Sunday, December 09, 2007

The Invisible Fish & Birdy Bitz Alien

Realizing that I hadn't made a proper post here since spring I felt really bad... There are several reasons for this hiatus, the main one being I'm only at home a few days/week drastically decreasing the time I have to discover and download new music T_T Still, there are a couple of artists I plan on making posts on in not too long. Till then, I'd like to tell you about two Korean artists that have made some wonderful music under new aliases. (And the reason why they don't get "proper" posts is that they only have streaming wma files available for sampling right now)

First up: The Invisible Fish. The solo project of sorrow/ssoro (now slowzz) of Bluedawn fame. Bluedawn fans are sure to enjoy The Invisible Fish as well - it's as lovely as 보옴이 오면, though with male vocals instead. Cosy guitar play, mellow electronics and beautiful, somewhat careful, melodies that is. Do visit his homepage to stream the wonderful 순간.

Second: Birdy Bitz Alien. The space travel project of Jelly Boy (of everybody's favorite Korean indie label Pastel Music). Under this alias he makes songs with dreamy electronics and a sweet space travel feeling. Should be suitable even for the music listener that prefers to understand whatever lyrics there are. Go visit Birdy Bitz Alien's label, Ruby Salon, to sample the title track of his recently released digital single Tomorrow where fellow Pastel colleague jinyong (of donawhale) assists with vocals.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

나의머리카락뭉치 article

Remember blog favorite 나의머리카락뭉치? I made my first post on him here, saying I couldn't find any info on him. Thanks to icq4ever I was able to learn some more through a 나의머리카락뭉치 interview for London Korean Links - the resulting article was posted today: A meeting with My Hair Ball.

And in case you didn't notice already, 나의머리카락뭉치 has deleted his old millim account, transferring only those songs that "fit his new hairball personality" to hairball.millim.com

Monday, August 13, 2007

MOT article

Finally I'm back by my own computer in Linköping, but there'll be no updates the next couple of weeks anyway because of those pesky exams I need to take care of first...

If you haven't already read it, however, I suggest a visit to London Korean Links for the article I've written based on an e-mail interview with MOT! Fans of Radiohead and Portishead will probably find their music very interesting, as will any Nell fans out there ^^

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Hiatus and Random Updates

First of all, I'd like to apologize for the lack of updates the past month. I'd love to say it's because I've focused on my studies for the exams I've had to take recently, but unfortunately it's just life that has come in between both blogging and studying so I'm gonna have to deal with those exams again later on...

Second, just like last year I'll be going offline over the summer. That means this will probably be my last post till mid-August, so here's some random updates on some favorite artists I've posted on before.

Detektivbyrån should have released their new single, Lyckans undulat (~ the budgie of luck), yesterday. I have had the pleasure of seeing them live three times since I first wrote something on them and can now state that they are my favorite Swedish band. When I saw them a couple of months ago, I was told the single should be available from their site at release so let's hope that it'll show up soon. Also, let's hope that Om du möter varg too, my favorite out of their new tunes, will be available for purchase and/or download in not too long ^^

Greenwich Resident posted a demo track called Eastwards on their MySpace a few days ago and have obviously added another new track, A low Hum, since then too. In case you do not remember them, I first wrote about these guys here after loving them on Siamese Flowers.

Paper Route now offers most of their songs from last year's self titled EP (my very favorite release of 2006, all categories) as well as some songs from the A Thrill of Hope as full streamable samples on last.fm. The song that got me, City Trucks, is unfortunately not available, but if you didn't get it when I mentioned it a first time you can get it now as it seems it's still possible to download the PureVolume's Holiday Sampler.

나의머리카락뭉치 uploaded another demo to millim a week ago. If you liked what you heard last time you should get this as well.

Swimmin' Fish article

My second post on Korean music on this blog featured a set of bands I had found out about through Red House Studio. Rocket Diary has gained a lot of attention since and now I'm hoping Swimmin' Fish will be next - they have already released another EP and are about to release their first full album. Today an article I wrote on them is posted at London Korean Links: Read!

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Tearliner article

There's a new article written by me up on London Korean Links right now. This time I subjected Liner to my questions and the result is (what I consider) my best piece yet: Check it out!

While visiting Liner's blog (click 블로그 while there to get to the actual blog) there's a few categories to have a look at if you're interested in sampling his music:
"Liner Songs" for Tearliner songs
"Liner Guide" for unreleased songs in progress
"LP[LowEnd Project]" for a Low-End Project song
"MBC'태릉선수촌'OST" for songs from Taerung National Village
"MBC'동네한바퀴'" for songs from 동네 한바퀴

Tearliner highlights includes 함께라면 (from the new EP), Watch the Star (from the first album) and this early version of Rainy Day (piano ver.).

