Dogmatic Alcoholics

Image by: Album-cover to 421 Wythe Avenue

Alcoholic Faith Mission is the name of a Copenhagen duo who turned into a collective where friends were free to join to create the music. The universe is both singer-songwriter and electronic and their second album 421 Wythe Avenue has just been released. Critics have compared them with artists like American Bon Iver and Swedish José González. 

The sound consists of both melancholy and warmth and feels so nice and comfortable on a sunday where your head hurts. The song "Nut In Your Eye" is more up-tempo and easy going, but I have fallen just as much for "Guilty Scarred Eyes" where the male and female voices complement each other very well. But the song which instantly makes all my muscles relax and is better than any massage is "Theme From Ice Cream Products", which somebody should use in a film. 

Their second album is called 421 Wythe since it´s the name of the factory building in New York where Alcoholic Faith Mission recorded the whole album. The band made the dogmatic rule that everything they used for the recordings should be found within the factory loft which means that dictionaries have been used to create the sound of bass drums. 

I actually think that the strange dogma has contributed to a more rough and authentic sound and somehow I get an image of the loft in my head when I listen to the music. 

I guess Alcoholic Faith Mission works best under the influence of rules. On their first album, which was made in a small Copenhagen bedroom, the dogmas were that the recordings only could take place during night time, only in the light of candles and always under the influence of alcohol. 

I don´t think that the band has a recognizable Danish sound but instead it´s easy to hear the influence of both New York and also of the Canadian indie rock scene as for example Arcade Fire. 

The female touch

Image by: Steffen Jørgensen

Band Ane consists of the 23-year old girl Ane Østergård and her Mr. Laptop, which she rudely manipulates to create optimistic electronica with a naive twist to it. But don´t be fooled and think that there is not hiding anything underneath the naive and childish surface. 

The music is both complex, trashed and subtle and I think Band Ane´s female touch sets her apart from most other electronic musicians who are typically male. Most of all she´s not afraid of discovering all the different features that her laptop can deliver and all the different genres it can blend. The track "Lala" is a perfect example of her range. 

Her debut album from 2006 is named "Anish Music" and was called both anarchistic and infantile by the critics - which was meant in a good way. At the moment Band Ane is in Berlin because of the initiative "Aarhus Berlin Crush" where German and Danish electronica musicians get together to play several concerts in Berlin. It´s no secret that Berlin is one of the main capitals for electronica so it´s not the worst place to make a good impression as a foreign artist. 

Enter the forest with Turboweekend

Image by: Hanne Hvattum

Their first album in 2007 got extremely hyped and now Turboweekend is ready with a second one. What is characteristic of the Copenhagen trio is their ability to appeal to both indie-rockers and club-kids and to offer an equal part of heavy danceable tracks as well as songs for lying in the coach at home. 

Their second album "Ghost of a Chance" has been out since the 23. of March and appears more quiet than "Night Shift" from 2007 and with less new rave. The first single is "After Hours" and it´s already planted solidly on my brain.  

The strong and intense voice of leadsinger Silas Bjerregaard contributes with an important contrast to the cold and impersonal synthesizers and drums. I think that the press photos of the three members standing in a dark forest captures the feeling of the music very well. 

Peter Sommer - now with anger and bitterness

Image by: Casper Dahlhoff

One of the biggest winners at Danish Music Awards 2009 was singer-songwriter Peter Sommer who could take home no less than three awards for Best Danish Male Artist, Best Danish Songwriter and Best Danish Rock Release. 

Peter Sommer has recently released the album "Til Rotterne, Til Kragerne, Til Hundene" which showed a bit of a transformation from a soft troubadour towards a more dark and angry rock-musician. On the record he puts on a more serious face which suits him well. 

I haven´t been the biggest fan of Peter Sommer because to me the music tended to lack some deeper layers and more fierce lyrics even though that he is a skilled master of playing with words. But now he finally seems to capture my interest with a more mellow and bitter attitude. 

The song "Rødt Kort" is obviously the one with the most hit- potential, and I like the direct and confronting lyrics about pulling your self together. Peter Sommer´s lyrics hits you with the tough truth right in the face without any self-pity, and his confident and laid-back voice has an authority about it that makes me want to listen. 

