Tobias Froberg: US Tour

Myspace // "Just Behind a Brickwall" [Audio]

So today is Halloween, the day of costumes and candy, and since it's Friday, lots and lots of parties. I'll leave the partying to everyone else this year and just stay home and watch a few scary movies.

I am not sure what Swedish musician Tobias Froberg has to do with Halloween, but this autumn he is in the midst of a somewhat abbreviated US jaunt that is wrapping up in Chicago and the east coast over the next two weeks. His third album, Turn Heads, is out now, and features Froberg's tight and expressive melodies. Several guests make appearances as well, including Ane Brun, Teitur (from the Faroe Islands), Torbjörn Zetterberg, and Kathryn Williams. Like the classic musicians of pop's past, Froberg adeptly pairs his own unique brand of music with the help of his diverse cast of friends.

11/01/08- Schubas Tavern, Chicago, IL
11/05/08- Bowery Ballroom, NY
11/06/08 El Mocambo- Toronto, ONT
11/07/08- El Mocabo, Toronto, CA
11/08/08 Lee Saints- Montreal- QUE
11/11/08- Great Scott- Boston, MA
11/12/08- Union Hall, NY

Rademacher: ERA EP

Myspace // "If U Know" [Audio]

It's been awhile since I've written about these guys, and it's probably fitting that I do it now since I've been living in California since August. Over the past four years, Rademacher has slowly risen to the top of the Central Valley/LA/Bay Area indie scene. The band has recently finished a Monday residency at the Echo, which I missed because I am a bad fan, but in the true spirit of the band, they have many more shows lined up. While Stunts may have been the debut album that we all wanted, this new release proves that the road the band is traveling down will offer an even brighter future.

The band's latest release is the ERA EP, out now on JAXART Records.

Loose Lips Sink Ships

[Photo Credit: Jacob Owen]

Myspace // "Meth is Fun" [Audio]

Illinois band Loose Lips Sink Ships don't really belong in this time or a place. They are a group that exists in their own world, penning tunes that do somersaults over one another, forcing the listener to wonder whether vocals are even that important in a modern indie rock song. Each minute of each song peels away like the passing landscape on an expensive highway, with the scenery gradually changing and morphing into something new at every bend. The real challenge is not getting into the band, but it's trying to stop listening to them.

The Kabeedies

Myspace // "King Canute" [Audio] // "Treasure Hunters" [Buy]

The past few days have been rough for me. I brought home a cold from CMJ with me, the Phillies game was rained out last night, I've had bouts of heartburn, and Elle Milano broke up. Although I am feeling a bit better, the whole Elle Milano thing is a huge letdown, and although Adam is in a new project, I still feel lost musically, so it's time to do what we do best, which is to scour the internet for quality bands you've never heard before.

Could the Kabeeides be that band to replace Elle Milano? Perhaps. The tunes on the band's Myspace are strong, invoking images of that pseudo, did it or did it not exist, Eel Pie Island sound, much like Good Shoes. But with a female vocalist. It's a sound that has done them well on a series of undeniably catchy singles, as well as increasingly packed gigs through the UK. While their a-sides are brilliant pop nuggets, it's the tune "King Canute" that has soundtracked this week for me.

"Treasure Hunters," their latest single, is out now on Cool For Cats.

Elle Milano (2004-2008)

Myspace // "Chess Tragedy" [Audio] // "Meanwhile in Hollywood..." [Video]

There were plenty of conclusions drawn when Elle Milano cancelled all of their tour dates two months ago, but those of us that saw the writing on the wall, the dire news was confirmed yesterday. From the band's Myspace page:

Hello all,

So you know, Elle Milano has called it a day. There is no simple explanation why, but the writing's been on the wall for quite a while. We somewhat lost the magic we used to have and regretfully the band's just come to a big brick wall against our will.

The recent silence and cancellation of gigs was down to a family tragedy in my life, and was nothing band related, however now it feels as though the time is right to move on and try something new. We are all on good terms. I've been doing stuff by myself as Entrepreneurs recently, so keep and eye on that if you're interested. When future projects by any of us come together I'll put links up here...

