Alternative Scene

moving to other url

2007-06-07T03:56:00.000+01:00

This blog is officialy closed. Started another one with a portuguese friend. Check out http://blogmusicblog.blogspot.com/ ..

cyah ;)

Patrick Wolf

2006-03-13T13:09:00.000Z

"No need for confort, no need for light! I'm hunting down the demons tonight"

Patrick Wolf, music genious and simply, a brilliant mind. He began recording violin, analog organs, homemade theremin on his four-track and acoustic guitar only 11-years old. He joined the art collective Minty at 14 and managed to impress Fat Cat Records. At 16, he went to Mason Crimineaux in France and won over Capitol K, who would release his solo debut in 2003, a great electro-folk experimental fest, Lycanthropy. He's completely the do-it-yourself kind of artist, doing music entirely on his own, just like Gurwich from Summer at Shatter Creek or Chris Corner from I Am X (Sneaker Pimp's formal vocalist/producer). Now he exposes his work again with Wind In The Wires (2005), and it's just as good as expected!

Embracing multiple genres without fitting into any of them, Patrick Wolf's music is never the same. Actualy, it sounds a bit like Radiohead, Bright Eyes, Magnolia Electric Co, Sigur Rós, David Sylvian, Nick Cave and Björk, all mixed up with traditional Northern European instruments like viola, violin, and accordian, all adding a great voice that is pointed by indie-critics as a Male-Björk voice with a heavy English accent. What you get is a mix of folk, pop, electronica, but essencialy, something entirely unique and mostly beautiful. His lyrics-subject ranges from the supernatural, to nature, to heart-wrenching personal accounts, like self-drama issues or harsh relationships, all them geniously achieved. This way, Patrick made his way into the music scene, and we thank him for it.

I simply loved "Licanthropy", a book alike work (featuring prelude and epilogue). It's addictive, smooth and moving. Songs like 'Bloodbeat', 'To The Lighthouse', 'The Childcatcher' (with haunting lyrics about child raping) or 'Domolition' are destined to be stuck in my Mp3 Player for a long time, side by side with "Wind On Wires", his latest album. It starts with 'Libertine' (the first single), an enchating song, not only because of the violins and rythm, but also the great lyrics. 'Teignmouth' and 'Tristan' are excellent electro-folk-songs and 'Lands End' is simply nice and smooth. Overall, I'm in love with Patrick Wolf's work... passionate, genious and engaging, both albuns are highlighted to its core!

1. Prelude
2. Wolf Song
3. Bloodbeat
4. To The Lighthouse.mp3
5. Pigeon Song
6. Don't Say No
7. Childcatcher.mp3
8. Demolition
9. London
10. Paris
11. Peter Pan
12. Lycanthropy
13. Boy Like Me
14. Epilogue

1. Libertine
2. Teignmouth.mp3
3. Shadow Sea
4. Wind In The Wires
5. Railway House
6. Gypsy King
7. Apparition
8. Ghost Song
9. This Wheater
10. Jacobs Ladder
11. Tristan
12. Eulogy
13. Lands End
14. Afraid
15. Empress

Pop ur ears our! :D

Apostle Of Hustle - Folkloric Feel

2006-03-12T23:45:00.000Z

Apostle Of Hustle, a Canadian band composed of a cool threesome including the lead guitarist of Broken Social Scene, Andrew Whiteman, Julian Brown (multi-instrumentalist) and Dean Stone (percussionist) that made it's way into the alternative music scene 2 years ago. Featuring Feist, members of Broken Social Scene and Stars, and produced by Dave Newfeld, Apostle of Hustle brings a dreamy-mellow-emotion that's sometimes rare to find in music with their amazing debut album, "Folkloric Feel". It's, indeed, the-more-you-hear-it-the-more-you-like-it kind of music, some cool trip through a lot of different musical genres in the same album.

