First album I could consider buy this year
Mobile Homes are back with a very strong album after 25 years!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTngq_2QkY&feature=player_embedded]
And as I said I don´t buy very many albums these days, but this one is definately worth checking out if you are into synth pop, electro or similar sounds. Below I have included a review posted in Release Music Magazine, which give you a bit of an overview.
Cheers
I take my hat off for 25 years of providing me with a soundtrack. The Mobile Homes have been by my side since “Hurt” (I had to re-discover their early vinyls later on) and even though later efforts have faltered on the verge of collapse, I never gave up hope completely. The quartet is now a trio, but their gloomy electronic trademark sound has been resurrected on “Today Is Your Lucky Day”.
All it takes is a few seconds. Right then and there long time fans will be nodding and smiling uncontrollably. “I Give You”, a gritty cousin to almost any song off “Nothing But Something, introduces their new, old sound and a lively production helmed by Sami Sirviö (of Kent fame). The second track on this nine-piece journey of personal darkness is called “Ill”. It is also one of The Mobile Homes best tracks ever. Musically melodic and superbly crafted with a stunning chorus. It all continues like this, simmering on a ridiculously high level all the way through to the reconstructed version of first single “Close” (I do like the “Speak & Spell”-esque original better, though). “How People Talk”, another buzzing midtempo highlight, follows a similarly breathtaking path of energetic synths nursing Hans Erkendal’s new and improved vocal work.
It should be mentioned that even though Andreas Brun is officially no longer a member, he has written or co-written all of the songs on the album. I would have loved to hear him sing a ballad as well (like the glorious “The More I Think, The Deeper I Sink”), but the album is so strong that I keep forgetting that craving.
“Today Is Your Lucky Day” almost makes me forget that the Swedish Spring is in full bloom, transporting me to dark, rainy Autumn streets, intensively pondering life and love. The Mobile Homes are simply masters of melancholic synthpop, maybe now more than ever.
Covenant gossip
The name for Covenant’s upcoming album is now set: “Modern Ruin”.
There is still no exact date for the release, but it will be sometime during 2009, according to their homepage.
You can hear some demos on their MySpace.
Tinitus for the last time
So if you are in Stockholm make sure to attend this massive event
TINITUS FESTIVAL 2009
10-11 APRIL 2009
MÜNCHENBRYGGERIET STOCKHOLM
We launch our 10th anniversary and last festival ever.
Two days of synth love for the masses. An all-star classic, a gathering of the tribes. For the love of music through the art of party.
Motor on tour with Depeche
Motor supports Depeche Mode
American/French electronic duo Motor have been hired as support act for 20 of the upcoming Depeche Mode shows in Europe.
Depeche Mode’s world tour, which runs from May 2009 through February 2010, will stop in more than 25 countries. The band will release their new album, Sounds of the Universe, in April.
Their remix of “Precious” was highly appreciated by Martin Gore and a Motor song was part of the pre-concert music during the last Depeche Mode tour.
– Well this time, instead of one track on a mixtape, we’re getting the real deal!, Motor’s Bryan Black says
Berlin label Shitkatapult will deliver the third Motor album late this summer, preceded by single “Death Rave”. Remixes for Acidkids and Kanye West are also to be expected.
Browse the On Record archives for our reviews of the first two Motor albums.
Ladytron are going to support Depeche Mode in Belgrad, Bukarest, Sofia und Zagreb.
Das Ich and Gothminister announce 2009 tour
In support of both Das Ich’s and Gothminister’s new albums (Kannibale and Happiness in Darkness, respectively), the two bands are teaming up for their “Happiness with Cannibals” 2009 tour. Shows kick off April 1 in Vienna, Austria, and continue throughout Germany in the month of April. The bands will also perform May 22 in Templeuve, France and July 14 in Leiden, The Netherlands, as well as July 3 in Mulheim, Germany at the Castle Rock Festival, and August 6-9 in Utrecht, The Netherlands at the Summer Darkness Festival. Please follow the links for a complete concert itinerary.
Vinyl is HOT!
Following the trend of other synthpop/electro acts like Welle:Erdball the turn has come for Front242 to go vinyl – for whatever reason???
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIdpNPt3f30]
Cool effects processing using the BOSS SE-50
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0CBWw0M4vo&eurl=http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/&feature=player_embedded]
What the author says about the demo:
“Quick demo running through the presets of this early 90’s fx unit. I have a simple sequence playing on a Roland HS-80 (Alpha Juno 2 with speakers) using an unfiltered saw wave without chorus running into the left channel and a couple of preset patterns from a Roland TR-626 Rhythm Composer in the right channel. There are some algorithms (such as Stereo Mixer and “x” + “y”) that have seperate parameters and/or effects for each channel. In Vocoder mode, the HS-80 acts as carrier signal and drum machine as modulator. Using half the width of a single rack space, this compact unit is great for live situations. With a street price of $400 back then, the SE-50 gave a lot of bang for the buck.”
Enjoy 
Exclusive performance by Depeche Mode
Their new single “Wrong” will be played live at the Echo Awards Feb 21st in Berlin, others who will join in are e.g. U2 and Kate Perry.
Wrong is taken from their new album “Sounds Of The Universe”
Gahan in the studio working on the song:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwruMvh4ZcU&eurl=http://www.zeromagazine.nu/nyhet.asp?id=1654&feature=player_embedded]
Tickets are available at www.eventim.de
The 11 best electro albums of 2008
Sorry I am a bit late coming out with the annual list of the best albums in 2008, it’s the 2nd of February now, hehe. I will definately shape up for next year.
Please note that their are of course more records that should have shown up on the list, but 11 is maximum, feel free to add your comments if there are others you believe deserves to be on the list, and most importantly I have not ranked them, since it is very much based on your current mode what you feel like listening to, since they are quite different beasts:
System – Self Organizing Systems
Sebastien Tellier – Sexuality
Run Level Zero – Arctic Noise
Bomb the bass – Future Chaos
Cut Copy – In ghost colours
Auto-Auto -Celeste
David Byrne and Brian Eno – Everything that happens will happen today
Steelberry Clones – Dig’it
Senor Coconut – Around the world
Elegant machinery – A soft exchange
Clark – Turning Dragon
Cheers everyone
Teaser from the new album
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=891CCpval6Q]
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
DATAMASKIN
