The West and independence for Tibet

My good friend Henrik wrote a really nice blog entry. I feel the need to share it with more people and I’m pretty sure he won’t mind. Anyway, I feel the exact same way and he just said it really well.
Critizing anyone you don’t benefit from is free. I’m tired of double standards and hypocrisy. It’s beneath us.

Lars

The West and independence for Tibet

Following the ongoing demonstrations for autonomy in Tibet, I must say that I am interested to see how Western leaders are going to react to the Tibetans desire to have their own countries.

When monks took to the streets in Myanmar (Burma) every Western leader stood up and condemned the Myanmar authorities for using violence against a peaceful demonstration and the military junta was once again told to set Aung San Suu Kyi free.

A few weeks ago the parliament in Kosovo declared independence from Serbia and the US along with most of its European allies welcomed Kosovo the world wide family of independent countries.

Now it is the Tibetans turn and where is the West?

The situation in Tibet is somewhat of a mixture of the situation in Myanmar and Kosovo. The demonstrators are monks who are walking peacefully in the streets as in Myanmar and the goal is independence or at least autonomy as in Kosovo.

Supporting the movements in Myanmar and Kosovo had no cost for the West. Neither Myanmar nor Serbia are important trade partners so the leaders of the West could take the moral high ground and show their sympathy for the people.

The situation in China is very different. China is one of if not the most important trade partner for the West and for some reason that gives the Chinese authority some kinds of carte blanche to violate human rights and to suppress it own people and the people of Tibet.

I am looking forward to hearing President Bush, Prime Minister Brown and representatives of the EU condemning China and if it was up to me a boycott of this summer’s Olympic Games would be in order.

---

Written by Henrik Nielsen
www.myspace.com/henriknielsen


Listening to right now:
Ani DiFranco: Educated Guess

Bush’s idea of democracy?

How on Earth can a supposedly democracy - with a president advocating it at every opportunity he has - suggest this? The arrogance is incredible.

U.S. urges Pakistanis to keep Musharraf, despite election defeat

The Bush administration is pressing the opposition leaders who defeated Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to allow the former general to retain his position, a move that Western diplomats and U.S. officials say could trigger the very turmoil the United States seeks to avoid.

U.S. officials, from President Bush on down, said this week that they think Musharraf, a longtime U.S. ally, should continue to play a role, despite his party's rout in parliamentary elections Monday and his unpopularity in the volatile, nuclear-armed nation.

Full story here.

Geiger reviews and recommends SOPA DELICIOSA!

A bit of SOPA news:

Denmark's best independent music magazine and webzine, Geiger, has reviewed SOPA DELICIOSA. A very positive review and also with a Geiger-recommendation.

"A monolith of a compilation. (...) SOPA DELICIOSA is one big homage to music. (...) Compiled with love as well as critical sense. (...) A generous mash-up of among other things lo-fi, electronica, singer-songwriting, hip-hop, indie/punk-hybrids and excentric excursions, which doesn't make sense to put in any boxes. It's like a mind-expanding mixtape!"
Writer Steffen B. Pedersen then singles out some of his favourite tracks. Like Big Daddy Mugglestone's opening accapella track which owes something to Frank Sinatra, but is still cheekily throw-away. Marzipan Marzipan's "The Love Song" which he counts among her best songs. He calls Le Fiasko "sublime" and their song "a true pearl". The slow haunting songs by The Sad Lovers and My Twin, he says reappear in his dreams. And Bleubird is a scoop on the compilation.
Even more so he gives his biggest applause to Andreas Hansn for his two contributions as A.K. Hansn and in front of hsi band Singvogel. "Essential", he writes. He concludes that these were his stand out picks among the 44 tracks and that SOPA DELICIOSA - delicous as it is - will not taste the same on two different tongues. He ends the review like this:
"If you like music in a wider sense - and even in a bizarre way - there is no excuse for not tasting this dish. And satisfied you will be - guaranteed."

Read the whole review in Danish here!


Listening to right now:
Billy Childish: Crimes of the Future (Crimes Against Music Blues Recordings 1986-99)

The best of 2007 - expanded

I figured I should add a few words to my favourites from the past year. And I suddenly remembered two more albums I feel needed mentioning. They are in no particular order (ranked or alphabetical).

PJ HARVEY - WHITE CHALK
Oh, I love her guitarplaying, so why do I dig this so much? Well, she's really going out on a limb here. I always respect artists who dare to challenge themselves. Like allowing themselves to present their virtuoso shortcomings from taking on a new instrument - in this case the piano. And actually also pushing her voice to where it hasn't been before.
I guess Brian Eno said it really well in an interview back in 1990:
"If you've been doing a certain type of work for a while, you're familiar with it, you're quite accomplished at it, it's no longer clumsy. But when you start something new it is very clumsy, and it has all sorts of failures built into it; it's ugly, actually, at the beginning. But I've learned to believe, to trust that that's where interesting things come from -- from something that is somewhat cumbersome and unshapely, but strong."

Listen


PANDA BEAR - PERSON PITCH
A bit of a hyped album this year. But deservedly so. If you don't like reverb on your vocals you better avoid this. It's all over it. But with loops, sampled beats and superb vocal harmonies Panda Bear manages to transfer some Beach Boys-qualities to the current musical flavour of 2007. And he does it damn well.

