Militant Atheists

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable!

I've just returned home after seeing Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy) live at Union Chapel, and ... wow is pretty much the only word I could say once it was over. One of the most incredible concerts I've ever been to - the man is a genius. Using only his voice, a violin, a looping pedal and occasionally a keyboard, he was able to create music richer, more complex and awe inspiring than so much music around these days.

Here's a live clip of Owen performing a cover of Joanna Newsom's Peach Plum Pear, to give you an idea of what he's capable of.

Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms

Great song but... erm, just ignore the panda.

(Obviously NOT an official video.)

The things one learns working in a library...

Under the Library of Congress Classification system, the Bible and books related to the bible (including books on creationism) have the classmark BS.

:)

Scandinavian/Nordic music: múm

múm - Icelandic band who've undergone a number of lineup changes over the years. Their album Finally We Are No One is without a doubt one of my top 5 albums of 2008. The singer on this album has since married one of the members of Animal Collective, and produced an album with him.

Green Grass of Tunnel

The Land Between Solar Systems - 12 minutes long, but worth it. Sounds like a probe flying towards the outer edge of the solar system, before making its way through the Kuiper Belt and then finally smashing through to the empty space outside (quite possibly the sound they were aiming for? - except of course there is no sound in space...)

We have a Map of the Piano

They Made Frogs Smoke Til They Exploded - from their most recent album Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy. A change in sound due to a change in the band's lineup.

múm have just announced they'll be playing a show in London mid-July, where they'll be debuting some of their new stuff, with an album to be released soon. I can't wait!

Nordic music: Jenny Wilson

Jenny Wilson - Swedish, sang with the Knife on the song You Take My Breath Away. Released the album Love and Youth, a gorgeous album full of reminiscence and nostalgia in 2005. Didn't fully get into this album until last year, just before I left Japan.

Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward


Summertime the Roughest Time


A Hesitating Cloud of Despair

Nordic music: Fever Ray

Fever Ray - Karin from The Knife. I bought her self-titled album in Norway, as I felt I should buy something Scandinavian. A brilliant album - similar to Silent Shout upon first few listens, but comes into its own after that.

When I Grow Up. I've been listening to this song non-stop for the last few days. The video is wonderfully weird.

If I Had a Heart - try to find this on youtube, the stupid UK ban on music videos (apparently selective) isn't letting me find it.


Keep the Streets Empty (not the official video... obviously)



Coconut (not the official video) - reminds me somewhat of something off of Nine Inch Nails' Ghosts I-IV