PRESENTING : AVES - "YOU, LUCID"

We're excited to present a new tune from Aves, called "You, Lucid".

Aves paints in tropical tones about reveries, baffled moments and the mercurial line between dreaming and reality with bubbly textures, hazy motion and fresh pop-hooks.

Listen and download "You, Lucid" below.


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DELAY TREES - S.T.

Some might have declared the best albums of the year already but they just keep on coming.

Delay Trees just released their long-awaited eponymous debut album by Johanna Kustannus and it's made of lush textures, rich harmonies and poisonously infectious hooks wrapped up in a delicate, all around dreamy atmosphere spiced up by the fantastic production by Julius Mauranen.

The singer Rami Vierula mentioned on the Stereotype Club gig upon playing the album opener "Gold", that they're extremely happy with the album and they might have something of a golden nugget in their hands. The question is indeed, is this the best Finnish album of the year?

You can listen to Delay Trees self-titled album entirely at Levykauppa Äx until October 5 and listen to "About Brothers" and "Cassette 2012" below.

Delay Trees - About Brothers
Delay Trees - Cassette 2012

DELAY TREES - "CASSETTE 2012"

Helsinki sweethearts Delay Trees are about to release their debut album through Johanna kustannus and they've now got a new single out.

"Cassette 2012" is made of rich touchy-feely harmony and lush, timeless delicacy hushing the crazes of the modern times away.

Listen and download below.

Delay Trees - Cassette 2012

THE BEACH BOYS - SMiLE

The biggest, the most tragic and the most inspiring story of pop music without comparison is "SMiLE" by the Beach Boys.

What makes the album exceptionally relevant right now, is how these days you can hear the influence of the album and the group in general in most of the fresh stuff around in a big way.

PET SOUNDS

In 1966, Brian Wilson, his brothers Dennis and Carl and the mischievous cousin Mike Love and a childhood friend Al Jardine had gone through a lot as something called the Beach Boys. The group had released ten albums in just three years and been on the road touring basically all the time.

Eventually, Brian Wilson left touring completely and stayed on the studio to write and record "Pet Sounds" which basically became the most appreciated album of all time, along with the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" a year later. The funny thing is that "Sgt. Pepper" was strongly influenced by "Pet Sounds" and then again, "Pet Sounds" was strongly influenced by "Rubber Soul" by the Beatles.

A STEP FURTHER

"Pet Sounds" never was a hit in sales, as the Capitol, the record label, never believed in the album and hardly marketed it.

The next step from "Pet Sounds" would have to be huge. The arrangements in that record are still something stellar and completely unique and the songs are classic as it gets.

The first step from there was the single we all know: "Good Vibrations". It was a starting point to the album and was to be a part of it too.

The next step was to make the album more of an experience, not just a collection of songs. The idea was to make almost a soundtrack around three themes, and the themes were big: the complete history of the United States along with pop cultural history, the four elements and also the relation between the father and the child.

THE FATHER

The father, Murry Wilson, had indeed a high influence on SMiLE's visions.

Murry "was a tyrant", quick to offer discouraging criticism and who "abused his sons psychologically and physically, creating wounds that never healed. Carl found comfort in food and Dennis rebelled against the world to express his anger. Brian would immerse himself in music to cope, but though he longed to learn piano as a child, he was too frightened to ask and even too scared to press the keys when his father was at work."

THE CHILD

Eventually Brian surprised his parents by showing he had learned how to play the piano by watching his father. Thereafter, "playing the piano... literally saved my ass. I recall playing one time while my dad flung Dennis against the wall... That was just one of many incidents when I didn't miss a note, supplying background music to the hell that often substituted for a family life..."

At first, Murry steered the Beach Boys' career, engineering their signing with Capitol Records in 1962. In 1964, Brian ousted his father after a violent confrontation in the studio. Over the next few years, they became increasingly estranged; when Murry died of a heart attack in June 1973, Brian and Dennis did not attend the funeral.

HARD TYMES

The recording process of "SMiLE" was hard and diverse. Only 24 old Brian Wilson began exhibit signs of depression and paranoia along with opposition from the band itself, mostly Mike Love rigidly resisting especially the lyrics of collaborator Van Dyke Parks. During the recording session for the "Fire" section of the "Elements Suite", Brian became irrationally concerned that the music had been responsible for starting several fires in the neighborhood of the studio.

