Marybell Katastrophy
This is the one
Merger
Denmark's Marybell Katastrophy seamlessly joins the idiosyncratic staccato stabs of "Debut"-era Björk with the spacey-indie approach of Blonde Redhead's latest album, but even this broad description fails to include all the electronic quirks and other eccentric layers the artist incorporates into her compositions. There is a semblance of continuity on "This is the one", though the songs are often drastically different from their neighbors: "Hip" has a chorus that evokes the reverberated distortion of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Bodies"; "Red red" could easily hold its own against any Knife single; and closer "His desperate voice" meanders beautifully like a lost Trespassers William track. This semi-schizophrenic quality does not rob "This is the one" of its own unique personality, rather it gives hints towards what Marybell Katastrophy would be able to accomplish with a full-length effort. This EP has firmly established these Danes' place on my radar.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
The playlist for this week's radio show, an all-winter theme:
01. Ricochets - Cold outside
02. TALK 1
03. Shining - Winterreise
04. Britta Persson - Winter tour
05. Svenson - In the snow
06. Weeping Willows - Christmas in prison
07. TALK 2
08. The Tiny - No money (for X-mas)
09. Kompjotr Eplektrika - Blikktztunddonner
10. The Knife - Reindeer
11. TALK 3
12. Hello Saferide - iPod X-mas
13. January Jaunt - Stuck in glaziers
14. Darkthrone - Too old, too cold
15. TALK 4
16. Sällskapet - Nordlicht
17. E.S.T. - Strange place for snow
18. Sort Mel - Det grønne flesket
19. Notre Dame - A scrooge tale
20. TALK 5
21. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - Winter moment
22. Syster Lycklig - Bilden till snöstorm
23. The Book of Daniel - 3rd of December
24. TALK 6
25. Samuraj Cities - Cold feet
26. Amandine - Silver bells
27. Logcabin - View of frost
28. Silverbullit - Winter coat
29. TALK 7
30. In Flames - December flower
31. Viktor Sjöberg - On a winters day
32. The Bear Quartet - Blizzard
33. TALK 8
34. Brick - Gray day
35. Laakso - Merry Christmas
36. Strayfolk - Another year before the mast
37. TALK 9
Don't forget to vote for Sirius Blog Radio at the Plug Awards! Vote here: http://www.plugawards.com/general_vote.php
We are nominated under the category "Media (Obsessive) > Specialty Show Of The Year (Commercial Radio)".
Henry Morgan's Solokarriär
Memories
self-released
Henry Morgan's Solokarriär has been praised here at itsatrap.com before and that's no wonder: The project's namesake was not only a pirate and once the world's richest man but also a character in Klas Östergren's novel "Gentleman" where he played in a jazz band called Bear Quartet. So much for the intermusical connections...
HMS most recent EP seems to be combination of his own musical influences: Three songs of classic indiepop songwriting in somewhat 80-ish arrangements combined with a very "Swedish pop" sounding voice (especially on standout track "The waves"), and one acoustic folk song very much reminiscent of Bright Eyes. And while there's nothing wrong with showcasing one's musical influences, the EP would surely feel more compelling as a whole if it explored fewer musical directions. Unfortunately, we shouldn't get our hopes up for more consistent releases in the future: About a week ago Kristoffer, the man behind HMS, announced his project's breakup and that "he had to get away from music for a while." With this very promising EP in his back, that's truly a shame.
- Arnulf Köhncke
MP3: The Bear Quartet - Roads home
Musically, this one's definitely a b-side. Reminiscent of plenty of other fine Bear Quartet tunes, but unfocused; too many notes left hanging. Lyrically though, "Roads home" is something different. It's the oft-visited theme of resignation and loss, but with a tinge of defiance.
All my friends / all those rapid losing ends can't show me
how I should be wearing my coat / against the cold
where good intentions croak
I walk a road and it's called home
To me, that says "I'm taking my ball and going home." A conscious choice, not ostracization. "And the part of me that's about to die / would never tell you a cruel lie." Better to suck it up, eh? It's only after the second chorus that the music rises up and offers payoff. A solo, trading bars with a weird, out of place synth smudge, performed with Jari's deft feel and a patient touch. A short, but sweet coda to a difficult song.
The Bear Quartet - Roads home
New items now in stock and ready to ship!
EST (Esbjörn Svensson Trio) - Live in Hamburg (2CD)
Bröderna Lindgren - Vuxen barnmusik! (CD)
v/a - Lägg av! Ni fattar ingenting! - Göteborgsprogg 1970-80 (2CD)
v/a - Poem, ballader och lite blues (2CD)
Alvin Eldpojken (2CD)
The Hellacopters' final album "Head off" is confirmed for release in Sweden on April 18 via the band's own Psychout Records. The first single comes out March 20. Wild Kingdom will handle the album in Europe, Backstage Alliance in Finland, the Baltics and Russia and Toy's Factory will take care of things in Japan.
Regain Records has announced that they have sided with Infernus in the recent Gorgoroth split and will continue to work with him and his new bandmembers. Read more: http://www.regainrecords.com/viewItem.php?id=173
Dockyard1 has announced the signing of Swedish metal act Degradead and will release their debut album "Till death do us apart" will be released on January 28. Look for them to tour with Dimension Zero next year as well. Listen to samples: http://www.myspace.com/degradead
Miss Li already has a best-of collection? See here: http://www.national.se?menu_id=147&art_id=245
Music Is My Girlfriend is offering up a free Christmas single from Celestial for download: http://musicismygirlfriend.com/index.php?id=89