Ears Are For Feeling

Daily Pick #388

Minimalistic Californian Hiphop-Indie crossover. Enjoying this, being laidback in a chair.

A (small) hit in the making!

 

Hippie Sabotage - Devil Eyes

Album: Providence (2016)

 

Daily Pick #384

It was a while when I posted a dreamy track. So here is one. Discovered this today, scanning through Youtube channels. This is from Hardly Art Records.

I particularly love the acoustic guitar, which has disappeared from dreampop recently. And the vocals are just right, nothing forced, just a natural vibe of dreaminess.

Enjoy!

Seapony - Where we go

Album: Go With Me (2011)

 

Daily Pick #379

So... I really like the new Chastity Belt record (from early 2015).

So... I thought i'd share a track from it.

Chastity Belt - Cool Slut

Album: Time To Go Home

Label: Hardly Art Records

 

Daily Pick #375

Got this in my mailbox today and I like it. Very subtle song by Heyward Howkins, with a honey-sweet voice. Somehow it has some sort of classic soul feeling to it. The sun is out on this sunday morning and this is great music to spend it with.

 

Heyward Howkins - Forecasting

Album: Forecasting/Midway (Single Release)(2015)  

Available for free here: https://heywardhowkins.bandcamp.com/

 

uploaded it to my channel as well:

 

Daily Pick #373

This has been my travel music as of late. Relaxing in the airport-hall. By a lovely duo-bass, brass band. Well if that is not already special enough, I don't know what is.

Nonac - Sminkel

Album: Nonac (2015)

link to bandcamp: here

 

Daily Pick #370

Indie-Rock or the pop/synth variant genres are not about the riffs, or about the instruments, they are not even about the voice. They are about the feeling. Although the genre is about to die a boring death, there are some acts that show signs of giving me renewed hope. So that I, can again have a indie-rock phase.

One of those bands is BEARSKIN, and look at those views.This could use some support and they deserve it. Lovely tenderful song, that delivers a message and is not shy about it. The style is nothing new in this genre that is filled to the rafters. But this is a reminder of what was and what it could be. Think early Young the Giant, BBC, this is no less. A subtle song with no shame. Long time since I've heard that, since I've felt that. That's why it's number 370.

BEARSKIN - Middle Ground

Album: Afterthoughts (EP) (2015)

 

Daily Pick #362

Jackson Scott - Dissonance 

From: Sunshine Redux (2015)

Label: Bloodmoss Records

 

From one seemingly depressed genre into another: Lo-Fi. Just kidding of course. Jackson Scott's Sunshine Redux is one of the more interesting releases of the week. Another crazy ride that goes from relaxation to utter intensity, showing show many different points of view on the genre that it is hard to pinpoint a certain track. Still the track that does it all, backed up by a certain groovy guitar-line is "Dissonance". 

 

 

Oh by the way, the new Best Coast LP Californaia Nights is great and new Disclosure material sounds like shit.

See you!

Aureate Gloom by of Montreal

of Montreal is a band that needs no introduction.
And yet their latest release has me more excited than usual.

I've mentioned here before that listening to a record, mostly this counts for special records,the first few spins don't always necessarily give you a great feeling.
On of Montreal's Aureate Gloom that will be released soon, you can hear, i would almost call it the usual honk-a-donk indie sound they are familiar with. But it is when they start to move away from that sound they are an awesome band. Estocadas, Aluminium Crown and especially Like Ashoka's Inferno of Memory, rank, to my sincere opinion, amongst their best material. The stunning switches between the energetic and calm parts and somehow still delivering interesting tracks, that I would not dare to call catchy.
And that's just the kind of band of Montreal is and they prove with this record maybe more than ever, that if being original is one of your key features from the start, you can keep going without being boring ever.
As i Said I believe the final track from the record, that is in fact not at all gloomy, is just fantastic.

 

The record is definitely in my 'need to hear' category, it is lively, it is interesting and it is still growing on me. Giving stars to an album this deep, might be too early and not correct, so I'll add a little star to it.

4*/5

 

The 2014 Verdict Albums Part 2: 45-41

Part 2 of my personal album list of 2014.

The last 10 will be highlighted with more depth.

45. I Break Horses - Chiaroscuro, Bella Union Records, 1. Berceuse, 2. Ascension 3. You Burn, Electronica, Experimental, Ambient

 

44. Younghusband - Dromes, Sonic Cathedral Records, 1. Dromes 2. Comets Crossed 3. Reunion Message, Alternative Rock, Indie-Rock.

