If you’re going to spend the winter holidays listening to Gothic Christmas music, you could do much worse than hearing Thanatos doings warm and rather respectable Christmas tunes. May you, my friends who are either Orthodox, Catholic or those who participate in one way or another in Advent, enjoy a Continue Reading
Indie
Akudama – Lost on the Bryan Ferry EP {September 2009}
Brooklyn-based band Akudama don’t remind me of Bryan Ferry (or Roxy Music, for that matter), but they have a sound that does sterling work combining art-rock with shoegaze. This is an elegant single.
The Secret Society of the Sonic Six – Out Of The Past EP
A decade or two ago, there were only four bands who I would bother to make the trek out from the suburbs to the ‘great’ metropolis that is Los Angeles: Farflung, Tunnelmental, The Flash Express and The Secret Society of the Sonic Six. Each were brilliant in their way, and Continue Reading
Steve Kilbey – Of Skins and Heart (Acoustic Sessions Vol.1)
I don’t think Steve Kilbey of The Church needs much of an introduction, but it’s been awhile since I’ve heart what he’s been up to. This album shows him playing an acoustic set based on The Church’s second-finest album, and the recordings are of sparse, but warm and stunning quality. Continue Reading
Wickerbird – The Sea Weaver
Though our friends at Lost Tribe Sound have chosen to release this album on November 22, 7 weeks away from today’s date, I thought it wise to hip you, my friends and readers, on an album you’ll surely find to be a treasure. From the label’s press release: Lost Tribe Continue Reading
MAiKA – Balkannibalism
In a land of amazing bands and ensembles, MAiKA have managed to forcefully grab my attention. While they call themselves an alternative dance-punk band, there’s so much more to the music. The energy is amazing, the voices cut right through you in a way that most indie music can’t, and the Continue Reading
Baložu Pilni Pagalmi – Māris Šverns – Būt ceļā
Baložu Pilni Pagalmi are a Latvian post-rock/folk band out of the capita city of Riga. What’s most interesting about this 37 minute-plus track is that it covers not only the genres mentioned, but it would be comfortable listed as an alternative/indie release. I like the fact that there is a Continue Reading
Various Artists – La Souterraine: Vallée du Don
La Souterraine are one of France’s coolest indie labels. They frequently release compilations of alternative music influenced by chanson, bedroom pop and post-punk. Some of the ditties on offer are almost Beatlesque in their pop perfection. Vallée du Don is one I stumbled upon, but the whole catalog is worth Continue Reading
Cristina Quesada – Dentro Al Tuo Sogno
Cristina Quesada seems to be the missing link between Italo-Disco, Debby Harry, France Gall and indie-pop. She appears on Elefant Records, one of Spain’s finest independent record labels, and this album absolutely floors its competition. It’s perhaps the funnest record I’ve heard in months, with the energy of a power-pop Continue Reading
Lalalar – Bi Cinnete Bakar
Quite a tasty album here. Lalalar are not some common Anatolian Rock ripoff. Rather, they do use the venerable genre as a reference point, but you can hear influences such as post-punk and darkwave seep into the stew.