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.

now, let's review Austra - Olympia and Listener - Time is a Machine

Now, I have stopped writing reviews because I'm so full of myself. No, seriously! I haven't done that many since I have been busy with interviews. Also, happy to share I was promoted to Content Editor at NBHAP, that means I get to check everyone's English and help the writers keep to a style. As always, grateful for the opportunity to be a know-it-all.
The two reviews I wrote in the last few months are bands that are close to my heart. Listener I only recently discovered, and Wooden Heart (2010) has been on repeat for awhile. It's intense, but good intense. June saw the band releasing Time is a Machine, which keeps to the confessional, heart-wrenching style that makes it's almost painful to listen to. My favorite line is "and people everywhere are crying on cliff edges and carving their ex-lovers names into tree trunks in anticipation."

Next is Austra with Olympia, which I will say is actually better than Feel it Break (2011) on account of all the collaboration. " Katie’s icy soprano over stylized synth-pop." See earlier posts for my interview with her.
Next up: a weekend at Danish music festival Roskilde...pretty much realizing a life-long dream here.