Here is the song "Rødt Kort" made as a short film by Casper Dalhoff, who follows Peter Sommer in the studio.

Lucy Love steps up from the underground

Image by: Miriam Dalsgaard 

Enough with all the sensitive guys and their guitars. Let´s move on to a girl with guts. 

British grime is not exactly my field, but I´m making an exception with the incredible Lucy Love. Behind the name is a 23-year old girl, who has already been named the grime queen of Denmark and she can easily challenge an artist like Lady Sovereign with her sharp cockney accent, which she may have from her English mother. 

But Lucy Love is definitely no copycat and even though Danish grime artists are almost impossible to track down - especially female ones - she has somehow managed to add her own Scandinavian touch to her English-inspired music. 

What also makes her stand out from the rest of the grime scene is her lyrics which don´t reflect tough ghetto life in the poor suburbs, since that´s not the reality of her life. Instead she criticize social issues in her daily life as her being fed up with everybody longing and acting to be VIP. 

I think Lucy Love has the ability to reach far beyond the Danish borders because of her international sound which shines through on her debut album "Superbillion" that was released in the beginning of March. Her music also has the opportunity to appeal to an audience beyond the grime scene, which probably was one of the reasons why I was struck by it. 

Lucy Love only discovered grime three years ago and before that she was dedicated to singing soul. After she decided to shift into rap she quickly got known in the underground club scene but it seems like she in no time has reached the more established level. 

Have a look at the video to the track "No VIP". 

The William Blakes less playful

Image: PR-photo 

There is particularly one thing I like about the experimental trio "The William Blakes" which is that they are not afraid of going beyond the norms and as I read in an interview the band is not afraid if their music turning out to be completely crap. 

The band consists of the former music-tv host Kristian Leth and the two brothers Frederik and Fridolin Nordsø, who are well-known indie and r´n´b producers both in Denmark and abroad. 

Their first album "Wayne Coyne" from 2008 got admired by the critics despite the fact that it was deliberately written and recorded in a very limited amount of time in Sweden. The concept is that they are making music without fear, which must be very liberating. 

 

The band who is named after the English poet and painter William Blake has yet again gone to Sweden to record and has just released the outcome of the trip with the album "Dear Unknown Friend" which is supposed to be influenced by ´60´s psych and solid ´80´s pop. 

As on the first album The William Blakes enjoy to get political, to diss the government and especially the Danish prime minister Anders Fogh. Be my guest. 

The opening track says it all and goes by the title: "My Government is killing every hope for me" 

While "Wayne Coyne", named after the lead singer of The Flaming Lips, was a playful child of experiments the new album is accused of being a bit more moderate and conventional. I just hope that The William Blakes don´t get their madness too much under control, since it´s what made them so refreshing and daring. 

Give me Loveshop not Unmack!

Image by: Letsfaceit

The charismatic singer-songwriter Jens Unmack are out now with a new solo-album called "Hestene løber som dage". Apparently he has hired The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, which pervade the whole record and on some tracks it gets a bit too much with all the string players. 

I have always been more a fan of "Loveshop", where Jens Unmack is the front figure, than of his solo carrier. The strong and poetic Danish lyrics and the soft 1980´s inspired rock/pop, have always been able to put me in a nice, day-dreaming mood. 

But "Hestene løber som dage" does not reinvent the musical sound of Jens Unmack. I can´t help feeling that I have heard it all before on his too former solo albums "Vejen hjem fra Rock´n´Roll´" and "Aftenland Express". It´s as if he just wrote them on autopilot. 

Loveshop was shortly reunited in February this year for one night because of the death of guitar player and producer Hilmar Hassig who had been an important member of Loveshop before the band got dissolved. Hilmar Hassig died tragically in a car accident last fall, and the revenue from the concert in Vega went to his two children. 

But a part from that I don´t get my hopes up that they will get back together any time soon, especially not after the loss of Hilmar Hassig. I think I will just stick to my old Loveshop albums, since I have a hard time imagining that Jens Unmack can reach the same level on his own, even if he was the primus motor behind the band. Something is simply lacking on his solo records, he gets close, but not close enough. 

You should get these guys on tape

Image by: Album-cover 

I don´t exactly know why, but for several years I have avoided listening to the band I Got You On Tape despite that they have been very hyped. I think I had some prejudices about the music being too frisky and hollow but luckily I gave it a try lately and got surprised - pleasantly that is. 

