February 28, 2014

"Feel the rain like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Stepping out from a back shop poster
Wishing life wouldn't be so long."

It seems like this winter has been grey, wholly grey. Don’t get me wrong I have actually enjoyed that it has been a fairly warm winter with little snow unlike the last few winters.

Despite that it could still be a warm, snowless and sunny winter instead of this complete greyness day in and day out. Maybe it will be better in March.

Visage – Fade to grey is found on the record “Visage” released in 1980.

February 27, 2014

"Rene and Georgette Magritte
With their dog after the war
Returned to their hotel suite
And they unlocked the door
Easily losing their evening clothes
They danced by the light of the moon
To the penguins, the moonglows
The orioles, and the five satins
The deep forbidden music
They’d been longing for
Rene and Georgette Magritte
With their dog after the war."

Some twenty years ago I crossed paths with this song for the first time. At the time I was in quite bad shape but somehow this song made me get a grip of myself, turning things around to see a sunbeam in my otherwise darkened mind.

This morning I heard this song again and that feeling I experienced twenty years ago was back. The strange thing now is that I am in excellent shape, feeling simply great. But there is something about this song…

Paul Simon – Rene and Georgette Magritte with their dog after war is found on the record “Hearts and bones” released in 1983.

February 26, 2014

"It's over now, there's a way I was before
But I can't recall how I was those days anymore
I'm learning how to be here and nowhere else
How to focus on what I can do myself."

One of the personal favorites at the moment is this wonderful but so sad song from Cloud Nothings. I am certainly eager to hear the rest of the record, too bad I will have to wait another month or so.

Cloud Nothings – I’m not part of me is found on the forthcoming record “Here and nowhere else” scheduled to be released in 2014.

February 25, 2014

"And baby
Don't forget to catch me
Don't forget to catch me
Don't forget to catch me
Hobart paving, don't you think that it's time?
On this platform with the drizzle in my eyes."

Sometimes, well quite often actually, one thing leads to another. In a recent conversation the French town Saint Etienne was mentioned. Of course it made me thinking in musical terms and the band carrying the same name.

And from there… This haunting song.

Saint Etienne – Hobart Paving is found on the record “So tough” released in 1993.

February 24, 2014

"My mother is 75
She's the closest friend I have in my life
Take her from me, I'll break down and ball
And wither away like old leaves in the fall."

I have mentioned this before and maybe I will mention this again, Mark Kozelek has to be one of the most productive artists in the music business these days. I guess I should be surprised that he is once again back with new material again, this time under the alias of Sun Kil Moon, but I am not since this is perfectly normal for Mark Kozelek.

When listening to the new album it seems to me that one thing has changed, the fact that his old favorite subjects “broken hearts” and “love no more” is replaced by songs about “death” or the “fear of losing someone close”.

Nevertheless it is as beautiful as ever. Check this out.

Sun Kil Moon – I can’t live without my mother’s love is found on the record “Benji" released in 2014.

February 23, 2014

"With a dark and rolling sea
Between my love and me
I keep walking through this cold hard town
While I wait for better days."

And boom, the weekend is over it is time to head back home. As always a lot of fun to visit London; I will be back. Soon…

Tom Paxton – Leaving London is found on the record “Outward bound” released in 1966.

February 22, 2014

"I've no grand designs to conquer the music industry, but I'd love to be able to tell my mates that I'm playing in a pub in Camden one night."

The first time I heard The Stranglers was when the best TV chef in history, the late Keith Floyd, used their song “Waltzinblack” as the theme song of his cooking/traveling show.

Hence when returning to Camden for an afternoon stroll along the Regent’s Canal I cannot resist humming this tune.

The Stranglers – Another Camden afternoon is found on the record “Giants” released in 2012. The quote above is taken from the English actor Luke Treadaway.

February 21, 2014

"For once in my life I've got something to say
I wanna say it now for now is today
A love has been given so why not enjoy
So let's all grab and let's all enjoy."

Well it is already getting close to the end of February and I have not yet done a single trip abroad. It is time to do something about it. It is time to head to London. It is time to get ready by listening to the music of an underrated London band.

Sham 69 – If the kids are united is found on the single “If the kids are united” released in 1978.