Thats about it. We have decided to go out on a song (or 4)... enjoy. (And download, cos the quality on Myspace is terrible...)

Thanks
Adam

I really don't know where to start here. I did write a bit of a speculative article on this a few weeks ago, and I don't really think it's necessary to go into things further or spend paragraphs talking about what these guys meant to me or anything like that.

The band had just released their debut album in April, and it seemed like they had some good momentum going on and an increasingly fervent fanbase. But I guess when you don't feel it anymore, you don't feel it, and there's nothing you can do about it, and although they called it a day early, they did go out on top. Out of the 30 or so songs I have from them, there's not a bad one in the bunch.

I'll leave the long articles discussing the importance of the band to others, but tonight, tomorrow night, or this weekend, let's all have a pint for Elle Milano to thank them for all of the memories. And they've already moved on, with Adam making music under the name Entrepreneurs.

CMJ 2k8 Preview: The Voom Blooms

Myspace // "Anna" [mp3]

One of the few highlights of this year's disappointing CMJ line-up is The Voom Blooms. The Loughborough four piece has been an Exitfare favorite for a few years now, due to their penchant for mixing blistering energy, angular riffs, and wonderfully catchy choruses together into brilliant three minute songs. Championed by Steve Lamacq, NME, and Rolling Stone, it boggles my mind that this band hasn't exploded yet. Make sure to check out one of their sets if you're in New York this week.

10/24: Bowery Electric (CMJ)
10/25: Ace of Clubs @ Midnight (CMJ)

Psirens

Last FM // "The Trust Network" [Audio]

I am off to CMJ today, so I'll have plenty of show reviews, pics, and goodies to post throughout the week. Before I go I want to leave you with a tune from Psirens, a five-piece that featured future members of Elle Milano and had a sound not that all unlike them. The band formed around Adam and James while they were in college in Yately, Hampshire, but when they went to university in Leicester, they met up with Chloe and Alex, thus forming Elle Milano.

Sky Larkin "Fossil, I"

Myspace // "Antibodies" [Audio]

Those of you in the States, Sky Larkin will be doing two dates in NY next week during CMJ -- one official showcase and one party. Check their Myspace for more details.

This is the band's first single on Wichita Records, out on October 20th. Looks like the video was shot somewhere in New York.

Hatcham Social

[Photo Credit: Nicola Pea]

Myspace // "How Soon Was Then" [mp3] // "So So Happy Making" [Video] // Crystal World [Buy]

New Cross group Hatcham Social formed in '06 when David Javu met brothers Tobias and Finnigan Kidd, the latter of which left the Klaxons to focus on the new group. The band is influenced by '80s stalwarts like Orange Juice, Josef K, and The Fall, as well as The Kinks. Early on the band was championed by Farris Rotter (of The Horrors) and Tim Burgess (of The Charlatans), releasing their first single in early '07 and making their first live radio session in August of that year. While the band have the mini album Crystal World out in Japan, they are putting the finishing touches on a debut album, which was recorded with with Tim Burgess and Jim Spencer in August of this year.

Operahouse: New EP

[Photo Credit: Ami Barwell]

Mypsace // "100 Years" [Audio] // "Diane" [Video] // Change in Nature EP [Buy]

Novermber 10th will see the physical release of Change in Nature (it's on iTunes now), the debut EP from London group Operahouse. With a sound at times reminiscent of the Maccabees or Look See Proof, the EP contains the tracks "Change in Nature," "Criminals," "Plastic Cage," and "Red Hats for the Masses." The band is currently touring England, including upcoming gigs with Hot Club de Paris and Dirty Pretty Things.

Futurism vs. Passeism

Myspace // "Motion Answer" [mp3]

There are those youths who smash windows and rob tourists who call themselves rebels, but it seems that the real rule breakers have their noses buried in books and trade in the art of intellectualism. Much like These New Puritans, London's Futurism vs. Passeism are an other side of the Atlantic no wave outfit that owes as much to the music of today as they to do to early '80s NYC. While they are not quite Sonic Youth, they're still a band who understands that dissonance is just as important as melody.

