Monday 29 March 2010

RECKLESS LOVE IN FINLAND’S RUMBA MAGAZINE

These chaps are Reckless Love, and the piece on them is from the 18 March issue of Finland’s Rumba magazine.

I saw them last year in Finland:
http://kierontyler.blogspot.com/2009/11/lost-in-music-but-not-lost-in-finland.html

They were terrifically entertaining – which of course must be what the article is also saying. But it’s also saying some stuff by me (below). No idea what I’m saying though.










Tuesday 23 March 2010

REVIEW - ARNAUD FLEURENT-DIDIER: LA REPRODUCTION


The best French album so far this year, and sure to be one of the year's best overall. Here's my review:
http://www.rockfort.info/content.aspx?cid=207

Judging by the explanatory video that's with the review, M Fleurent-Didier has a dose of the Eric Rohmer's.

Monday 22 March 2010

MOJO MARCH 2010 REVIEWS: I WAS A KING & EMILIE SIMON

Norway and France...

Click on each to see at a readable size.

OH NO ONO: MOJO RISING


Oh No Ono will back in the UK playing live in May. This is no longer on the news stands (from the March 2010 MOJO), but it’s still of interest. Click on the image to see at a readable size.

And here’s that video for Swim.

Wednesday 10 March 2010

REVIEW - by:Larm FESTIVAL 2010

(Above, Eplomøya Songlag, by Helge Brekke)

Went along to by:Larm festival in sub-zero Oslo:
http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2010/03/viking_dawn.html

A great well-organised festival with some highlights that surprised. Navigating through Nordic music, it's become clear that what’s flung at the UK is a minor component of a much, much bigger - and more complex - picture.

It's a really fascinating picture too, deserving a proper overview - something more than those 'hey, here's the new Scandinavian bands' pieces.

Space in the review meant some non-Norwegians weren’t mentioned. Denmark’s Chimes And Bells' post-Mazzy Starisms were enthralling and lifted off into distorted freakouts that were utterly compelling. Oh No Ono (Danes too) put on the best show I’ve ever seen them do, centred around recent album Eggs. They’ve grown into the songs, were comfortable and confident. From Finland, both Manna and Murmansk were full-on great.

And here’s some snow…

Tuesday 9 March 2010

REVIEW - SILVAIN VANOT: BETHESDA

Monsieur Vanot's new album is about to come out in the UK. Review here:

I wonder if he would have sustained what he's chosen to do if it were in English rather than French? After all, the world sports innumerable folks that're Neil Young influenced.

Friday 5 March 2010

THE SHINING BREEZE: THE SLOWDIVE ANTHOLOGY

I’ve compiled a 2CD Slowdive set for release on 26 April by Cherry Red.

The British music press were increasingly down on them and they had problems with both their UK (Creation) and US labels (SBK). Fashion moving on (grunge, the birth of Britpop) contributed to the press attitude.

Yet they kept at it, refined what they were doing and recorded some amazing – genre-defining – records. A great band.

Here’s the tracklist:
DISC ONE
Slowdive (Slowdive EP) Nov-90
Avalyn I (Slowdive EP) Nov-90
Morningrise (Morningrise EP) Feb-90
She Calls (Morningrise EP) Feb-90
Catch The Breeze (Holding Our Breath EP) Jun-91
Golden Hair (Holding Our Breath EP) Jun-91
Shine (Holding Our Breath EP) Jun-91
Spanish Air (Just For A Day) Sep-91
Erik's Song (Just For A Day) Sep-91
Waves (Just For A Day) Sep-91
Primal (Just For A Day) Sep-91
Alison (Outside Your Room EP) May-93
So Tired (Outside Your Room EP) May-93
Moussaka Chaos (Outside Your Room EP) May-93

DISC TWO
Souvlaki Space Station (Souvlaki) May-93
Machine Gun (Souvlaki) May-93
Sing (Souvlaki) May-93
Here She Comes (Souvlaki) May-93
Altogether (Souvlaki) May-93
Dagger (Souvlaki) May-93
Some Velvet Morning (Souvlakibonus disc) May-93
In Mind (5 EP) Nov-93
Good Day Sunshine (5 EP) Nov-93
Country Rain (5 EP) Nov-93
Rutti (Pygmalion) Feb-95
Miranda (Pygmalion) Feb-95
Trellisaze (Pygmalion) Feb-95
Cello (Pygmalion) Feb-95
Visions of La (Pygmalion) Feb-95
Blue Skied an' Clear (Pygmalion) Feb-95
All of Us (Pygmalion) Feb-95

Wednesday 3 March 2010

REVIEW - NINCA LEECE: THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHEN I LAY DOWN AND DREAM

Once that Bjorkish opening cut is forgotten, the debut album from French-born Ninca Leece is hugely engaging: http://www.rockfort.info/content.aspx?cid=200