 

43. The Acid - Liminal, Mute Records, 1. Fame 2. Basic Instinct 3. Red, Electronica, Dub, Synth, Synthpop

 

42. Young Statues - The Flatlands Are Your Friend, Run For Cover Records, 1. Run The River Dry 2. Natives 3. Flood, Indie-Rock, Post-Punk, Indie

 

41. Protomartyr - Under Color of Official Right, Hardly Art Records, 1. Come & See 2. Scum, Rise! 3. Maidenhead, Post-Punk, Garage-Rock

 

 Enjoy!

The 2014 Verdict: Albums Part 1: 50-46

From now on I will be posting what I have perceived as the finest albums of 2014 (some are out of the end of 2013, but you'll get the idea).

Starting today with numbers 50-41. Top 10 will be highlighted some more.

Enjoy!

Missing something? Let me know, love to discuss about it some more.

Format: Band - Album, Label, 1.2.3. (Key Tracks), Genre

50. Soft Swells - Floodlights, Modern Outsider Records, 1. Love Like You  2. Floodlights 3. Bloodshot Eyes, Indie-Pop, Indie-Rock, Dream-Pop

 

49. Strand of Oaks - Heal, Dead Oceans Records, 1. JM 2. Plymouth  3. Shut In, Folk, Folk-Rock, Indie

    

48. The Cyclist - Flourish, All City Records , 1. Breathless 2. Daisy Spirals 3. Flourish, IDM, Electronica

 

47. Sohn - Tremors, 4AD Records, 1. Bloodflows 2. Ransom Notes 3. Tremors, Synthpop, Indiepop, Triphop, Electronica

 

46. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness, Jagjaguwar Records 1. Unfucktheworld 2. High & Wild  3. Hi-five, Singer-Songwriter, Country-Folk

 

See the blog soon, for the rest of the list. and a singles list.

Video of the Week: Arca - Thievery

So I've starting working on my yearlists, since well the year is almost over now and not at the beginning of Decembe, but I already mentioned that last year I guess. I'm doing a top 50 albums and a top 100 songs, if I can find the time. 

Oh yeah and before I forget, I don't get where the Americans are going with this Taylor Swift hype, but I do like the way some Dubstep artists have used her vocals in some serious remixing. So check that out.

Now everybody is done talking about Aphex Twin (not that I have any problems with that, but there is more you know), I feel like posting this. As a new video of the week. One of the most interesting acts that has emerged for me this year. And this video is controversial to say the least. Well I think everybody should make their own statement about it. But the song is epic.

Enjoy!

 

Let's celebrate because we can.

The year is almost over. And that means reflection on the year, awards, lists and celebration.

But now it seems that the end of the year lists are missing one of the key LPs of 2014. (it happens every year to be honest). They are missing D'Angelo's Black Messiah. 

It's available for streaming Spotify

.  

And besides the implications for American society, it's just really great. again.

Somebody else decided that a great way to celebrate the greatness of the Whigs is to change all their music on their website with music videos from The Killers. Downgrading them instead of celebrating them obviously. So let's do it properly, here.

Post by The Whigs.

 

 

 

From The Whigs to another type of whig. Let's state that not only Slowdive had a succesful reunion in 2014. It was a great year for the Afghan Whigs as well.

 

The band Leeways from my new home-town Arnhem has won the  De Grote Prijs van Nederland talent contest in the band division.

Congrats to them and here's a track by them.

 

And that wraps it up for today. Enjoy!

 

and some more playlist updates:

Youtube channel:

 

December 2014:

Twin Shadow, Doomtree amongst others.

Favorites

Beck - Wave
The Whigs - Kill Me Carolyne

Full LPs

Spoon - They Want My Soul

 @The

Leeways - Freedom
DonnerWetter - Ego

Daily Pick #354

BRNS - Behind the Walls

Album: Patiné (2014)

Label: CKoiCeBordelCorp Records

Think Animal Collective, but with the typical Belgium Lo-Fi-ish Folk in between the crazy parts. Hints of School is Cool are in there as well. That's for me what BRNS is. It is an exotic sound, I can honestly say I believe these guys are pioneers in what they do. They are filling their own corner of the music world. The whole album is an adventure, really. One of the best of the year perhaps? (I say that a lot I know, but I'll get to that in January.)

Enjoy and support these guys!

 

 

Daily Pick #352

Today's pick sounds a lot like the indie-rock we saw at the beginning of the zeroes, high tempo, very good sense of rhythm, like Editors or The Cinematics. But... now we have a lovely female voice, a synth-pop kind-of voice, finishing it all off perfectly. Another duo-band that has definitely caught my attention. Let yourself be guided from beginning to end. It's easy, I promise.

