Mailbox cleaning (once again)...

One of the consequences of suddenly becoming all serious this week and write about that The Radio Dept concert and, what you could perhaps call, Oliver North Boy Choir gossip is that the mailbox has had perfect conditions for growing out of control. So now it’s high time to once again bring out the brooms and start sweeping.

+ Under Byen - Alt Er Tabt
The new album Alt Er Tabt by Under Byen has now been released in the US, so the PR machine is rolling. Still trying to make up my mind whether or not I actually like this band!

+ Plushgun - Mixtapes (Buffetlibre Remix)
The original version is part of the Buffetlibre Peace project.

+ Francois Peglau - God & the unconscious want me dead!
+ Francois Peglau - Everybody loves me
The Peruvian/Argentinean/French (now in London residing) socio dramatic pop singer-/songwriter is back with a couple of nice new songs.

"Old" favorites OMD will be touring Europe in November. Pretty sad to see that no Danish date is included especially since the original (or "classic") line-up is back together, because when I saw the band way back in 1993 it basically consisted of just Andy McCluskey.

Farewell...?

I’ve been told before that I’m pretty good at stirring up rumors, but this is no such attempt. But when I came across this poster (check the picture) for the Crunchy Frog 15 year anniversary party, I couldn’t help asking if this spells the end of EPO-555? “Afskedskoncert” translates to “farewell concert”, so it’s hardly a rushed conclusion, is it? Obviously the EPO-555 fan in me hopes that this is not the case and that the band will continue to make music; perhaps in a similar fashion as (now disbanded) label mates Oliver North Boy Choir, who never played live and only released music digitally. Anyway I’m seriously thinking of attending this event, as this (apparently) will be my final chance to ever catch EPO-555 live. But as always I need to check my calendar first for any domestic duties!
+ Hyperschlieb

Otherwise great Danish magazine Gaffa reviews and completely rips the Plushgun debut Pins & Panzer to pieces. So to find out where I went wrong (as I recall quite liking it), I’ve been giving the album a few listens today and I happily admits that neither does the album bring anything new to the table nor is Plushgun the second coming of anyone or anything. But I still find the catchy tunes and the album as a whole quite enjoyable, and would have no problem rating it 3 (perhaps even 4) stars out of 6. So what exactly pisses the reviewer off so much that he ends up giving it one lonely star out of the 6 available is rather impossible to tell (the album just seems to annoy him big time)! But perhaps it’s not such a fantastic idea to write a review before you’ve had your morning coffee?
+ Just Impolite

Shorties (one-liners)...

Work, work, work...

Really looking forward to hearing the promo copy of the Polly Scattergood debut, whenever I receive it!
+ Nitrogen Pink

For next week’s concert at Vega in Copenhagen White Lies will be supported by Wintersleep.
+ Weighty Ghost

I’m listening to the Plushgun debut album Pins & Panzers and it’s really, really good!
+ Just Impolite

Will soon starting making new Play People rumors up myself, as the band refuses to reveal anything about the future (insider joke).
+ Square One

One last goodbye from Oliver North Boy Choir.

The sophomore album Harmony Handgrenade by The Oxygen Ponies will (finally) be out on Hidden Target Records on May 19.
+ The War Is Over
+ Fevered Cyclone

Shorties...

I’ve decided to abandon the Christmas post. The post itself is rather lame I know and if nothing else it definitely proved that I’m one lazy bastard. This doesn’t mean however that there will be no more Christmas tunes, and here are a couple of nice ones for you.

+ Sherwood – Snowing In Seattle
Despite the chiming bells, this pumping and catchy track by Sherwood is probably not your typical Christmas tune. Instead its driving pace should be the perfect companion during the next few days of furious shopping.

+ Balthrop, Alabama – Christmas in Jail
Balthrop, Alabama consists of siblings Pascal and Lauren Balthrop (and several others I've been corrected) and with help from Dawn Landes the duo has recorded a seasonal album named A Very Balthrop Christmas. It’s out on End Up Records and with 12 charming folk-rock tunes (not every one is as bittersweet as this promo track) it is well worth a try. And two weeks from now, it sure is too late!