The lead singer sounds like a young David Bowie, and it´s especially his deep and drowsy voice that carries the music to a higher level. Furthermore the group doesn´t sound like all the other indie-rock bands at the moment but travels more back in time instead of trying to keep up with the musical trends reigning at the moment. The song "Somersault" already sticks to my brain and the choir in the beginning sets the mood right from the start. 

The art-rock band with roots in jazz released a collection of remixes in January with the simple title "I Got You On Tape 2 - Remixes" and broke at the same time with their label Auditorium in favor of the Copenhagen based label Tigerspring. So far I Got You On Tape has released to albums, one in 2006 and the other in 2007. 

It´s rare that I find music with the ability to make my entire body soften like butter and make me forget about the world and life around me. It´s dreamy, careless and mellow all at the same time, and I guess I owe I Got You On Tape a simple thank you note. 

Teenage trip hop talent

Image by: Peter Svendsen 

16 years old and already an established musician. That´s the reality for Mike Sheridan who just won a Danish Music Award for "Best Electronica Release of the Year" last month. And it´s certainly not because of the lack of competition on the Danish electronica scene. 

In 2008 Mike Sheridan released the record "I Syv Sind" which got great reviews. The mellow and mature mood that the experimental trip hop reflects makes it difficult to picture that it´s a teenager who is behind the deep felt tracks. Especially when he has been cited for saying, that his biggest trouble at the moment, is his father who does not want to raise his allowance. 

The tracks like "At Elske Dig" and "Med Små Skridt" are smooth and comfortable for the ear while still very experimental. The latter one features the Danish singer Maya Albana. The resemblance with the king of Danish electronica Trentemøller is obvious but as Mike Sheridan has stated himself he is far from a clone of Trentemøller, but refers instead to a special Copenhagen sound that is flourishing at the moment and which does not find its like anywhere else. 

Only critique is the lyrics on some tracks which is the only place where his young age shines through because of the little too banal texts. 

Mike Sheridan has also composed the music to a ballet performance playing at the Bellevue Theater and he has actually been so busy with his career that he had to drop out of high school. All I can say is poor kid. 

US-rockers taking off

Image by: Simon Birk

With the combination of psychedelic rock and a Californian happy and up-beat sound Danish Figurines are well on their way to make it internationally and particularly in North America. 

Their third album "Skeleton" received a lot of well deserved attention and got good reviews from among others the leading American Pitchfork Media who wrote:

"Part of Skeleton's appeal lies in the songwriting's lead-to-gold alchemy; most tracks begin fairly nondescript before unsuspectingly blossoming into glorious pop gems." 

They have also been nominated "Favorite New International Act/Group" at Canadian Indie Awards. 

But the band is also one of the most hard-working and have played countless of concerts in especially North America. 

From 2004-2006 the Danish documentarist Janus Schumacher followed Figurines to make the film "Detour" about the band, which ended up focusing on the bass player Andreas Toft´s problems with fitting into the band and his final exit just as they were about to break through abroad. I have not seen it yet, but it sounds interesting. 

I heard Figurines once as an opening act for the British band Kaiser Chiefs and I got really impressed with the lead singer Christian Hjelm´s voice and ability to get through to the crowd. They were actually a lot better than Kaiser Chiefs themselves, who disappointed me with being too popish and boring. 

Copenhagen Festival with quality acts!

Image by: Beat Day 

Balstyrko has just been announced to play at Beat Day which is an two-days long festival held in Copenhagen on the 14.-15. of August. The program looks very interesting, both the Danish names and the ones from abroad. 

Besides from Balstyrko the Danish acts are so far:

• Oh No Ono
• Mew
• Efterklang
• Choir Of Young Believers
• The Raveonettes
• The Late Parade

Mew and The Raveonettes are the ones who have received most recognition and attention outside Denmark while Choir of Young Believers, The Late Parade and Balstyrko are less established. Of the less known bands I´m looking most forward to see is Choir of Young Believers. 

Behind the misleading name is only one guy, Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, who is half-Greek, a quarter Indonesian and a quarter Danish. The music is melodic indie-folk-pop, with a very wistful sound to it and has nothing do with gospel-singing Christians. His last album is called "this is for the white in your eyes".

