Birds sometimes dance

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.

Spoon Train Audio are here with another Oslo compilation, showing yet again how much great music the capital’s independent pop scene has to offer. There’s been a lot of talk about Bergen being the musical capitol of Norway, but for every time I play through Oslo 2, it gets clearer and clearer that Oslo really is the capitol of Norway, musically too.

I’ve just had, or actually I’m still having this amazing feeling. It’s the feeling I get when I know I’ve just discovered music that will stay with me the rest of my life. I was listening to Björn Kleinhenz’s new single “Black Water” (free download here) and the first time I heard it, I instantly got goosebumps all over. That’s no bad sign.

Headlights is an indie rock band located in Campaign, Illinois. They formed in 2004 after the break up of a band named Absinthe Blind. Wildlife is the band’s third record and was released on Polyvinyl records, home to critic favourites like Asobi Seksu, Architecture in Helsinki and Of Montreal. Is this album their best release yet or just a shadow of their debut album Kill Them With Kindness?

Fleet Foxes made one of the best albums of 2008. In my opinion, the very best. There are many reasons for that. The lyrics, the melodies, and their beautiful harmonies all merge together to form an incredible sound. Still, the most important reason is what all of it creates together. It can be described with a single word; durability.

Finally, it’s here. I’ve been waiting like a kid for a new album from these guys. Coming from the same recording sessions as their previous album, Alopecia, this album might be somewhat similar theme-wise, but when it comes to the sound it’s absolutely not. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though.

Windmill is the moniker of British Matthew Thomas Dillon. Following the success of Puddle City Racing Lights from 2007, he’s now released the new album Epcot Starfields, capturing his sense of impending doom threatening humanity captured through the portrait of a childhood visit to the Disney theme park, Epcot Center.

The first time I saw Jens Carelius was at a small festival hidden in the woods of Odalen, in the southeast of Hedmark, and what an experience it was. It was electrifying. The sun was going down, his music was great as always, the tones were floating, and it was like the music came from the spruces and pine trees themself.