Heavy Heart - Another Wave

Album: This Season EP (2014)

 

 

Daily Pick #349

Onfortunately, Arcade Fire's we exist didn't win an EMA. (What A Surprise)

So I guess I'll just have to continue spreading the word about good, yet underappreciated music.

Today, a band is returning with new material. A band I truly love. Dutch Uncles.

Their math-like off-beat synth-pop is more intense than you can hear at first listen.

Now with soul added to the mix. is a breakthrough on the cards here? Yes. Go out and go see this band.

 

Tomorrow, many playlist updates and another highlight from London Calling.

Enjoy!

Daily Pick #345

D.D Dumbo is an artist so original (he's playing solo, yes solo) that it is hard to compare him to anything else. I'm just getting an Alt-J feel, that's all I can say, which is a positive thing for sure.

He is featured on London Calling within a few weeks.

Speaking of that festival, very, very onfortunate that Phantogram and John Wizards had to be cancelled, luckily the line-up turned up pretty good anyway as you can clearly hear in the updated playlist: London Calling Autumn 2014

 

Playlist Updates (Channel: here) :

Favorites:

Bat for Lashes - Oh Yeah

Burning Hearts - Sea Birds

Coasts - Golden City

Empires - How Good Does It Feel

Liars - Mess on a Mission

D.D Dumbo - Tropical Oceans

Bad Breeding - Age of Nothing

Spoon - Do You

The Amazing Snakeheads - Here It Comes Again

 

And there is now an electronic playlist by Ears Are For Feeling:

Electronica

 

Thanks for the views and subscriptions.

Enjoy!

 

August 2014 Top 20

My 20 favourite Indie tracks I've come across on the web during august.

Enjoy!

Full Playlist here.

Some Aussie Synths on 1. Check out their EP!

 

1.Collarbones - Burnout

2.Dorsal Fins - Monday Tuesday

3.Coves - Beatings

4.Bad Breeding - Age of Nothing

5.The Kevin Costners - Bigger But Better

6.Tom Rosenthal - A Thousand Years

7.Dope Body - Hired Gun

8.Mother Engine - Weltraumwolf

9.Applescal - The Veil

10.Fickle Friends - SWIM

11.Miserable - High

12.Interpol - Ancient Ways

13.Saint Motel - My Type

14.Hookworms - The Impasse

15.PAUW - A Siren

16.Kid Francescoli - Blow Up

17.Racing Glaciers - First Light

18.Jenny Hval - Mephisto is in the Water

19.Outer Rooms - The 80's

20.Fractures - Embers

Fyfe @ Doornroosje September 21st.

I moved this weekend and I quickly realized one weekend of "Golden Oldies" on the radio is enough for me.

So let's get back to some better music.

I went to new Doornroosje almost two weeks ago.

First gig, first day of the new building, I went to check out Doornroosje in Nijmegen (next to the station).
Nice looking building, very good sound quality (I was actually pretty amazed) but still feels cosy. Anyhow, the old building will be missed.

I Know SOHN was great and all on the first trial day of the new venue of Doornroosje,
but the true surprise was Fyfe. Maybe not so if you already knew one of his tracks from the web.
The vibe in their songs live was impressive, especially cosidering they are only with two. Good stage presence, the crowd was catching on quick.

First track was the most impressive and has both the intense vibes and some beautiful lyrics and will probably be one of their key songs for years to come, yes years, because they truly have potential.

 

Enjoy.

 

Tomorrow: Best of August, A concert calendar update, and a crazy daily pick.

Daily Pick #343

A While ago I posted Pin Tweaks' material. and this sort of reminds me of that. Lots of echo, synth and strong lyrics. I'm talking about the new Dorsal Fins track 'Monday Tuesday'. Synthpop seems to be having its second youth. No complaints here. Especially when the songs have enough catchyness to last for weeks.

Definetely an act to watch out for.

 

 

Tonight I'm finally checking out SOHN at newly opened Doornroosje. Should you believe the hype or not?

 

Updates:

Favorites

Parquet Courts – Instant Disassembly

Parquet Courts – Black and White

Majical Cloudz – Childhood’s end

Peaking Lights – Breakdown

Bag Raiders – Way Back Home

SOHN – Tempest

SOHN - Tremors

 

A playlist for the upcoming edition of London Calling

Here you go. 

More names to be announced, more playlists on the right.

Thanks for the views and subscriptions.

 

 

and more updates ofcourse:

Favorites:
Shura - Touch

September:
The Ukiah Drag - Dirt Trip

From the Past:
Sebadoh - Got It