New album from Mew

I haven´t been listening to the indie-rock band Mew for a while, but apparently they are out with a new record this summer as a follow up to their 2005 album "The Glass Handed Kites". 

It will be their first album since the departure of their bass-player Johan Wohlert, who later teamed up with his girlfriend Pernille Rosendahl in the band The Storm. I was not very impressed with the music coming out of that collaboration, which was too pretentious and didn´t posses near the raw quality as Mew does. 

Mew was formed in 1995, and one of the songs I have heard the most is Apocalypso, and my favorite album is still Frengers from 2003. The Glass Handed Kites in my opinion exploded a bit too much in musical effects, instead of keeping it more simple. 

I just found out that Mew is huge in Japan and Mexico so it suddenly makes sense why one of my Mexican friends almost know more about the band than I do. On their webpage you can watch an artistic video-diary from their recent recordings in New York. 

The single Comforting Sounds from 2003 is too good not to be shared here. Notice the big, grandiose scarfs which became a common trademark of the four members. Even today six years later the lead singer Jonas Bjerre still looks like a innocent puppy that someone has treated wrongly. 

 

Lullabies for grown-ups

Image by: Rasmus Weng Karlsen

No category is big enough to fit the music of Balstyrko, which is quite unique. The three musicians in the band, Ane Trolle, Blæs Bukki and Anders Christophersen, have stirred together a blend of reggae, hip hop, folk and electronica and the outcome is a bunch of cuddling, catchy and edgy songs. One critics called their newly released album "Jagten På Noget" lullabies for adults and I agree that the music is soft for the ear but without losing its character. 

The hit value of tracks like "Intet Stopper Helt", "Hold Igen" and "Jagten På Noget" is obvious and the lyrics are marked with Blæs Bukki´s sharp pen. He knows how to make words sound delicious next to each other while at the same offering critical content about society today. 

One of the things that have been great about the Danish music scene in recent years, is that people are not afraid of mixing genres in all kind of directions and inventing new forms. They are not afraid of breaking the existing norms, and I think that Balstyrko is a key example of that trend. 

Sexy, sleepy soul

Image by: Fatimalouborg

I think it´s about time that I introduce one of the most talented and interesting Danish, female singers. Her name is Ane Trolle and her voice is amazing. It´s full of sleepy, sexy soul but at the same time classical and beautiful. 

Oddly enough Ane Trolle has, despite of her over ten years in the music business, not released an album in her own name but always in collaboration with other musicians. But I´m grateful for her choice, since she is working with some of the most innovative forces in the Danish music industry as Pato Siebenhaar, Anders Trentemøller and Peder, the two latter I have already written about. 

The collaboration that I have been most exited about is with Peder because of the song "White Lillies" which is on Peder´s album "And He Just Pointed To The Sky...". Besides from Ane Trolle´s impressive voice the music is so well arranged and I get almost high because of the heavy bass, the piano consistently playing in the background and not to forget the melancholic string players at the end. It´s rare to find such a sophisticated sound. 

You can listen to the track on her website as well as the radiohit "Sweet Dogs" which is by her band Trolle/Siebenhaar and "Moan" by Trentemøller. Even though they are made by different artists the three songs share some of the same feeling because of Ane Trolles ability to put her own mark on whatever she is working on. 

Besides from featuring on many tracks of others, she is simultaneously a part of the bands JaConfetti, Trolle/Siebenhaar and Balstyrko, so definitely a productive girl.  

Take a listen to Sweet Dogs at the video below, and judge for yourself whether she has a incredible voice, and I strongly encourage you also to listen to "White Lillies". As far I can see there is not made a video for the song, so that´s why I have chosen "Sweet Dogs" as the next-best option. 

Folk please!

Image by: Þórdís Magnea Jónsdóttir

I have recently discovered a new passion for folk music which is one of the reasons why I paid some extra attention when I first heard the singer-songwriter Jakob Faurholt. His music is not pure folk but more in the direction of rusty folk-pop and the number of instruments are kept at a strict minimum. It´s basically just him with his guitar.

