Ears Are For Feeling

Daily Pick #377

(See right side of your screen)

 

Without me even noticing it, Earth Mk. II is undebatably my favourite  dutch garage/noise/new wave (that corner) band. And they have been releasing new material bit by bit for the last few weeks.

Check out their other videos as well,cause they include a compilation of hip girls wearing Nirvana shirts and an image of everyone's favourite Simpson's character while the lyrics go: Nobody really cares about you. Pretty hysterical if you ask me.

But the video with the most basic, yet psychedelic, background (maybe it's the future cover), holds the best track. What i'm actually saying is.... the material is getting to me... again.

 

Earth Mk. II - I Feel So

Album: not yet released

 

 

More Dutch Indie I like.

Given it a small update:

Dutch Indie playlist

 

 

Record Alphabet: A

You can never have enough records, so let us do an alphabet of records I think you should buy or at least listen. All vinyl records ofcourse.

A

Automatic Sam - Sonic Whip

First one is Dutch (Nijmegen) band Automatic Sam's 2013 record Sonic Whip. An action-packed record and to my honest opinion the best Dutch record of the year. From the guitar-riffs to the dark vocals everything is just so intense and heavy. Unusually high intrigue value and unordinary stuff going on in almost all of the tracks.

"So Dance Motherfucker, Dance."

 

Daily Pick #335

A new dutch act I have grown quite fond of lately. After opening the shows for Moss a while ago, Beginners has announced their debut LP will come out this September. And I believe it's going to be something special. Singer Susanne Linssen has gained experience in Hospital Bombers amongs other acts and seems to be more than ready for her own project.

At the very least this is another great song by them. 

 

 

March 2014 Top 20

Here are, with some delay, my twenty favourite tracks from march, with no less than 4 Dutch acts, (Krach, Hello Venray, Solitary ZEBRA, Apneu).

Best song of the month:

   

full March playlist: here

1. The Orwells – Dirty Sheets

2. Roosevelt - Sea

3. The Horrors – So Now You Know

4. Cloud Nothings – I’m Not A Part of Me

5. Psychic Twin – Dream State

6. Krach – River Phoenix

7. Big Data Ft. Joywave – Dangerous

8. Hello Venray – Two Feet

9. Childhood – Solemn Skies

10. Solitary ZEBRA - forward

11. Mas Ysa – Look Up (Yes)

12. Sisyphus – Take Me

13.  Broken Bells – Medicine

14. Perfect Pussy - Driver

15. Hunters – Undone

16. Apneu – Hard Feelings

17. White Lung – Drown With The Monster

18. Damon Albarn – Lonely Press Play

19. Drowners – Well, People Will Talk

20. Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams

enjoy!

The Sound of 2013 Pt. 7 : My 11th favourite album.

11. Torre Florim & Roos Rebergen - De Tweede Speeldoos, Independently released, April, Experimental, Folk, Singer/songwriter

This album is the sequel album (or in this case only sold in a classic playbox version that plays one of the 6 songs as an authentic playbox) to one of the biggest experiments of Dutch Indie music. Touching songs based on texts from a acting class of mentally disabled people. Only 6 tracks long but very impressive, not an album I will easily forget. Combining the bands of Ms. Rebergen and De Staat to play the songs live, made sure that it was one hell of a show. 

  

Funny how these lyrics are actually among the best lyrics I have heard all year, they contain the right emotion and intensity, and it was never so clear what the writer or I-person actually really meant to say. That is truly beautiful and unique.

 

I do hope this will not turn out to be their final collaboration.

 

Daily Pick #326

Gelderland is on fire! After last year's awesome record by Automatic Sam, I predict that this year's Villa Zeno's record is going to be at least just as good.

The video is shot on the rooftop of 'Museum het Valkhof' in Nijmegen.

Villa Zeno - Self Made Woman

Album: Unreleased/ Album Presentation tonight in Ulft, DRU Cultuurfabriek.

 

Daily Pick #318

Moss. Again. Great. Best Dutch album of the year perhaps? (By the way there is a new and awesome Afghan Whigs track, be sure to check that one out aswell)

Moss - Bruised

Album: We Both Know The Rest Is Noise (2014)

 

Daily Pick #315

Who is this Dutch guy popping up on Coachella and SXSW festival programs? I don't care, but his music and art are stunning.

