Music for 2012 - Part 1

So, it's time to update your music library. Here are some suggestions from me. For this blog post I carefully selected a few records out of the 16 that landed on my desktop so far. Click on the covers, read my impressions in broken engrish and enjoy!

Queen Of The Wave

by Pepe Deluxé
7.2/10

I don't know much about this Finnish band but I decided to check out their latest release after a random recommendation I got on RYM. This album sounds like a compilation of theme songs of American TV shows from the 60s or something - let's take another look at the cover above (and click it) - it's an electrifying esoteric pop journey riding an H. G. Wells time machine. A concept album in the style of Ayreon rock operas except that it's filled with James Bond themes instead of prog rock riffs. Anyway, this is a quite refreshing listening experience and was a good way to inaugurate the year with new music.

The Horror

by Pop. 1280
7.2/10

Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes! Bodies in the dunes!

Tramp

by Sharon Van Etten
8/10

This is a grower, give it some time and it won't let you go. At times I find Van Etten's voice very similar to The Gathering's ex-vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen's (they both even own a Van, badum-tish). But this is a lot more mature in lyrical terms and not too overdone on the instrumental side (unlike Giersbergen's heartbreakingly awful solo releases). Oh Sharon, you're the reason why I'll move to the city. Give Out, In Line, We Are Fine (a duet with Zach Condon from Beirut), Serpents and Leonard are songs that you should check out right away in case you're still in doubt.



Other good albums to listen to: Visions by Grimes and Narrow by Soap&Skin. I'm also currently trying out Toward The Low Sun by Dirty Three, Eternal turn Of The Wheel by Drudkh and Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II by Earth.