The new Park Hotell album "Free for friends" will be released on October 25.
MP3: Mikko Singh - Iloitkaamme
Having met Mikko Singh briefly during my visit to Stockholm earlier this summer, I can confidently say that his new album "Uskotko että siellä on kukkia?" ("Do you believe there are flowers there?") is a direct reflection of the man behind the music. Besides representing his broad cultural background - Punjabi, Finnish, Swedish, maybe more - it also reflects his sunny disposition. At least that's the impression I got as Mikko was all smiles and this music is pure sunshine. As always, Mikko plays every instrument himself and he's got quite a collection. This particular track, "Iloitkaamme" ("Let us rejoice"), is actually one of the more straightforward, traditional-sounding pieces on the album as its mostly guitar based, but there's plenty of other pieces with sitar and other ethnic strings plus accordion, various percussion implements and probably a whole bunch of other stuff I can't pick out so easily. He's also cut way back on the vocals and only sings on the final track which at first was kinda disappointing, but the more I listen, the more I think I understand. This is music for tinting your life with color without overwhelming it. It's meditative and blissful and vocals would only serve as a distraction. As the first signs of autumn begin to creep into the air, it's also the perfect soundtrack for squeezing out every last bit of sunshine you can. Thanks Mikko, for helping me forget about the dark days around the corner.
As with The Goner, this is underground DIY music that demands a larger audience. Head to myspace for more: http://www.myspace.com/mikkosingh
Mikko Singh - Iloitkaamme
Brine
Story vs plot
Harbour, Sea
The 90s art-rock movement is very much alive on "Story vs plot". As if by mere accident, harmony arises from the rattling of guitars and the deep moan of the bass on opener "Bashful". The half-spoken, half-sung vocal style finds an appropriate home in this medium of musical expression as the drums tirelessly beat on. Names like Sonic Youth and Pavement easily slip off the tongue when trying to describe what has slipped out of the stereo speakers, though there's also a Pixies-like playfulness and a Velvet Underground drive. Sebadoh wouldn't sound too oddly placed were one of their tracks to precede or follow a Brine composition on a mixtape. "Make it to Berlin" shatters much of these preconceptions however, sounding far more like something that would have come out of Britain in the 90s than from the other side of the Atlantic, and so Blur and the radio-friendly tracks of Elastica spring to mind. And this balancing game plays out beautifully as the record continues. "A high wire walking" and "Bathtub revisited" are among the standouts on a quality album, although the breakdown/ending of "Mirrors" may take top prize -- an organic building of guitar lines and drums that eventually blurs into a wave that crashes and breaks. An album that celebrates the possibilities of rock music as much as the 90s scene it was birthed from, "Story vs plot" is very much worth tracking down.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Silver's new album "Wolf chasing wolf" is streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesilverband
The third and final installment of The Goner's H-Trilogy is called "Haven" and is out now. Stream samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/gonergonergoner
Considering that the first two already rank as some of my favorite releases of the year, I'd say this one is probably just as crucial. Only 33 copies so act fast.
Sebastian Karlsson's new album "The most beautiful lie" will be released on November 5 via Roxy Recordings. Said album was produced by Ronald Bood (Consequences, Mando Diao) and will be preceding by the first single "My getaway" on September 22.
Stream both tracks from the new Jimi Tenor 7" "Mystery spot", out now on Sähkö Recordings: http://www.sahkorecordings.com/sahco-002.php
PopMatters on the international release of Pluxus' "Solid state": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/62240/pluxus-solid-state/
Norwegian country-rock act El Ceuro will release their new album "A glimmer of hope" on October 6 via Gravel Road Music and will head out on tour soon thereafter. Samples and dates: http://www.myspace.com/elcuero
The new album from Norwegian rockers Brut Boogaloo is confirmed for release on October 27. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/brutboogaloo
Danish act Entakt will release their new album "På bagsiden af Europa" on October 6. Samples and tourdates: http://www.myspace.com/entakt
As promised, the new album "Cult" from Finnish metal act Medeia is streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/medeiaband
A bit too "core" for my tastes, but they certainly have tons of energy.