander) was yet another bedroom artist playing around with a guitar, an arsenal of effect pedals and a 4-track, I probably would've filed this in the "ignore" pile (or the circular file, as it were), but I did not and I am glad for it. As "easy" as it is to make that sort of music, it rarely comes out so well; there is far more to this brand of artistry than a stack of gearboxes. It's even better that I sometimes have trouble recognizing sound sources, though this particular track is very obviously guitar-based. I could actually do without the lead noodlings buried in the mix; it's the backing loops of chirping noise and loping bassnotes that are the most interesting part, along with the subtle shifts in harmony that keep it going. However, the piece really works best in context of the whole -- another reason for my delay in coverage. There are many fine, fleeting moments, but none of them reveal the quality of the complete work. I'm glad I took a chance on this.
A sidenote in the always-interesting "small world" subcategory: Skogar's label Native Parts Records is putting out a split CDr with Malmö act Utom Alla and local-to-me band Flora vs. Fauna. Weirdness.
Skogar - Secret hymns
File this one under: so bad, it's good. Or rather, pure absurdity. Remember Ukraine's ridiculous Eurovision entry from 2007? Here, let me refresh your memory. Gocart System's debut single "Always been the same" is kind of like that -- totally inane and obnoxious, yet completely inescapable and unforgettable. Surf guitar over an oompa beat? Sure! Random gunshot samples? Why not? Hey, let's turn the chorus into chromatic polyrhythms! Sweet! Oh, and how about laying down a rap on one of the verses? Perfection! Total WTF accidental brilliance. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQsA5e7-CwU&fmt=18
Gocart System - Always been the same
Though I'm not one to shy away from trash talk, it's much more fun to talk about music I actually enjoy so let us revisit yet another 2008 favorite: Mikko Singh. As I said last time I posted an mp3 from Mikko, this is some of Sweden's best, most underappreciated music. There's plenty of instrumental acts out there, but most of em seem to be mining the same quiet/loud postrock-ish territory and that stuff is way beyond tired. The only acts doing it right are the ones wisely accommodating folk influence and that's exactly what Mikko excels at, especially considering his diverse cross-cultural background. "Laodi majra" is the opening track off his latest release "Uskotko että siellä on kukkia?" and it kicks off with a droning sitar/squeezebox duet before drifting into a beautiful ragga, overlaid by fingerpicked guitar and chimes. It's the sort of thing that could easily turn into new-age tedium, but Mikko never overindulges. One last sign at the end brings closure and that's all there is to it: pure bliss.
I didn't list this record as a top-10 favorite for 2008, but it remains in regular rotation months later. And considering how much my listening habits are affected by the seasons, you better believe it'll get many more spins as the days get warmer and longer.
Mikko Singh - Laodi majra