Broken Social Scene expanded their work a few years ago and continue to enjoy success worldwide, and is often called the breakthrough band in the Toronto's indie scene. There's a sort of a community of friends making good, bright-vibed music from Canada, like Stars, Valley Of The Giants, Feist, Jason Collett or The Most Serene Republic, alongside with Broken Social Scene and Apostle Of Hustle, all of them from the same Canadian label company, Arts & Crafts. The scattered "Folkloric Feel" sounds a bit like Broken Social Scene, but with some smart twisting that will leave you amazed with it's electric and acoustic guitars. Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning even make appearances on Folkloric Feel. It's good to be creating an indie scene in the city where all your friends are helping you and making their own stuff. But somehow, they all end up soundin' a bit alike, but all of the projects have their own value.

The album is atmospheric, dreamy, with a chill out style but with way more rythm. it starts with "Folkloric Feel", a pseudo-progressive melodious track that serves well as an introduction to the whole album. "Baby Your in Luck" it's addictive. "Kings and Queens" sounds like Broken Social Scene and by the time you hear the excelent "They Shoot Horses Don't They", you'll notice time went out fast and you just felt good for a whole hour hearing this amazing album! So fuckin' recomended!

1. Folkloric Feel.mp3
2. Sleepwalking Ballad
3. Baby, You're In Luck
4. Energy Of Death
5. Kings And Queens.mp3
6. Song For Lorca
7. Animal Fat
8. Dark Is What I Want/Strutter
9. Gleaning
10. They Shoot Horses, Don't They
11. Untitled

Well, sorry for the delay... Enjoy ;)

One Week

2006-02-26T23:42:00.000Z

This blog has, officialy, one week! LOL Since today I didn't had much time for post writing, this'll be simply...the one-week-post! Keep comin' here... ^__^

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

2006-02-25T23:23:00.000Z

Have some 5.1 surround sound hi-fi system at your living room? Well, get yourself a confy layback chair/couch, some soft drink and one of the Godspeed You! Black Emperor works and get ready for one of the best state-of-art pieces of music you'll ever get the chance to listen.. It's simply beautiful!
Grimmin' with orchestral rock wonderfulness, Godspeed You! Black Emperor prove themselves as one of the best post-rock bands around side-by-side with Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Rós, Mogwai and God Is An Astronaut. With drums and guitar of typical rock-band instrumentation, and horns and strings of the classical-orchestra background, these Canadian 9-piece band-orchestra burst into a melodic climax that'll drive you hypnotic. Each song from Godspeed You! Black Emperor it's like a journey.. a journey through light and darkness, joy and sorrow, life and dead, and most of all, silence and noise. It's a pure progressive, sonic music building filled with various different movements in each track that flower into a new phase after climax explosions.. just like the sea, comes and goes, brings noise and stays quiet. It's these transitions and remarkable crescendo that you'll hardly forget! And it's they're own creative style that makes them a unique, almost-flawless band, even epic at times. At stage, they manage to create an awesome soundscape of feelings and emotions. You're taken from the quietest whisper to rock-breaking waves of sound in such a perfect way leaving you paralized and simply amazed by it's beauty.

With already 4 albums released to date, Godspeed You! Black Emperor are at their best, continuin' givin' some awesome gigs worldwide. "F#A# (infinity symbol)" was their debut, following with "Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada", "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven" came next and last, but not least, "Yanqui U.X.O.". All four albums marked their way since 1998 till 2002 (last release date), leaving great songs like 'Providence', 'Moya', 'Sleep' and 'Antennas To Heaven'. The last album wasn't the best work of this band, but it doens't mean it's bad! Only one music ('Moya') for download this time, since it's a 10-minute song, one of my personal favorites. Try and listen to them, get in love, and chase their albums!

F#A# (infinity symbol)

1. The Dead Flag Bues
2. East Hastings
3. Providence

Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada

1. Moya.mp3
2. BBF3

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

Disc: 1
1. Storm
2. Static
Disc: 2
1. Sleep
2. Antennas to Heaven

Yanqui U.X.O.