Young & Sick - Continuum

Album: Unreleased

 

The Sound of 2013 Pt. 1

 

For me ‘listing time’ is Januari, not around Christmas. I mean, the year is not even over. So...... here we go. 2013, musically for me was a year of many different flavors. Hip-hop’s resurrection continued, with the increasing popularity of decent Hip-hop acts like A$AP Rocky, Lamar and more experimental work from Kanye, Death Grips (which are hardly Hip-hop anymore). Dutch alternative music in general, has improved somewhat. And with improved I mean, I got the feeling there was a little bit more room for ‘real’ alternative music in the Dutch music industry. But we still have a long, long way to go. Also, the 80ies returning more than ever, as a decade which we are only just discovering. Synths everywhere.

To show what I think is the best music of 2013, I’ve made a list of, according to my humble opinion, the best 50 albums of the year. Be aware there is a bias in this list. I am biased towards bands that deserve my attention and yours, since they are, by far, not getting enough. So I’d like to state that for completeness the LPs from bands like Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Sigur Ros, Disclosure, Haim, MBV, Atoms for Peace or  Kanye (and I can name a few more, it was a good year), should and can be in there somewhere. But still the list is filled with albums I’ve listened to for ages.

Below is the first part of the list. These are the albums 50 till 36. After the band and title (italic), are in the following order: Label, Release Date, Genre and the titles to a few highlight tracks.

Some of these tracks are added to the blog's main playlist.

For the most impressive 20 albums, I will post a more extensive description on the blog soon.

Enjoy.

50. The Black Angels – Indigo Meadow, Blue Horizon Ventures, May 17^th,Neo-Psych/Garage/Alternative Rock,

-     Holland, Love Me Forever, You’re Mine

One of my all-time favorite bands returns with a LP with many flavors. They still have their dark Neo-Psych sound, but a large step in direction of more catchy pop songs, was a very smart move.

49. California X – California X, Don Giovanni Records, January 20^th, Hard Rock/Punk Rock

-          Pond Rot, Spider X, Curse Of The Nightmare

While the name suggests they are from Cali, this 3-piece Hard Rock outfit origins in Massachussets. All I actually have to say is, this is one of the most explosive LPs of the year.

48. Hundred Waters – Hundred Waters, OWSLA, September 21th 2012, Indie/Art Rock/Electronica/Neo-Folk

                -      Boreal, Thistle, Visitor

Released on Skrillex’s label this is not one for bro-step lovers. Combining electronic minimalism with folky vocals, these harmonious songs will take you to the sky.

47. Applescal – Dreaming in Key, Atomnation, February 5^th, Electronica/Ambient/ Techno

                -       Boys, Spring and Life, Thanks for Fun

So there is actually talent for some more than decent alternative electronic music in the Netherlands.

46. Forest Swords – Engravings, Tri Angle Records, August 26^th, Experimental/Electronica/Triphop

                -        The Weight Of Gold,  Friend, You Will Never Learn,  Ljoss

After a stunning EP, a more stunning debut album. This man is pushing the boundaries.

45. Purling Hiss – Water on Mars, Drag City, March 19^th, Alternative Rock/Rock/Blues Rock

                -        Mercury Retrograde, Lolita, Mary Bumble Bee

An album that had to grow on me. But hell it did. From gnarly and heavy to clean and poppy and back, but most of all: amazingly strong tracks.

44. Porcelain Raft – Permanent Signal, Secretly Canadian, Augusth 20^th, Indie-pop/Electronica/Indie-Rock

-            The Way Out, Think of The Ocean, Cluster

Mauro Remiddi has hit gold with his second LP. Hitting the right atmosphere on every single track.

43. Still Corners – Strange Pleasures, Sub Pop, May 7^th, Dream Pop/Indie-Pop/New Wave

                -       Berlin Lovers, Fireflies, Future Age

The 80ies are reborn on this dreamy masterpiece by this London-based duo. 

42. Some Ember – Asleep in the Ice Palace, Crash Symbols/Night People Records, April 4^th, New Wave/Electronica/Dream Pop

                -       Flowers Open, Asleep in the Ice Palace, Revelation

More New Wave greatness, from another duo. But more intense, with a deeper melancholic feel to it, like a dark Depeche Mode.

