The release date for Niki & The Dove‘s long awaited full-length debut Instinct is fast approaching (it’s May 14, in case you’ve somehow missed it), and the Internet has now been treated to/gone crazy over a couple of bonus tracks that are to be found on the deluxe edition of the album. On Monday, NME gave us ‘All This Youth’, and today we give you ‘Taylor’ (via The Guardian) – further explanation of why Niki & The Dove is one of the hottest and most talked about acts in the world right now. Listen below and get ready to swoon.
Also, the duo premiered a live session over on our sister site The Line Of Best Fit recently, and it too is amazing. Watch it here.
Oslo’s Black Hole Crew (Okkultokrati, Haust, Dark Times, Drugged SS) got in touch through a shadowy intermediary to hip us to a new video from Blackest Woods, celebrating the true spirit of the rural district the band grew up in, evoking ’90s Norwegian black metal and rubber-burning, the almighty flora and fauna of Telemark. As their emissary told us: “This is not Black Metal. This is the wrath of the woods.Turn off your car engine. Throw away that industrialised meat with cheese. Follow this noise. Feel its spirit.”
The last time we posted something by half Icelandic, half Swedish Edda Magnason, she was singing about a coveted stranger called ‘Blondie’ in the video for the single of the same name. Now, she’s back with a new single and video (see below) that also revolves around a boy, namely ‘Jona’. But that’s where the similarities end, really.
This surprisingly dark affair was produced by Edda’s friend and Swedish electronic pop star, Familjen. It then got remixed by Vidderna, and their version then got remixed by NIVA, who never even had heard the original. Then his remix of the remix got remixed by Justus Köhncke, who never had heard the original nor the Vidderna remix. In addition, Nisse Axman has made videos for all the four tracks. The entire package comes out tomorrow via Adrian Recordings, and on their website you will also be able to listen to a demo version of ‘Jona’, along with a bonus remix/mash-up by Simian Ghost.
It is a bit confusing, we know, but it’s oh so good.
You may have noticed that we’re big fans of the psychedelic/folk trio All We Are here at Ja Ja Ja, and this time we’re here to announce the release of their new EP and brand new music video.
Following their brilliant first EP last year, All We Are have returned with another fantastic record, remaining loyal to the sound that they accomplish so well, but with a little more confidence and verve.
The new EP We Hunt, which contains four new tracks, follows a similar style encompassed within the hazy soporific sound which they achieve so well and the record is sinuous as the sound meanders through folk to pop to soft rock. Two of the tracks were recorded in Liverpool’s Walton Church and there are certainly moments which contain that ethereal feel; a mini-documentary was made around the making of this EP which you can watch here. We Hunt obtains the kind of sound that renders you tranquil and quite astounded and it is purely exemplified here in their fluid combination of all the compartments you could really want from this kind of music – beautifully mastered riffs, compelling bass guitar, pounding drums, and soft, natural yet hypnotic vocals, combining that melodiously soulful fuse of male/female harmonies.
We Hunt will be officially available from May 1st, however the trio have just released their brilliant new video for ‘Trainspotting’; the first song from the new EP, see below.
You can also catch them tonight at The Lock Tavern in Chalk Farm, along with Stealing Sheep; the perfect way to spend your Sunday evening, All We Are live are certainly not to be missed.
Here’s another gem from the Ja Ja Ja bag of festival goodies! The ÅÄÖ! Festival is turning Paris and its music scene into a Swedish smörgåsbord of pop from May 11 to May 16. With Korallreven, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, This Is Head, Frida Hyvönen, Simian Ghost, Pacific!, Jennie Abrahamson, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Peter von Poehl and more on the bill it’s guaranteed to be very special indeed. At night, the festival venues transform into clubs where renowned DJs such as Tracasseur and Johan Agebjörn will make sure you won’t be bored for a second.
Can you think of a better reason to visit Paris? Neither can we! Have a look at the complete schedule here, and purchase your tickets here. HOWEVER, we do have some freebies in our bundle of gifts, of course; just answer the following question on our Facebook page: What is the French-sounding first name of the newly born Swedish princess?
Whoever gets it right FIRST will be the proud owner of two tickets to the Jennie Abrahamson + Blessing showcase on May 15. But don’t worry if you couldn’t get there in time; we will also pick four additional names at random, and if you’re lucky you’ll win a physical copy of a compilation called Sounds Of Sweden (this cannot be bought, so seize the opportunity), put together by The Swedish Institute in Stockholm and Export Music Sweden. You have until May 12 to enter the competition.
Mirel Wagner, whose self-titled debut album is out now via Bone Voyage and Friendly Fire, has graced us with a new video, directed by Grandson and Son, for the gorgeous album track ‘Joe’ – and we’re honoured to now give the UK a first glance. Wagner’s way of mixing sparse folk arrangements with soul-penetrating and dark lyrics has impressed critics and audiences worldwide, and camp Ja Ja Ja is no exception. You can plainly see and hear why below.
Tobias Wilner and Bo Rande together form the Danish Brooklyn-based duo Blue Foundation. They will release their new album In Mind I Am Free on May 22, and here’s the beautiful video for ‘Just A Hand’, the first single off the upcoming album. It features Blue Foundation’s brainchild Tobias Wilner skateboarding in the streets of New York and Los Angeles. Have a look below.
The young Icelandic electro poppers Sykur (translation: Sugar), who some of you may remember from our post-summer break showcase back in September, are back with a head-turning video for their new and extremely catchy single ‘Curling’. It features the singer Agnes who’s riding a horse in outer space while throwing a party like it’s the 1990s. And it’s freakishly good. Enjoy.
When Ane Brun released ‘It All Starts With One’ last year, it was her third record to hit the top of the album charts in her native Norway. It was, however, her first to scale the heights in Sweden, where she now resides. In fact, it was the first album by a Norwegian artist EVER to top the charts in Sweden.
Her classical approach to song-writing has resonated with a huge audience – she’s soon off to play her way around the USA but not before following November’s sold-out show at the Scala in London with one at Shepherds Bush Empire. With all the accuracy of Einstein, that venue feels a bazillion times bigger than the Scala.
We have ONE PAIR OF TICKETS to give away to this show and all we want you to do is head to our Facebook post and tell us which has a larger population – Ane Brun’s hometown, Molde, or her current place of residence, Stockholm?
If you don’t want to take your chances with our giveaway (crazy in the coconut!), tickets can be found here.
Watch a live video for ‘The Light From One’ below.
There’s a growing buzz around Tilbury in Iceland right now. This Reykjavík-based quintet lead by singer multi-instrumentalist Þormóður Dagsson, also drummer of Skakkamanage and Hudson Wayne. Þormóður is backed up by some of the most seasoned players in the Icelandic indie scene, including members of Sin Fang, Amiina, Hjaltalín, Valdimar and Brother Grass.
They just premiered a new music video for their excellent debut single, ‘Tenderloin’. The video features clips from the Icelandic TV-film by Viðar Víkingsson, Tilbury (1987). The film is based on the short story Tilbury by Þórarinn Eldjárn. The video was edited by 10.000 milligrömm.
Their debut album, Exorcise, will be available via Record Records on May 7 and it will be available exclusively on gogoyoko on May 3.
