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, March 13, 2007
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
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 ^^
...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)
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
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
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!
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]
Swedish band Betty Goes A Go-Go has been releasing music for a while now and they have a new album,
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]
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...
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Bloody Cookie
I've mentioned them earlier on this blog, but it's not until now, thanks to my favorite store owner mrkwang's connections to the band, that I am able to feature a downloadable mp3 of theirs.
The four Korean women of Bloody Cookie released their second mini album, A Curer, a couple of weeks ago. Their original gothic/grunge/nu metal style has softened a bit since their first release, The Immature Flower, but they're still awesome.
Down below is a promo mp3 for Bloody Cookie's latest release. I'm not particularily fond of promo mixes, but this one I even put on the playlist together with their real songs, so even you too don't like promo mixes I'd suggest you give this one a chance ^^ Also check out their MySpace where the three songs off their first release is available for streaming!
Bloody Cookie 2nd mini album sample version
The four Korean women of Bloody Cookie released their second mini album, A Curer, a couple of weeks ago. Their original gothic/grunge/nu metal style has softened a bit since their first release, The Immature Flower, but they're still awesome.
Down below is a promo mp3 for Bloody Cookie's latest release. I'm not particularily fond of promo mixes, but this one I even put on the playlist together with their real songs, so even you too don't like promo mixes I'd suggest you give this one a chance ^^ Also check out their MySpace where the three songs off their first release is available for streaming!
Bloody Cookie 2nd mini album sample version
Monday, December 18, 2006
Holiday Sampler & Paper Route
In case you've missed it, PureVolume has got a pretty nice Holiday Sampler available for free download right now. Check it out for twelve cosy Christmas songs to brighten your day ^^
My favorite out of the twelve is no doubt Paper Route's City Trucks. If it's to your liking as well, I would recommend a visit to Paper Route's MySpace to hear a few songs more and download their great original christmas songs EP A Thrill of Hope. Unfortunately, those are all in m4a, but even if you (like me) need to use another media player than your ordinary to play them, they're worth it ^^
My favorite out of the twelve is no doubt Paper Route's City Trucks. If it's to your liking as well, I would recommend a visit to Paper Route's MySpace to hear a few songs more and download their great original christmas songs EP A Thrill of Hope. Unfortunately, those are all in m4a, but even if you (like me) need to use another media player than your ordinary to play them, they're worth it ^^
Sunday, December 17, 2006
...and everyone fell asleep
Ok, so I don't even know of a handful active local bands, but from what little I have heard and seen, these guys are definitly my favorites.
The four guys of ...and everyone fell asleep formed the band in 2005. With three of them having a background in jazz (they even use a double bass!), their quite melancholic songs often have a very nice jazzy feeling to them. And I really like the singer's voice.
Don't miss the song below and go visit their MySpace for more. A new song should be available there in not too long ^^
Body of Sand [left click]
If you happen to be in Linköping on Wednesday (Dec. 20), I'd suggest a visit to Passagen at 19.00 for an evening of young experimental sounds from ...and everyone fell asleep and Wildbirds & Peacedrums ^_^
The four guys of ...and everyone fell asleep formed the band in 2005. With three of them having a background in jazz (they even use a double bass!), their quite melancholic songs often have a very nice jazzy feeling to them. And I really like the singer's voice.
Don't miss the song below and go visit their MySpace for more. A new song should be available there in not too long ^^
Body of Sand [left click]
If you happen to be in Linköping on Wednesday (Dec. 20), I'd suggest a visit to Passagen at 19.00 for an evening of young experimental sounds from ...and everyone fell asleep and Wildbirds & Peacedrums ^_^
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The Knife
Most people into quriky electronic music probably know all about The Knife already. They're sister and brother, Swedish and have so far released three full albums and one soundtrack. Though I still haven't heard a single song from their most recent (and most praised) album, Silent Shout, I claim to really like The Knife - their first album, The Knife, was extraordinary to me.
Today is Lucia and The Knife are celebrating through once again sharing their 2000 Christmas version of Reindeer - one of my favorite The Knife songs. Make sure you get it and then go visit their homepage for cover art ^^
Christmas Reindeer
Saturday, December 09, 2006
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]
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]
Thursday, December 07, 2006
SunRadio & Kim Doo Soo
This is something of a failure, sorry. Since I haven't written about anything originating from Korea for a while I had decided to make a post on indierockers SunRadio today. They've been playing at the venues that Korea's punk scene usually frequent and have recently been in the process of finishing their debut EP, Free Robot. I guess they're done now, since in the past 36 hours all four downloadable songs have been replaced with just one streamable song. I wanted all of you to hear Before your Eyes, but Hot Stuff will have to do for now.
And here's something that took me by surprise this morning: Said the Gramophone has made a post on the foremost of Korea's singer/songwriters, Kim Doo Soo! Damon & Naomi have apparently compiled songs for this intriguing compilation album called International Sad Hits, Volume One: Altaic Language Group, and upon it four songs (보헤미안/Bohemian, 산/Mountain, 해당화/Sweet Briar, 들꽃/Wild Flower) from the artist edition of Kim Doo Soo's 4th album, 自由魂/자유혼/Free Spirit, are featured.
Go here to read what the gramophone has said and download the "one-point-stereo live recording" of 들꽃. Also make a visit to Paper Thin Walls to hear the almost two minutes shorter (and in my opinion not as good) 4th album version of 3rd album song 보헤미안.
And here's something that took me by surprise this morning: Said the Gramophone has made a post on the foremost of Korea's singer/songwriters, Kim Doo Soo! Damon & Naomi have apparently compiled songs for this intriguing compilation album called International Sad Hits, Volume One: Altaic Language Group, and upon it four songs (보헤미안/Bohemian, 산/Mountain, 해당화/Sweet Briar, 들꽃/Wild Flower) from the artist edition of Kim Doo Soo's 4th album, 自由魂/자유혼/Free Spirit, are featured.
Go here to read what the gramophone has said and download the "one-point-stereo live recording" of 들꽃. Also make a visit to Paper Thin Walls to hear the almost two minutes shorter (and in my opinion not as good) 4th album version of 3rd album song 보헤미안.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Hem
I don't know what to tell you about Hem, except that they're American and make really cosy music. And that they released their latest album, Funnel Cloud, in September. Their bio on last.fm mentions "chamber-folk" and "countrypolitan" as some descriptions of their music.
It's really a little too early for Christmas imo, but after all it is the first Sunday of Advent today and with all the Advent lights showing up in the windows of my neighbours I can't help but feel some Christmas spirit anyway - so here's a cosy Christmas tune. Since I like it so much, here's also a live recording of a song from their Eveningland album. Check out their MySpace to listen to more cosy music ^^
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Carry Me Home (live radio broadcast)
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