Musique Machine reviews Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words' excellent "Lost in reflections" album: https://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=2378
I'm not sure why IAT! is getting label credit, but I do still have copies for sale.
AnnieWith this, her much delayed and publicized second record, the hyped indie-pop queen has had four years to work on her sound. Working with her base of producers Xenomania and Richard X, Annie has become more confident on this record and it shows in theory, but not in practice. Tracks such as "My love is better" and "I don't like your band" focus on the more vapid details of pop culture, but instead of being a snide critique, it comes off as hubristic elitism. Conversely, on "When the night" and "Heaven and hell", it all works as best as it possibly could, as Annie's lethargic vocal takes almost exist symbiotically. If anything, working with her is a producer's dream, because the lack of carry in her trademark half-whispered vocals will always be overshadowed by the music. Sadly, this will always stop her from reaching the pop echelon to which the music press compares her. My only advice is: Godammit woman sing from deep down, don't be afraid to get loud! I know you have it in you -- we all do.
- Matt Giordano
The Line of Best Fit interviews Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit: https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2009/11/tlobf-interview-first-aid-kit/
Lowcut has good things to say about the new Marvins Revolt album "Patrolling the heights": https://www.lowcut.dk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=945:marvins-revolt--patrolling-the-heights&catid=29:album-reviews&Itemid=54
Scraps of TapeThis band continues to evolve with every album and this, their third overall, finds them trying to incorporate more standard pop conventions into their particular brand of heavy postrock. There's still plenty of focus on long, interwoven guitar parts and complex arrangements, but there's also a lot more vocals than ever before and a renewed attempt at redefining and refining their sound. Bits of Fireside-esque post-hardcore gets intermingled with other, more contemporary post-indie/rock/whatever and the end result turns out to be a bit more schizophrenic and far less consistent than previous album "This is a copy is this a copy". However, at the same time, it's far more interesting to hear a band grow with each new release and that's certainly what SoT are doing and the tracks that do work well are easily their best material yet. For each misstep, such as two unnecessary and out of place cover tunes (A novelty slowcore version of Minor Threat's "Filler" plus "Eric" by the terminally underappreciated Carpet People), there is a stride forward. An inspired idea on paper, sure, and undoubtedly fun for the band to play, though not so hot in execution. I foresee "Grand letdown" as a transitional work, a bridge for things to come. It's worth noting too, that many of their peers are going through similar musical soul-searching (Aerial, Immanu El, etc.), all struggling to break free of expected genre trappings and all ending up in a slightly different place. So far, so good... let's see what happens next.
- Avi Roig
Free Jazz favorably reviews the Alberto Pinton, Jonas Kullhammar, Torbjörn Zetterberg and Kjell Nordeson live collaboration "Chant": https://freejazz-stef.blogspot.com/2009/10/pinton-kullhammar-zetterberg-nordeson.html
Danish hype Giana Factory in the Pitchfork track reviews: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11590-bloody-game/
Pitchfork has the new Annie song "Songs remind me of you" in their track review section: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11588-songs-remind-me-of-you/
Axe, EL-SD & KarpisThere's a nice noise-hardcore-scene vibe going around Stockholm with some amazing bands gigging in basements and bars and such, under the radar of -- or underestimated by -- the established clubs; these bands are getting their gigs by themselves and getting together a group of friends in a hole in the ground serving beer. Anyone paying attention will recognize that most members tonite are the usual suspects and this one featured, among others, members of Traktor, Emerson Fittipaldi, Seven Feet Four and Bruce Banner, on stage and in the audience.
Axe kicked off the night with some ferocious hardcore-noise-punk in the vein of Brick and that old hardcore band from Sigtuna that I can't remember the name of right now. They were really cool. They've got hooks! Check out their myspace and you'll see what I mean (the song "Firmafest" is an amazing stand-out!). They also are not afraid to go mid-tempo for some noise-intensity. The live-experience was great, yet lacking some volume and conviction, but hopefully they'll iron this out. If they do, this band will be a force to be reckoned with.
EL-SD were a bit more heady, recalling early Unwound, Sonic Youth, even early Quagmire (!) as well as sporting "Yank crime"-era Drive Like Jehu song lengths. I was blissing out ofc, with the amazing gzzz-ing and no-wave picking guitars of David Fried right in front of me and bumping into Frippe going crazy wielding the bass. Good shit, this.
Karpis went metal on me, taking noise-rock down drop-tuning with growling even. They were bringing it, but I was kind of done unfortunately, trying to flirt, drink beer and stuff instead. I'll catch more of your set next time guys, promise!
So, fellow travelers, when in Stockholm, I humbly suggest you forgo established venues, constantly applying the one-size-fits-all-indie-dancefloor after every damn concert, for the basement jovial hardcore-scene-experience. Get your promille up and cheer for your new-found favourite underground band! You can even pogo a bit if u'd like.
- Mathias Rask-Andersen
Under the Radar reviews Danish act Choir of Young Believers live in LA: https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/choir_of_young_believers_at_the_spaceland_los_angeles_ca_october_21st_2009/
BBC Music reviews the new Annie album "Don't stop": https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/p84z
The Amazing's "Dragon" gets a 7 in Pitchfork's track review: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11570-dragon/
The blog Free Jazz reviews the new Mats Gustafsson solo record "The Vilnius implosion" which is apparently, not as difficult as many would expect: https://freejazz-stef.blogspot.com/2009/10/mats-gustafsson-nobusiness-2009.html
Pitchfork reviews the new Kings of Convenience record "Declaration of dependence": https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13553-declaration-of-dependence/
Wildbirds & Peacedrums do the Listed thing for Dusted: https://dustedmagazine.com/features/851
Also posted, a review of the new Kings of Convenience record "Declaration of dependence": https://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5317