February 20, 2014

"Death reflects us in its mirror…"

There are a number of band names out there that I have a hard time to handle, like this band I honestly do believe that the name is ridiculous.

But as in many other examples of not-that-great-band-names it does not really matter when music starts to play. It is hard to resist catchy this song, don’t you agree?

Beastmilk – Death reflects us is found on the record “Climax” released in 2013.

February 19, 2014

"A little love story
A true life story
She drifted into my life for a couple
of hours; I haven´t seen her since."

This year it is ten years since Silverbullit released their latest record, according to me one the best records ever released by a Swedish artist or a Swedish group.

How I long for new Silverbullit material.

Silverbullit – Run is found on the record “Arclight” released in 2004.

February 18, 2014

"People are stupid in the dark
People are useless in the moonlight
People are meant to be loved."

I have a friend that ever so often sends me recommendations of music I should checkout. Most often I find his recommendations very valuable; I have discovered several new acts based on my friends recommendations.

His latest batch of songs were no exception, among them this great little tune.

Xiu Xiu – Stupid in the dark is found on the record “Angel guts: Red classroom” released in 2014.

February 17, 2014

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye."

I have realized that I only on rare occasions publish instrumental songs. Time to change that know, let us kickstart the week by listening to this explosive tune.

Underworld - Rez/Cowgirl is found on the record "Everything, everything" released in 2000. The quote above is taken from the American author H. Jackson Brown.

February 16, 2014

"Hey country boy
What are you sad about
I think we'll work it out
Even in the morning rain
He'll come to see you
Hope your feelings are the same."

Chilling out (well to be honest... I am suffering from a hangover) on a lazy Sunday with the help of The Charlatans...

The Charlatans - North country boy is found on the record "Tellin' stories" released in 1997.

February 15, 2014

"Searching corners to avoid you

Knowing you're no good for me."

With Valentine's Day in retrospective I do have another tradition connected to that day namely to play the song "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" by the Cocktail Slippers. Yesterday was no exception to that rule.

Coincidence or not... I found out today that Cocktail Slippers is about a new record. It will be interesting to find out whether it includes a new song that will end up being traditional to me.

Cocktail Slippers - Shame on me is found on the forthcoming record "People talk" scheduled to be released in 2014.

February 14, 2014

"The power of love
A force from above
Cleaning my soul
The power of love
A force from above
A sky-scraping dove."

Well I guess you know me by now; I am a huge fan of songs about broken hearts and love no more.

Given that I have, through the years, had a rather twisted view on February 14, Valentine’s Day. The enormous focus on love this day does not play that well with the kind of music I enjoy the most.

But this year it is different… A love song in my head and ears over and over again. Maybe because I am in love myself…

Frankie Goes To Hollywood – The power of love is found on the record “Welcome to the pleasuredome” released in 1984.

February 13, 2014

"Well you might belong to another time
still you have to carry on here
nowhere else to go and you never know
what to hide and what to show."

I discovered Broken Bells when I happened to walk by their concert at the Way Out West festival back in 2010, a concert that made me buy their album as soon as I had the opportunity to do so.

Then followed a few years of silence, hence it is nice to hear that Broken Bells is back with new material

Broken Bells – Holding on for life is found on the record “After the disco” released in 2014.

February 12, 2014

"Sometimes I drive to run from all my demons
Sometimes I drive so I can be alone
Sometimes I drive to see the world in different light
Sometimes I drive for no reason at all."

It has been a while since I owned a car that may explain why I sometimes miss driving a lot (I am sorry environment).

I really do not have a need for a car; public transportation together with long-distance trains easily covers my needs.

But that feeling… Sitting in car, driving somewhere while listening to loud music… It is quite a feeling.

Assemblage 23 – Drive is found on the record “Defiance” released in 2002.

February 11, 2014

"Scum, rise, pound them all!
Dead hippie squadron."

A first taste of what I do believe is great things to come. This is one of my favorite songs at the moment.

Protomartyr – Scum, rise! is found on the forthcoming record “Under color of official right” scheduled to be released in 2014.

February 10, 2014

"Sometimes I fantasize
When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Don't these times
Fill your eyes
When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Are you all alone?
Is anybody home?"