Charlie, Don’t Surf drummer Mikkel has released (published is probably a more accurate term) a few tracks under the alias ME ME ME. These infectious synths/electronic dominated tunes are worlds away from the indie pop universe of the surfer lads (not that I mind at all). Learn more about the project and download two more tracks from Mikkel’s website.
+ Shed Some Light

Remember my comment last week on the Plushgun promo mail? Afterwards I actually received an apology, which was quite a surprise. Learned in the same apology mail that I haven’t posted the new video for Just Impolite, so here it is. And if you missed the track the previous billion times I posted it, it’s here as well.
+ Just Impolite

Your name will ring a bell again tonight...

Unless you’re a complete stranger to this blog, you probably know by now that I’m going to see moi Caprice/No & The Maybes at Toldkammeret tonight. As always it will be highly interesting to see the number of people showing up, as my (otherwise lovely) hometown never seems to be very good at embracing upcoming or little-known bands. In a way you can say that my hopes for tonight are split in two. Obviously it will be great if lots of people show up, which should improve the chances of either band returning some other time. Or perhaps even better encourage other bands to (at least) consider Helsingør as a serious option, when planning their tours. But on the other hand it’s always a cool and very intimate experience, when hardly anyone shows up, though this has to be extremely frustrating for the band(s). So as much as I’m hoping for a big crowd tonight, I feel rather certain that it will be an experience for the few.
+ To The Lighthouse
+ Drama Queen

The 38th song of the year by One Weekly Gun has been posted. He’s done an admirable job and now we’re all waiting for that New Years treat!
+ Seven Things I Hate

Nearly laughed my ass off. Just received a promo mail suggesting that I should check out the new track Just Impolite by Plushgun. Please, please, pretty please, check the mail guidelines before sending any promo mails. The person responsible for this definitely hasn’t wasted 10 seconds checking the blog before mailing. Otherwise she would have learned that I’ve featured the track in 3 (1,2,3) different blogposts as well as in this Støj På Frekvensen post. Frustrations aside, I do love the track immensely and don’t mind at all posting it once again!
+ Just Impolite

Plushgun - Just Impolite - The Video...

Every regular knows I love this song. The video is rather weird, but quite funny at the same time!
+ Just Impolite

Midweek musings...

I just don't get this! On my way home from work this Monday I (once again) heard Slave To Your Charms by Kind of girl on the radio (Danish P3). Well done! Last time I asked if the band was close to signing with a label the answer was negative. Not so well done I guess? But what exactly is preventing the labels from signing the band? One of their songs is played in primetime on the most popular radio station in Denmark! It's virtually impossible being more hyped than that; isn't it?
+ Slave To Your Charms (not the radio version)

The Airfields album Up All Night will be out on humblebee recordings on February 5.
+ Never See You Smile

US singer-songwriter Wil Deynes gives away his new EP Stay for free. This is nice, catchy and quite uncomplicated pop rock.
+ Super Wonderful
+ Stay EP (zip file)

This morning I’ve been listening over and over to the amazing indietronica track Just Impolite by Plushgun. I’m puzzled how I completely ignored this one in my 2007 in retrospect post. Amends made?
+ Just Impolite

Acoustic folk trio Navaro (the new band of HITC favorite Pete White) has recorded a beautiful version of PW's song For a While. Those harmonies are just lovely, lovely, lovely........
+ For a While

Monday Cleaning...

This morning I'm emptying the mailbox and listening my way through some of the MP3's that recently have been sent my way. Below I've posted some of the listenable ones (including a few words from the press material):

+ Pratique - Death For Blushing Rogue
"Formed this year, they set to creating the most melodic bass lines this side of disco, punchy, mathematical beats, and brilliant brit-pop inspired guitar work." Energetic. Very energetic!

+ Sick of Sarah - Bittersweet
"...an all-female band with catchy hooks, unique lyrics, and thoughtful, well-crafted music." Catchy hooks.....

+ Plushgun - Just Impolite
"...mix of indie rock sound with high-voltage electronic backbeats." I really like this one!

+ Nathan Holscher - Hard, High and Blue
"Working in the medium of acoustic Folk, yet transcending it within his smoky songwriting, Holscher paints vivid pictures within his songs, which are emotionally direct in their storytelling but spectral and airy in their sonic construction." Nice americana/rock folk track by US singer/songwriter.

+ Steve Goldberg And The Arch Enemies - Summer's Ending
"...is possibly the most elaborate, orchestrated indie-pop effort Pittsburgh has ever produced." Lovely pop tune.