Listen

SHIT & SHINE - LADYBIRD
A limited pressing LP by a very noisy bunch of people. What really amazes me here is that this is basically ONE song for the entire album (which fades now and up again when you change from side A to B). The same guitar riff and heavy drum beat for the whole duration and various vocals and effects added along the way. Yes, I'm a sucker for cool beats. A very powerful piece of music that is best when played looouud.

Listen

BUSDRIVER - ROADKILL OVERCOAT
I've really been enjoying his previous albums and his latest was no disappointment. A bit smoother than usual, but still has a lot of edge. We need some people to push rap and hip-hop to new places. He is one of them.

Listen

BLEUBIRD - RIP U$A
Bleubird is the other rapper who I think is doing great things with hip-hop these days. His previous album, the debut "Sloppy Doctor", got me into the whole genre again after many years away from it (being turned off by way too much bling and a general status quo in the genre - not counting the Anticon label). Bleubird is really an adventurous fellow not shy of bringing in influences from other genres to his very personal style. And on top of that his lyrics are damn great. Lots of personality... and not much gangsta, thank goodness.

Listen

BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY - THE LETTING GO
Once I got used to Mr. Oldham doing much of this album as duets with Dawn McCarthy and smoothing things up with strings to his stripped down guitar arrangements I really started to dig it. He's got the knack for great melodies and lyrics too, and of course his voice is one of a kind.

Listen

DEERHOOF - FRIEND OPPORTUNITY
Despite one band member leaving Deerhoof are still going strong. They have their "trademark sound", but manage to be playful enough to apply some new angles to it. The first single "The Perfect Me" is a melodic beatfest and the minimalistic "Kidz Are So Small" is hugely enjoyable electronic diddy with severely funny lyrics. Once again the band makes an album that's a blast from start to finish.

Listen

VARIOUS / FOCUS JAZZ - MORE MODERN JAZZ FROM THE WEWERJA ARCHIVE 1966 -1969
A bit of an odd release among all the others mentioned here. It's only a 12-inch with three tracks on it. And I mostly just dig one of them. The one by Erich Ferstl. It's so amazing. I can believe that something like this was made so long ago. The beat, the vocals and the whole slooow feeling of it is mesmerizing. Get it before it's gone!

Listen

TENNISCOATS - TOTEMA AIMASHO
I had the pleasure of seeing this Japanese duo live in 2007 at the Roskilde Festival. Naivistic melodies, not very Japanese flavoured as such, but of course they can't escape the asian origin - especially in the vocals and lyrics department. An album you can really crawl into and feel the warmth.

Listen

MURCOF - COSMOS
Norman Records of the UK called this "The best thing to come out of Mexico since Mescal." I can't say I would know, but I certainly enjoy this album. Moving from beatless free-floating soundscapes over "orchestral" arrangements to minimalistic electronic beats Murcof has made an incredible journey - which especially with headphones sooths and pokes in the right places.

Listen

PAPER - AS AS
Hm, maybe minimalism is a bit of a theme for me this year? The arrangements of Paper do not wave their arms about in a big way, but their half acoustic, half electronic tunes is an experience that surely pleases a lot.
Released on the great Portland label States Rights Records.

Listen


And then I had the pleasure of releasing some music on my own label, SOPA , this year. And they have obviously meant a lot to me. It was a severe pleasure to put together a selection of super songs by MARZIPAN MARZIPAN. I can't get enough of her lo-fi pop with sensual voice and lyrics.

She also features - alongside 43 other artists - on the SOPA DELICIOSA compilation.

Listen to MARZIPAN MARZIPAN

Listen to SOPA DELICIOSA

That's it for now!

Lars

Comments

brittanybf says:
Granted, I'm not familiar with many of these bands, but it's pleasing to see you're into such a variety of music. I'm especially keen to check some of the hip hop albums you mention here. Great post, yo.

Capt Daydream says:
Oh, then be sure to check out Bleubird's "Sloppy Doctor" and Busdriver's "Temporary Forever" and "Cosmic Cleavage". :-)

An early video here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HpP-8tJ-9Js
You know the tune he stole, I'm sure, he-he.

Thanks for the comment!

Lars

Rear view mirror 2007

2007 is running out of days, so traditionally it's time to look back a bit. This being a 'mog' everything below is about music. The titles etc. on the lists below are in no particular order.

BEST RELEASES
PJ Harvey - White Chalk
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Shit & Shine - Ladybird
Busdriver - Roadkill Overcoat
Bleubird - RIP U $A
Bonnie Prince Billy - The Letting Go
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Paper - As As
Various/Focus Jazz - More Modern Jazz From The Wewerka Archive 1966-1969 (12")
Marzipan Marzipan - Marzipan Marzipan
Various Artists - SOPA DELICIOSA
The last two titles are from my own label, so obviously I'm biased, but I do count them among my favourite releases of 2007.

