The netlabel, an offshoot of the Eardrums Music blog, has released a new single from Finnish indie/pop act paperfangs: http://www.eardrumspop.com/2010/10/20/epop006-paperfangs/
Two original tracks plus a cover of "Violet" by Kiss Kiss Fantastic and digital liner notes/artwork.
The excellent Swedish postpunk act paper has confirmed that they will release a new 7" this fall featuring the cut "Coming from you" b/w "Meaningless". The a-side will also appear on the band's forthcoming full-length tentatively titled "Mischmasch", but the flip is exclusive.
I have to say, I like this song a heckuva lot more than I thought I would. I expected overwrought emo-pop silliness and while The Shiloh are definitely rooted in such terrain, their new single is really just a great pop song. Still leaning towards overwrought perhaps, but in a good way. Though maybe not quite as stellar as We are the Storm's "I woke up to the bells", it's got a similar appeal, it pulls the same heartstrings. Oh, and bonus points for a star turn by the daughter of IAT.MP3 artist Racingpaperplanes/Richard Wilson! Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX0aB0RfNsc
Richard Wilson aka Racingpaperplanes is back and making new music under his own name -- hear a new song at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/richardwilsonmusic
I'm becoming increasingly obsessed with seeking out dystopian themes in music, and while that's usually the province of punk/hardcore/metal, it's not as if they have a monopoly. For example, Supersci's new single "Snap out of it" takes on the subject with a slightly more optimistic bent, kicking things off with a folksy polska intro. Now I'm normally not all that into Swedish hip-hop in English since it's almost all garbage, but Supersci rises above with smarts and talent. Rapping about mortgages might seem like lamest thing ever on paper, but shit is serious and while I don't know how pervasive the burst housing bubble is abroad, it's an epidemic over here. I'm doing fine (thanks for asking), but foreclosures are bringing things down all around me. As for rallying against corporate infotainment, that's nothing new, but no less vital. The world is going down the drain, believe it -- now what are you going to do about it?
Supersci - Snap out of it
Hafdis HuldHafdis Huld has the kind of voice that immediately evokes sugar, spice, and everything nice. One part Ali Howard (Lucky Soul), three parts summer of love; it's the kind of instrument that seems intent on landing her sophomore album "Synchronised swimmers" directly into schlock territory. Thankfully, Huld seems intent on playing against type, crafting indie folk that's as unexpectedly playful as it is sweet. From "Könguló"'s angular island beats to the understated banjo of "Action man", there's enough subtle variation to skirt syrup and assure that Huld is the real deal. Really.
Now if only she had something to say. While "slice of life" lyrics aren't inherently off-putting, (Hey, it's done wonders for Laura Marling) the troupe only works if you attach greater meaning. Or, any meaning. Instead of delving into what it's all about, we skim across the surface, getting dime-a-dozen realizations such as "It hurts to be happy" and "Everything is basic in a town like this, you get your picture in a paper if you catch a fish." Solid beginnings sure, but one wonders what a stronger lyricist could have made of them. Even the most interesting track "Robot robot" feels like a retread, playing like a thematic kissing cousin to The Dresden Dolls' "Coin operated boy". Rather than illuminate your life, Huld seems to have settled for shedding a few rays of sunshine into an afternoon.
- Laura Studarus
Italian death metal fiend Nicola Costantini is working on a revised 2nd edition of his "Encyclopedia of Svensk Dödsmetall" which looks to be absolute massive, clocking it somewhere near 400 A4-sized pages. Expect a 50/50 split of recycled/rearranged content from the first book and fresh new material, much of which is outlined in this blog post. It'll only be printing in a small limited edition, so you may want to reserve a copy early.
paper will be spending the next few days in the studio recording their sophomore LP "Our world", due out this fall via /.
IAT.MP3 artist Racingpaperplanes has a new two-track websingle posted for free download: http://racingpaperplanes.blogspot.com/2010/03/so.html
Danish indie label is reinventing themselves as a pop label after a long break: http://www.bsbta.com/
New CDr releases are planned for paper Sessions and The Original Beekeepers plus more in the future from artists such as The Dear Elaines, Shaw and more.
Swedish doom act Suffocate for Fuck Sake has finally released the 2LP version of their album "Blazing fires and helicopters on the front page of the newspaper. There's a march going on and I'm marching in heavyboots." via : http://bluegrassrecords.bigcartel.com/products
300 copies only, worldwide distro via and .
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Monument - Feel failure
03. Regulations - To be me
04. Du - Bring down a house
05. Tyrant - Go ahead raise the dead
06. TALK 2
07. Tobias Fröberg - When we go to war
08. Next Life - Anti matter
09. Lo-Fi-Fnk - Marchin' in
10. Boy Omega - Just a boy
11. TALK 3
12. The Bear Quartet - I was a weapon
13. I'm from Barcelona/David Ljung - Silence
14. Thee Gutted String - I've been to town
15. TALK 4
16. paper - Before that day
17. The Goner - Bright and colossal (risen mind)
18. At the Gates - Suicide nation
19. TALK 5
20. Madrugada - Look away Lucifer
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
paper will be putting out "Before that day" as a new single to coincide with the re-release of their album "An object" on vinyl via . The official release date is February 4 for radio, March 1 elsewhere. Not sure if there will be a 7" version or what, but I'll keep you posted.
