Efterklang is a post-rock or indie-pop/rock band from Copenhagen. Their music is heartfelt and original and quite often very very good.
'Step Aside' off their 2004 debut album, 'Tripper' was the first song of theirs I heard. Its all I needed to know Efterklang were on to something.
Their second album 'Parades', released in 2007, was a huge success. They performed it in its entirety with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra.
'Cutting Ice to Snow' is epic. Once the intro massages you into
Their newest, 'Magic Chairs' was released in February. Unlike the first 2 Efterklang albums, who were both critically acclaimed, Magic Chairs has received mixed reviews. The complaints are that it is too poppy, commercial, and not risky/inventive enough. But I think its great. They are making music that is uplifting, inventive, and unpredictive.
Here are a few songs off their new album.
'The Modern Drift'
'I Was Playing Drums'
I think my favourite might be, 'The Soft Beating'. The video is cut up, but you can still feel it.
Nicolas Jaar released this hot new EP, 'Marks and Angels' a couple weeks ago on beatport. This kid is really on fire. This EP is smoldering. Super diverse. His upcoming LP should be top 3 albums of the year. (Can you tell) I'm excited (?). Inspiring stuff.
So get to know Nicolas. This interview and this interview and podcast can help. Also seeing him at Panorama July 17 would be a good idea. If you havent already, check out 'a time for us' here.
Briefly, Frankie Knuckles has always been a legend in the house scene. He was instrumental in developing and popularizing house music and dance culture as a producer and a dj. If you havent checked him out yet, now is the time. Frankie's myspace and discogs
So I think by now most of you know about Belgium's commercial nu disco duo 'Aeroplane'. I quickly mentioned their June Chart in my last post, then after realized that I should have said something about their much anticipated upcoming full length album, 'We Can't Fly'. Personally, I am more curious than interested because I have not liked their original productions and I find their remixes hit and miss (however, more miss than hit). But I know they are popular and I am happy that they are bringing attention and introducing people to the 'genre'. So on that and the sometimes-they-make-nice-remixes notes a small introduction is in order (for those of you who aren't so familiar of course).
In 2007 they released their debut EP 'Aeroplane/Caramellas' on Eskimo Records. Although I wasnt totally impressed by it (and to be really honest am, to this day not really an Aeroplane fan) it nonetheless put them on the map as people who want to and can evolve nu disco by contributing poppy, cosmic and (sparkle) synth-heavy nu disco productions. They quickly got into remixing and have since released 15+ remixes and 3 original tracks.
While I find most of their work and all of their originals too shiny and cheesey to be interesting or good, there were a couple remixes that stood out. For example, who couldnt like their massive remix of the Friendly Fires track 'Paris' ft. Au Revoir Simone?! I think most people share the same sentiments as recent youtuber djcondra: 'I want sex with this song'
5 days ago Aeroplane posted what seems to be their instrumental of Paris with a different Au Revoir Simone vocal for free download.
I also really dig the deeper and darker remix of Low Motion Disco's 'Love Love Love'.
If you are in the right mood, Low Motion Disco pretty much kick ass, so I recommend checking them out.
There is also this sweet remix of the 2009 Grace Jones track 'William's Blood' - a remix she commissioned but decided not to release on her William's Blood remix EP or anywhere. So Aeroplane gave it to the blogs in protest.
They also did a slightly-better-than-average and worse-than-the-original remix of the Lindstrom and Christabelle happy sunshine (MJ inspired) track 'Baby Can't Stop'.
The original is off the pretty great and for sure fun 'Real Life is No Cool' full length album by Lindstrom and Christabelle. Definitely worth checking out. I mean, how sick is this song?!
I am planning a Northern Baelearic Disco post and will speak more about Lindstrom then, so dont panic, I know I didnt do him justice.
But anyway, now Aeroplane are coming out with a full length album of original productions on September 6. It looks like the album will be called 'We Can't Fly', and the first single, out last week, is of the same name. Bit of a different style (reggae?), but still massive queso, so you know what that means - big $$ and maybe a Super Bowl commercial or two or .