THE DECLINE

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles was released June 1st 1967 and just a few weeks before that the release of "SMiLE" was delayed. It soon became clear that Capitol would never release "SMiLE" in it's original form nor Brian Wilson in his state could finish the recording process with the group resisting it as a whole. Instead the group would release "Smiley Smile" instead which was based on the songs on "SMiLE" but done in three weeks and in a very different manner in it's intimateness at Brian's home studio.

GIVE A BIGGIE SMILEY SMILE

Soon after the decline of "SMiLE" and the poor reception of "Smiley Smile" Brian Wilson would pivot into major depression and cocane addiction and also lose his previously angelic, recognisable falsetto. He did make some new songs on the albums released later on, but it was clear that the golden days of the genius were over and that the group was to take a lead on it's own.

For decades would Brian Wilson battle his own demons by loathing on food and cocaine mostly by himself to the point of turning almost autistic.

BRIAN WILSON PRESENTS - SMiLE

2004 was a turning point in Wilson's life, as he finally could battle that biggie of a demon called "SMiLE" and got to record all over again the work that he had started almost 40 years ago.

The outcome is an amazing piece of work still after all these decades and the funny thing is that during that time, no one has done anything like it since.

The newly recorded "SMiLE" is honoured as the most appreciated album of the 2000's with it's approximate rate of 97/100 counted by Metacritic and the maestro did continue his fresh uprising with a completely new goodie of an album, the lovely "That Lucky Old Sun".

THE ORIGINAL

There's a lot of great bootlegs of the original "SMiLE" and the one that definitely captures the spirit and vibe of the masterpiece in all of it's smooth quirkyness is called "Alternate Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE".

The piece is divided in three 20 minute sections called "Americana", "Cycle of Life" and "Elements" and also to outro "You're Welcome".

You can listen to it below and you can also listen to the 2004 SMiLE with Spotify.

The Beach Boys - Americana
The Beach Boys - Cycle of Life
The Beach Boys - The Elements
The Beach Boys - You're Welcome

There's also a version of the original that's more similar to the new one, which is called "SMiLE (A Reconstruction) by Purple Chick". You can listen to that below.


You can also hear and watch the masterpiece done in a glorious manner at the time of the new "SMiLE" release starting from below. It's something of a miracle that Brian Wilson is still sitting there and performing all the complex arrangements in full glory.

There's someone that has the perfect right to finally smile. You can be sure that it's genuine as it gets.

TORO Y MOI - SIDES OF CHAZ

Previously featured Chazwick Bundwick, also known as Toro Y Moi, is definitely a diverse guy.

He released the bouncy and woozy tripper "Causers of This" in February and now he's about to release a second album. When exactly that's going to happen is still a mystery, but "Leave Everywhere" is a new tune out and it's a more organic take on catching the wave.

The dude has also done all sorts of other stuff, and one is "Sides of Chaz", a collection of seven jams that's just gotten out there. It's made of a more scruffy and sooty, free spirited way of doing things and shows yet again a completely different side to Bundwick's impulsims.

Here's "Leave Everywhere" and "Sides of Chaz".

Toro Y Moi - Leave Everywhere

RAINBOW ARABIA - HOLIDAY IN CONGO

Here's a new video from Rainbow Arabia. You just gotta love all those Michael Jackson impersonators (kinda reminds me of Thee Ultra Bimboos' Elvis-costumes). A video which you can not help but smile at. And the song is just as cheerful. Also check the Myd remix, which ads some club bounce to the track.

You can also listen to the Kabukimono EP, from which the song is from, in its entirety on Spotify.

Rainbow Arabia - Holiday in Congo

Rainbow Arabia - Holiday in Congo (Myd remix)

SLEIGH BELLS - TELL 'EM

While waiting for Flow to start happening you can listen to Sleigh Bells' new song "Tell 'Em," from their brand new "Treats" album. The recipe is still the same for these Brooklyners; ear-shearing guitars, roaring beats and sizzling hot synths. Yes, this is LOUD.

Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em

TWO DOORS CINEMA CLUB + THE TWELVES

The Twelves have done some smashing remixes in the past and their latest work, a remix of the Two Doors Cinema Club's song "Something Good Can Work" is no exception.

The original is a nice feel-good indie-pop song with a plenty of smiles and whoo-ooh's.

Another song to enjoy on the forthcoming beach season. The Twelves give it a little bit of extra playfulness, cowbells and disco thump on their remix, making it all the more danceable.

Two Doors Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (The Twelves remix)

TWIN SISTER - COLOUR YOUR LIFE

Twin Sister just might be my favourite group yet to release a full lenght album. They've just released a follow-up EP for 2008's perfect "Vampires With Dreaming Kids" called "Colour Your Life".

