General, Headline, International music

But lately I’ve been mostly listening to..

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black-cotton3

Black Cotton compilations. I’ve been exploring the 30s and 40s and I’ve been into songs like

Wilmoth Houdini’s I Need A Man

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr0ObE-vTow]

or Weed Smoker’s Dream by The Harlem Hamfats

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDU9OkmyUxU]

or Abdullah by Fats Waller & his Rhythm

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVmW3or4pc]

I’ve found these all thanks to El Nino and his Black Cotton compilations. If I could only find the 4th volume somewhere. I only have the first three. I never knew El Nino personally, but during the past 12 months he has been my guide on a journey through vintage music. First through his radio shows and then through his Lady Luck and Black Cotton compilations. Both the CDs and the radio shows have introduced a huge amount of great music to me. The kind of music that I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. A year ago, I didn’t know I had much interest towards 30s dance music, jazz, fox trot and things like that. El Nino showed me that I do and now it’s something that I listen to almost on a daily basis. Even though my only contact with him was a small thank you email I sent last December, I’m still deeply saddened that he passed away last summer. Thank you for everything El Nino.

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Featured, Finnish music, Headline, News

Robin Pahlman’s debut EP out 15.11. Stream in advance.

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Major news! Monkey Records from Berlin (originally New Zealand) will be releasing Robin Pahlman’s self-titled debut EP next Friday 15th of November. Robin Pahlman is a highly talented Finnish indie folk singer-songwriter who has been featured on this site several times and I’m thrilled that there’s finally an official release available. Monkey Records deserve one of One Chord to Another’s imaginary culture awards for such a release. They also gave me an opportunity to stream the forthcoming EP in advance. So if you can’t wait until Friday, hit that play button below and listen to some magnificent folk songs (Stream link will disappear from this post within a week or two). In Finland, the new EP will be easily available at least through the great Turku-based record store 8raita.

Stream link removed

Robin Pahlman & Ghost Town will also celebrate the new release by touring in central Europe during November. No Finnish dates this time around, because Robin is living in Vienna these days and it doesn’t make financially sense to travel back so soon after their august Finnish tour. Here are the tour dates that I picked up from Robin’s Facebook.

Nov 15 EP Release Show @ Down Under, Vienna, Austria
Nov 16 Black Horse Inn Wels, Austria
Nov 18 Krone, Darmstadt, Germany
Nov 19 POP IN,Paris, France
Nov 20 Le Sombrero Café, Amiens, France
Nov 21 LR6, Brussels, Belgium
Nov 23 Barrock Maastricht, Netherlands
Nov 24 Hannekes Boom, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nov 26 (House Show), Leverkusen, Germany
Nov 27 KINGKONGKLUB, Berlin, Germany
Nov 28 Laika, Berlin, Germany

And one more thing. Here’s the fairly new music video for the lead track of the new EP Miss Lonelyhearts.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMxOBiIIoYk]

Robin Pahlman at Facebook
Monkey Records Website

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Album of the Month, Featured, Headline, International music

Album of the Month: Jeremy Squires – When Will You Go..

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jeremysqwhen

Jeremy Squires released his new album When Will You Go… November 5th, 2013. Jeremy is a North Carolinian singer-songwriter that has been featured here several times during the year. There’s something in his music that really finds the core of my heart. The songs might not always be filled with happy thoughts, but somehow I find his music comfortable and beautiful. Perhaps Jeremy helps me to tackle my own demons and guides me through the darker times. I know it might sound very unappreciative (but on the contrary, it’s one of the highest praises I can think of), but I’ve been actually sleeping with this record during the last weeks. Not making love to it though. After a tough day at the factory, there’s just nothing better to do than fall on the couch, put the headphones on and let Jeremy’s warm voice travel through my weary head. Then an hour or two later I wake up with Jeremy still singing in my head. That’s my kind of nap these days.

The new album features the highly talented Anna-Lynne Williams (Lotte Kestner). She sings backing vocals on three songs. I think Central Nervous Station EP remains my favourite Jeremy Squires release, because it’s how I found Jeremy and it has become so dear to me. However, When Will You Go is just as great and totally worth of that Album of the Month spot. This single Oblivious is my favourite song of the new album. Listen to it below and stream/buy the whole thing on Jeremy’s bandcamp.

Jeremy Squires Website
Jeremy Squires at Bandcamp

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Headline, International music, News

Marmalakes and their debut full-length (indiegogo)

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marmalakesi

A big favourite of mine, Austin-based Marmalakes will head to studio this month to record their debut full-length. They need a bit of help and have set up an indiegogo project for the album that will close in 5 days. I rarely participate in these crowd funding projects (due to lack of money), but I instantly knew I was going to take part in this one. I’ve really liked the band for a few years. Their Even Clothed EP was even the EP of the year a couple years back. I don’t know the guys, but it has always seemed like they have a great chemistry together. They know that you need harmony and sensitivity to truly kick ass. It’s good to know when to slow down and when to rock’n’roll. And the singing is always magical. I consume more US folk pop and indie rock than my body can safely handle, but the good thing is that somehow Marmalakes has always managed to sound refreshing and not just more of the same. These guys definitely deserve a chance to make that full-length album. They played a few new songs on the radio last weekend and I really liked the songs (yeah, I do like Marmalakes enough to work out the time difference and stay up to listen some Austin-based radio online.. or I just don’t have a life.. your call). Their indiegogo closes on November 10th and they will head to studio later in november.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3SwSyqQmmk]

Marmalakes Website
Marmalakes Indiegogo project

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