Foals "Olympic Airways"

Myspace // "Olympic Airways"[mp3] // "Olympic Airways" [Buy]

This is the latest single from Foals, which features two brand new tracks as B-sides, "Glaciers" and 'Unthink This." While this is good and all, I think it's high time for some new music.

Wintermute: New EP

Myspace // "Spanish Girls" [mp3]

Two months ago, the brilliant Leeds-based On the Bone Records released the debut EP from locals Wintermute, a band that has become the premier math-pop band in Northern England. Much like contemporaries such as Foals and Dartz!, the band has capitalized on the promise of early singles with a memorable first release, albeit in Wintermute's case we're only getting an EP. Fun with Wizard Stencils may be quite a tease at only six tracks, but the band has opted for quality over quantity, especially on "Spanish Girls" and "Jambon! Jambon!"

Also, you Leeds bands need to quit it with the video game references (scroll down to the last question) or everyone might think you're quite nerdy! Not that it's a bad thing...

Mystery Jets "Half in Love with Elizabeth"

Myspace // "Half in Live with Elizabeth" [mp3] (Electric version)

Here's the latest single from the Mystery Jets, taken from the band's sophomore album Twenty One. It's one of this year's very best albums.

Simon Says No!

[Photo Credit: Julie Damkjær]

Myspace // "Para Cirkus" [mp3]

While at the Great Escape in Brighton earlier this year, I picked up an EP from Bergen, Norway group Simon Says No!, and I had this to say:

"If a band does not try to emulate their heroes, then something is very wrong. Rock n' roll should be about danger and passion and musicians are supposed to incite a desire to rebel and break the rules. While Norway may not be ground zero for the global music scene, there seems to be something pretty special going on there, which is apparent with the emergence of Simon Says No! This is a band that knows their strengths, things which they know how to get the most out of. Their raw sound recalls the glory days of Seattle grunge and the spirit of '77 in London, but the band is nuanced enough to flesh things out with a fuzziness that wouldn't seem out of place at a Slowdive or My Bloody Valentine gig. The interwebs has begun a love affair with these guys, most recently with a "Band of the Week" nod on Stranded in Stereo as well as some radio love from NRK P3, which is their home country's leading station. The band's current three song demo is everything you could ever want from a budding band -- it's both familiar and new, it pushes buttons and it gives you that feeling that you had the first time you disobeyed your parents."

The band will be making their Stateside debut during CMJ with three gigs, including one that I am sponsoring on Wednesday night 10/22 at Rehab. Let's hope I see you there.

Samtidigt som

[Photo Credit: Niklas Hjelm]

Myspace // "Constant in Motion" [mp3]

I just spent an hour tracking down info about Samtidigt som on the internet, but I am basically in the same spot as I was when I started. I need to brush up on my Swedish. What I do know is this: the band is from Gothenburg (Göteborg), a city that is Sweden's capital of indie rock, birthing other great such as Broder Daniel/Hakan Hellstrom, Chester Copperpot, and Kristoffer Ragnstam. The band plays hyperactive indie rock that occasionally touches on punk rock and they've just released their debut EP, Denna sida mot fienden, which is available from Luxxury Records. If anyone out there knows Swedish, please tell me more about these guys.

Mañana "Make A Tiger"

Myspace // "Make A Tiger"[mp3]

I can name Swiss indie bands on one hand, and Basel five-piece Mañana are by far the best, cobbling together influences like Coldplay, Doves, and at times, Sigur Ros for a driving, moody rock assault. The band formed was 2003 by Manuel Bürkli and Jan Krattiger as an acoustic duo, but quickly expanded to their current format. Later that year they eventually supported I Am Kloot, Keane, Mew, and A-ha. The band released their first single, "Miss Evening," in 2004 with the EP Fast Days following the next year. The band released their debut album, Interruptions, this year on Inside Agency.