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Especially When

Two weeks ago I gave one reason why I once thought that Moonrise Records was the best label around. Here's another.



Granted, Kyoungmo Kim's Especially When had moved on to Espousal Records before they came to release any of the two EPs they made prior to disbanding, but that doesn't change the fact that the best song on the Moonrise Compilations was theirs. Kyoungmo's vocals aren't perfect, but they work really well his band's fuzzy shogazeresque modern rock.

That song from the first Moonrise Compilation can be found below. If you visit Espousal's EW page you'll also find the link for the Especially When song on the second Moonrise Compilation ^^

Clare

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Weltraum

The other day I was going through some of the older Lona Records 3" CD-Rs that I still hadn't ripped. And I came across this great Italian band.



Five member group Weltraum's first release as Weltraum is the two track Traum/Trauma EP from Lona Records. I liked Traum right away, but Trauma struck me as incredible! It's instrumental rock of a certain power, kinda like intense post rock but not completely.

Weltraum used to go by "Visione Sinfonica" and below is a song from their self released Cuore/Amore EP. You can listen to Traum as well as the gorgeous Trauma (unfortunately split into three parts) at Weltraum's MySpace. Visit the Visione Sinfonica part of their current website to sample their older works ^^

Senza Titolo

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Denci Hinji

When I first got into Korean indie music I thought that Moonrise Records was the best label around. Here's one of the reasons why ^^



전자양, or Denci Hinji (Japanese for "electric sheep"), is just one guy making some dreamy pop music with electronic elements. His first and only album, Day is Far too Long, was released in 2001 and is now out of print, but... last year Taiwanese White Wabbit Records released it again! I found out about a month ago and I'm so happy since I didn't have a chance of getting it the first time ^^

Down below are two of the best songs from the album. Head over to White Wabbit's album page to sample another track. Also drop by sheepraiser's blog to have a look at a video featuring 오늘부터 장마 :)

보름 (15 days)
아스피린 소년 (Aspirin Boy)

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Omega 3 article

Another month, another article on London Korean Links. This time it's based on an interview I did with the drummer of my favorite band, Omega 3. Check it out!

If you haven't heard them already, drop by YouTube to have a look at the 세잎크로바 music video. And while there, check out orienkorean's channel for more great Korean indie music vids ^^

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

나의머리카락뭉치

Here's something my dear orienkorean told me to take a listen to a couple of weeks ago. I really, really like it! ^_^



Korean artist 나의머리카락뭉치's name translates to something like "my hair ball" or "my lump of hair". The music is some kind of laid back rock with guitars that makes me think of Kent when they were still my very favorite band. And there's a touch of shoegazer in it too!

I'm thinking it's a solo project, but I really don't know since there is very little info available... So far nothing is available on CD, but a digital single called 생각만으로도 두려워 was released in October 2006 and there are currently three 나의머리카락뭉치 demos over at millim ^^

Below is one song from the most recent demo, uploaded only a week ago, as well as a couple of great tracks from the digital single. Get them all and head over to millim for more!

잊은기억 [left click]
너때문이야 [left click]
시간이지나가는공간속 [left click]

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

itta Article

London Korean Links now has another article of mine. This time itta is the featured artist: Check it out!.

A real post here should come either tonight or some time tomorrow ^^

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Cake on Cake

This will be the last update for a while. I'm not sure how long exactly - just a couple of weeks or even months - but I'll be leaving town for someplace quieter, without my computer and even internet, to be able to foucs on my studies. As much as I love being a student, most of my friends have already graduated and I've come to feel like it's time for me to do the same...



I've planned to write something on Cake on Cake since December, when her Sun-Chairs EP was released on rain music, but somebody else always came in between. Today I recieved a copy of her new album, I Guess I Was Daydreaming, as a bonus (!) from the It's A Trap! Record Club, so what could be more suitable than making that post now?

In short: Cake on Cake is Swedish Helena Sundin making somewhat fuzzy, cute pop with a wide range of instruments, some electronics and the help of friends.

My favorite song off the new album was conveniently enough also available as a sample from her website, so I linked it below. Go visit her site for more and drop by rain music to get that EP along with the highly recommended O from D:ve ^^

Sparrow Parade

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Sunday, February 04, 2007

pg.lost

And the first artist to get a second post on this music blog is...



...pg.lost! I had the pleasure of catching them live yesterday and they had improved a great deal in the few months since last time. They are still unsigned (though some guy released some of their songs under his name - article in Swedish with interview here), but they just released their first EP, Yes I Am, to be sold at their gigs. A lot of work has gone into the cover art, which is handpainted, and the EP is limited to 100 numbered copies, so I'd suggest you go see them somewhere as soon as possible to grab yourself a copy. (If they don't play anywhere near you, you could always try booking them for an event at a venue closer to your location ~_^ )

Unfortunately it seems like MySpace has limited the possibilities to hotlink downloads (somebody should tell them to join last.fm :p), but if you go visit pg.lost's MySpace you'll be able to download the title track and hear two more songs off the EP. And don't miss getting the beautiful Siren while you're there if you missed my first post ^^

Friday, January 26, 2007

Bedroom

More Spanish music from an artist I had the pleasure of catching live last weekend. This guy was on stage just before fårö-dokument.