BEST LIVE EXPERIENCES
The Dirty Projectors at Loppen, Copenhagen, November 18
Maria Laurette Friis & Pamelia Kurstin at EnnaBella From Hell'a, Øst For Paradis, Aarhus, November 17
Jandek at Voxhall, Aarhus, November 11
Blob Back Fahrenheit at Rumstativ, Aarhus Festival Week, Spanien 19C Aarhus, September 8
Boredoms at Radiohusets Koncertsal, Copenhagen, August 12
Adrian Orange (Thanksgiving) at Forma Nova Festival, Fredericia, summer 2007
Yoyo-Oyoy: Kirsten Ketsjer The Rockband + Yoke & Yohs + Slütspürt) at Elektronisk Jazzjuice, Aarhus, summer 2007
KURvE at Schokoladen, Berlin, May 3

BEST READS
Irwin Chusid: Songs In The Key of Z - The Curious Universe of Outsider Music
Dan LeRoy: Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique
Anya Mathilde Poulsen: Feminint Forstærket - Syv samtaler med kvindelige musikere

THIS YEAR 'S NEW DISCOVERIES
The Dirty Projectors
Adrian Orange (Thanksgiving)
Shit & Shine
Paper
Howlin' Wolf (knew about him, but finally started diggin' into his stuff. Thanks, Polly Jean!)

THE YEAR 'S DISAPPOINTMENTS
Björk's album "Volta" - on which she invites plenty of superb musicians, but they're close to impossible to hear. Also she forgot to sing and instead chirped aimlessly. Been a fan for ages, but this time she lost the plot. An album with only three worthwhile songs. Not enough.
Radiohead: In Rainbows - on which the band apparently recorded it themselves and only let their regular producer mix it. Superb tunes, so-so lyrics (we get it, Thom, worms are icky) and sound that sounds more like it was assembled in a vacuum than actually recorded as a band. The album does not breathe at all. It's like the band wanted less multilayer texture this time and wanted to leave some room in the sound. But the room was empty (maybe they should leave ProTools at home and go put themselves in front of Steve Albini's mics and try and be a band in the studio too?). It's a shame, because the songs really deserve to breathe. The album is better than most could do, yes, but this is Radiohead. And they can do better than this. "You used to be alright - what happened?", they sing. Yes, indeed. But far from as big a letdown as Björk, which I still don't understand completely. They don't seem to have lost the plot in regards to composition. Still, not much new under the sun... "Bodysnatchers" sounds like the bastard son of the two old b-sides "Palo Alto" and "Cuttooth". Radiohead could have done better by just recording these songs properly and maybe poke Thom a bit in the lyrics department. And yeah, still bought a ticket for their Berlin show. Still a fan, but somewhat disappointed. The live show must be breathing, I'm thinking.
Scout Niblett live at Loppen, Copenhagen, on December 6. Going on stage drunk trying to start playing a handful of songs, not getting through a single one, and then walking off stage after an embarrasing 15 minutes. Too bad, it was only her that thought it didn't sound good. She must have it more hardwired in her spine than she thinks herself. An evening both artist and audience would like to forget, I'm sure.
A letdown, obviously, as I had been looking forward to the show for months. That is never part of any refund.
KURvE decided to call it a day. I'm okay with it, but damn, they were one of my favourite bands.

That was all for now. :-)

Happy new year!

Lars

Comments

Sturgell says:
I still have yet to listen to White Chalk all the way through. Bold statement that it tops your list! I'll take the recommendation to heart, thanks.

regards

Capt Daydream says:
Yeah, it's first on the list, but as I wrote "The titles etc. on the lists below are in no particular order." ;-) Still, I rank it among the best of 2007, yes.

Thanks for the comment!

Lars

Getting back to what it's about - music cannot be bought

Artist: Radiohead

My recent post on the whole Radiohead discussion really resulted in some interested comments. Thanks, folks!

Articles on the band's decision have also made it to the Danish newspapers, obviously, and so far critics of Radiohead have been quoted for good measure ("fair and balanced"), but a sympathy for the band - and not the business - has been at the core of every piece I've read so far.

I guess most people are sick of the business, its ridiculous witchhunts and its clawing to an antiquated business model. No one likes a sore loser. The biz dug its own hole.

Anyways, not very nice to kick someone who's already down, so on we go...

I was watching a program from those Lonely Planet folks today (a part of the series called "6 Degrees", I believe). The enthusiastic traveller Toby was in Havana. Obviously he had to check out some of the local music. The young stuff, though, not Buena Vista Social Club.

So what does this have to do with Radiohead? I don't mean to make this a discussion of capitalism vs. communism. And I don't mean to sound like a hippie or something (but I might).

In the program we saw bands playing. For the heck of it, I suppose. And one of the musicians said:

Music cannot be bought

Music needs to be appreciated

Music needs to be done with the heart

Music is sacret

Yeah, as simple as that. And it sounded natural coming from a person in that environment. But the fact that he needed to state it means he knew about the big machinery that has a negative effect on music.

A utopian thought? Well, these guys were doing it. Right there on the film. There was no commercial machine around them dictating anything.

How naive that might sound to ears from this part of the world I felt it really hit the nail on the head.

If you look at man's total length of musical history then for how long has music been a product, something you paid for? Only a fraction (the most of the 20th century). Sure, musicians through time got money for their services, but bare with me.

Radiohead's step - and whoever "smaller" acts who have tried the same before them - has given us a chance to really reflect on music as a whole.

In western society we have been used to the fact that everything costs money (even love, some might argue?). Capitalism indoctrination, the left-wing conspiracy theorist might say. Society's evolution, others might say. Whatever it may be we have now been given a wake up call. Let's take this moment, pause, and think about what music really is.

Communication, I guess. On a non-verbal emotional level that resonates in all human beings no matter what colour and creed.

And now I really start to sound like a hippie, he-he. But what the hell, let's let that well-meaning lil' bugger inside come out and stomp on the cigar of Mr. Money for a little while... and get back to what it's all about. The music. Free of commerce. Free of society's norms which we have for so long accepted as "just they way things are".

