Original Photo by Todd Gehman
THIS is much better than burning books: Thousands of records our poor postman hurls in every month. Sent by all the pretty labels and artists, PR-people and weirdos. Do you really think we could listen to them all? Yes? Well: No! But just shredding and pressing them into oblong form like coal briquettes to heat our lonely hearts in cold wearing winter did not seem the right thing to do either. Fortunately our beloved DR. PASSION developed a formula, an algorithmic wonder to fight this plastic avalanche. We’re happy to present you lucky devils one of the swift and zippy doctors scarce public appearances.
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[two_third last=”yes”]BARBARISMS
Barbarisms
Label: Control Freak Kitten Records
Imagine taking a step back, shifting perspective. Just look at the world and you all of a sudden realize it’s crooked, off-kilter and about to slip tilt right into abyss. Isn’t the poetic outcome of this experiment supposed to be funny? A divine comedy? Well, probably it’s just honest at last: Recesses unlimited have made me their salesman/And the fears that I have/They are my business, baby/And I am inviting you over just to show you that business is good.
NBHAP Rating: 4,5/5
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[two_third last=”yes”] HIGH HAZELS
High Hazels
Label: Heist or Hit Records
HIGH HAZELS‘ music is fluid, straight but wide-gestured, sometimes dramatic. Like THE WALKMEN gearing down to brit-pop and having MORRISSEY without the hate swoon along as if he was in Roxy Music. Like Italian opera conducted in sub-pop minor.
NBHAP Rating: 3/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]MYSTERIES
New Age Music is Here
Label: Felte
You probably can’t stand the basic idea of tribal-drum synth bedded somewhat arty songs anymore. But give MYSTERIES strings, horns and no sometimes quite shallow lyrics and they’ll blow your mind. Because MYSTERIES play it cool and sly, tricky and comparably witty.
NBHAP Rating: 3/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]FUTURE 3
With And Without
Label: Morr Music
Music for elevators in movies like Blade Runner, Lost in Translation or Stalactite Cave, we’re Drunk on LSD. Never intrusive enough, but conducted very elegantly. People seem to like the words concept or ambient a lot in these spheres.
NBHAP Rating: 3,5/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]THE TRAVELLING BAND
The Big Defreeze
Label: Sideways Saloon
It appears that neither this bands name, nor their album title tries to convey any sort of ironic statement or sarcasm. So there is nothing else to say than: ‘Don’t be a stranger, there’s a million songs to be sung/ and there’s no danger, in hanging around with your friends when you’re down/ let’s make the best of this time, while we’re still young…’
NBHAP Rating: 1,5/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]MASTER MIX: RED HOT + ARTHUR RUSSELL
Label: Yep Roc
Not that this compilation just subjects about a hundred different artistic approaches to the music of ARTHUR RUSSELL and manages to not do the initial songs any harm, no: Most of them even uncover a sensible link to the beautiful and inimitable original compositions.
NBHAP Rating: 4/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]EX HEX
Rips
Label: Merge
Doesn’t quite fit the red wine I just opened here at the Passion pit, more like a Mountain Dew should push the buttons now: But ELASTICA were a really great band and EX HEX really let it roll here; or ride, depends on what you like, more or less. Streets or shores.
NBHAP Rating: 3/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]NICHOLAS KRGOVICH
On Sunset
Label: Tin Angel
Vivid and buoyant pop-music like a George Michael soul-record produced by the PET SHOP BOYS and some young black dude, all of them touching their genitals wearing Michael Jackson sequin-gloves and gayly glittering sunglasses. Big Smile.
NBHAP Rating: 3,5/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]SLEATER KINNEY
Start Together
Label: Sub Pop
All seven sublime SLEATER KINNEY studio efforts in an expansive Box-Set. Depends on the price you object?
NBHAP Rating: 3/5
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[two_third last=”yes”]LOVE INKS
EXI
Label: Republic of Music
In contrast to what ‘they’ say: This is nothing close to THE XX. It’s a girl in white flower-dress accidentally dating some Swedish philosophy graduate with a drum pad. Not urban outfit songs for smart phoned youngsters wearing black capes. Closer to American Songbook than current minimal R’n’B. EXI is cute and fragile, really cautious, laid back, with a weirdly bold and wide eyed directness that probably has broken several hearts, Sherry LeBlanc, already.
NBHAP Rating: 3,5/5
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