For some reason I find everything about Bedroom adorable: His lo-fi modern folk/singer-songwriter music; his lyrics (all in English despite the occasional Spanish titles); his illustrations. And every now and then some of his friends help out.

The song below is currently my favorite off the Helado de pera cdr. Olga Àbalos, saxophone player in La Orquesta de la Muerte, is providing some additional vocals. I'd recommend a visit to MySpace to hear more ^^

Concurso de Cometas (kite contest)

Thursday, January 25, 2007

fårö-dokument

I spent last weekend in Barcelona and took the opportunity to check out some Spanish bands. Here's one of them ^^



Named after an Ingemar Bergman movie, fårö-dokument first grabbed my attention with their Swedish name (meaning simply Fårö document). They make use of both female and male vocals for their songs in Spanish. The tag cloud on last.fm seems to agree that they're doing "slowcore", which was certainly a good description for their live sound. I don't really now what that means though, so on record I'd say they make some laidback pop ^^

Below is a song featured on both of their releases. The 2004 EP is available under a Creative Commons license from their website. To listen to some songs from their 2006 Roces EP, I'd suggest a visit to MySpace or last.fm ^^

Caligrafía

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Don't Be A Stranger

Fest-i-valen is coming up in a couple of weeks and there's a lot of artists playing I haven't even heard of before. Out of those "new" artists that I've checked out so far, this group is my favorite ^^


Photo by Sofia Runarsdotter

Formed three years ago as a trio, Don't Be A Stranger is now a sixtet. They released their first EP, Ho Ho, on their own label in November and according to Headstomp an album is to be expected early this year. I'm not sure how to describe their music, but it must be some kind of pop. Semi-slow, semi-cheerful pop - I like it!

This song keeps popping up in my head. Visit their homepage to grab another track and drop by their MySpace to hear a couple of songs more.

Perfect Problem

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Thirty something new tales from PL.PT

I'll return with a proper post on Tuesday, but for now - here's another post to check out from one of the blogs linked to the right ^^



Today, Music @ PL.PT announced the release of
Thirty something new tales. Featuring 36 artists from Poland and Portugal, this 2CD compilation has music from genres like "minimal electronic music to ambient pop, from funk to jazz, from post-punk to hip-hop, from hard beat electronica to acoustic songs." Check it out!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Hits In The Car

My new favorite music blog, Hits In The Car, made a post on Danish quartet Knoxville today. I liked all three songs, so if you haven't already I'd suggest you check it out ^^

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Betty Goes A Go-Go

As you probably missed it: I made a post on The Banjo Consorsium on my mandolin banjo blog yesterday. Check it out for some nice, soft music ^^



Swedish band Betty Goes A Go-Go has been releasing music for a while now and they have a new album, Winter Comes Here Winter Begins Here, coming out this year. According to the band itself they offer "melancholic new wave/postpunk with great nerve, angstridden harmonies and mindtwisting electronic sounds". I can't say I like all of it (I don't think postpunk is a genre for me) but some of their "angstridden harmonies", and especially their "mindtwisting electronic sounds" are just beautiful.

The song below was the first to catch my attention. While quite uneven at first it gets really, really good towards the end. For more, check out their website and MySpace.

Antarctica [left click]

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Ida Maria

Among the Swedish "pophopps" of 2007, as listed by DN I found a new Norwegian artist to keep my eyes on!



While currently residing in Sweden, Ida Maria originally hails from a tiny place in Norway. She makes happy, upbeat, energetic and catchy pop of the same kind that made me like her fellow countrymen Harmonica so much. Right now she and her band are recording an album with Timo Räisänen (one of my favorite Swedish artists - he too does happy, upbeat, energetic and catchy pop) and I'm pretty sure it'll be great!

Down below is the song featured on Pophopp 2007. Drop by NRK Urørt do download three songs more and visit Ida Maria's MySpace to listen to a fourth ^^

Louie [left click]

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Tickles



Somehow I came across Japanese trio Tickles after some MySpace surfing in mid-December. I don't know much about them, but they make soft electronic music of the kind that invites you to just close your eyes and go someplace else.

Here's a song from their debut album, Cinema For Ears, released on madagascar in July 2006. Go there for a couple of samples more ^^

Humanize (sample)

The Year of The Mandolin Banjo

Back from the holidays I started another, probably more personal, blog yesterday: The Year of The Mandolin Banjo. Just in case anyone's interested...