Okay, I'll tumble a bit more with this thought on my own. It's a nice feeling. There are some interesting perspectives. Got some funny ideas how musicians could work in the future.

Man, I gotta go to Havana, he-he.

Comments

Me and the Horse I Rode In On says:
Really good post.

BgFOOT323 says:
nice

Just a short post here to spread the word on this great band, because they are touring Denmark at the moment. And doing that very well, I suspect. A superb live act which I hope to catch some time at the end of their tour - at one of the Copenhagen area venues.

Speaker Bite Me had a bit of a comeback this year after members spending some years with solo projects of different kinds. Denmark's "grand old" indie rock band, so to speak. Came back to prove they're not afraid to try out new things. This time around: catchy pop. Speaker Bite Me-style, that is. The album is called "Action Painting". Years earlier they among others released the album "If Love Is Missing It Must Be Imposed" which was a more guitar-based deal. What can I say? Check 'em both out. Or more. They got a little handful of albums to their name. Their two singers have released albums as Martin Ryum and Jomi Massage.

Have a listen to the mp3 "Teach Me Tiger" below. A difficult choice between this track and "Belle De Boskop". So do yourself the favour and go to their MySpace at listen to that one too.

www.myspace.com/speakerbiteme

www.speakerbiteme.com

Comments

Girlcrawl says:
Fabulous; diggin' their 'catchy pop' sound. Appreciate the post. Cheers.

So bands have to produce quality music now? Oh no!

Radiohead's surely the talk of the town these days for allowing people to pay nothing for downloading their new album "In Rainbows". A gutsy move - and I would say more than a we-did-it-first marketing gimmick.

A bold statement, yes. Someone big had to try it out. I hindsight, it being Radiohead seems natural, logical. Throwing a wrench in the corporate engine, giving hardcore capitalism a punch in the nose.

Of course, Thom & Co won't go to bed hungry because of this. They have their strong fanbase who will surely pay at least a bit for the mp3s. Or of course the £40 box with everything. Why not? They're likable lads too.

In articles published at the moment some argue that the band can only do this because they are that big. Yes, that makes sense. Unknown bands might suffer from this move, these people say. But... what do these newcomers get in the first place when signing to a label? Not much. Are they better off without a label? Might be. We'll see. Radiohead started something new on that level yesterday.

Radiohead fansite Ateaseweb quotes The Times:

"What this move really relies on though, is the notion that between Radiohead and their fans is a collateral of trust and, dare the term be uttered, decency. Whilst that collateral might not be there between, say Sugababes and their fans, it's the very thing that has propelled Radiohead to this point of unprecedented autonomy."

I've been saying for years that if you can't get people to pay for your music (and they download it instead) it's because it doesn't mean anything to them. It doesn't have any value. Be it emotional or artistic. If people just use music as background noise (when vacuuming cleaning?) then they're not listening anyway. Fine with me!

Try comparing to other products? Just a thought: Does a Ferrari cost the same as a Toyota? Easy answer.

So I'm thinking: Does this mean that musicians will have to make music that matters now? Something that really reaches people on a deeper personal level than just aspiring to be moneymaking background noise? Oh no! If Sugacubes and their kind will be out of a job... you won't find me shedding a single tear. Maybe it'll get them working harder to actually produce something of value? Now that would be a positive effect.

With all this colourful, but tasteless confetti out of the way new artists might even have it easier finding an audience. And if their material is a strong enough they will surely capture our hearts if they deserve to do so.

If Radiohead's new approach will get those results I am already hoping for a better world, happier ears and healthier minds.

Personally I'm just curious about what this will lead to. I'm an optimist. In this case I'll pay that extra buck to drive in the Ferrari.

Hallelujah!

Comments

Cody B says:
Asuming a level fan base for all bands..will the best bands rise to the top? Or the ones that are best at marketing?

Capt Daydream says:
Time will tell, I guess. One thing I'm sure of: we're entering more interesting times. :-) I'm cheering for music over marketing. I guess the point is that marketing got a bit of competition now, which is good.

CapnBozo says:
Bands don't make money on CD's anyway. It's all about the tours and the t-shirts, etc.

Capt Daydream says:
True. Which is why labels try and get a large percentage of that these days, I've heard. A new role for the label. About time they realize. Odd how something that revolves around art can be so conservative.

Funny how the the people who are complaining that "consumers" won't take music seriously (as a product) are the ones who watered down music to begin with. I mean, if you shit in your own backyard it's gonna stink in your house sooner or later.

Torch says:
While I mark this as a great leap for artists and their art, I doubt it will be the label-obliterating fire sale that many hope for. The major label music industry is too heavy-handed (and profitable, mind you) to fall completely.

Will this force some semblance of change? I think so. Will it be an industry "reset button?" I doubt it.

Great read!

Capt Daydream says:
Thanks. And I agree with you. You don't kill a mammut with one arrow. :-) I take this as a step in the right direction, though. Gives me hope in some way. For music as a true artform heard by more than the very few.

L

loyalty says:
It gives me hope too. There are many independent bands that offer their music for free online. I remember that 90's alternative band Harvey Danger made a new album about 2 years ago and they offered it for free online (it was a pretty good album, too). Radiohead may not be the first, but they are the most popular to try it so far.

