John Maus / HOLY SHIT (Ariel Pink + Matt Fishbeck)

It seems a bit odd that all the *greatest* songwriters of our time are not only settled on the very same geographical location, but more queerly - are bandmates or at least good comrades with quite similar perspectives in writing quality popmusic. Of course this coincidence is taking place only in my overreacting and illusive imagination but for about a year or two now (since i came across with these then pretty unfamiliar fellows for the wider audience) i've been very excited about their pseudogenius-genuinepop sound that people connected with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti project (the bandmemebers & their soloprojects to their girlfriends' bands + their friends' friends' bands and so on...) made. There are several superfun artists to talk about in near future.. but for now:



John Maus (the keyboard player in Haunted Graffiti), who finally got his debut (called "Songs" - simple as that) released under Upset The Rhythm. As far as i know, it consists of his older tracks, recorded years ago and which have been circling around the net for a little while on his self-produced albums called "I want to live" and "Loveletters from hell". Most of the old tracks on "Songs" are renamed of course. This is said to be a lifework of his. Maus is skilfully generating a network of nostalgia feelings by his 80's style non-existent new wave and eccentric minimalism. This is something to experience yourself. This is somehow so familiar and so fresh at the same time.

[mp3] Do Your Best (watch the live video at The Echo here)
[mp3] Don't be a Body
[mp3] Just Wait Till Next Year

And another great album called "Stranded at Two Harbors" is out by HOLY SHIT, which is Ariel + Matt Fishbeck (ex-Push Kings). An amazing duo to write that kind of hazy guitar-driven catchy pop and psych-folk. Completely different moods compared to Ariel's solo project. Let's see what happens next...

[mp3] Written All Over Your Face
[mp3] My Whole Life Story (watch the live video at Skrewball here)
[mp3] Skyscrapers In Heaven
[mp3] Ashes To Ashes

Euromotion [USA]

web & myspace

[mp3] Get Serious (EP version)
[mp3] Sneak Away (live)
[mp3] Don't Tell Me Your Name (LP version)

Okay, it's summertime and party-time. You have almost a whole week to get to know Euromotion. Another euro-band, but this time from USA, Portland. Take it as homework (a lot of mp3s on their page), which has to be done before weekend and when Friday comes then we're gonna PAAARTYYYY!!!! with Euromotion. We just have to tell them, that the party is here.



Also pay attention to the super-cool posters they have.

P.S. You need to get serious, SERIOUS, on the dancfloor!!

[mp3] Farewell

I Love Sarah [Belgium] / Plink-Plonk festival

[mp3] I Love Sarah - QCQ L Zouk
[mp3] I Love Sarah - Toothbrush

[mp3] My Darling YOU! - Everything, allright?!
[m3u] Köök - Ihar Tantsupõrand (excerpt)

I Love Sarah is a Belgian duo. I saw them live on the Plink-Plonk music festival. I'm glad that Holy God brought us together - I Love Sarah and a sinful man like me.
I'm sure that you don't understand what I mean. I also had no expectations at all - I even didn't recall how did they sound or who they were, although I had listened all the mp3 samples provided on the Plink-Plonk website before the festival. So no impression what so ever. But after the show those mp3s started to make sense to me and sounded much better. They had a lot power and energy in their show. I think, that I Love Sarah is one of those bands you definately shoud see live.

Plink-Plonk music festival also hosted many microlips earlier favourites. My Darling YOU! is probably the most mentioned group in microlips. I finally also managed to get a picture with upcoming popstars like my brother did... although that statement would have been true last year, while now they already are popstars. I think they should open a section of pictures on their website of fans wearing T-shirts with their favourite artists (other than My Darling YOU!, of course) :)

In all the chatting and taking pictures I somehow managed to lose my head and forgot to buy their CD. Don't make the same mistake - buy it now!!!

KÖÖK was also one of the bands performing on the festival. I finally got their long waited album. If I recall correctly, a year ago Jaan told that they will have an album released in autumn. Anyway - it's finally out now! I've already had a chance to listen it a couple of times and it sounds fabulous as did their show. Buy it from Muda Music.
Röövel Ööbik's live was also very powerful - it made my body move. I have to agree - one of the best live bands ever.
Unfortunately the sound of the stage where Ans. Andur and Les Diamants performed somehow flow by me. I probably sat on the wrong place and was too lazy to move.

Between the shows of My Darling YOU! and KÖÖK performed a lot of noisy rock bands, and lover of synths and bleepy disco music as I am, this was the time to catch up with old friends and meet some new. I met Lime from Jazzotheque's for the first time. I also met Martin from our own microlips, with whom i had communicated only by e-mail and microlips for over a year now :)
I also saw two SonicMonks there moving around time to time :)

So that was definately one fun weekend. I'm already waiting for the next summer and Plink-Plonk again.

Galaktlan Grupp [Estonia]