A couple weeks ago I mentioned John Squire and Ian Brown and by pure coincidence (I think) this song as crossed my path a number of times since then.

A bit strange… at the same time I am grateful of the reminder. This is after all a great tune.

Stone Roses – Made of stone is found on the record “The Stone Roses” released in 1989.

February 9, 2014

"We lived on Tennyson and Venison and The Grateful Dead
It was Mudhoney summer, Torch of Mystics, double bummer."

One of the members of Pavement was Stephan Malkmus, since the breakup of Pavement he has released a number of records under his own name. If you were a fan of Pavement you will most likely like this material too.

If you are too young to remember Pavement, well check them out when you are done listening to Stephen Malkmus.

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks – Lariat is found on the record ”Wig out of jagbags” released in 2014.

February 8, 2014

"I want a range life,
If I could settle down,
If I could settle down,
Then I would settle down."

I woke up this morning with this song in my head, quite a nice way to start the day.

Pavement – Range life is found on the record “Crooked rain, crooked rain” released in 1994.

February 7, 2014

"So, how does it feel,
to reveal what you already know?
Fire in your eyes,
Standing on your own,
No one ever wants to be alone."

There are a few bands that I have a really strange relationship with, one of them is Blood Red Shoes. The strange thing about Blood Red Shoes is that I place them in the category “bands that I have had concert tickets to multiple times without actually seeing them”.

I may get yet another chance now when Blood Red Shoes is about to release a new record. I sure do hope so because this first single is doubtless one of my favorite songs right now.

Blood Red Shoes – An animal is found on the forthcoming record “Blood red shoes” scheduled to be released in 2014.

February 6, 2014

"You tell me
that it’s getting better
but every time that we say goodnight, goodnight, goodnight
I'm haunted by your eyes
and how long they've been crying."

I do have somewhat mixed emotions about the show I am heading to tonight. The first time I saw Au Revoir Simone live was a smashing experience, a super-focused band making an awesome show.

Strangely enough the second time was quite a disappointment, a band that was far from concentrated making quite bad mistakes on stage.

I do hope that version 1 of Au Revoir Simone is what I will experience tonight. And if they to include “Shadows” in the setlist I can even cope with a mistake or two…

Au Revoir Simone – Shadows is found on the record “Still night, still light” released in 2009.

February 5, 2014

"I don’t wanna spend the rest of my days
Running around— chasing your shadow
So please don’t let this chance slip away
If you waste it this time I won’t be here tomorrow."

Last weekend I spent quite some time to figure out the name of the band that made this song. It was something that had totally slipped out of my mind.

But boom! Just like that I all of a sudden remembered it earlier today. And here it is.

Hurricane #1 – Step into my world is found on the record “Hurricane #1” released in 1997.

February 4, 2014

This song is found here.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

It does not get fresher than this. This is a chilling and haunting song from record released today. Based on this single I just need to dig in deeper into this album.

Fog Lake – It was never enough is found on the record “Virgo indigo” released in 2014. The quote above is taken from the American media proprietor Oprah Winfrey.

February 3, 2014

"Can you hear that knocking in your soul
No, you don't listen
Can you hear that knocking overload
No, you don't listen."

And speaking of “Wanderlust” ten years before Wild Beasts released a song called “Wanderlust”, The Delays did the same.

Ten years may be separating the songs but to me it seems that naming a song “Wanderlust” equals something I like a lot.

The Delays – Wanderlust is found on the forthcoming record “Faded seaside glamour” released in 2004.

February 2, 2014

"Now that you answer to me
I'll tell you how i want to feel
Now that the walls have been broke
I'll tell you how I want to feel."

The meaning of the word “Wanderlust” is apparently “a strong lust or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world”. I for sure have had the Wanderlust feeling a number of times in my life.

“Wanderlust” is also the title of the wonderful new single from Wild Beasts. I love it!

Wild Beasts – Wanderlust is found on the forthcoming record “Present tense” released in 2014.

February 1, 2014

"I'm turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so."

As a weekend treat I am heading to a Japanese-style spa today. Of course my brain plays some tricks with me including that this song has been stuck on my mind for hours.

The Vapors – Turning Japanese is found on the record “New clear days” released in 1980.