Free EP from promising Danish band

I can’t say I’m that into the Danish music scene really. Never liked Mew, and I’ve heard a couple of Danish indie bands, but they’ve usually just struck me as pretty average.

The Devil Probably, however, grabbed my attention. It’s minimalistic pop with a pinch of shoegaze. Catchy indie pop that fades into heavy guitar droning and then gracefully back again. Seriously, it’s great. I want to hear more of this.

If I were to describe their sound, I’d say it’s like Windmill had teamed up with Why? and had Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes sing. Insane, but that’s about what it sounds like.


Tired of those old Ray-Ban glasses?

Sunglasses from Savannah, Georgia will be an exciting contribution to the music scene this year. Interestingly, this collaboration between Samuel Cooper and Brady Keehn started through a film production. Their sound is fresh and a good example of “out of this world” music, but is incredibly difficult to describe. The crossovers and style are not something I have heard much before but are something to appreciate as music should keep expanding and explore new areas.


Dark and evocative music video

The brilliant Dave Mahler has made music videos for several norwegian bands, among them The Firefly Effect. His videos are great and he seems to have good taste in music too.


Soothing instrumental sounds from Sweden

It is not often that instrumental music has a lasting appeal for me. This has something to do with how I see vocals as an integral part of music. I admit though that good instrumentation can cover up for bad vocals more so than the opposite. However I would like to say that the music benefits from having both sides integrated. Unfortunately a lot of instrumental songs I have come across tend to last eons, unable to find a fitting ending, continuing this uninspiring endless journey in one sitting. The melodies don’t seem to have many exciting layers and easily fall into repetition without the aid of a vocal range.

The instrumental composers that I find interesting have been film/video-game related which isn’t something I usually listen to outside the visual/engaging experiences. However, now I have finally found an independent artist that is instrumental, and seems to hit the right notes with me – while keeping the music interesting until the end.


New album from The Tallest Man on Earth this spring

The Tallest Man on Earth, otherwise known as Kristian Matsson, is a fantastic Swedish folk musician. He’s already released a selftitled 5-track EP, a beautiful full-length album by the name Shallow Graves as well as touring with Bon Iver.

To say we’re impressed with Matsson’s debut album is a massive understatement. He made one of the best folk albums I’ve heard to this date.

Suffice to say, we’ve been looking forward to a follow-up for quite some time, and we’ll probably end up fighting a while over who of us should get to review it.


Center of the Universe
Levitating Disk

COU is the solo project of Jørgen “Sissyfus” Skjulstad, the.. boss? Guru? I think I’ll go with spiritual leader, of the Oslo-based underground music collective Metronomicon Audio. After finishing an album trilogy about time and space last year, he has now released something you and I both have always wanted, a Levitating Disk!


Herr Nilsson
Long Live Herr Nilsson

One of the most beautiful pearls of Norwegian indie pop finally shines again! And what better way to celebrate their 7-year anniversary than by naming the album name Long Live Herr Nilsson? Apart from dancing, I can’t think of a thing.


The Ruby Suns
Fight Softly

The Ruby Suns have found their place in the music scene with their masterful pop melodies and has been with us for almost half a decade now. However, this third album is a departure from the sound we know them for. It will be interesting to see if this departure is an evolution into pop gods or demons.


The Megaphonic Thrift
Decay Decoy

I’ve been looking forward  to this. I loved their EP, a great debut, and I’ve only heard good word about their liveshows, so this seems very promising. If they follow the chain of other good norwegian debuts this and last year, this is probably going to be a great album, but were my expectations to high?


Moddi
Floriography

Sometimes, an album can be really hard to review. Moddi’s Floriography is an album that really overwhelmed me. Usually it takes me a few days, at most a week to make up my mind and get my thoughts down in words. It’s been a few weeks now, but I think this is the kind of album that needed those weeks.


Izakaya Heartbeat
Ancient Asobi / In Arcadia

You know, when the three first songs of a record kicks ass, while the rest of the album is weaker. Well, it’s often like that, but not the case on Ancient Asobi / In Arcadia. It starts great with “Narcoleptic Highway,” “Skull & Bones” and “Jor-El,” songs that have been out for a while, and after that, the greatness continues.


Monzano
By This Time Last Year Everything Will Seem Younger

Meet Sjur Lyseid, Oslo’s very own musical alchemist. That is, everything he touches seems to turn into gold. He’s produced about half of the good music that’s come out of this city the last few years and he’s contributed quite a bit in front of the mic as well as behind the levers. This time, the magic is created with his own band Monzano.


Lawrence Arabia
Chant Darling

Lawrence Arabia is a one-man-show and behind the name there’s a New Zealander by the name of James Milne. And no, believe it or not, he didn’t have anything to do with The Lord of the Rings. I think? I’ll have to check that up.