This latest 7" in Oslo-based label Splendour's split series features two friends and collaborators that find themselves rubbing shoulders with the likes of Daniel Smith and Sufjan Stevens. I Was A King bring us their bright 60's-pop style single "Happy," featuring Robyn Hitchcock and Emil Nikolaisen (Serena-Maneesh). They also cover Half-handed Cloud's "Baby Moon."

Eclectic Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound is listing top 10 lists in their blog for a number of employees and artists (Todd Terje, Serena-Maneesh, etc.): http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/category/blog/

Tune-in to Channel 35 on Sirius/XMU radio today to hear my guest DJ set on the Aquarium Drunkard program, airing Noon-2PM EST (9AM PST) and again at 9PM PST. You can listen online for free with a three day trial . Tracklisting: Polvo - Feather of Forgiveness The Jesus and Mary Chain - The Living End 400 Blows - Down the Hatch Coachwhips - I Made a Bomb Veronica Falls - Beachy Head Letting Up Despite Great Faults - Repeating Hearts Real Estate - It’s Real WIRE - Eardrum Buzz (12” Version) Dirty Beaches - Horses Henry’s Dress - (You’re My) Radio One Serena-Maneesh - I Just Want ...

It's interesting how many great current bands have sampled or involved Medicine 's Brad Laner into their albums (Caribou, Serena-Maneesh, and M83 to name a few). I mean, here's a group that people blatantly ignored, despised or scoffed at for being "too noisy", yet you will never hear a single complaint about Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine or JAMC. But when Dan Snaith decides to sample your guitar noise that speaks volumes about the lasting impression, not the critical opinion, of the music. For fans old and new, here's a new-ish collection of old-ish B-sides and unreleased ...

We all wax poetic about our old days as radio hosts for our college FM station. If you were never a DJ with college/community radio, then you wax poetic — or bitter — about how inspiring, gratifying, groundbreaking the experience might've been, if only you were given the chance, dammit. Well, the University of Minnesota has a pretty good radio station — so good that they've established an impressive tradition of in-studio performances from amazing artists big and small, and as proof they make tape compilations of these to share outside of Radio K's broadcast area. The newest comp ...

Musicians, labels, and venues have been coming out of the woodwork these past few weeks to do what they can for the ongoing relief efforts in post-earthquake Japan, so we thought we'd end the news week by pointing our readers to a number of relevant shows and releases that are donating their proceeds to worthy relief organizations. If you don't see anything of interest in this article, check your local concert listings — there's certain to be a lower-profile benefit show or two going on near you pretty soon. You can also, of course, donate directly to organizations ...

Like the multiple permutations of Palace that Will Oldham adopted for his first band, Daniel Smith has also been one for varying the calling card he operates behind. But wayward though he is in other ways, there is a distinct logic to the shifting monikers. The original Danielson Famile truly was Smith leading his siblings into song, Brother Danielson covers his solo efforts and Danielson (nee Danielsonship) is the vehicle for a heavier rock sound and an umbrella for multiple contributors and wider ‘family’ members (and of course when all three incarnations were brought together this was labelled Tri-Danielson). But ...

Norwegian artist Elvira Nikolaisen has announced that her new album"Lighthouse", produced by her brother Emil Nikolaisen (Serena-Maneesh, etc.), will be released on March 11.

Danielson Best Of Gloucester County Sounds Familyre [2011] Fire Note Says: Danielson makes energetic return on Best Of Gloucester County . Album Review: It has been five years since we last enjoyed an album from Daniel Smith, aka Danielson, as Best Of Gloucester County marks his return to the scene. Ships [2006] scored a spot in our top 25 that year, so much excitement came with the announcement of the new record. Right from opening track, "Complimentary Dismemberment Insurance", you know that this album is going to be a bit different, as the song possesses an explosive folk-rock that has Smith ...

Kudos to Brad and Dangerous Minds for posting this. My first introduction to Medicine's Shot Forth Self Living was an old friend/record store employee warning me that if I couldn't handle the first couple minutes of "One More" then I probably wouldn't dig the entire album. There's truth to that statement, and I've often found myself using that same line with others who are curious about the L.A. noise-pop legends. So it's very fitting that this dynamite "shoegaze" mix begins with "One More". Of course, this is definitely not a "shoegaze mix ...

Παντ... παντ... ουφ! Λαχανιασμένα και καταϊδρωμένα έφτασαν και τα δικά μου 50 κομμάτια του 2010. Μπορεί να έχουμε 28 Ιανουαρίου αλλά το καλό πράγμα αργεί να γίνει κι επιπλέον ο Γενάρης είναι, όπως όλοι ξέρουμε, μεταβατικός μήνας. Το 2011 έχει έρθει φουριόζο αλλά το 2010 και οι ομορφότερες μουσικές του στοιχειώνουν ακόμα τα mp3 player μας... 50. Cours Lapin - "Cache Cache" από το Cours Lapin Οι μόδες έρχονται και φεύγουν τρέχοντας, και στο χώρο της μουσικής μπορεί και να κρατάνε ακόμα λιγότερο απ'ό,τι στα ρούχα ή σε άλλους τομείς. Υπάρχουν όμως κάποια πράγματα που μάλλον ποτέ δεν θα ...

The nominees for this year's Spellemann awards, the Norwegian Grammy, have been announced: Female Artist: Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is (Sony Music) Ida Maria - Katla (Nightliner/Universal Music) Ingrid Olava - The guest (Universal Music) Susanne Sundfør - The brothel (EMI Music Norway) Male Artist: Moddi - Floriography (Impeller Recordings) Odd Nordstoga - November (Sonet/Universal Music) Thom Hell - All good things (Voices Music and Entertainment) Thomas Dybdahl - Waiting for that one clear moment (Universal Music) Pop Group: deLillos - Hjernen er alene i Operaen (Warner Music Norway) I was a king - Old friends (Hype City Recordings/Voices Music and Entertainment) Kråkesølv - Bomtur til jorda ...

2010 was quite a year. It was a rebirth, a reaffirmation of my love of music (and writing about it, and taking pictures of it). I still feel as if I'm catching up, but the end of the year provided a great opportunity to revisit what I loved and seek out what I missed. This is a list of the songs that mattered to me. Please share your own in the comments. Update:  I've received a copyright notice from Google, so I'm going to pull the download link. Sorry. 50.  Magda - "Get Down Goblin" Magda's debut ...

Λίγες ώρες πριν το 2010 εκπνεύσει -προς μεγάλη μας ευχαρίστηση- αποφασίσαμε να τελειώσουμε τη λίστα μας με τα 48 κατα την uptight, 40 κατά τον mr.grieves, 0 για τον slamhound (Δεν ξέραμε οτι θα ήταν τόσο δύσκολος χαρακτήρας όταν τον προσλάβαμε) καλύτερα άλμπουμ της χρονιάς. Όπως έχουμε ξαναπεί οι επιλογές είναι καθαρά υποκειμενικές και η σειρά των δίσκων πριν από τους πρώτους 20 είναι σχετική. Μπορεί για κάποια στιγμή ας πούμε να είναι καταλληλότερο το 47 της uptight απο το 27 της για παράδειγμα. Όλα αυτά τα άλμπουμ που διαλέξαμε μας αρέσουν πολύ όχι με γνώμονα το μέλλον της ...

I’ve been infatuated with many local bands this year, but only one has remained on constant rotation on my iPod: Veil Veil Vanish. I first discovered these gothy shoegazers back in March. They were opening for Norway’s Serena-Maneesh, it was the first show I was covering for The Bay Bridged. There was barely enough [...]