Tag: Mp3s
Of all the original Norwegian black-metal acts, Enslaved has always been one of the best, most progressive bands. While others like Darkthrone refuse to change and bands like Emperor reverted back to exploring their tech/death-metal roots before breaking up, Enslaved consistently expanded on their so-called "viking metal" sound by incorporating even more grandiose melodies, clean expressive singing (and the use of English as opposed to their insistence of only speaking in old Norse) and weird psychedelic parts. I wasn't too stoked on the last two albums "Isa" and "Below the lights" since I considered them a bit of a regression following the brilliance of "Monumension" and "Mardraum", but the new record "Ruun" is a return to form. They've ditched the recycled Darkthrone grim/necro/kvlt-style riffage and gone back to what makes them great: more Voivod-esque syncopation and dissonance, less atonal droning. I had a hard time deciding on a standout track since the whole thing flows really well as an album, so I've posted the title track for you today. It has all the traits that make Enslaved great, so I think it's a good place to start.
Enslaved - Ruun
I'm letting IAT contributor Nancy Baym take over for this week's Friday mp3 post:
Clocking in at just under three minutes, here's a heavenly slice of hooks and harmony based pure pop perfection from Malmö's criminally overlooked Thirdimension (one of the bands featured on IAT's first sampler). "Hundred miles an hour" was the b-side of their super-catchy 1998 first single "This time" and, along with four other excellent numbers, can be downloaded from their website [ed: and in the playlist on the right, of course]. Few songwriters can compete with Björn Stegmann's knack for hooks, and across the board their musicianship is stellar. This song, recorded almost entirely in a single take, features more hooks than ought to be legal, delicious harmonies, booming bass, perfect drum riffs, and catchy as all get out guitar, complete with trademark Swedish hand claps. Who could ask for more?
Thirdimension - Hundred miles an hour
When I first heard Holy Madre my initial reaction was fairly similar to what Nancy says in her review. Easy-listening 70s rock? Sounds awful, right? But I decided I should give them another chance just in case. While I'm still not crazy about every single song, the warm spring weather has definitely changed my outlook for the better. Holy Madre is the perfect soundtrack for a sunny afternoon drive with the windows down or for the boombox out in the backyard while you barbeque. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Check out the opening number "Shallow bay" which I've posted today and see if it doesn't brighten your day. [BUY IT]
Holy Madre - Shallow bay
I don't talk a lot about jazz here and that's not right. It's a bit out of my standard comfort zone, but that's hardly an excuse. Good music transcends boundries of genre. I've actually been listening to quite a bit more jazz since my wife put a moratorium on heavy/screamy music in our home office. Go figure! The selections have been mostly the classics: Coltrane, Bird, Mingus, etc., but I do like to branch out into more modern stuff like John Zorn's Masada and the Swedish act Esbjörn Svensson Trio (EST). I'd listen to more, but honestly, I really have no idea where to start. Thank goodness bassist/bandleader Oskar Schönning got in touch. His new album "Happy jazz, please" (see the title track posted today) hits all the right notes, both figuratively and literally. The compositions and arrangements are firmly grounded in tradition, but Schönning's ensemble adds enough of their own pizazz that it's most definitely not a retread. I especially enjoy the liberal use of clarinet - it adds just the right amount of klezmer/Don Byron flair to the tracks. It also keeps things sounding fresh since I feel it's an underused/underappreciated instrument in the genre. Schönning's new album comes out today and he'll be playing a record release show tomorrow at the restaurant Landet, just outside of Stockholm. And don't forget to check out his contribution to the recently released "Fellow birds" 7" on Jezebel Recordings.
Oskar Schönning - Happy jazz, please
"Nixon" is Tiger Lou's latest single. It's also the song I have featured on "Reader's companion volume two". I've made it available as a free download today. I know it should be obvious, but I'll just come out and say it: I love Tiger Lou. I get all misty just thinking about them and the good times we've shared. So much so, that I'm putting my money where my mouth is and will be releasing a Tiger Lou 7" very soon. The a-side will be "Until I'm there" which TL mainman Rasmus Kellerman tells me is his favorite songs from his latest album "The loyal". Good stuff, I assure you. More details soon.