1. 09-15-00
2. 09-15-00
3. rockets fall on Rocket Falls
4. motherfucker=redeemer
5. motherfucker=redeemer

Enjoy ;)

From Manitoba to Caribou

2006-02-24T23:21:00.000Z

Dan Snaith's electronica project, once named Manitoba, is now under a new ID: Caribou.

Manitoba was one of the great highlights in the electronica genre since the very first album ("Start Breaking My Heart"). Dan Snaith managed his way through the electro scene by bein' innovative, running away from the usual beats and melodies and creating a kaleidoscopic melodious electronic crazyness that'll make you stunned. In fact, using only computer equipment and some actual instruments (like guitars, keybords, or even glockenspiel), Dan Snaith makes music totally by ear, messing around with weird samples and experimenting. Sounding a bit like Lali Puna, Apparat, Four Tet, Boards Of Canada or even Air at times, Manitoba is, indeed, amazing. Now, Dan Snaith's back with Caribou. Same genius behind it all, but expanding it's limits even further, once again Dan scored with a completely new edge in this genre. That's why every album's so different from the others, and yet there's always that certain something that you can recognize in it's core. Well, Caribou's the new standard in electronica. It's difficult to reach the state of genuine classic, but I think Dan won this battle. The latest Caribou album's called "The Milk Of Human Kindness". With great songs like 'Subotnick', 'A Final Warning', 'Hands First' or 'Brahminy Kite', this album sure brings new stuff up to it's genre and becomes, this way, a gotta-listen-or-die reference...

1. Yeti
2. Subotnick.mp3
3. A Final Warning
4. Lord Leopard
5. Bees
6. Hands First
7. Hello Hammerheads.mp3
8. Brahminy Kite
9. Brumheller
10. Pellican Narrows.mp3
11. Barnowl

Cheers up urs! ^__^u

The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike

2006-02-23T20:23:00.000Z

" We came here to rock the microphone. Our aim is to break you down to the bone."

They're The Go! Team, and what a team! Between flashy rock'n'roll and joyful electro, harmonica and hip-hop pseudo-beats, swiftin' guitars and amazing jazzy instrumentation like trumpets, The Go! Team can make us remind the 70's, the disco saturday-night-fever nights and that golden age tv series. Coming from Brighton - UK, whatever style they fit, it's danceable from beginning to end with some funny, wild, crazy, movable mood.

"Thunder, Lightning, Strike" it's so versatile that almost every song seems to fit a lot of different music styles in one, and overall, all songs sound stylishly retro. The glockenspiel, horns and harmonica make sure their music sounds unique, the cheerleader chants give it the football game mood, but way more explosive. They're all-about-bein'-groovy, fun and wacky, just like Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, British Sea Power, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah or Architecture In Helsinki. You'll get hooked on 'Ladyflash', it has weird vocals, burstin' drums, amazing spirit and inovative style, while others like 'Panther Dash' just seem like those car-chase theme songs from some 70's movies or even some computer games like Driver or Interstate. Some other songs may seem J-rock/pop alike, kiddish or too crazy, but in my opinion they're just a dynamic band, and quite good! Another great reference, it's worth it.

1. Panther Dash
2. Ladyflash.mp3
3. Feel Good By Numbers
4. Power Is On
5. Get It Together.mp3
6. Junior Kickstart
7. Air Raid Gtr
8. Bottle Rocket
9. Friendship Update
10. Huddle Formation.mp3
11. Everyone's A V.I.P. To Someone

Hope u like this ;)

Hot Chip

2006-02-22T21:01:00.000Z

Get some of your best friends or some not so familiar people, some alcohol and maybe some smokes, make your way to the beach at night, light a fire and turn Hot Chip loud up on your portable Hi-Fi... you'll get the perfect mood to have junky, non-sense conversations, or just some serious chat with someone, laugh until you puke or just wash away your sorrows in the arms of someone. It may seem strange, but Hot Chip really sounds versatile enough to fit a lot of different people, just enough to conquer anyone who dares to hear them closely!