41. Autre ne Veut – Anxiety, Software Recording Co., Februari 26th, Alternative R&B

                -      Play by Play, World War, A Lie

I thought I was done listening to R&B forever, till last year(2012) something called alternative R&B emerged. This might be ‘the’ genre-defining LP. These songs about love and death hurt, but are among the most beautiful, that I’ve heard in 2013.

40. Automatic Sam – Sonic Whip, Quadrofoon Records, August 17^th, Indie-Rock/Hard Rock/Punk Rock

                -       Set It Right, I Island, Sonic Whip

Best piece of rough rock’n roll from Dutch soil. Explosive, high-paced and catchy, this LP is a rollercoaster ride.

39. Woodkid – The Golden Age, Green United Music, March 18^th, Neo-folk/Experimental/Baroque Pop

                -         I Love You, Iron, Conquest of Spaces

French producer that should stick to making his own music. These folky pop songs would fit in any epic drama movie.

38. Spilt Milk – Funeral Blues, Subbacultcha!, May 8^th, Folk/Indie

                -         Tea at The Palaz of Hoon, A Late Walk, All The Tired Horses

What started out as a gimmick album to me (using relatively unknown poems as lyrics for a folk song), has grown to be one of the most impressive Dutch folk albums this year. Hauntingly beautiful at times.

37. The Leisure Society – Alone Aboard The Ark, Full Time Hobby Records, April 16^th, Folk/Indie/Pop

                -          The Sober Scent of Paper, A Softer Voice Takes Longer Hearing, Tearing The Arches Down

This 7-headed English band has made a breakthrough LP. Poppy folk songs that lyric-wise are among the best of the year.

36. Mikal Cronin – MCII, Merge Records, May 7^th, Power Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Garage, Indie-Rock

                -           I’m Done Running From You, Weight, Shout It Out

Singer and songwriting wonderkid Mikal Cronin has delivered an amazing LP again, with more power and more pop, but still absolutely packed with high quality songs.

 

 

So that was it for this time, the next 15 albums, will follow soon. Listen to these amazing bands and enjoy!

Daily Pick #307

Beautifully subtle song of a Dutch songwriter I found out about today:

Bart van der Lee - Drown in these Arms

Album: Ballads for the Heathens or Dying (2013)

 

Daily Pick #303

Wooden Constructions frontman (Gover Meit) collaborates with producer Shroom to create a whole new form of music, combining Jazz, Hiphop and Reggae. Album presentation tonight: http://3voor12.vpro.nl/nieuws/2013/november/Meitje-hiphopfreakshow.html

Meitje Ft. Awkward I - Rainy Days

Album: It Takes A Lot (2013)

 

Daily Pick #297

Mozes And The Firstborn - Gimme Some

Album: Mozes And The Firstborn (2013)

 

 

Daily Pick #293

Kleinindustrie - Hit It

Album: Unreleased

 

Daily Pick #286

Eart Mk. II - Memories

Album: Music for Mammals (2013)

 

Dutch Indie Update Pt. 3

So here it is again, an update on the best dutch indie acts I have come across in the last few weeks/months. And I have found two incredible dutch acts, which in both cases make tracks in long lost genres (in the Netherlands at least).

Postmodem

This band makes rough, edgy rock somewhere in between shoegaze and grunge. As I said, not at all common in The Netherlands. For tracks that are actually pretty lo-fi, they are truly rock and roll. They debuted as a band live on Le Guess Who? Of last year and according to an interview with 3voor12 (goo.gl/XAaAHE) all the songs are just meant to express and transfer a feeling to the listener. And that is exactly what they do, short (around 2 minutes mostly) rambling songs full of raw unedited guitar work and solid drums of an unique level. If you like Wavves, No Age, Slowdive for example, you should definitely check this out.

Apparently problems move away to make room for new ones:

 

 Photo from: valkhoffestival.nl

 

Kleinindustrie

I’ve have been very excited about this band for quite some time now, and for good reason, while Postmodem gives us a dutch grunge-band, Kleinindustrie is a dutch pioneer in the post-punk division(to be honest here: their songs range from close to stoner to grunge and back. While their first tracks appeared over a year ago, and a very promising start on their Dirt (She Is) EP (and Hit it EP was not bad either), and blowing off the roof on their first few appearances, it has gotten a little bit quiet around this band. We are unfortunately still waiting for their first full length release, but the fact that they are touring right now, and that they are involved in several Poprondes, might be an indication that the new tracks are finished and that the waiting is almost over. For now, there is no way you can ignore the strength of some of the tracks that are already circulating on the web.  The dark (almost 80ies-like, Joy Division-like) sound, with heavy guitar riffs and intense vocals, makes you want to move and sit still at the same time. While on Hit It, they sound more grungy and somehow make me think of so many genres at once, that you would think the fans are out there for the taking.

