July and August: Nightmares on Wax, Braids, Einar Stray and Listener

A couple of interviews, reviews and what-have-yous up and about. My August highlight was meeting producer/legend/generally happy guy George Evelyn aka NIGHTMARES ON WAX. Interview will be up soon, had to go to Tegel to find him. Just so you know, his new album, Feeling Good, is amazing, you all can enjoy in when it's released September 17th on Warp Records.
 I'm finally on Instagram as kikahasfun, also follow me on Twitter @kikatroika

appropriately framed: me and Nightmares on Wax

Most recently I did an email interview with spoken word rock band LISTENER, seeing them tonight. Sadly it did not happen in person but we can't have everything.

 Prior to that my album review and interview with Canadian electronic trio-formerly-a-quartet BRAIDS went up.
 And way, way back, I finally finished my interview with Norwegian musician EINAR STRAY. 

Coming up expect an interview with ANNA CALVI, and some dispatches from Berlin Music Week. Which, reminds me, I saw two bands on a boat and three glasses of (free) wine. Thank you major labels for a trip down the Spree! Kent Brockman once said "If you wonder why they name hurricanes after women, then you haven't seen the ladies at the clearance rack" which should be changed to "journalists," name hurricanes after journalists, because you haven't seen THEM at an open bar. 

Just for kicks here's some kitty clocks courtesy of the Tegel Airport gift shop. Diamond eyes baby.

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say! SPOT Festival May 2-4

I hope you liked that Macbeth quote. Guess who's little writing hobby, someone's small side project, someone's little fun-thing-on-the-weekend, yeah I'll do this sure why not casual music writing thingie (which is now taking almost as much time as my real job) has earned them a place as a delegate at Denmark's own version of SXSW, the SPOT Festival? Me! 
I am so excited, Rob Helbig, founder and giant creative brain behind Nothingbuthopeandpassion, asked me to come along. Launch day is this Thursday, when we board a bus with a bunch of other German media people to take a nine-hour ride to 

Århus. Read the blurb we wrote here, I'm very proud of my "use other buzzwords" sentence and the cigarette analogy.  Rob and the nice people over at Nordic by Nature came up with a Top 21 Hottest Acts of SPOT 2013.  Memorable acts that have gotten started here are Sigur Rós, The Raveonettes and  Spleen United.  Tune in to NBHAP for updates and shenanigans.

In honor of my third trip to Denmark in less than a year, I want to share this picture of the Redflesh (Danish hardcore) 7" I purchased at Spillestedet Stengade during the Distortion Festival.  I did it  because M- told me to. I didn't even have a record player. At 4 a.m. we saw someone set a bike on fire. At 6 a. m. we were still walking around Copenhagen talking about Phillip Roth. Nørrebro kærlighed. Since then, a whole perfect series of events have led me back, and the Waldo and Marsha interview I did in Århus in December was my ticket into Nothingbuthopeandpassion. See, dreams do come true. At least indie in Denmark dreams.

FIDLAR

Well, it's all over the internet now, with reviews in PASTE and PITCHFORK and what not, but here is mine, courtesy of NBHAP. Just so you know, I was listening to this band in August, check out earlier review here. They are playing Berlin February 13th at Bii Nuu.

Coming up soon on NBHAP, an interview I did with Rover, a tragically talented musician who is as good as he is gregarious. Be sure to check back for the link. Tomorrow I'm off to see Spleen United at Berghain Kantine, turned down an opportunity to see Conor Oberst, I guess I want to dance with some Danish guys more than anything....

Yo La Tengo - Fade and Toro y Moi - Anything in Return

Well, thanks again to the lovely people at NBHAP, I have two reviews just published on the site.

I had the honor of reviewing Yo La Tengo's new album, Fade, here is what I have to say about that!  I have loved this band for awhile and seen them over ten times in various places, from San Francisco's Fillmore to Lollapalooza 2007 in Chicago.  They are constantly innovative yet manage to retain a style that won't alienate longtime fans. 

Also, here are my thoughts on the new Toro y Moi, Anything in Return. He is playing Berlin soon, let's hope the live show matches up to the sultry sounds of his last two albums. 

Finnish Wave Night

Big Wave Riders and Burning Hearts, playing Wednesday, October 17th at Prince Charles

Q: Where can I go to hear some music that will surely lift me out of the black mood the proximity of winter brings?

A: a fantastic Finnish showcase!

Sponsored by a slew of media forms whose opinion you should respect, Finnish Wave Night promises to gently plant a seed of happiness in you, bringing hope for the closing of the year.  Follow the links and rsvp to get yourself on the guest list.
Big Wave Riders play danceable pop that owes a lot to sad bastard British pop of late 80s, with a steady beat and synthesizers, overlaid with guitar riffs that remind me of Japan. (apologies for being unable to find a complete track by these art rockers, fuck you GEMA!) However however however, lest you think these are just retro throwbacks, their songs are suffused with an airy, dreamy dimension. Let's see how they hold up live. (Side note: they have a song called California awwww)

With a more sombre but equally exciting sound is Burning Hearts.  Think beautiful lyrics delivered with the breathless delivery that only a delicate female singer can provide.  Solid electronically modified folk pop, sure to be enjoyable.

The show is being put on by a few great blogs: notingbuthopeandpassion, nordic by nature, ponydanceclyde, a wonderfully named blog focusing on helsinki nightlife  and the official travel website of Finland.