It's certainly a step to another direction from the previous act but still holds on to the warm and cozy and sparkly esthetics that carry the group's dreamy jams so well.

There are certainly many colours in the package but all the colours are bright and dazzling but not in a tacky way companied with that angelic hush of Andrea's soothing voice.

The record is still a free download for a few days so grab them while you still can.

Twin Sister - The Other Side of Your Face
Twin Sister - Lady Daydream
Twin Sister - Milk & Honey
Twin Sister - All Around & Away We Go
Twin Sister - Galaxy Plateau
Twin Sister - Phenomenons

GALAXY 500 REISSUED

Galaxie 500's discography has been hard to get for some time now. The Rykodisc box set has been out of print and the old LP's are seldom seen. Now the band's rythm section's label, 20/20/20, is bringing all three of them (Today, On Fire, This Is Our Music) back to print.

All three albums will be available on LP and CD, the CD's are coming with a second disc featuring extra material in form of Peel Sessions, Copenhagen Live album and the Uncollected Galaxie 500, a b-sides and rarities collection.

Galaxie 500's songs often seem superficially similar. They seldom stray from their trademark mid-tempo, two chord structure but all three albums are still brilliant and enjoyable and after a few listens you are completely hooked on the dreamy sound.

Dean Wareham's guitar, instead of being in the front and centre, seems forever stuck on the same monotone strum, only occasionally breaking into a piercing bit of solo, leaving more space for Dean Yang's unusually melodic and vocal bass lines. The drummer Damon Krukowski sounds like he's gently petting his drums instead of hitting them and it is often the drums that give the songs the ambient, hazy feel. All this dreaminess is pierced by shreds of melodies sung by Wareham in his idiosyncratic wailing style.

Their dreamy sound has influenced a lot of bands and it is wonderful that their catalogue is back in stores. Here are some of my favorite songs gathered from the three albums.

Galaxie 500 - Tugboat

Galaxie 500 - Strange

Galaxie 500 - Fourth Of July

HEALTH - WE ARE WATER

The guys in Health don't seem to get enough of fake blood. In case Die Slow wasn't enough, here's another unnerving video from the L.A. noise ambassadors featuring a slightly distraught girl, a blond wig, one ginormous butcher and a huge machete. Things are gonna happen...

Also check out Javelin's great Daft Punk-esque remix of "In Heat". Both "We Are Water" and "In Heat" are from Health's last year's wonderful "Get Color" album.

HEALTH - In Heat (Javelin Remix)

BARBARA PANTHER AT KORJAAMO

Anyone who is not going to visit their family tonight should go and check the fabulous German electro artist Barbara Panther at Korjaamo. Last night I was fortunate enough to witness her gig in Telakka and fell in love with her music instantly.

Her music is like a mixture of something sweet and something painfully sharp. Behind the spookycore beats and eerie sounds lies a brilliant pop song with a melody that could choke your heart. All this is topped with a magnificent voice that you could build whole imaginary worlds upon.

Here's a little hint on what you can expect.

Barbara Panther - Phantom's Parade

Barbara Panther - O' Captain

DELOREAN - STAY CLOSE

Delorean's "Ayrton Senna EP" sported one of my favorite beach tracks of summer '09, "Seasun". The super-thumper track was just perfect for ear-shattering Sparkplug experience whilst walking to the nearest shoreside lounge.

This summer the Barcelona group is releasing a long player called "Subiza". If the opener, Stay Close, gives any reference point to the rest of the album we're in for a treat. It's one of those songs that hint on fun times beginning on a sun drenched beach or a crowded pavilion.

The song starts with a few cut-up vocals and a bit of synth bell jingle, building up to a jittering verse that keeps on growing, without ever really delivering to a full blown climax, until you are finally ready to get up and forget whatever it was you were doing and embark to the silliest dance move you have ever failed to master. And then it ends, leaving you to wonder at the ecstatic explosion of synths and drumbeats that should, if there's any justice in the world, follow.

So mark June 8th on your calendars. Or pre-order to get an instant download of the full album.

There's also two videos for "Stay Close" and they're both all about beach haze.

Delorean - Stay Close

TANLINES - SETTINGS EP

Tanlines first caught my ear last summer when I heard their magnificent remix of Bombay Bicycle Club's track Dust on the Ground. Now they have a new EP out full of balearic indie-pop. The EP is called "Settings" and you can hear it in its entirety on Spotify, or if you don't have Spotify you can stream "Real Life" from the EP below and download a Memory Tapes' remix.

