Stylized in all lowercase, girl in red‘s we fell in love in october is the indie pop project of Norwegian artist Marie Ulven Ringheim. Ringheim is often cited as one of the most promising new artists, and is frequently dubbed as a queer icon.
Read More »girl in red: we fell in love in october (Vinyl)
About a month ago, I played “Chameleon” by Therese Aune on my weekly KSVR radio show. I remember the song being as lovely orchestral folk-pop with a strong European influence. Hailing from Norway, her track fit nicely amidst songs by Lou Doillon and Cheyenne Mize. Now that I have her new LP in hand, I have to revise my previous presumptions. In particular, I must add a word: Therese Aune’s music is haunting. Read More »Therese Aune Creates Haunting Orchestral Pop
Along the Oregon coast protrudes a giant, monolith called Haystack Rock. Standing 235-feet tall, it is the easily the most defining item in Cannon Beach, giving the seaside town a short drive south from Astoria its fame. I know the Cannon Beach (and surrounding) area quite well from my childhood, having spent several week-long summer vacations along the northern Oregon coast in the late ’80s. Read More »Cannon Beach: Concrete, People And Things (Album Review)
Listening to Put Your Hands Up For Neo-Tokyo, abbreviated PYHUFNT, I’m reminded of Danish dream-pop outfit Sleep Party People. PYHUFNT has a similar style of indistinct, higher-pitched vocals backed by dreamy, dark electro-pop. “State of No Connection” is the band’s new track from PYHUFNT and in it you’ll hear everything from soft, dreamy synth notes to monumental percussion. Read More »Put Your Hands Up For Neo-Tokyo: State of No Connection
Until The Light Takes Us documents the rise in popularity of Norwegian black metal and death metal in the early 90s. Based loosely around two instrumental band members of Darkthrone, the film peeks into the origins but focuses heavily on the cultural aspect that, politically, turned the country into a frenzy. While never really skewing one way or another, Until The Light peers into the somewhat torn soul of Fenriz, who focuses all his energy and passion on the music he creates. Throughout the film, we come to understand that Fenriz lives for the music and get the impression that he struggled greatly with the political leanings of Varg Vikernes of Burzum, who was sentenced to prison in 1993 for 21 years after being convicted of murder and several counts of arson. Read More »Until The Light Takes Us [Video Review]
The self-titled release by I Was A King was pretty solid, but Old Friends is another beast entirely. The album… Read More »I Was A King: Old Friends [Album Review]
Casiokids‘ “Finn Bikkjen!” is a video about a man and his dog. On his dreamscape journey attempting to catch his best friend, he comes across strange dancers. From there, things get a little weird. The video goes well with the Casiokids style of psychedelic electro pop. “Finn Bikkjen!” lives up to the band’s recent hype, collecting hip beats and fronting it with their Norwegian tongue. The result is a fun tune, a fun video, and an exciting new band. Read More »Casiokids: Finn Bikkjen! [Video]
To celebrate Silence Is Sexy’s full year of success after 2009’s Euronet sensation This Ain’t Hollywood, the Netherlands’ finest group has developed quite a treat for the listeners they picked up over the last 365 days or so. Teaming up with the fantastic Cuban Royal Republican Orchestra, these electro-rockers have developed the very cleverly titled EP, This Is Hollywood. Their high paced energy and strong verbal stamina can now be heard in an all new fashion — one which prefers tears way over fears. Read More »Silence Is Sexy & The Royal Republican Orchestra: This Is Hollywood EP [Album Review]
Consider expectations defied. Black Feather seemed like such a folk-worthy name; to a somewhat minor extent, Black Feather fulfills folk sensibilities, but the emphasis is minor. The same can be said for pop, though to an even lesser extent. Where this band comes full circle, however is in combining these two genres with experimentation. There’s a weighty portion of eclecticism here that simply cannot be denied. Read More »Black Feather: Silhouette [Album Review]
