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.

Greenwich Resident

Here's some people I'm really happy to be able to feature on this blog! I first heard them on Siamese Flowers and took a liking to their two songs on there instantly.



Liverpool based Greenwich Resident released their first EP, I Hid My Heroes, on Robot! Records a few weeks ago. The four members hail from Canada, Norway and England and have created a sound that, in their own words, is "distinctly un-British" and "entirely evolving". Their mellowness was one of the things that appealed to me at first, but as it turns out they're also really good with a lighter pop sound.

The song below is the title track from the EP and it'll stay up for a week or so. Make sure you visit Greenwich Resident's MySpace to hear more great songs of theirs ^^

I Hid My Heroes [no longer available]

Sleeping States

The past weekend, Grizzly Bear posted a bulletin on MySpace with the subject "3 bands/musicians I am LOVING right now & want peeps to hear". This is my favorite out of the 3 ^_^



British guy Sleeping States has this singer/songwriter thing going. There's a guitar, perhaps a keyboard and maybe a few sounds picked up by a vocal sampler. What I like the most, however, is the soft sound. Very calming.

Down below is my favorite among the songs I've found freely available. Check out Sleeping State's website and MySpace for more. If after visiting his MySpace you find yourself liking the beautiful Rivers, you should check out Grizzly Bear's blog too ^^

London Fields

Vega4

I've been getting some e-mails from labels to promote their artists on this blog for a while now, but either they've come when I've been inactive or I just didn't like the artist. Today I got another one, but this time I do like the artist. A lot.



Four guys from various English speaking countries met in London and formed a band by the name of Vega4. Albeit rockier they remind me of Coldplay, in a good way (that is before they snatched best new act of the year or something from Muse, leading me do dislike them since). A bunch of EPs and an album were released some years ago by Taste Media. Now they're signed to Columbia and have a new album, You & Others, coming out on October 30.

Below is the song I was provided for posting on here - I've been playing it on repeat for the past hour so it was definitly a clever choice of theirs. Do get it you too. Also, you can listen to clips from every song on the upcoming album here or just go visit their MySpace for some (non-downloadable) full samples.

Bullets

Christian Kiefer & Sharron Kraus

The collaboration between American singer/songwriter Christian Kiefer and British folk singer Sharron Kraus resulted in an album called The Black Dove, released in March. It was released on Tompkins Square Records and on the album page it says: "In creating The Black Dove, the two worked on songs and instrumentals based on the idea of love letters between two people, one the pursuer and one the pursued, one flesh and blood, the other a ghost."

The first song below is sung by Christian Kiefer while the second is sung by Sharron Kraus. Both are of the kind of mellowish alt-country music that I just want to hear more of.

Dearest
On The Chase