I hope this is successful for them and that it will stand as an example to other mainstream musicians.

freakapotimus says:
@loyalty: that's the example I was just thinking. When Harvey Danger released "Little by Little" over their website a couple years ago, I grabbed it, thinking it would be nice to have in my collection. But it quickly became one of my favorite albums. And in connection with what Capt Daydream originally posted, I then paid for it. Yeah, I already had the album, yeah I liked it, but when they came to Philly I put my $10 down and bought the album--the same album I'd already played on my iPod a million times. It's because I care about the music and I want the band to know I care.

The girls like 'em short

"I realize the reason I like playing records (as opposed to CDs) is that they're short: they stop after 20 minutes. I want less music."

Brian Eno wrote that in his published diary "A Year With Swollen Appendices" in 1995. A quote I have never forgotten. I guess, another writing of the good ol' "quality over quantity" deal.

PJ Harvey's brand new album "White Chalk" is a fine example of this. First time I put on the LP it was on the wrong speed. It's on 45 RPM 's. Don't think I've seen that before with an album.
Anyways... instant positive reaction! I expected it to be good, but that it might take some getting used to. But no. Especially the title track.

Also, brave of Polly Jean to take on a new instrument, the piano, and the challenge that presented.

Hm, two Eno quotes in one post would be overdoing it, but another one seems to fit...

"If you've been doing a certain type of work for a while, you're familiar with it, you're quite accomplished at it, it's no longer clumsy. But when you start something new it is very clumsy, and it has all sorts of failures built into it; it's ugly, actually, at the beginning. But I've learned to believe, to trust that that's where interesting things come from -- from something that is somewhat cumbersome and unshapely, but strong."

And strong is exactly what "White Chalk" is.

Get's me thinking about another great - and short - album by a fantastic female artist. Nina Nastasia's "Run To Ruin". Also clocks in just over the half hour mark. Ethereal stuff, just like PJ's latest.

Comments

Treppenwitz says:
Regarding the shorter album phenomena: I also hate the re-released CDs with "bonus tracks" appended to the end of the album. Bowie's "Low" and Frith's "Gravity" come to mind. It's like ending a great nine course meal with a plum tart and Armagnac, then having the waiter show up offering the vegetable course again, but stir fried this time.

Capt Daydream says:
He-he, the vegetables made me laugh. :-)

I don't know how I feel about the "Low" bonus tracks. The "Sound & Vision" remix is horrible, but the other tracks are good. Don't know if they were available anywhere else. Probably not. Then maybe a bonus disc would be the solution? Anyway, on the more recent 24 bit remastered cds the bonus tracks were gone again.

Another natural angle on the short vinyl album thing would be the dividing into A and B sides.

L

SOPA Night #2 online video & photo feature

I just uploaded a major feature on the SOPA site from our latest label night. Some really great blackn'n'white photographs by Steffen "Jint" Jørgensen and a lot of live videoes from all the different performances. Yeah, spoken word, nursery rhymes, old school dirty rock'n'roll, feedback noise with drum machine mayhem and believe it or not... some kind of acid house.

It's all along this way...

www.sopa.dk/features/009.htm

You can see more of Steffen "Jint" Jørgensen's work at www.jint.dk

Enjoy!

Scout Niblett: Tour and album

That wonderful Scout Niblett is on the move again. The first single "Dinosaur Egg" is already out and the album, "This Fool Can Die Now", is out on October 15th.

She starts touring the US in October and then crosses the pond to the UK and the rest of Europe. Already got my ticket for the Copenhagen show (at Loppen in Christiana).

Curious about the whole album. The single is great and the new songs at her MySpace suggest a new direction. One foot in her past while taking a bold step onward (and hey, that's gotta be Will Oldham on there too).

Her previous album, "Kidnapped By Neptune", was overall a more grunge-like affair. And an absolutely superb effort. Her best since the debut "Sweet Heart Fever". Her new one sounds like it's not going to disappoint. Yummy. She's the one with the poms poms now.

Myspace with four new songs:
www.myspace.com/scoutniblett

Snippet from "Dinosaur Egg":
www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=34719

Two nice videos:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uq-kxAH1_KY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XDrTL-WD95U

Dinosaur egg oh dinosaur egg
When will you hatch?
Cause I got a million people coming on Friday
And they expect to see a dinosaur not an egg

Two times magic Liz on 7's

Just got myself two very nice 7-inches. Interesting female vocalists and nice arrangements. The 7-inch is a wonderful medium to make one (and the artist?) focus on the qualities of one song.

Liz Green has released "Bad Medicine" with "French Singer" as the b-side. Guitar, voice and double bass. Nice and simple. The sound has the old dusty feeling to it and Liz' voice in that mix recalls some of the old jazz singers of pre-war times. Still, she has that semi-meowing of the voice that one could say is also present at CocoRosie. This is still different, though. Very traditional, yes, but also very strong. Warm, charming and catchy. Both songs are at Liz' Myspace right now. And the 7-inch is still available straight from the label Humble Soul. And as digital download, by the way.

www.myspace.com/lizgreenmusic
www.humblesoul.net

ancy Elizabeth has an album and more than one single out. Haven't checked it all out yet. The single "Hey Son" deserves a recommendation, though. A different approach than Liz Green, but no less mesmerizing. Starting out quiet and then climaxing in a great multi-layered arrangement. The b-side, "Live By The Sea" is more stripped down with voice and floating accordion chords.
The a-side is playing at her MySpace. The b-side has a snippet at Boomkat.

www.myspace.com/nancyelizabethcunliffe
www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=42940

Good songs. The kind that can make you stare out in space late at night. And really dig the moment.
Happy listening,
Lars

In the age of the digital - LP is king!