Hot Chip is one of London's most twisted electronic experimental postmodern buzz bands. They supported LCD Soundsystem on their December tour and are now supporting Goldfrapp througout February. For some people they might seem way too weird, for others, just some fucked up total genious! They're unique, and somehow I can't even really think of something like them. It's a Beck-meets-LCD Soundsystem-and-The Juan Mclean stravaganza with some geniously made lyrics. With already one full-lengh album named "Coming On Strong" with great songs like 'Playboy', one of the best tracks in the album and, in my opinion, an example of the weirdest, pop-indie songs ever made, along side with 'Crap Craft Dinner' and 'Shining Escalade' or 'Bad Luck', this album became a reference for experimental sounds. They released some EP's since 2001... "Mexico", "San Francisco E-Pee", "Hittin' Skittles/Back to the Future" and "Down With Prince", and more recently, "The Barbarian", that came along with the CD-Single of 'Over and Over', the can't-take-this-music-outta-my-head type of song, and the video of this song got released this year.. directed by Nima Nourizadeh,quite well I'd say, all I can say about it is... "fuck!.. they're wacko's!". The video's just non-sense funny crap all the way, and I loved it.

Basicly, you'll get from this band what you never expected to hear so far. Besides having finished their second album, to be released really soon, there's also a lot of Hot Chip DJ work around and they even released "Hot Chip! They Remix", a 5-fan-exclusive remixed compilation of great songs from huge bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Sia, Architecture in Helsinki, Ladytron or Scissor Sisters. And I think one day they'll be the highlight of experimental music. Well, try and give it a listen, you won't get upset about it!

1. Faultlines - Biting Tongues (Hot Chip Remix)
2. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out (Hot Chip Remix).mp3
3. Sia - Where I Belong (Hot Chip Remix)
4. Architecture In Helinski - Do The Whirlwind (Hot Chip Remix).mp3
5. Le Tigre - TKO (Hot Chip Remix)
6. Bight Eyes - Gold Mine Gutted (Hot Chip Remix)
7. The Go! Team - Ladyflash (Hot Chip Remix)
8. Chungking - Voodoo (Hot Chip Remix)
9. Diefenbach - Do As You Please (Hot Chip Remix)
10. Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch (Hot Chip Remix).mp3
11. Jamie Lidel - Multiply (Hot Chip Remix)
12. Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama Out (Hot Chip Remix)
13. Mattafix - Passer By (Hot Chip Remix)
14. Kevin Mark Trail - Perspective (Hot Chip Remix)
15. Brooks - Roxxy (Hot Chip Remix)
16. King Creosote - Bootprints (Hot Chip Remix)

1. Take Care
2. Beach Party
3. Keep Fallin'
4. Playboy.mp3
5. Crap Kraft Dinner.mp3
6. Down With Prince
7. Bad Luck
8. You Ride We Ride In My Ride
9. Shining Escalade.mp3
10. Baby Said
11. One One One

Hail \o/

Summer at Shatter Creek - All The Answers

2006-02-21T02:31:00.000Z

Summer At Shatter Creek, a one-guy-band, a one-guy-band-that-sounds-like-a-huge-band. Craig Michael Gurwich is the brilliant mind behind this project. Weirdly enough, he really sounds great, all by himself.

