Without getting into their politics¹, I have to say that I just don't like Death in June. But I do like hearing people cover them. They are just one of those rare acts whose works are almost always improved upon by others and Årabrot's take on "The honour of silence" adds a crucial, austere heaviness that the original lacks. They take it a step further too, adding a 7-minute reprisal on the end of their new EP "Mæsscr", stretching it out into an endless parade of droning drums and wordless refrains. Go see them in UK next week, I'm sure it'll be killer:
08/25 – - Fat Out Fest, Manchester
08/26 - The Shakespear, Sheffield
08/28 - Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
08/29 - The Black Heart, London
¹ see this blog for a detailed examination of DiJ's fascist/fence-sitting tendencies, along with many other neofolk/Noise/black metal/provocateur artists
Experimental/Noise titans Mika Vainio (Pan Sonic, Ø, etc.) and Joachim Nordwall (The Skull Defekts, The Idealist) are collaborating on an album called "Monstrance" to be released via .
The Quietus is offering up a preview of Årabrot's excellent new EP "Mæsscr": http://thequietus.com/articles/09505-new-arabrot-maesscr-fysisk-format-releases Årabrot is a rare example of an act in a somewhat limiting genre (Noiserock) who continues to reinvent and expand their already impressive sound. No long do they sound like _____ or _____, they only sound like Årabrot.
More new Noiserock out of Norway, likewise featuring members of Burning Motherfuckers. Beware the regrettable detours into funk territory; I couldn't handle it.
Look, while I may sometimes give off the vibe of someone that typically only listens to brutal hardcore and harsh industrial Noise, I will never, ever deny the appeal of a quality pop record. My favorite so far in 2012: Donkeyboy's "Silver moon". The first single didn't wow me initially, probably mostly due to the weak video, but I've since come around and have had the entire album on semi-steady rotation for some time now. I also can't deny that their name is terrible and the lyrical content even worse, but just listen to all those hooks they borrowed from Quincy Jones! I doubt these kids were even alive when he was at the top of his game, but whatever -- this is pop music, not rocket science.
The Washington Post Express offers up a quick preview of the excellent Nordic Jazz Fest taking place in Washington DC this weekend: http://www.expressnightout.com/2012/06/nordic-Noise/
Though I know it's not possible to attend for many of us, it is worth noting that a number of the artists appearing will be doing other US dates while they are over here so check local listings.
has announced the signing of Nexus Kenosis, a new project from Swedish industrial/Noise master Henrik Nordvargr Björkk (Pouppée Fabrik, MZ.412, Nordvargr, etc.) which will also function as a multimedia collective of sorts. The debut album is finished and will be released in early fall.
It's been awhile since we've heard anything new from Finnish industrial/Noise label , but they've just released a new CD called "Immune to jewels" from Lost Weight aka plunderphonic sound artist Jukka Vallisto. More details and ordering info here.