I kinda had the feeling. Been buying more and more vinyl - old and new - this last couple of years.

A website called Crave has this little article on the subject.

Yup, there you go. Vinyl sales are up. I guess it will always be around. The cd on the other hand has been overrun by the iPod and its colleagues.

One of my first DJ gigs earlier this year finally convinced me of vinyl's qualities, even though I've been enjoying it for years. I was switching between CDs and LPs when DJ-ing. And the gear wasn't even that brilliant (the turntable, anyway). When playing it was crystal clear. The sound of vinyl had... body. The digital sound... hadn't. Simple as that. Still, I was actually surprised at the big difference. Hadn't expected it. Figured that was something for the fine-tuned ears of really snobby nerds (I can hear them already: "Told you so!"). But no. It was clearly audible. It was physical.

Mind you, I still listen to digital. My discman died a few years ago and I then bought an mp3 player (not an iPod. A Roland Edirol R-09. The one I was waiting for). A nice to have gadget when being out and around (tuning out kids on trains and other people with lack of social skills). But at home and when DJ-ing. Vinyl is the thing. No doubt about it.

So what's your preference - and why?

Lars

PS: Thank's to Lenny of Fallen Men for the article link.

Comments

Bartleby says:
I prefer my jazz and classical music on vinyl, especially the former. I like the static and noises that sort of graft themselves onto the music giving the whole listening experience the oomph you miss with pristine crystal digital sound. SACD are supposed to be THE standard for classical recordings, I still prefer the few vinyl LP I have back from the 60s and 70s.

For convenience, you can't beat mp3s or other lossy formats... A lot bulky than a turn-table

Capt Daydream says:
He-he, keeps the hazy atmosphere of jazz. On classical I guess it maintains the body, the fullness, as I would expect that genre would benefit from crystal clear sound?

Can't beat rock, hip-hop and experimental stuff on it either. Especially the latter often only release on vinyl, so it's a given with those. :-)

L

Treppenwitz says:
IEEE Spectrum recently had a great piece http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/aug07/5429 on over-compression in modern music. One thing they note is that vinyl doesn't deal well with sustained high volumes that result when the mastering engineer compresses the hell out of the music. Consequently, the mastering for vinyl is often less compressed and breathes more than something mastered for digital media.

Here's a cool illustration of the phenomena:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

Together with Anne Brønsted (singer in Our Broken Garden and The Sad Lovers - the latter along side Sara) and Hanne Tjessem (concert organizer) they will put i it all together using the city's nice, old art cinema Øst For Paradis for the event.

The festival - called Enna Bella From Hell'A - happens on Saturday November 17th.

So far three acts are confirmed: Taxi Taxi!, Wet Dog and Maria Laurette Friis (of Tys Tys) who will do a special show with theremin player Pamelia Kurstin. The rest of the programme is under wraps for now. But it will probably be a very interesting selection of exciting acts.

Yes, four great gals with superb taste in music is putting all this together in one of the nicest places in Aarhus. So, all you need to know is... that you gotta go. If you want to read a bit more before that you can visit:

www.ennabellafromhella.dk and www.myspace.com/ennabellafromhella

See you there? Good!

Lars

I haven't got any finished songs or tracks that I can play live!

Oh well, it's ONLY a month or so away. [irony alert!]

Don't yet know what I should do.

Lars

Comments

Me and the Horse I Rode In On says:
Maybe I'll come join you.

Capt Daydream says:
Yeah, drop by and have a laugh. But joining me on stage would be outside the concept, he-he. :-)

Even if I suck there are other great artists performing. Probably Marzipan Marzipan and Golden Diskó Ship.

L

Some live video from wonderful Berlin

Artist: KURvE + Marzipan Marzipan



What to do with one's weekends? Well, this one went with finally sorting out the video I shot in Berlin back in May. Two great nights of music there.

On May 3rd KURvE and Marzipan Marzipan played a show at the great venue Schokoladen - alongside local Golden Diskó Ship.

The day after SOPA had its first label night. This was at Ausland and the program included KURvE, 9, AnimalLovers and Agata & Me. Marzipan Marzipan joined 9 for a lovely duet, A.K. Hansn joined KURvE for a drunken duet and I was spinning some nice records in-between all the live music.
The whole trip was fantastic. The weather was brilliant, the food and drinks were good and new friends were made in the process.

I put the videos on YouTube and embedded them on a SOPA page alongside several pictures...

www.sopa.dk/features/008.htm

I never really seem to tire from seeing balkan punk band KURvE perform live. They ARE friends of mine, but they are such a damn good live act. So crazy, so energetic and well, so melodic in their own strange way. One's feet gotta move somehow. And I'm no dancer. :-)

Enjoy!

Lars

Comments

Treppenwitz says:
Wow, KURvE is great! I love rockin Balkan music. Schokoladen looks like a cool venue. Too bad I missed that one when I was there last year, but I did manage to get to Ausland. It's a strange little venue, but very interesting line-ups.

Capt Daydream says:
Yeah, KURvE they really rock. And yes, Schokoladen is seriously cozy. Alongside Antje Öklesund probably one of the two nicest venues I've been to in Berlin.

