Tocotronic – Schall und Wahn

Kafka-SDS, RAF, Dialektik und kaputter Werkbegriff, Freimarktfundamentalismus, Strukturalismus, Blut, Porösität und Selbstschließung: eigentlich ist alles dabei. Aber dafür dann auch der Graf von Monte Schizo. So richtig haut’s mich nicht um.

Soap&Skin – Lovetune for Vacuum

I can totally imagine a friend of mine sitting alone in her cold room at ~10pm, pricking another bubble, shedding a tear and enjoying falling victim to gloomy thoughts for an hour or two, then going to bed. This is what she listens to when she doesn’t want to play CocoRosie again.

Internet Forever (Brixton Windmill, London)

Quick and painless. I am waiting for the day these guys release an album and play their own shows. Would love to have seen Johnny Foreigner as well, but the last Tube didn’t let me.

Black Dice – Repo

Thank you so much, Black Dice. I always wanted to know how puke feels during its birth. It is a remarkable experience. Preparing to leave the gastric womb, eagerly awaiting to see the one who nurtured me for such a long time, finally working my way through the tight gullet and arriving on this world, naked and pure, being the pride and joy of everybody around. Again, thank you so much.

These Are Powers – All Aboard Future

Letztes Jahr hab’ ich noch rumgemault, die Yeah Yeah Yeahs wären voll in der Keyboardfalle gelandet, umgekehrt fiel mir aber auch partout kein elektronischer Ratschlag ein. Was ich eigentlich hören wollte, wäre wohl sowas wie der Killer “Easy Answers” von These Are Powers gewesen, aber eher mit der Kate-Oh-Gedächtnisstimme, die Anna in “World Class Peoples” anschlägt, was musikalisch wiederum eher an eine eigenwillige B-Seite von Thunderheist erinnert. Ja, was ich eigentlich sagen wollte, weiß ich jetzt auch nicht mehr.

Wet Hair – Dream

There are several ways of taking the piss out of your audience without offending it: You may generate some random noise and sing incomprehensible gibberish outside any scale, while playing some basic, yet simple melodies on a keyboard and trying to look focused, for example. No wait, that’s actually the only way. But I like it this way.

Beach House – Teen Dream

If I was a 20 year old dating a girl who is too lazy to discover relevant music blogs and too busy to read them on a regular basis, but is otherwise a cool person and loves music in general, I’d buy her ‘Teen Dream’ as a Valentine’s day present.

Just kidding. Even if I was 20 again, I’d never date girls, celebrate Valentine’s day or buy someone CDs as a present. I’d rather ask her to join me on a free ride on the local traffic in order to celebrate a randomly picked day by having a picnic with wine and French cheese while listening to ‘Teen Dream’ via tiny loudspeakers until we get thrown out and have a laugh.

No, just kidding again, I’d play Black Dice.

The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble¹ – Here Be Dragons

¹ See band name

Cio D’Or – Die Faser

I’ve heard enough about earth starting to shake and people being on fire. Speaking of the classical elements, let’s imagine a techno record combining all the connotations of air and water instead. Like the idea? Listen to “Die Faser” and discuss Aristotle.

Memory Cassette – Call and Response EP

Every now and then, bloggers should post some honest and completely un-ironic content to let readers know that there are still real people out there, who actually feel things and are capable of enjoying music or each other, or whatever. This does not only contribute to their blogospheric credibility, but also reminds themselves of their completely non-electronic flesh and blood and hormone existence. So here’s my contribution to the sentimental Christmas atmosphere.

Beak> – Beak>

“(…) ich fand die Idee einfach lustig, den Bandnamen auch grafisch wiederzugeben. Außerdem spekuliere ich darauf, bei diversen Jahrzehntrückblicken zusammen mit anderen Bands genannt zu werden, die auch irgendwelche Sonderzeichen im Namen führen. Das ist immer gut, dann behalten einen die Leute in Erinnerung. Aber eigentlich will ich mit dem Album nur beweisen, dass die neun Akkorde in “The Rip” von mir sind.”

(nicht Geoff Barrow)

Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder

Ever tried to squash four distinct meals in a big bowl?

Om – God Is Good

Everyone knows Weird Al’s Bob Rivers’s “God is good / God is great / What if God smoked Cannabis” cover of Joan Osborne’s stupid 90s-feelgood-hymn, but what if he really did? And what if he suddenly discovered mushrooms and wanted to live in Goa for a while and study some ancient texts? He’d probably sound like Om: neither enlightened nor enlightening, but definitely stoned. Why do I always have to write on drugs, it’s so stupid.

Warp20 Festival (Coronet, London)

Broadcast: Arty

Nice Nice: Skilled

Battles: Rather boring

Flying Lotus: Mental!

Planetary Assault Systems – Temporary Suspension

If 50 Cent parties like it’s your birthday, Luke Slater parties like it’s your instant dismissal and the breakup with your girlfriend on the same day, which makes you sniff a suitcase full of coke and dance for two nights until you die. Seriously, this is the best Techno I’ve heard this year.

Black to Comm – Alphabet 1968

When I went to the UK, my Mum wanted to say goodbye at the airport, but I told her not to. She was really disappointed, but I rather preferred to listen to Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports” all alone than to exchange redundant information. Of course I didn’t mention that.

This time it’s much easier, since there is no one who begs to bid farewell. I don’t listen to ambient music a lot, but when I do, I want to make sure that it’s in a proper environment. I’m curious what this record will feel like, but it sounds promising.

Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport

“You know, it’s so hard, like, uh, recording the second album… everybody has, like, high expectations, uh, when your first album was so good, and, and all you can do is, uh, try to copy it or to, uh, use some more of your influences and stuff… and that’s why we came up with this Samba de Janeiro thing in the last track… and we’re also big fans of The Animal Collective, and, uh, we wanted a more clean sound so it sounds better and, uh, (…).”

Wavves (Jericho Tavern, Oxford)

… and then this kid comes up with his two friends who look like The Melvins and you’re like: Okay, let’s see.  Turns out they kick everybody’s arses for 30 minutes (via Marshall and loads of distortion/reverb/echo).

Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

Do you remember these moments in your life, when something really big and beautiful appeared out of nothing? You know, things you didn’t anticipate at all, which came up a bit too surprisingly and made you question your right to experience them at first, but then they turned out to be made exclusively for you, because you’re the only one who could ever fully understand and appreciate them? Like, when you..  no wait, that’s disgusting.

William Fitzsimmons – The Sparrow and the Crow

Making fun of a musician’s facial hair in order to avoid writing a profound review because you don’t want him to feel sad about the fact that you’re not touched by his music, just in case he stumbles upon your blog, is so 2007…