20.01.10 @Barden's Budoir

I don't know how they do it, but the label "Erased Tapes" has got a keen sense of signing extraordinary artists. Codes In The Clouds represent with their post-shoegazing-drone-alternative-rock music the kind of cinematic musical style, that makes you think you're in a roller coaster. They do not only play a song, it feels like they create an atmosphere. Little by little this atmosphere intensifies until it explodes and knocks you off your feet.

http://www.myspace.com/codesintheclouds



Olafur Josephsson is the musical head of Stafrænn Hákon. The soundworld of the Icelandic musician is somewhere between Lo-Fi and ambient guitar rock. It was interesting to watch how he uses something like a pipe wrench to play his guitar, it almost reminded me of the German Krautrock band "Faust", but in a more dignified way (they used to play music with a concrete mixer, for instance). This state of trance music was only "interrupted" by the really beautiful voices of the bass player and one of the other guitar players (no names were available...)

http://www.myspace.com/shakon

You're waiting for a new Postal Service album? So do I, but I think after seven years it's time to give up (bad joke, I know). Anyway, Owl City with his album Ocean Eyes is a pretty good alternative. The sound is quite similar, a bit less creative and a bit more trendy. But the album works from the first to the last song.
Troubled by insomnia Adam Young aka Owl City started to make music in his parents' house basement. After uploading his songs on myspace, he was signed by Universal Republic. His single Fireflies became No.1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and the most downloaded song on iTunes.

So, if you like Tahiti80, James Yuill and of course, Postal Service, you should listen to Owl City.

http://www.owlcitymusic.com/home.aspx

http://www.myspace.com/owlcity

To be honest, this band is ridiculous.
They're young, cool, good looking and talented. I'm desperately trying to hate them, but no chance. The first single "Let's go surfing" has the best whistling part since "Young Folks" and is a hit or rather it will become one. The music is an intoxicating mixture of 50s surf pop, British invasion beat rock and 80s synthpop tunes. I presume they're on the way to become the new decade's "The Strokes". So, is this it? Yes, that's it. Buy it, listen to it, go and see them live, dance.

Download "Let's go surfing" for free:
http://rcrdlbl.com/download/The_Drums_-_Lets_Go_Surfing

You don't know what Disco Lento Deloroso is? Don't worry, most people don't. And you don't know the band Hurts? That's a shame and here's your chance to know better. Have a look at wikipedia, this will explain everything you need to know about Disco Lento. Trying to find out more about Hurts is a bit more complicated.

You can find them on myspace, but apart from the video for Blood, Tears & Gold, you'll find scarcely anything. And if you go to the band website, the name – informationhurts.com – says it all. It's just a link back to nothing. So you look on youtube and find the video for Wonderful Life. Alright, two good looking guys (Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson) in decent suits, who look and sound like a mixture of The Human League, Spandau Ballet and Zoot Woman.

This old fashioned synth pop transports you directly to the mid/late 80ies and after listening to Hurts, you'll feel the deep need to de-dust your Ultravox and Talk Talk vinyls. It's absolutely nothing new, but it's beautiful.

One thing is for sure: they won't remain a secret. They're playing a little tour, so see them live on February 24th @Wiltons Music Hall in London, on the 26th @Lido in Berlin or on the 27th @Gebaeude 9 in Cologne. The single Wonderful Life (Arthur Baker Remix) will be released on January 18th and definitely worth buying it!

http://www.informationhurts.com/

Three years have passed by since Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy released his last album Born in the UK. And with "Is there nothing we could do?" he made his second film score. There's no need to say many words about the film, because "The fattest man in Britain" is a mediocre comedy-drama-whatever, surprisingly about the the fattest man in Britain.

So let's stick to the album. It's no surprise either, but in a good way.
His songs are smooth but thrilling and the lyrics are often painful but swell.
Damon Gough proves one more time that he is an outstanding singer and songwriter with a unique style. Gone are the days, when he was compared to Beck, because of his way to merge apparently contradicting musical genres.

So, ignore the film quote samples in the songs and enjoy a selection of beautiful and timeless pop songs. Yummy!

http://www.myspace.com/badlydrawnboy

(and he made some of the funniest and most imaginative music videos ever, love them!)

Cai Marle-Garcia's debut album is like meeting an old friend after many years. He looks a bit different, but you'll definitely recognize him. And after a small talk everything is just like back in the ol' days and you wonder how you could ever forget about him.

Mr. Ears is an amazing piece of jazz fusion, this almost forgotten genre that combines jazz with rock, funk, world and electronic music elements. Although his influences are obvious (Weather Report and Miles Davis) it's contemporary jazz fusion. He creates a deep organic sound and his compositions sometimes hint at Krautrock or even House.