--> www.antjeoeklesund.de

Ausland's got great music, but not really the same "ambience". :-)

L

Talent makes all the difference

Artist: Blob Back Fahrenheit



So much music, so little time. I guess I'll write about bits of the recent shows I've attended.

Today I spent a lot of the day doing video recordings of last week's fantastic Blob Back Fahrenheit gig. I put it all on YouTube (the band said okay).

Funny how these kinds of improv bands work. The drummer unfortunately couldn't make the gig, so they had another one onstage. And this is where the talent makes all the difference. Not just technical prowess on the instruments, but the ability to communicate in the now. Not just in tune, but tuned in. They setp up with a vague idea, I suppose, and then let things happen right then and there. So despite bringing on an unrehearsed drummer they put on an amazing show. A show much different than the last one I saw with them. And probably different from the next one they'll do.

All the videos (which turned out rather well, I think) can be seen at the band's website:
www.blob-back-fahrenheit.com

But here are the direct YouTube links in case you want to go that way:

Part 1:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2IDUgFF2U
Part 2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cQlobeN1f8
Part 3:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY9u6PAxNOM
Part 4:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhp9ZXwgdWA
Part 5:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWiL_jKLOpU

Yeah, not for the squeamish. Enjoy!

Lars

Artist: Under Byen



Tomorrow Thursday Under Byen play the first of six gigs on their small Danish autumn tour. I'm quite curious whether they'll play material or not. It would seem like the natural thing at the moment. Exciting.

These are the coming September dates:

13: Stars, Vordingborg
14: Lyd & Litteratur, pAKHUSET, Aarhus
15: Studenterhuset, Aalborg
27: Store Vega, Copenhagen
28: Tapperiet, Køge
29: Toldkammeret, Helsingør

I plan to check out three of them (Vordingborg, Copenhagen and Køge).

See you around?

L

Comments

Me and the Horse I Rode In On says:
Århus....maybe. Timing is not right these days.

I was told that the SOPA label night went well. I was there myself, but I guess I'm not cut out to be an organizer (at the moment, anyway). I get to easily stressed out, I think. Felt like it went okay, but I wasn't able to enjoy it to the extent I had hoped.

Keeping a cool head for the rushed soundchecks, setting up the DJ gear (which caused some problems), playing the DJ part and making sure the bar had what it needed (like change for starters!) and everything. All at the same time. What timing. Johan offered to take the bar. No questions. What a relief. And after Emir and Agata finished their great show they took the bar the rest of the night. There really weren't any other people to do it. I didn't manage to gather more for the job. And these two lovely people did not complain.

Still, there were wonderful moments of music that night, despite my head being everywhere else, of course. And people seemed to enjoy it, so I'll lean on their reaction.

Even after many "sorry-sorry-sorry's" I felt I had to buy Emir and Agata dinner at a nice Aarhus café the day after. What a lovely day, it was, actually. Johan will get more thanks later, somehow.

Well, all I wanted to shout out here was: Emir, Agata and Johan, you rule! Beyond the call of duty. So yeah, with friends like these... "grateful" is a word that does not fully cover. The best moments in life is when you experience these things in your fellow man or woman. And then aspire to be inspired by them to do likewise.

I'll write some more about the actual music of this past weekend soon. Probably with some pictures and some video.

Catch ya' later!

Comments

kristiana says:
Those are indeed the best moments.
I'm sure it went well - it's difficult for perfectionists to ever accept that it was as good as it was? Good luck in the future! Looking forward to the review.

Capt Daydream says:
Thanks for the comment. :-)

I guess one wants to have things work out perfectly. With my head around all these things I don’t think I’d notice if they were perfect. Or close to perfect. :-)

I was working within a framework of other people (lovely too) which made me dependent on others. They acted professional and did eveything they should. I think, I just get confused to easily these days.

I’m just thinking that some years ago I did something similar that felt better somehow and then I was in charge of it all. It’s not a question of not wanting to rely on others actually, but more that better preparation on my part, if possible, would have given me a better experience.

Oh, what the hell am I talking about? Everything is clearer in the rearview mirror and it was a great night. So enough about that. Just had to give credit where it’s due.
The next night I could just relax and enjoy the music, which was great. Blob Back Fahrenheit and Grey Daturas were super. More about that later. ;-)

A.K. Hansn (of Singvogel) and Nils Gröndahl (of Under Byen) from SOPA will be performing. As will other acts. I'm both excited and... well, y'know, as an organizer things hopefully to go as smooth as possible, so yeah, there's that kind of slightly anxious type of "excited" too.

Website with info: www.rumstativ.dk

www.sopa.dk/nilsgrondahl

www.sopa.dk/akhansn

See you on the other side! ;-)

Comments

Me and the Horse I Rode In On says:
Sorry I can't be there. Another time!

Nevertheless...

One of the four promo videos for the coming I Am Bones album totally cracks me up. I don't know if it's because I know the guy, but I find it F'ing funny.

You can download it here:
www.iambones.dk/video/4.WMV

The other three are also at www.iambones.dk

Remember the movie "Waterworld"? The one where Kevin Costner plays Mad Max on water. I seem to remember back when it was in production that the floating set was hit by a storm and got destroyed - thus making it the most expensive movie at the time, or something like that.

Well, I think I've found the sets that flew away. They have washed ashore on the harbour in Aarhus, Denmark.