Memory Tapes provides us a with a bit more polished, laid back and harmonically enriched take on Real Life.

Tanlines - Real Life (Memory Tapes-remix)

Enjoy also the Tanlines' remix of Bombay Bicycle Club's Dust on the Ground.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust on the Ground (Tanlines remix)

YUCK - "GEORGIA" + HERZOG - "PAUL BLART AND THE DEATH OF ART"

Yuck and Herzog have just released their debut single split with Herzog and it's definitely among one of the most infectious bits so far this year.

Yuck's "Georgia" is made of honest and sweet nostalgia to fifteen years back and fuzzy-cheery harmony. It's also got a video to support the feel.

Herzog's "Paul Blart and the Death of Art" is a perfect partner in crime for "Georgia" as it's made of summery youthful energy with a totally honest touch and extremely lovable nostalgic punch.

These both make a super simple, super catchy and super uplifting combination and you can hear a definite Sparklehorse influence on both. What's there not to love!

Yuck - Georgia
Herzog - Paul Blart and the Death of Art

PRIMARY 1 - THE BLUES

Primary 1 is a 24 year old half-Norwegian dude from London who makes very UK-ish and still eclectic stuff that has 'hit' written all over it.

There's a really nice collection of demos called "Mess Detective" out for free so far, that would pass well as a 'real' album, as there's also two exquisite videos released from it a month ago.

A proper record is to be released around fall and "The Blues" is a track just released from the upcoming album. It features Swedish super-songstress Nina Persson and cleary embraces a much more organic sound than the previous acts. Smooth stuff.

Primary 1 - The Blues

TWIN SISTER - VAMPIRES WITH DREAMING KIDS

Hello,

Just wanted to say, that Twin Sister's "Vampires with Dreaming Kids" is a perfect record. It's only four songs and fifteen minutes long, and I've been waking up, going to sleep and living with it daily for a couple weeks now. It isn't exactly a bad thing that the record sounds superlative with it's Phil Spector-y wall of sounds, angelic singing and tender, warm feelings and that the dreamy tunes are something you simply can't stop listening to.

The group is about to release their second EP and they're giving out both for free. Anyways, here's "Vampires with Dreaming Kids".

Yours truly,
Stereotype Helsinki

Twin Sister - Dry Hump
Twin Sister - Ginger
Twin Sister - Nectarine
Twin Sister - I Want a House

TV-RESISTORI - VOI EI, EI VOI OLLA TOTTA

After the Bääbs-Eurovision-razzmatazz of the group's singer Päivi Kankaro, TV-Resistori is finally getting their loong awaited third album out on Fonal Records, just as before. Still there's no actual release date for the record but now they've got a song called "Voi ei, ei voi olla totta" as a free download.

The song's first version is from April 15, 2008 and the record was indeed intended to get released two years ago. They say this is "propably the 15th version and we don't understand where all the time got spent".

The stakes are high for this release, as the group's previous record "Serkut rakastaa paremmin" that was released back in the ancient days of 2006 is one of the best Finnish pop records of the 2000s.

The song is a cheery and a bit messy bit that features the naive melodies and words and the duo singing that we've gotten to expect from the Turku group. It could be interesting to hear the previous versions, how they got from there to this.

TV-Resistori - Voi ei, ei voi olla totta

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH - KING OF SPAIN

Swedish folk-giant The Tallest Man On Earth is setting out to release a new album called The Wild Hunt. If the first taste is of any kind of reference on what the album will be like we're in for a real treat.

On King Of Spain Kris Matsson strums his guitar more feverishly than on any of his debut album songs and his piercing voice sounds even stronger than before. In contrast to the raw energy of Kris' performance the debut's home-knitting recording esthetics have been polished up a bit. There's still plenty of dirt and gravel in the sound, no worries, but the loudest tape hiss and saturation, omnipresent in the debut, has been cleaned off.

And the song? You could probably go days listening to nothing else. What a beauty bomb!

The Tallest Man On Earth - King Of Spain

The Wild Hunt will be available on the 13th of April via Dead Oceans.

MAGNETIC FIELDS - YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR MIND

Magnetic Fields' new album Realism was promoted as being an acoustic counterpart to the 2008 feedback-laden "Distortion".

It leaves one pretty much speechless as it's hard to think of words of any kind that wouldn't sound stale or trite next to Stephin Merritt's witty songwriting. So instead of further prosaic endeavors in describing the music on the album here's the opening song.

Magnetic Fields - You Must Be Out Of Your Mind

You can also listen to the entire album on Spotify.