 

Photo from trajectum.hu.nl

Kleinindustrie is playing in PopUpClub Wageningen on the 3th of October.

Daily Pick #261

Spilt Milk - Tea at The Palaz of Hoon

Album: Funeral Blues (2013)

 

Daily Pick #241

Torre Florim & Roos Rebergen - Discotheek

Album: De Tweede Speeldoos (2013)

 

Dutch Indie Update Pt. 2

So here we are again, with an update on what has happened in dutch indie/alternative music scene. Highlighting, for the second time, two artists/tracks that have hit the world wide web, in the last few weeks.

For starters, let me talk about Tessa Rose Jackson. So the name doesn't sound Dutch, but in fact she is. She learned to be an artist and write music in the UK, but now she is back in The Netherlands as well.

And she is worth mentioning because her songs have a sweet taste of folk music, but with a hint of Britpop. The songs have a certain catchyness to them, that is rare for songs of songwriter that she is. Her voice is hard to get out of your mind, on the one hand heavy, on the other sweet, but mostly it is a warm voice, and that powers the songs. The acoustic guitar work, fits the songs really well, making for, well basically, a bunch of strong, well balanced tracks.

An example:

 

Not bad huh? 

Her talent for songwriting really comes out in the next track, a track with much more tension, and darkness, as you like, than you would expect from the average singer/songwriter(which she is proving not to be):

 

A great new performer, to watch out for. Album "(Songs from) The Sandbox" is definitely a must-listen.

So for the second highlight, I picked the second collaberation between Roosbeef and Torre Florim (De Staat). And they have perfected their style, of.... whatever that style may be, who cares, honestly? The lyrics make me smile every single time, and the video at the least does the same for me.

Check it out:

 

Somehow, you can sense both their individual styles of music as well. For example, the cowbell, reminds me of The Staat, the lyrics are somewhat typical Roosbeef. A great match, if you ask me. interesting, almost experimental tracks, that have musicality for 10 bands. A here's the catch, the lyrics come from mentally disabled people. The whole album: De Tweede Speeldoos is a project during which these two songwriters have solely used quotes from these people. Great and beautiful project. And the results is simply amazing.

 

So, thanks for reading, see you next time.

 

Dutch Indie Update Pt.1

So, because there is so much going on for Dutch alternative music right now, I decided to bring to life an returning item keeping you up-to-date on new, interesting and great acts coming from The Netherlands. So on a regular basis, I will update you, on new dutch bands, that need to be brought into the daylight. And the first time is today.

Earth Mk. II

So the recent outbreak of retro music in the dutch alternative scene, mainly led by Jacco Gardner, is getting a new chapter. This time Jacco is in charge of the production, and it shows. With the same classic feel, Earth Mk. II goes even further. A more edgy-sounding guitar, more hazy vocals, leading to an even more intense retro experience. I must admit I am even more excited about this act than I was when Jacco Gardner first came around. Good stuff. And finally the retro-like videos have reached my country as well 

Okay, that was pretty unexpected to come from dutch soil huh?

Just to prove a point here is another song and this one is the song responsible for catching my attention.

 

So let's hope Excelsior Recordings will bring out more tunes soon.

Orlando

This band is a definite hit, but after performance on 3voor12 and I believe Radio 2, I haven't heard many people mention they have noticed them. So here I will have a go. Orlando is the alias of songwriter Tessa Douwstra and she has formed a band around here to perform the songs in a somewhat traditional way.  They have dropped their first single a while ago and it has impressed me. No clear definitive statement in which style of music they belong, since they sound like a more poppy intake on folk music, while at another point they sound somewhat blues-like. Also their classical band set-up is worth mentioning with three brass pieces included. The song will show you what I mean.

 

First EP release on top of their first album "The Early Warning Company" is scheduled for this summer.

So that's it for the first Indie update. Enjoy!