NLLR Project

The NLLR Mixtape Project is run by British born Lee Norman Williams over at No Love Lost Records in Brooklyn, New York. Basically consisting of exclusive mixes from some of the best DJs and producers from around the world.

A brilliant idea, and it's good to see so many people have gotten involved. Featuring mixes from Lillica Libertine, Zoltar Speaks, Tronik Youth, The Toxic Avenger, Rupert Romaro and Mistress De Funk, it showcases all forms of dance and electronic music and is a great insight into what tunes are featuring on their decks right now.

The NLLR Mixtape Project has had over 170,00 downloads and has been talked about all over the blogsphere, featuring on all the big players including Missingtoof, Big Stereo, Discodust, Trash Menagerie, Discobelle, IHEARTCOMIX, Palms Out Sounds, Get Weird Turn Pro and Kidz By Colette.

Still ongoing and in only it's fifth month, NLLR project is on it's 24 installment from South Central which features tunes from Bahaus, Holy Fuck, Make Model and Etienne De Crecy. All track listings and info can be found on the Facebook group and Myspace so please, feel free to check those out.

Here's some of my personal favourites since the projects conception last year...

001 - Lillica Libertine
005 - Zombie Disco Squad
012 - The Bloody Beetroots
018 - MeMeMe
020 - Ocelot
023 - The Toxic Avenger
024 - South Central

Carl

21 And 2 Days

So I've reached the ripe old age of twenty one years. Fresh from catching Late of the Pier on the start of their tour in Southampton, I'm back and raring to go. In reality, it's ten to eight in the morning on time of writing and I still haven't been to sleep from the night before. Hardcore or insomniac, you decide.

So here's what's been going on in my world...

I'm Not The Complaint Department

Previously mentioned in Liam's tips for 2008, Lykke Li's debut Youth Novels is a more understated affair than first thought.

While Little Bit is undoubtedly the stand out track, the rest of the album is hard to pin down in terms of sound. Flitting from the bubble-gum pop of fellow Swede, Annie to the sultry, seductive whispers of Jennifer Charles on Window Blues.

Whilst I still stand firm on the opinion that the current hype is out-weighing the goods, Lykke could have done a lot worse, and Youth Novels shows she has more strings to her bow than most have so far given her credit.

Myspace
Lykke Li - Window Blues
Lykke Li on iTunes



Susan, The Truth Is...



Another album that's been on repeat during the ridiculous ammount of train journeys I undertake each month is Trouble In Dream by Vancouver artist Destroyer.

The main project of occasional The New Pornographers collaborator Dan Bejar. He has released eight albums under the Destroyer moniker, just over half of which have been through Merge Records.

Despite having proclaimed his own style as being "European Blues", it's obvious when listening, that Bejar takes influence from more indie/shogaze roots than that of blues.

Also noteworthy is Bejar's other project Swan Lake, a sort of Canadian uber indie menage-a-trois consisting of himself, Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes and Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, and Frog Eyes.

Myspace
Destroyer - Dark Leaves From A Thread
Pre-order Trouble In Dream on Amazon



Some Like It Hot



It's now almost fourteen hours later and I've found the time to finish this post. I'll end on a weird and wonderful note as I came across this album at random and it's one of the most strange albums I've ever heard. Let's Go Everywhere by Medeski Martin and Wood (aka MMW).

Starting out their careers in 1991 as an acoustic jazz outfit, New York trio John Medeski, Billy Martin and Chris Wood have come a long way in terms of style and experimentation.

Let's Go Everywhere is more experimental and less jazz than previous works, sampling children reciting nursery rhymes and providing vocals for some of the other songs.

It takes a particularly lighthearted turn from it's dark and more accessible predocessor, 2004's End of the World Party (Just in Case). Of which the title track was featured on US tv show Grey's Anatomy according to Wikipedia.

Featuring songs about pirates, cats, cakes and trains, this is full of nostalgia and could almost be the soundtrack to a new Pixar film. It's all about fun and childhood adventure, each track calls upon an individual fond memory or experience. Well worth a listen, even if it's just out of curiosity.

Myspace
Medeski Martin and Wood - Pirates Don't Take Baths
MMW Store

Carl

Sweden Saves Music?!

Sweden is one of the most prolific yet overlooked countries in the world when it comes to music, modestly producing some of the best bands around with the likes of The Hives, The Knife, The Sounds, I'm From Barcelona, Taken By Trees, Love Is All, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Shout Out Louds, Mando Diao, Peter Bjorn and John, and The Concretes leading the way in recent years. Here are some that have slipped through the net for most... until now.

pic by Mjukstart

Stockholm songstress Firefox AK otherwise known as Andrea Kellerman is a former member of UK trip-hop collective Anamorphic, she decided to go it alone in 2005 released her debut EP through her own label, having since signed to Razzia Records and released debut album Madame, Madame in 2006.

The follow-up to which, If I Were A Melody is due for Swedish release in February, with no details of an international release just
yet. Winter Rose is the first single to be released. Featuring fellow Swedes and husband Rasmus' band TGR LOU, and also mixed by Matt Didemus of Junior Boys, it a beautifully crafted blend of soulful vocals with delicate synths and Bonde Do Role-esque beats.

After performing alone with nothing but her voice and an iPod in the earliest stages of Firefox AK, she is now joined by Ulrica Brunner (synthesizers), and Andreas Hogby (bass guitar) when performing live, she has toured with previously mentioned TGR LOU and Junior Boys, with more dates soon to be announced.

Myspace
Firefox AK - White Rose (Assid Remix)
Firefox AK on Razzia Download Store




Q: What's Swedish for Fight Club?
A: Slagsmålsklubben

Formed in 2000, Slagsmålsklubben have released three albums to date; Den svenske disco (2003), Sagan om konungens årsinkomst (2004) and last year's Boss For Leader through EMI.

Essentially a six-man, six analogue synth behemoth, Slagsmålsklubben's style comes across as being heavily influenced by Kraftwerk, and while at times sounding like Happy Hardcore on acid, they can also conjure up all sorts of weird and wonderful rhythms and breakdowns.

About to tour the UK with Late of the Pier of all people, it seems the world is slowly catching on the the wonders of Slagsmålsklubben aka SMK. I've got a sneaking suspicion that these guys are going to steal some of the limelight from their tour mates come February.

Myspace
Slagsmålsklubben - Sponsored By Destiny
Slagsmålsklubben Webshop




Somewhere between Emily Haines and Emmy the Great is 32 year old Stockholm resident Marit Bergman.

With three successful albums under her belt, Marit is well known and very successful in her home nation, gaining five Swedish Grammis nominations and two awards for "Composer of the Year" and "Female Artist of the Year".

A D.I.Y. success story, the former member of Swedish punk band Candysuck released her debut album 3.00AM Serenades on her own label in 2002, before re-releasing it through Sony BMG in 2003.

She has released two albums since, Baby Dry Your Eye in 2004 and I Think It's a Rainbow in 2006. She recently played at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen in November, with no news on furter releases.

Myspace
Marit Bergman - No Party (Piano Version)
Buy I Think It's a Rainbow on Amazon

Carl