With already a debut Self-Titled album and a small EP called Sink or Swim, Gurwich marks it's way, again, and gracefully, with "All The Answers". That tiny five song EP was released as a taste of the eventual full-length. All five of those songs are reworked from their original stark minimalism into complex pieces containing winding guitars, pipe organs, and background noises. Sounding a bit like Jeff Buckley, bits of John Lennon or Leonard Cohen, Summer At Shatter Creek manages to sound unique and fresh at the same time. Gurwich’s voice sounds as sad and contemplative as ever, dragging the listener into his world of lost lovers, changing moods, and alcoholic friends falling down drunk. Gurwich’s voice/one-man-orchestra leaves anyone captivated at once. Most of the tunes blossom into expansive second acts, delivering emotiveness and, not as some songwriters think that blending sad lyrics with happy dance pop is somehow going to make it better, the sound Gurwich produces only enhances the sadness that the lyrics bring. He's "pure" and that's the musical representation that makes the songs what they are, simply beautiful. Well, the album starts quite well with 'Your Ever Changing Moods', a beautiful and touching music, with no drums at all, simple guitar chords, poetry-like lyrics and Gurwich's voice at his best and somehow, he sounds a bit like Thom Yorke from Radiohead. The harmonies are amazing, the production is stellar, and overall, all songs great! Don't get all scared by it's folk indie country alike songs, they'll really fill your heart! Just give it a listen..

1. Your Ever Changing Moods.mp3
2. All The Answers
3. Worlds Away.mp3
4. Fall Down Drunk
5. Something To Calm Me
6. You Don't Have To Be Perfect To Be Loved
7. Rebecca.mp3
8. Optimistic
9. Structure

Have at it! ^__^

Editors - The Back Room

2006-02-20T09:57:00.000Z

"Look at us through the lens of the camera.. does it remove all of our pain?

If we run, they'll look in the back room, where we hide all of our secrets.

I'll just close my eyes as you walk out..."

After supporting Franz Ferdinand on their recent UK arena tour and scoring a top ten hit with the single ‘Munich’, Editors debut album has gone platinum after climbing the album charts to #2.

Following great names like Interpol, Echo & The Bunnymen or Joy Division, Editors stand now heading to a position as one of the most important UK bands of the decade, all on their own terms, all through their own hard work and the dedication and, most crucially, respect, of their ever increasing fan base. With Tom Smith in the vocals, Chris Urbanowicz in the guitar, Ed Lay in the drums and Russell Leetch in the bass, Editors stormed on the UK music scene in early 2005, starting with the single "Bullets".. and since then, it's all about growing. Reminding us of Ian Curtis from Joy Division or Dead Can Dance's Brendan Perry, Tom Smith's lowtoned and mesmerizing voice fit's perfectly with each track from "The Back Room". They really know how to write topnotch tunes.. With emotive lyrics, swirling guitars, perfect basslines and rifting drums, they sure can hook you up! 'Munich' is one of the most impressive tracks in the album, alongside with 'Blood', 'Fall', 'Camera' and 'Distance', all of them are outstanding. 'Bullets' marked their way in the UK being their first single, following up with 'Munich' and 'Blood' as second and third single, busting Editors into the UK charts and proving their debut was really worth it!

This is a near-perfect album, drenched with urgency from beginning to end, just beautiful and unforgetable! I loved each second of it, and they managed their way to my 2005 'Best Album Selection'. A must buy, indeed... and if you can get your hands into their "Cuttings EP" of "The Back Room" UK 2-disc release, don't hesitate, you'll love every single extra song. I got my self hooked on 'Forest Fire', it's simply beautiful!

1. Lights
2. Munich.mp3
3. Blood
4. Fall
5. All Sparks
6. Camera.mp3
7. Fingers In The Factories
8. Bullets
9. Someone Says
10. Open Your Arms
11. Distance.mp3

Once again, enjoy! ^__^u

Chromelodeon & Sprite Slowdown

2006-02-19T01:37:00.000Z

Remember the golden 80/90’s videogame age where game music was all about electronic pop/rock sounds? Where whole instrumental tracks could fit a midi? Well, Chromelodeon is one of the bands that brough us some of the music we heard on Ninja Gaiden II, Megaman and Transformers. Sprite Slowdown, a side project from some former members of Chromelodeon, brough us tunes from Ecco The Dolphin, Doom or Sonic & Knuckles...