Just kidding. But I really couldn't shake the image when I saw the amazing makeshift contruction of recycled wood that makes up the Rumstativ right now (it translates roughly as "space frame").

Last weekend there was superb. Good vibes and great bands. Saturday saw great performances by Per Hoier, Singvogel and Ear And Dark. A strange mix of brit-style 80's melancholy pop, trashy rock with brass, woodwind and disturbing Danish lyrics, and mathpunk with wonderfully hysterical Pixies-undertones.

You can have a listen here:
www.myspace.com/eardark
www.myspace.com/singvogel
www.myspace.com/perhoier

On Friday I put on a label night of my own and Saturday the adventurous organizers LJUD put on a show.

Read more at www.rumstativ.dk and www.sopa.dk .

Comments

Treppenwitz says:
Nice to see you had a showcase for SOPA . Have you done this sort of thing for your label before?

Liking that Ear and Dark, too. Sorta like Red Krayola or maybe even No Means No.

Capt Daydream says:
Yeah, we had a label night in Berlin back in May. Great night. Superb couple of days in that wonderful city. Hoping to get some pictures and a video feature online soon.

I put a few single songs on YouTube from the two shows down there that weekend:

KURvE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INcY10639_4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT4WgrWn1iU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71vLdQAS7Y8

Marzipan Marzipan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E91SRQMN48
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX-9rxoxUk4

Thanks for the band references. Maybe time to finally get into No Means No. I've known about them for years, but never gotten around to properly stumble into them.

L

Capt Daydream says:
Oh, and the SOPA label night is this Friday. Hasn't happened yet. I'll be sure to document it well with pictures, video and sound. :-)

L

Artist: Blob Back Fahrenheit
Album: Live at Pandahaus 2006
Track: Obnoxinus (Live)

I realized today that the mp3 of Blob Back Fahrenheit I uploaded to my Mog the other day might not have made the best connection with the Sonic Youth reference. So I'll upload another - longer - one today that's more in that vein - while still being uniquely Blob, I think.
I really love the ending where that twirly drum thing really gets going with all the sounds on top. Great climax.

The last of the three mp3s from the show can be downloaded at www.blob-back-fahrenheit.com - it exceeds the Mog limit of 15 mb, so you won't find it here. The one below was 14.23 mb. Phew!

Enjoy! :-)

Artist: Under Byen

On the occasion of Under Byen playing a unique duet concert this Thursday in their hometown of Aarhus - featuring singers they have covered over the years - I'll link to a video that I shot of them live last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlqLsb_yeGo

I tried to embed it directly, but apparently it won't play, hence the link.

For more info (in Danish) on the show visit www.aarhusfestuge.dk

The better Sonic Youth from Denmark



So, I'm at this party at a friend's appartment in Berlin back in May of 2006...

And so the story begins.

It was a small flat. One room, a very small hall and a kitchen. But with the greatest "ambiance", if that's the word.

No place is too small for music. And so, indeed several musical acts were invited to play. Even a full rock quartet. Okay, the drummer had to make do with a snaredrum, a cymbal and the bassdrum pedal pumping the snaredrum case. But he was (and is) one of the best drummers around, so that didn't turn out to be a drawback.

They launched into a groovy hook and then evolved into a whirlwind of percussion, feedback noise and over-the-top vocals in their intense, but less than half hour long set.

The had just begun playing when it hit me that, hell, I should turn on the minidisc and mic. Today I'm glad I did. What a gig.

We were just 10 or 15 people in the audience. If that. Which I guess, was all that could fit in the room anyway.
A few from the audience joined in on little things and toys, but the four people on the zero centimeter tall stage commanded my full attention.

The name?

Blob Back Fahrenheit.

The sound was way more out there than some of the old mp3s I remembered hearing online some time earlier. This music was happening, being born, then and there, in the moment. Yeah, I had had a few beers, but the music hit me right in the heart, the head, all senses. A tidalwave of musicality washed over me.

Later I got in touch with them again. Then helped with making a temporary band site (it's still there). I put the live recordings on there. Haven't heard them play live since. They are all involved in so many other bands that it seems that Blob Back Fahrenheit shows are rare occasions. And who are they?

The drummer has performed with folks like David Thomas of Pere Ubu and Norway's amazing (and Sonic Youth-collaborating) saxplayer Mats Gustafsson. The guitarists and bassplayers play in bands like Kirsten Ketsjer The Rock Band, Joy Lieberkind, I Got You On Tape, Murder, Moi Caprice, Frisk Frugt and many more. The singer is performing now and then in the Danish jazz circuit with Jesper Zeuthen and others.

A German reviewer wrote of a previous gig that "Sie sind die besseren Sonic Youth aus Dänemark" - which explains the title of this post. A statement that of course raises expectations somewhat. Still, despite Sonic Youth being "the untouchable indie gods" I am not disagreeing with it.

So why am I writing about them now? Well, they finally got another gig lined up. And I'm going. You should too.

September 8th at the Rumstativ events on Aarhus harbour (Kalkværksvej, Spanien 19C) during the Aarhus Festival Week. They play along Australian band Grey Daturas and LJUD are the organizers.

You can listen to the recording done at the Berlin appartment at:
www.blob-back-fahrenheit.com

And check out my pictures from it here:
www.larsdideriksen.com/photo/0003panda.htm

They got their older and more song-oriented album tracks here:
www.yoyooyoy.dk
www.myspace.com/blobbackfahrenheit