Jakob Faurholt released his third album in february called "Are You In The Mood For Love?" The record does not exactly contain a lot of hit-potential songs, but sometimes that can be a quality in itself. It´s usually the hits that you are skipping past after a while anyway. The album is mostly dark ballads with only one more upbeat track. "Irish I´m not" has already become my favorite song together with "Rusty country cage" despite that it for some unknown reason is bothered with an on purpose discordantly guitar solo. You can hear them both and more on his Myspace page.

I especially enjoy Jakob Faurholt´s deep, introvert voice, and the lyrics actually have some stories behind them about the less pretty sides to love and what it sometimes does to people. The lyrics reminded me a bit about the Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian who despite their seemingly cheerful sound has some cruel stories to tell. Jakob Faurholt does not reach their level with his lyrics but it´s still admirable that he goes further than the majority by giving the texts some character instead being satisfied with smooth, bland love-songs. 

Somehow it´s the simpleness of Jakob Faurholt´s music that makes it most attractive to the ear. I so easily get fed up with especially indie rock that wants to add too many musical effects instead of cutting into the bone and be more sincere. I guess that´s why I have felt so comfortable listening to folk music lately, it relaxes me because it usually does not try to pretend to be something it´s not. 

Electro-rock with depth

Image by: emjay-graphics.dk

The wonder kid of Danish electronica/alternative music is dropping all of his alias as Supertroels and Mocking Bird to release a new album under his own name Troels Abrahamsen. 

It´s supposed to be out on May 4th. and is called "Wht". It should be interesting to hear what the productive singer/producer/songwriter/musician has come up with this time. I recommend you to take a listen to the song "End Scene demo" on his MySpace, it´s quite poetic even though it´s accompanied with underlying electronic sounds. 

I have mostly been a fan of the band Veto where Troels Abrahamsen is the leadsinger, because of its electro-rock that combines synth and machine-like expression with harmonious rock melodies that actually have some depth. Troels Abrahamsen may not have the most wide-ranging voice, but instead it offers a kind of intimacy and desperation that I think is much more important. 

The song "You are a knife" from 2005 seriously kick-started the carrier of Veto and Troels Abrahamsen, and it´s still a track I can hear over and over again - the video is an impressive piece of work as well. 

The album "Crushing Digits" from 2008 has a row of incredible songs, that makes me seek the nearest dance floor but the album also has some more quite tracks, which reveals the versatility of Veto. If I should name some of the most interesting song from "Crushing Digits" it would be: "Built to fall", "You Say Yes, I Say Yes" and the more subdued "Duck, Hush and be still". 

The last one keeps reminding me of another Danish band "Nephew", and I read somewhere that they have hired the same producer so maybe that´s some of the explanation. I just want to make it clear though, that I prefer Veto a hundred times over Nephew, which lacks some of the edginess and innovation that is characteristic of Veto. Discover for yourself what Troels Abrahamsen is listening to at the moment at his own music blog. 

Spleen United 

Image by: Tom Elowsson 

Another band that probably gets closer to Veto is Spleen United, who I can recommend. The band have actually also had a visit from the Nephew and Veto producer Carsten Heller and their latest release is from 2008 called "Neanderthal", where one of the most remarkable songs is "My Tribe". The album shifts constantly between dark, intense notes to the more energetic and upbeat ones and it´s easy to find the resemblances with both Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys. It works, but personally I miss the rock sound that features on the records of Veto. 

The boys may have grown up

By: 3rd Side

So, in part of getting a bit away from the dark, dark music I introduce to you Oh No Ono, who has a single out right now called "Internet Warrior" which is on their new album "Eggs" that is released on April 20th. If you have never heard of the young, curly guys from the north of Denmark then listen to one of their earlier hits "Keeping warm in cold country" as well as the new single. 

I read in an English interview that they have actually met Yoko Ono in London, who they say was very pleased with them, whatever that means. As you can read in the same interview the title on their debut album "Yes" was inspired by one of Yoko Ono´s exhibitions. 

I definitely like "Internet Warrior" better than "Keeping warm in a cold country" since it seems more mature and complete but still with the playful synthz sounds, that takes me back to the games on my Amiga 600.

Some critics think that "Internet Warrior" has a touch of Beatles on it which probably is right since Oh No Ono are big Beatles fans. 

