Lukestar's forthcoming album "Lake Toba", 2008's first great album, is confirmed for release on January 14.
Check out One-Way Mirror, a new international metal act featuring members from Mnemic, Soilwork and more: http://www.myspace.com/onewaymirrorband
The 2nd part of Indie MP3's interview with Club 8 is now posted: http://www.indie-mp3.co.uk/2007/12/boy-who-couldnt-stop-dreaming.html
Sincerely Yours is offering up "Hej då Karolin" from The Honeydrips as a free download single: http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0064.html
I imagine that this is an updated version of "Ah Karolin", their cover of the "Emmanuel" theme?
A West Side Fabrication reports that they will be releasing Darcy's new single "I'm the one" in January, their first since 2004.
Powersolo is heading out for a few northern European dates in January with Heavy Trash and will be bringing along a new split 10" featuring both bands:
01/18 - Hebel Theatre, Berlin (GER)
01/19 - tbc, Hamburg (GER)
01/20 - tbc, Cologne (GER)
01/21 - Cactus, Brugges (BEL)
Otherwise, the band is planning on recording their fourth album upon their return home to Denmark for release next summer.
Watch Piroth perform live for Undertube: http://www.automatictext.de/undertube/index.php/2007/12/13/undertube-34-berlin-piroth/
Check out Kasper Bjørke's new video for the single "Doesn't matter": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94G5lhzDohs
The video for the new Kent single "Columbus" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k2RdYza8OQ
MP3: Sambassadeur - Subtle changes
Note: The last few Fridays of the year are dedicated to revisiting great tracks I passed on when they were fresh.
I ignored "Subtle changes" when Labrador first posted it for free download because a) I'm not a Sambassadeur fan and b) every blogger and their mother was already talking about it. If I was to cover it and hate it, I'm just being a contrarian dick, but if it goes the other way, my voice is apt to get lost in the hub-bub. So, I decided to let some distance grow between us and goddamn it if this song one of the year's best singles. I still wouldn't consider myself a full-on Sambassadeur fan as the rest of the album holds no interest for me, but this track is amazing. I love that galloping beat, anchored by the constant strum of acoustic guitars and the hi-hat heavy drumbeat, free from unnecessary or excessive fills. And the way the strings keep pushing higher and higher, elevating the melody to soaring altitude. Even with understated, whispery vocals, "Subtle changes" is undeniably majestic. There's a lot going on in the arrangement too - besides the careful counterpoint accents, if you listen carefully and you'll hear bits of pizzicato strings amidst the subtle, but necessary percussion. Every ingredient is perfectly placed so that it never becomes overwhelming or cluttered. All in all, a pop triumph.
Sambassadeur - Subtle changes
Holiday Fun Club
s/t
Sounds of Subterrania
I remember the day post-punk clicked for me. For the majority of my teenage years I was unable to truly understand its tortuous analyses of self or others, nor the frantic, paranoid pace of these observances. Then it clicked. First Joy Division, then the dam broke, and my life has been far richer for it.
Holiday Fun Club not only sound like an authentic 80s post-punk band (with the obvious exception of certain bits of production, but for the most part the drums, stringy guitars, and bass are spot on), but feel like one, too. I criticized Kamera earlier this year for only mastering the sound of the 80s, but not the soul of the music they replicate. This is not the case for Holiday Fun Club. There is that strange detachment that Gang of Four effortlessly implemented, the empty longing that was distinctly a product of that era of music, complete with the oddities (namely amazingly discordant saxophone solos) that endear bands like Orange Juice to their fans. "Hamburg in the night" is an absolute delight - two minutes of dissonance and rapidity, all leaning on the self-destructive side, and barely able to hold itself together. "Holding my breath" takes a far darker, less focused approach, but succeeds just as well. "Save us" has a touch of New Order's more optimistic craftsmanship and has become my morning song over the past few weeks. There are flaws, just as with so many seminal albums from that time, but these add to the album's genuine sense of belonging in the great catalog of 80s post-punk. Definitely one of my favorite surprises of the year.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
According to the Refused fansite, there's a new DVD documentary on the way about David Sandström entitled "Tillflykt". See more here: http://www.refusedfan.com/upcomingreleases.html
The video for Takida's latest single "Curly Sue" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmNJJ-QWeSk