Just catching up to 2005...

Since 2008 is sooo 2007 (so far), here's a list of albums I wished I'd listened to more in 2006, even though they came out in 2005. Linking to relevant links is left as exercise to the reader (or Choquolage :)

10. We Are Wolves - Non-Stop Je Te Plie En Deux. Just brilliant. It's a mix of electro-pop and Monster Magnet. Note to self: must write review of their new record! Okay, I'm cheating - I just got this in 2007.

9. Wir Sind Helden - Von Hier An Blind. Fitba? Que'st que ce que ca?

8. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us. You can never be too paranoid.

7. Modeselektor - Hello Mom! Three years on, this will stiil make you bounce around like a very bouncing ball indeed.

6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - S/T. Key track: Upon A Tidal Wave Of Young Blood.

5. Put something you like here, and keep the rest unchanged, hmm?

4. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment. Huh, what's this one doing here? Well, this might be the one record that got me out of my old listeninng habits - pop question: in January 2006, when faced with the question between completing your backcatalogue of Eels and this, what do you do? Answer: both!

3. Tom McRae - All Maps Welcome. The Bishop of Mope might be close to a promotion to
Archbishop. (He's blown it with his next record, though; though it's still nice!)

2. The Russian Futurists - Our Thickness. Mumblin' stumblin' over all the words I'm wordin' it must be the Bourbon, I should stop now otherwise I'm going to mention Panda Bear (and that's definitely a 2007 record, oooh boy)

1. Metric - Live It Out. Because of this record, I traveled to Cologne and London, where in the day-before-the-actual-show I got to know Buck 65 and Holy Fuck! And it never gets old!

At The Finish Of Every Record

At The Close Of Every Day will release a new record in spring 2008, called 'troostprijs' (consolation prize). While the title is in Dutch, the lyrics will be in English. The record is already mixed and finished and in the youtube link below you can see a video of the hard labour of making an intimate slow-and-steady-wins-the-race- contemplative indie record with a beautiful package. During the video you can listen to the song 'I need to break your hearth' of the forthcoming album. Check!

At The Close Of Every Day - the making of 'troostprijs' (youtube video)

And that's how people grow down

Morrissey is releasing a greatest hits album with two new tracks. One of them's called 'That's How People Grow Up' and it's...well, it's no 'Irish Blood, English Heart' and it's no 'You have Killed Me'. It sounds a bit...bleh to me. Later this year will see a completely new album though, we'll see if he still has it then.

Morrissey - That's How People Grow Up (mp3)

Well, do you?

I had listened to British Sea Power’s second album ‘Open Season’ quite a lot in 2005. It’s a melancholic ‘old-school’ indie album. Now they've returned with an album that asks the rethorical question ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’. If your answer’s negative you had better stay the hell away from this album, because rock is what it is! If your looking for subtlety just find yourself an old Dire Straiths LP somewhere. If you’re not, listen to BSP’s epic new single.

British Sea Power – Waving Flags (mp3)

Xiu Xiu

I have a lot of love for Xiu Xiu. I think I love them as much as I hate trying to describe their music. Xiu Xiu is Jamie Stewart and his cousin Caralee McElroy with percussionist Ches Smith. That was the easy part, now comes the hard part.
The best way to describe their music is perhaps 'experimental indie' but that's not really a description at all. Sometimes it's noise, but some tracks are just sparse percussion with spoken word (or whispered word). Some tracks might be folky and accoustic while others might be full-on electronic guitar and dissonant beats. Vocals can be raw pasionate and often scary screams but could also be disturbingly desperate whispers or a even a misleadingly sweet girl.
Having said all that Xiu Xiu does have a clear and unique sound and feel (dark and disturbing).

Just give them a listen (if you have the heart that is). Their new album is now streaming here but will only be there untill januari 10.


One of their 'easier' songs with a great video: Xiu Xiu - Boy Soprano (video)

New Order cover: Xiu Xiu - Ceremony (mp3)

New single: Xiu Xiu - I Do What I Want, When I Want (mp3)

Lovely to Spree you? Strict Aerial machine?

Ride a White Hound of Love? Ooh La La La La? Black Cherrybush? Together We're Utopia? Okay, I'll stop now.

But who could've thought that a Goldfrapp record could sound so much like The Polyphonic Spree with vocals by Kate Bush? The new Goldfrapp album 'Seventh Tree' basically sounds like a cross between Polyphonic Spree's 'Together We're Heavy' and Kate Bush's 'Aerial'. Not really sure yet if that's a good thing though. I'll let you know. Or you let me know. The new record is out in february.


Could be on Kate's 'Aerial': Goldfrapp - Clowns (mp3)

Could be on The Polyphonic's 'Together We're Heavy': Goldfrapp - Happiness (mp3)

With a Wit Woo

I remember toothpaste kisses being horribly contrived, but then again that may have had something to do with my very first Bacardi Breezers I had that same night and the fact that it all took place in a tent.

Well. Toothpaste Kisses anno 2008. It's from The Maccabees and they can pull it off.