Tiger Lou - Nixon
I'm a big fan of comps with a strong premise or theme. Even when the music doesn't work (ahem, see "Jävla kritiker!" for one), they are still worth hearing or owning just because. Even the weakest tribute comps have their redeeming moments. Dig Your Own Grave's "This is love" comp isn't a typical tribute in which the contributors all honor a single artist. It's simpler than that - they are all joined together to offer homage to a single song, Haddaway's Europop monster-hit "What is love". For some of you, that's all you need to sell you on the record, but if you're like me you're still very tentative. I'm thinking this can't be good, right? There's no way I'm gonna make it through all twelve tracks. But you know what? Not only did I make it through, but I found myself listening for a second time immediately. The strength of the original lies in its simplicity: an easy chord progression, not too many words, a huge anthemic chorus. It's a perfect choice for reworking since it adapts easily to many styles. Most of the acts here are of the bedroom lofi/indietronica variety and while a few start to lose their luster on subsequent listens, there are many standouts. My Enemy's blissed out take on the song is one. They slow it down and stretch it out like a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's like the best Radio Dept. song they never wrote. Another highlight for me is Aktion Atopos's pounding Godflesh-style version. The beats are heavy and distorted and the vocals are pitched-down and monstrous. I couldn't decide on just one to post today, so you get both. Happy May Day or something like that. Go get My Enemy from the regular playlist, AA down below.
Download: Aktion Atopos - What is love
My Enemy - What is love
Many people consider them to be Sweden's most overrated band, but Refused's influence is undeniable. I personally go back and forth on my feelings with regards to their legacy, but I cannot deny that "The shape of punk to come" blew me away when it first came out. I have yet to see the "Refused are fucking dead" DVD, but I'm still quite curious even though almost all of what I've heard about it has been less than positive. As an aside, the title is a reference to a song by Born Against, possibly the greatest hardcore act of the 90s. Or at least one of the most important. I'm not sure about all the backstory, but it involves beef with the dudes from Sick of it All and I'd imagine there's a good summation of events somewhere out there. Anyhow, for today's Friday mp3 post I've dug up an old version of Refused's "New noise from the "Straight edge as fuck III" compilation released back in 1997 by xDesperate Fightx, the label that defined the zeitgeist of the legendary hardcore scene in Umeå in the 90s. Enjoy!
Refused - New noise (comp version)
I loved Munck//Johnson the very first moment I heard them. Their haunting, stripped-down sound proves the maxim that less is more. Just like Carpet People, one of my other most favorite downer-acts, I find that musical simplicity works best to convey raw emotion. And also like with Carpet People, Munck//Johnson was an easy choice for inclusion in the "Reader's companion" series. I don't have copies of their latest work "Count your blessings" in stock quite yet, but they are on the way and should be here any day now. In the meantime you can download their latest single "The streets" from the mp3 playlist today, buy "Reader's companion volume two" for the track "Slavesong" (and all the other good stuff contained therein), buy buy their split 7" with fellow Danes Pluto or purchase mp3s of their first album "Unlike you" (CDs coming soon as well). All of which are highly recommended, of course.
Munck//Johnson - The streets
For many folks, Audrey's new album "Visible forms" is one of 2006's most anticipated releases. The post-rock act's debut EP impressed a lot of people, myself included. I still haven't heard the whole thing (copies for the mailorder are on the way and should be here next week), but what I have heard is just as brilliant as I'd hoped for. Brooding, dark and beautiful; these are the key-words. Their skill-level has improved considerably too, as the string arrangements are much more involved and more compelling. I think they're working better as an ensemble as well, proof positive that touring can make a band. So check out this first little taste of the record that their label Tenderversion was kind enough to pass on and get excited for the album's release on May 9.
Audrey - Mecklenburg
The mainstreaming of emo/hardcore took me by surprise. I remember laughing at the kids with the backpacks and too-tight sweaters quivering to bands like Evergreen and Mohinder back in the day. It's not that I have anything against the music - I actually still listen to a lot of 90s hardcore - I just can't understand how it became cool. I guess I'm already on my way to becoming an old fogey. Kids these days, y'know? Regardless of all that, Norway seems to leading the way when it comes to keeping the scene alive. Mainstays like JR Ewing and Kaospilot have been at it for awhile, but up-and-comers like Rumble in Rhodos are stealing the show (and awards like "Favourite new international artist" at Canadian Music Week earlier this year, beating out Finnish also-rans Disco Ensemble). I'm posting this particular track today because it reminds me of Texas is the Reason, one of the trailblazers of the melodic emo/post-hardcore genre or whatever you want to call it. Good stuff - bring on the octave chords!
Rumble in Rhodos - Step into the night
Kristofer Åström's forthcoming "Black valley" EP completes the trilogy of "Dead end" and "There for" and is probably his bleakest, most personal work yet. As Kris says himself in the liner notes, "The EP deals with death in four different ways. The way it scares me, thrills me, saddens me and sickens me." You know before even listening that you're in for some seriously intense shit and the combined effect of these four songs are devastating. Just listen to the song I've posted today and you'll instantly know exactly what I mean. Embrace the darkness and you can better appreciate the light.