Chromelodeon is an eight-piece instrumental rock band from Philadelphia. The instruments used by the band consist of: guitars, bass, drums, synths, accordion and an electric violin. So, you get to hear cool videogame covers with some great instrumentals? You sure do... And gosh, they sound so great! The keyboards accompany guitars so well on their galloping rhythmic horses of slaughter that would make some people freeze. Chromelodeon’s music mixes sarcasm with musical wit to deliver a genuinely crafted book of music. Topping even The Mars Volta in 'Eloquence is Dead' from "In The Year 20XX" album in their quest to include as much progressive sensibility as they can into one song, Chromolodeon rage back with a tense rope of swinging guitars and vocals that sound like they are modulated by the same instruments used by Britney Spears (yeah, that bitch) and the like. You know, the ones that transform your vocals into certain vowels to create a compressed effect, like Imogen Heap or Daft Punk. Sprite Slowndown is a remastered tribute cover to some videogames, and sure sounds as good as Chromelodeon.

For sure, they are a mark in the experimental indie rock market, something that's quite easy to hear and mellow enough to stay in your head for a long time! And if you ever have the chance to hear either bands live, don't waste it! At stage, they're perfect... Give it a listen, you won't dislike it, just click on these links below each album cover to download one of the tracks in each featured album.

Chromelodeon - In The Year 20XX

1. Wily's Castle

2. Mysteriousness Outer Space

3. Voder

4. Eloquence is Dead.mp3

Chromelodeon - Heart Of Sawdust

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four.mp3

5. Five

6. Six

Sprite Slowdown - Self-Titled

1. Zillion

2. Sonic & Knuckles

3. Balloon Kid

4. Red Max

5. U.N. Squadron

6. Ecco The Dolphin 2

7. Wanderers From Ys

8. Doom.mp3

Hope you n'joyed it, cheers! \o

Indie Nation

2006-02-18T00:58:00.000Z

Indie.. a music genre, a lifestyle!

"Indie", the term used to define the sound that a musician presents, but when interpreted more literally, it is the way that sound is presented or made, that's why it can be some sort of lifestyle. It often refers to an artist or band that is not part of the mainstream culture and/or making music outside its influence. Though the sound of these bands may differ greatly, the "indie" definition comes from the "do-it-yourself" attitude and ability to work outside large corporations.

Actualy, when you think of "indie" you don't connect it with one of the four main record labels (Warner, Universal, Sony BMG and EMI), and that fact also define's the genre. Well, maybe 'cause indie and alternative music isn't the kind of music you get to hear each day on your local radio... it isn't pop, pop-rock or house, sometimes you need to listen to it with time and explore it, sometimes you need to open up your music tastes to something that may seem a little weird, a little agressive, maybe way too calm or even just not the "common music".

There are several subcategories which music from the overall indie scene are often grouped broadly into. Music ranging from alternative rock to punk rock to experimental music has long existed in indie scenes, often independent from one another. Indie rock and indie pop are the most common groupings that conform to an "indie" sound. The difference between these is difficult to pick up from the instrumentation or sound, as both genres include distorted guitar-based music based on pop-song conventions. Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, The White Stripes, Interpol and The Arcade Fire are just some good examples of the "indie rock" and "post rock" bands most people interested seem to follow. There is also indie dance, which comes from a fusion of indie pop and electronic/dance music, and can even techno-minimal influences. Crossover between electronica (mostly glitch) resulted in so-called indietronic or subpop, electronic indie or indie electronic, for example some artists on the German Morr Music label, or others like The Postal Service. Another type is post-rock, which includes bands like Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, God Is An Astronaut, Chromelodeon, or Sigur Rós. The idea behind post-rock is that there are very few (if any) lyrics, yet the songs are long (sometimes upwards of 20 minutes), and the point of the songs are to paint an emotional landscape with just music and no words...

Well, this was just some sort of intruduction to this blog, I'll try to bring you all the info on the bands I know and continue do discover each day, and I promise I'll bring you the best of them! Enjoy... cheers! \o

Info on the "indie culture" taken majorly from Wikipedia