One of the reason why I have never been that into Oh No Ono is because of the exaggerated bubble-gum attitude and the very clear vocals which reminds me a bit too much of cheerful teenage music. 

But it´s obvious that the guys are competent and innovative composers, why I was happy to read that the new album is supposed to be more intense and with a bit more substance. If you get the chance to listen to "Eggs" let me know what you think of it?

 

Depressed comedian

Album cover: "And he just pointed to the sky..."

Watch out, this is dark! The music of the talented artist Peder will at the minimum make you feel nicely introverted and in the worst case scenario deeply depressed. Still, the album "And he just pointed to the sky..." is a favorite of mine at least the first half of the record. The song I have listened to the most is "Would You" featuring Nino Moschella, which is one of the more upbeat ones. 

"Ache" is on the darker side, but puts you in a comfortable, relaxed mood. 

Peder has revealed that the organic electronica is partly inspired by David Lynch and the tracks also draw a big resemblance with film music. And supposedly David Lynch likes the album. Other inspirations are Nina Simone, Chet Baker, Tom Waits and Jan Johansson. 

Maybe it´s hard to believe while listening to the melancholic tracks but Peder is actually better known as a comedian in the Danish public. As a musician he is not widely famous, since the music is not exactly mainstream. I think he should have some credit for going all the way in making an album which is definitely not a crowd pleaser. 

The gloomy lady makes me calm

By: Star Bird

I just discovered her recently, but Marie Fisker caught my ear right away with her gloomy, stylish rock with traces of country. Her EP "City Lies" got great reviews and on May 4 she releases her full-length debut "Ghost of Love". Have a taste of her EP at MySpace. 

I think Marie Fisker is also refreshing since her dark voice doesn´t sound like most other female singers at the moment, who have a tendency to be either too sweet and innocent or too pretentiously charming. The song "City Lies" has a mournful ring to it, and I´m especially exited about the melancholic guitar. 

Her sound gives me a feeling of being set back in the black universe of the eighties - not that I remember them - and I can´t wait to get my hands on her album in May. 

Simpson is back!

By: Pollas 

This guy is quite a character. The 9. of March Mikael Simpson released his fifth album, called "Slaar Skaar", and this time the "do it yourself" musician has moved out of his bedroom and into a real studio. He is no doubt one of the most original singer/songwriter in Denmark, and his laid back dub/electronica sound always gives me the chills. This is already a oldie, but I just really like the song and this incredible low-budget video. I think Simpson is a cat-person. 

But to be honest I still think some of his best work was together with Lise Westzynthius and Henrik Vibskov in the band Luksus, which had a cool, dusty and raw sound. The three extremely talented artists only released one EP and the album "Repetoire" in 1998 both which are almost impossible to track down physically. I tried to buy it second hand on the web where "Repetoire", I think due to Simpsons later success, is sold for minimum 1000 kroner or about 160 American dollars. 

They split in 2001 and despite of Luksus being a critics darling, Mikael Simpson got his real break through the year after with his solo album "Os2+lidtRo 2002". Lise Westzynthius is definitely also worth tjecking out, but I still prefer her in Luksus. Vibskov, is now besides from being a musician also a noted fashion designer. 

By: Passetti

One of Mikael Simpsons steady musical companion is the Danish electronic musician Trentemøller, who often plays a DJ set at Simpson´s concerts and who has played an important role on several of his albums. One of my favorite tracks with Trentemøller is "Miss You" and also his remix of Royksopp´s "What Else Is There" is worth some attention. 

Is the web better than a label?

To what extend can the web help unknown artist to break through? A question which especially is relevant to artists from smaller countries, who don´t have a big label behind them to get them released abroad. 

The distribution of music has changed radically since it´s been possible to share music on the internet, and Arctic Monkeys from the UK is one the bands who was discovered through their MySpace page even before they had a record deal. But does that mean that bands can depend on the web to make them famous if only the music strike a nerve in people?

I asked the question to editor and music writer Jordan Zivitz from The Montreal Gazette, who was reluctant to say yes, but who still thinks that the old fashion way of touring is what works the best. I also asked him where on the web he finds up and coming artists, and which blogs he reads, so if you want to get some tips from a music critics then watch the podcast below. 

The music in the intro is by the Danish band Nephew.