The 22 year old bass player is a pretty talented composer and an awesome musician.
The jazz scene will perk up its ears, no doubt.

http://caimarlegarcia.com/

Finding a little whip on your boyfriend's or girlfriend's bedside table can be a nasty surprise (unless you like to be beaten up). And reading about a new 4Hero remix album could have been the same. A real nasty surprise. But fortunately it's the opposite. No House-Dancefloor-Club-Disco remixes, but relaxed and chilled Nu Jazz sounds. Dego McFarlane and Marc Mac chose the artists, did some recording, mixing and co-producing and made a record that doesn't deserve the stamp "remix". These are twelve beautiful cover versions, sometimes light-years away from the original. Good to know that two pioneers remain true to themselves. Do something nobody expects, but everyone is waiting for.

The best thing about EBONY BONES!' debut album "Bone of my bones", is the fact, that all music critics will rack their brains to describe her style. At the end it will be something like "electronic punk-funk-rock". I recommend these people should face the truth: she gives a damn about genres. And how she does that, sounds and looks pretty good.



http://www.myspace.com/ebonybones




How do you make a traditional blackmail letter? Right, you cut several characters from different magazines, put them together again and create a new meaning. HUDSON MOHAWKES' debut "butter" is like a musical blackmail. And believe me, even if you'll pay the ransom, he won't release you.

http://www.myspace.com/hudsonmo




Cheers! THE NEW WINE is from the same growing area as "The Whitest Boy Alive", slightly less complexity and character, but a bit more tangy. Without a doubt a good vintage and THE NEW WINE will improve with age.

http://www.myspace.com/newwinemusic




Be quiet as a mouse, otherwise you might scare RAZ OHARA AND THE ODD ORCHESTRAS' second album (II) off. The finely wrought sound image made of acoustic pop elements, harmonic distortions, strings and loops must be treated gently. But if you do, it will unfold its full dramaturgical beauty.

http://www.myspace.com/razoharaandtheoddorchestra




If ALEXANDER WOLFE wouldn't have sold a Rembrandt Lithograph print, left to him by his grandfather in his will, to record his debut album "Morning brings a flood", we would definitely miss eleven shatteringly soulful folk pieces. Selling art to create art is sometimes necessary.



http://www.myspace.com/alexanderwolfe




The fact that WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS is a psychotherapist from Illinois who makes depressing folk music about love and loss, shouldn't keep you from buying his records. Far from it. His music is veritable, profound and beautiful. On top of this, he is one of the funniest and most honest people I've ever seen live.

http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons

http://www.williamfitzsimmons.com/




I dare say BEN HOWARD is the most impressive folk musician these days. This 22 year old guy has got a remarkable voice, a pretty unique way to play his guitar and writes outrageously beautiful songs. I'm almost scared, what he might be capable of doing in a few years. He will hopefully launch his album in 2010, so until then: buy his EP "These Waters" and watch him live, it's both worth it.

http://www.myspace.com/benhoward




The BEACONS are like Noah's Ark for weird instruments. Refreshingly folk-pop with a hawaiian touch in combination with harp sounds, xylophone, something like a triola and a strange voodoo puppet flute. Ship ahoy!

http://www.the-beacons.co.uk/




The sun is shining brighter, the people are happier and the grass is greener on the side where JONATHAN JEREMIAH songs are played. He's the misbegotten child of Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers. Pick some flowers, hug someone you don't know and watch out for his debut album "Fool in Love".



http://www.myspace.com/jonathanjeremiah

http://www.jonathanjeremiah.com/




I'm still trying to handle the fact that JOSE JAMES debut "The Dreamer" was a like a miracle for contemporary jazz. From the first to the last note an absolute pleasure to listen to. So, knowing that he will launch his second album "Blackmagic" in February 2010 gives me a sleep disorder. And if you listen to the new songs on myspace, you'll know what I mean. Enter at your own risk...

http://www.myspace.com/josejamesquartet

http://josejamesmusic.com/




A soundtrack is made as a musical background to a movie. Listening to OLAFUR ARNALDS, I wish someone would make a movie as a visual background to his music. It would be a depressing and sad love story, taking place in a cold snow-covered scenery and someone has to die in the end. But it would be a must-see, a critics' darling and a classic.



http://www.myspace.com/olafurarnalds

http://www.erasedtapes.com/




Last but not least I have to ask a really essential question: what happened to REMY SHAND?
This guy has been torturing me for seven years. Shortly after he released his debut album "The way I feel" in 2002, he disappeared from the face of the planet. Where? Why? How? Anyway, I hope he's currently preparing new songs and not burgers at McDonald's.