Check out these tunes by the Brooklyn based band So L’il. Calm, laid back alternative pop.

so l’il - dreams
so l’il - swell
so l’il - inside

They got a new cd out now.

The german band The NoTwist, who released their acclaimed album “Neon Golden” in 2003, are now working in the studio again with new material. The studio work is interrupted in mid july by a small tour with the band’s collaboration project (together with anticon’s Themselves), 13 + God. We asked one of the Notwist’s main members and songwriters Markus Acher if he could reveal some details of the production, and we understand that the band is very early in the recording process. Markus says:

“It will at least take until next year before it is released. We don’t have no real plans or songs yet… We never have an idea in the beginning. Then we get one while recording, and then in the end , it sounds totally different again… We will continue playing with Max Punktezahl (who also plays in Contriva and Jersey), who joined us on our tour for Neon golden. He will also record with us for the new record.”

- You write for both Lali Puna and The NoTwist, plus several sideprojects and collaborations (13+God, John Yoko). Is your approach to music making different when you write for the various bands and projects you are in? How do you write music?

“I always write with a certain band in mind. They all have a different approach and sound. For the Notwist, I compose with the guitar, for Lali Puna with the computer and electronic instruments.”

- What do you consider your main project at the moment?

“Oh, there is no main project. It’s always the one I’m working on at the moment. They are all equally important to me.”

- Is it difficult to share your timeschedule between several bands/projects that all have quite a large (and growing) fanbase?

“Yes, it’s difficult sometimes to not make too much with one band and forget the other. But at the moment it’s very equal with the different bands. They all have their special fans and places and times.”

The NoTwist on the web: www.notwist.com

Rating:

“Nice Traps” is the name of the debut album by the Czech electronic popband Khoiba, recently released on Mole listening pearls. The cover is gorgeously cruel; a young girl has trapped a giant insect in a glass , - with an evil look on her face.
Khoiba was founded in Prague in 2002, with Ema Brabcová on vocals/synthesizer, Filip Mísek on guitar/synthesizer, Petr Sámal on bass and Jan Malich, drums.

The music of Khoiba is downtempo semi-electronic pop, with elements from alternative pop. People who like the UK band LAMB would probably also find something they like here too. The voice of Ema Brabcova is not too far away from Lamb’s Louise Rhodes. Some of the bands in the newer german electronic pop camp is also close in their expressions.

“Nice traps” is very good for the ears. It has a warm sound and the songs are quite good all over. I especially like the way they mix the pop-feel with darker elements and strange noises. Ema has a fine way of using her voice to give the songs both roughness, edges and beauty. There is a playfulness and finetuned way of experimenting here. It is not “experimental” and strange, yet it is clear that the band likes to try out new stuff and play around with the songs. This is pop, - good pop-, with something extra added.

The album is on high rotation in my stereo, and I find most of the songs way above average. “202″ is a clever piece of work, especially on the vocal side. It is so simple, yet extremely full of expression. “Half in”, “terribly” and “that reason” are other favourites of mine.

A fine debut album by Khoiba, - they have a fan in me now.

Here’s the new single from Sing Sing, a duo with Emma Anderson from the shoegaze-legends Lush + Lisa O’Neill. The single is a taster for their new album “Sing-sing and I”, that will be released on July 11th. It’s really great, so enjoy!
Sing Sing - lover (zipped mp3)

Just got Morr Music’s releaseplan by mail from their label boss, Thomas Morr, and it looks very exciting! Especially the coming releases in the 7″ series “a number of small things” is something to look forward to: Ben Gibbard, Isan, B.Fleischmann, f.s.blumm, Populous and more …
The full list looks like this:

05.09.2005
the american analog set lp/cd tbc (only eu)
04.10.2005
múm – yesterday was dramatic … dlp/cd re-release tbc (excluding japan & australia)
07.11.2005
tied & tickled trio – dvd + dvd/cd
+
tied & tickled trio – s/t lp/cd re-release
tied & tickled trio – ea1 ea2 lp/cd re-release

a number of small things 7” series
john yoko (lali puna), isan, b.fleischmann, f.s.blumm, populous, ben gibbard, antony isan …

Early 2006

styrofoam & fat jon lp/cd tbc
b.fleischmann solo – 4th lp&/cd tbc
ms. john soda - 2nd lp/cd tbc
the go find – 2nd lp/cd tbc
guther – 2nd album lp/cd tbc
b.fleischmann & band – lp&/cd tbc
Couch – new lp/cd tbc