Kristofer Åström - Finally home
It's Friday once again so that means it's time for a classic mp3 post and today I'm passing over the reins to frequent contributor Simon Tagestam:
Bad Cash Quartet have written quite a few great songs which makes it difficult to cherry pick one track. Their self-titled first album is their weakest and most punk one, but there are still some blistering songs on it, such as "Dragqueen" and "Amuse you". Almsot every song on their second album "Outcast" is a winner, especially the title track which became the anthem for most of Sweden's indie kids when it was released in 2001 (oddly enough, it was first released as a b-side). But the one song that I've been listening to lately is neither that anthemic (probably more anemic), nor does it reek of the cockiness that has become BCQ's trademark, although it does contain other essential BCQ themes - alienation and loneliness. The song is called "Valentine" and it's three minutes long and something of a love song. The song can be found on "Midnight prayer", BCQ's third and most recent album.
Anyone know if these guys are still around? It's been awhile since we've heard from 'em. I was mightily disappointed in "Midnight prayer", but there's no denying that "Outcast" is a genuine stone-cold classic so there's still hope that a new record could be good. UPDATE: Since posting this, I've received word that BCQ drummer Jonas was spotted in Austin (at SXSW I presume) and is currently living in NYC. The band is most definitely on hiatus.
Bad Cash Quartet - Valentine
I figured that since I've decided to post new mp3s five times a week now that it would be a good idea to incorporate more thematic days into my posting schedule. Friday's have been dedicated to older/classic material for awhile already and now I'm making Thursdays my day to talk about stuff in the webstore that might not necessarily be brand new, but is still well-worth hyping. I know, it's quite self-serving of me, but consider this: I only carry music from bands and labels I like and am happy to endorse. If I was doing this for money I would've quit years ago. Anyhow, I never really said much about the latest Christian Kjellvander album "Faya" when it was brand new and I don't have a good excuse as to why. It's a bit of a slow-burner, so I suppose that makes it easy to pass over, but upon further listening I've discovered that it's much stronger than I originally thought. Christian's debut "Songs from a two-room chapel" had a much more overt intensity, but this one is quieter, more relaxed and more subtle. Fans of Nordic Americana should still find a lot to like, I assure you. So here's his latest single "Drag the dirt in" and if you dig it, you can buy it here.
Christian Kjellvander - Drag the dirt in
All-star bands are rarely, if ever, any good. There are a few notable exceptions, but what looks good on paper rarely adds up to quality in real-life. Khoma is one such exception. Who would've thought that combining members from such dissimilar acts as Cult of Luna and The Perishers would work so well? Oh, but it does; in fact it sometimes eclipses the other acts altogether. I was excited about Khoma as soon as their first album "Tsunami" was released, way back in 2004 before they added the H to the name. With so many lackluster mid-tempo heavy acts polluting the airwaves I wanted to shout Khoma's name from the mountaintops to let everyone know how good they are. The band's new album "The second wave" is even better than the debut. I had some trepidations about they rerecording some of the songs from the first, but I reluctantly agree that it makes sense now that they have a much bigger potential audience through Roadrunner and heck, they sound great. Why complain? Kudos to Magnus Lindberg at Tonteknik - the drums recording is killer. I'm sure some it is Thomas Hedlund's constantly improved playing and maybe his kit, but whatever it is, the tones they got on tape are stunning. For today's mp3 I've decided to revisit the track "One of us must hang" which I used to close out the first "Reader's companion" disc. The new version is a tad faster, but it's just as powerful. Check it out.
Khoma - One of us must hang
Did I mention that I'll be posting new music five days a week from here on out? I know that's been the case for the last few weeks, but I'm making it official. It's hard to believe there's so much quality stuff coming out that my posting schedule is booked weeks in advance. I try to be fickle, but there's no arguing with quality.
Today's track comes to us from Skywriter, a dark and brooding rock act from Denmark. Reverbed-soaked guitars and lots of hanging chords, a frontman with a deep-voiced croon, nice sparse arrangements - imagine Madrugada, but more solemn, more sullen. "Dead end street", the song I've posted today, is the centerpiece of the band's debut album "Where both worlds never meet". It smolders with a quiet intensity that builds slowly as it weaves its melodramatic tale of a man's doomed love with a prostitute: "All she ever gave him was a name / every other part of her he paid for / and all he ever wanted was his dream / her worn-out pride, her child inside / who can say love doesn't cost a thing?" Sublime.
Skywriter - Dead end street