Jono McCleery previews new song from upcoming album Pagodes

27 August 2015

Jono McCleery - Pagodes

Pagodes, the much anticipated third full-length album from Jono McCleery, is coming out this Autumn. The Rotterdam based British singer-songwriter has already enticed us with the beautiful first single ‘Age of Self’. McCleery is offering another magnificent taste from the album called ‘Clarity’. Here’s what he said about it:

“As with most of the songs on Pagodes, Clarity was an attempt to write a song that stood against the themes of winning, possessing, consuming, etc. and present an idea that if we could strip ourselves from all these ego-driven pursuits (and perhaps of our clothes too) and see what’s left with someone special, that our time would be better spent.

It’s ultimately about seizing the moment, listening to your heart, removing yourself from negative influence, immersing yourself in love, and finding clarity. But also acknowledging the idea that clarity is not something you just flat out achieve or possess, you just get closer to it sometimes. ‘The clarity is closer’.”

Lend your ears to ‘Clarity’ now and be sure to grab Pagodes when it’s out on October 2nd via If Music.

Masayoshi Fujita shares new single ‘Moonlight’

26 August 2015

Masayoshi Fujita - Apologues

Last month we heard the beautiful ‘Tears of Unicorn’, the first single taken from Masayoshi Fujita‘s upcoming album Apologues. The Berlin based Japanese vibraphonist has unveiled another beguiling track from the album called ‘Moonlight’. Fujita plays and uses the vibraphone in an unusual way and this track saw him place bead strings on the bars to create an ambient shimmer. Listen to it below and grab Apologues when it’s out on September 11th via Erased Tapes.

Normil Hawaiians’ 30-year old unreleased album Return of the Ranters to be issued this Autumn

25 August 2015

Normil Hawaiians - Sianne Don't Work In A Factory

Formed in the early 80’s, Normil Hawaiians were a South London collective with an aesthetic informed by the social, economic and political context of the time. With an ever-changing line-up, Normil Hawaiians responded to and reflected on the state of the society then, under the harsh Thatcher government policies. With a couple of album releases under their belt, 1982’s More Wealth Than Money and 1984’s What’s Going On, the band went on to write and record a third album in the winter of 1985/86 called Return of the Ranters. Guy Smith, Simon Marchant, Alun ‘Wilf’ Williams, Noel Blanden and Jimmy Miller, who made up Normil Hawaiians at this time, had to go separate ways before the album ever got released. Thirty years on, Return of the Ranters is finally coming out. The project got the attention of Upset The Rhythm, who scoured the vaults for the original tapes to be remastered and will release the record for the first time on October 23rd. The effort is described as “lucid, candid, politically engaged, rarely metronomic but always humane, tired but still fighting”.
To celebrate the long-awaited release, Normil Hawaiians are reuniting for a one-off show at the Lexington in London on October 24th.
Here’s a great taste of what’s to come, the album’s opening track, ‘Sianne Don’t Work In A Factory’.

In other related good news, Upset The Rhythm are also working on reissuing Normil Hawaiians’s debut album More Wealth Than Money and its follow-up What’s Going On. These reissues will be paired with liner notes, bonus tracks, rehearsal takes, rarities and singles. We’ll keep an eye out for updates on this.

Kimmo Pohjonen announces new album Sensitive Skin

24 August 2015

Kimmo Pohjonen - Sensitive Skin

Maverick Finnish accordionist and composer Kimmo Pohjonen has announced the follow-up to Uniko, his 2011 collaborative album with Kronos Quartet and Samuli Kosminen. The new full-length, Sensitive Skin, arrives on September 25th in Europe and October 9th in the US via Ondine‘s sub-label Octopus.
With Sensitive Skin, Pohjonen continues to push boundaries, exploring and creating innovative and inimitable compositions. To bring the album to life, Pohjonen invited a stellar cast of guests to lend a hand including Kronos Quartet (string quartet), Tuomas Norvio (electronics), Samuli Kosminen (drums, percussion), Timo Kämäräinen (guitar, bouzouki), Sami Kuoppamäki (drums), Arto Järvelä (nyckelharpa), Inka and Saana Pohjonen (vocals), Ismo Alanko (vocals) and Lauri Porra (bass).

Here’s what Pohjonen said of Sensitive Skin:

“This is the first album where I had enough time to plan and record at a comfortable pace and in my own studio, allowing the music to emerge more organically and exactly as I wanted. Additionally, the vocal contributions by my daughters Inka and Saana were a big influence on the way the music and album were shaped, created and arranged. I am more than satisfied, even thrilled with the results.”

Ahead of the album’s release, Pohjonen has shared the first phenomenal taste in the form of ‘Cyclon’. We can’t wait to hear more.

Watch the new video for The Chap’s single ‘Jammer’

19 August 2015

The Chap - Jammer

Last month The Chap announced the release of The Show Must Go, a political rock album due out this Autumn via Lo Recordings. The quintet teased their upcoming album with the first single ‘Jammer‘, and they offered these words to describe it:

“‘Jammer’ is a wordless single. It’s the sound of despair in the face of awesome idiocy that renders The Chap’s usually reliable Swiss Army knife of irony totally worthless. In the midst of events that deeply affect their family and friends, The Chap are united in their realisation: you can take Democracy out of Europe, but you can still tour Europe. Fuck you, Europe. We are The Chap, we are Europe.”

Now The Chap have made a video to accompany ‘Jammer’, featuring Vincent Oliver and Kristof Künssler. Watch it below.