I’ve had my debut on several download-stores this year. My cd collection is growing out of my house and I’ve started to hate those ugly plastic things that takes up so much space. Downloads are much nicer, except for the lack of artwork, which I miss a lot… This one was found on eMusic, where I bought PAGE FRANCE’s latest album (”Hello, Dear wind” (2006)) one day and their first one (”Come, I’m a Lion” from 2004) the day after. Both are fantastic.
Page France are from Baltimore, and was originally a solo project for singer/songwriter Michael Nau. Today, there are four people in the band. The band are currently releasing on the great suicide squeeze records (same as chin up chin up, minus the bear and Eardrums favorites Metal Hearts). According to their myspaceblog, they are working on their third album at the moment which is great news to me! For people in the US, the band will be touring the states from october 26th until december 9. You can see their full tour schedule on their myspace. The same way as the earlier albums by Sufjan Stevens (and he may also be a musical reference here), Page France’s lyrics are focused on spirituality. Themes like burning bushes, angels and even Jesus are present here.

Here is two songs from Page France (from their latest album “hello, dear wind”)
Page France - Bush
Page France - junkyard

Ok, I’m a fan, I admit it. I’ve been a fan since I first heard these guys. I’m even more a fan after listening to their new 3 track promo-ep, that they are kind enough to also have made available on their profile-page at nrk urört. It’s just plain great. Nothing less. What am I talking about? Monzano, of course! I bet that I have mentioned them a couple of times or more here in Eardrums, and I bet that I will mention them a couple of more times before I am satisfied… They are from Oslo, Norway, and have been around in the underground for some years now. Now its time for them to take a step out of the shadows, so if you run a great label and need a band that stands up to the greatness of your label, - please choose MONZANO. I need a full length album, now! This warm, friendly indiepop has the edges that makes it more than “just” a great melody. I can’t say anymore, because all I come up with are “great”, “fantastic”, “beautiful”… So, listen. The closest reference I can come up with is Death Cab for Cutie. Favorite track: Poster Boy

Here are some new songs, all from nrk urört:
Monzano - poster boy
Monzano - wires on fire
Monzano - swedish geography

and one older one,
Monzano - phonograph

AND IF THIS WASN’T ENOUGH:
The band has several solo-projects going…
Eivind Bøe of Monzano has a fantastic project going with his Beneath her parachute. Check out his great (now I’m starting again…) new song “december cliché” (below). More music at nrk urört.
Beneath her parachute - december cliché

AND:
Vocalist Sjur Lyseid has called his project “The Little hands of asphalt”, and it sounds like a slowed-down indiefolk-version of Monzano. The melodic focus is the same, but the backing is quite different. Nice one, this too.
Here’s a taster (more here):
The little hands of asphalt - Oslo

Just a quick note about another fine pop band that I got a tip about yesterday. The Postmarks from Miami, Florida, play cute, soft twee-like pop with sweet female vocals, strings, trumpets and that lush, airy sound that makes me think of Saint Etienne, Burt Bacharach or french movies from the late 60s… Very beautiful music, and easy for the ears. The band will release their debut album in january 2007 on Unfiltered records, and some of the songs will be remixed by artists like Spooky Reuben (Ladytron) and Xavier (Tahiti80).

Here are two tracks:
the postmarks - goodbye
the postmarks - leaves (remix by Roger O’Donnell)

Listen to more delicious pop at their myspace.

Dikta is a very interesting indie pop/rock quartet from Iceland, released on the legendary label Smekkleysa (once co-founded by The Sugarcubes’ Einar Örn, and now the label-home for a lot of good Icelandic artists). Dikta received great reviews for their last album “Hunting for happiness”, and it has been one of the best selling Icelandic albums this year. This is their second album, and it has been produced by ex-skunk anansie guitarist Ace. Dikta plays a kind of melancholic and very melodic alternative rock with dramatic undertones. I especially like Haukur Heiðar Hauksson’s warm and rich vocals. The band played a couple of gigs in New York earlier this week, and will be playing the great Icelandic Airwaves festival in october.

Here at Eardrums, we give you this song from their album (from their bandsite):
Dikta - my other big brother
(3 songs from their first album is also available at dikta.net).

You can also listen to songs from the band at http://www.myspace.com/dikta and at http://www.purevolume.com/dikta

One of our favorite labels, the swedish Labrador, has signed a new band, The Mary Onettes. The band has built their own studio in the Swedish town Göteborg, and they are now recording what will probably be the band’s debut album. The mary onettes sound not very different from other bands on the same label, - maybe a little bit more rock? The pure pop sound is very present. According to Labrador, they are inspired by guitar pop from the 80’s and indie bands from the 90’s. A Swedish relative to Echo & The Bunnymen, The Smiths och The Jesus and Mary Chain from the future? Well, maybe. Sounds good, - as always from Labrador. Their new four song EP will be out on Labrador on november 1.

Here’s a taster:
The Mary Onettes - lost