It's been seven years since multi-instrumentalist Henry Ojala (Cats On Fire) and vocalist Jessika Rapo (Le Futur Pompiste) met on a joint tour and decided over time to collaborate on a new project that would become Burning Hearts. Their debut album, the upbeat Aboa Sleeping would appear five often difficult years later in 2009, full of sweet pop melodies and juicy hooks; a pretty straightforward record that did however, contain electronic elements that suggested the potential was there for growth in less predictable directions. After the single 'Night Animal' in 2010, the trajectory was clear. Upon the release the impressive EP Into The Wilderness last year, it was apparent that the talented Finnish duo were taking a turn in a more expansive direction, utilising loops and more unconventional song structures. Indeed, the brilliant title track, with its cleverly crafted looping underbelly and metaphorical sound is ample evidence of this. Thankfully because it fits, it also appears on the subject of this review, their second album, Extinctions.
Sporting a bigger and more polished production than previous recordings, Extinctions affords Rapo's uniquely accented, and warm yet disaffecting vocals and Ojala's beautifully crafted and meticulously executed pop the sound they deserved. The uncanny creative relationship the two have comes through loud and clear as vocally and musically its a seamless match. Amazingly, while complementing each other they also allow each other the right amount of space. Rapo's vocals could have dominated this record but they don't giving Ojala room to work his hook laden magic.
Lyrically, it's a thematic record where the difficult subject matter belies its optimistic sound. The title of the album is telling. Death lurks at almost every turn, a result of tragedies that affected Rapo and Ojala and inspired the subject matter. However, despite the surface morbidity, Burning Hearts pop sensibilities could never allow Extinctions to become overtly dark and difficult. In fact, what they have actually created is nine expansive and organic pop gems that live and breathe optimism and hope; a realisation that while death is omipresent and inevitable, there's no need to wallow in it. Having said that though, Rapo and Ojala are determined to remind us that as human beings, while there exists fragility, we can do some horrible things because many of us think we are above nature, not part of it.
'On The Last Day Of The Decade' begins with a funereal tone as Rapo authoritatively enters the fray with the line 'A man picks up his shotgun...' over a deliberately paced beat that is retained throughout. Over its four minutes, the track slowly opens up lyrically, revealing an unsettling feel with a hunter determined to catch his prey, a metaphor perhaps for the avarice and greed that exists in the world. But musically, the track builds and builds and and explodes towards its end into a cacophony of sound dominated by a simple, yet killer synth melody. The aforementioned 'Into The Wilderness' is the best thing the duo have done. A sparkly loop set things off and remains there underneath for the song's duration while the drum sound is programmed to reflect it's title. There is definitely a wilderness feel lyrically with talk of the Alaskan treelines and permafrost. But what's telling is that the wilderness is equated with escapades from loneliness and the music accurately reflects this.
Ojala's beautifully lead guitar melodies stand out on the patiently crafted 'Modern Times'. Nothing is hurried here as the song ambles along sweetly. Chorus wise, Rapo's ooh aah's are completed by Ojala's clever chord structure The reverb drenched slow burner, 'Love And Dissonance' lessens the pace and sports an example of what was mentioned earlier, that Burning Hearts are more than willing to be unconventional. The beauty of the track is broken up twice by an attack of unsettling noise, that dissonance mentioned in the track title.
The rumbling swing of the drum beat takes centre stage on 'The Swallows'. The track is an exmaple of how well Rapo and Ojala give each other the space they need. The former sings two lines, an almost verse cut in half before Ojala intervenes to complete it with a lusciously gorgeous hook. It works brilliantly taking the tropical swing of the track in a different and unexpected direction. Second single 'Burn Burn Burn' begins in a deceptively unobtrusive way before kicking into fourth gear. The landscape's physical features and primitiveness return as organic metaphors for Rapo's defiance in the face of fears, 'I'm covered with flames, my skin's on fire, but I won't burn' along with the chorus refrain; 'Over the deserts, into the forests, I run as a child, to hide from my hunger, my biggest fear, I fight with my hands and my spear'.
'Trade Winds' as the title suggests has a nautical theme, an optimistically, overtly pop sounding tune with beautiful harmonies. 'The Beast' ebbs away with a hopeful disposition but Rapo reminds us of our fragility 'You think that you are a King, but within a blink of an eye, you could go extinct'. Ojala's guitar work here is a triumph of beauty in simplicity. The final track 'Deep Waters' begins with Rapo's spirit like vocals alone with a single synth note before going aquatic in a musical sense with every instrument running together like a stream cascading from a mountain.
It's not often a reviewer can mention the words cinematic and pop in the one sentence or even in relation to each other. But cinematic pop seems to perfectly describe the Burning Hearts disposition. Rapo's nature laden lyrical metaphors are expertly tracked and captured musically. It is precisley because Ojala holds court over every instrument and device in the recording process that this is possible. There's a connection, an intimacy in these songs that is palpable, where two artists at the peak of their powers are almost in telepathic contact. You can almost feel yourself transported to an arctic wilderness or some tropical haven. It's been a long road for the talented duo with many roadblocks along the way, but with an album of such unique pop brilliance under their belts, lets hope Extinctions gets the attention it deserves. Rapo and Ojala have done the hard yards and gifted us nine expertly crafted pop gems, now its the turn of purveyors of independent pop music to repay the favour.
Seattle indie folk/rock veteran Damien Jurado is set to release his eleventh album, Maraqopa on February 21 and has just dropped the second single from it, the delicate 'Museum Of Flight'. Secretly Canadian are offering up a chance to pre-order the album in a special package for around 25 bucks. It includes the CD in a 6 panel wallet, the LP on green vinyl (first 150 pre-orders), a 11x17 poster, three vinyl seven 7"s of tracks that didn't make the album as well an instant MP3 download of the whole record as soon as you order. If you're a fan of Jurado, that's an awesome offer. Pre-order it here. As a taster, grab the free download of 'Museum Of Flight' as well as the retro-rocking first single, 'Nothing Is The News' which is accompanied by a video.
Track list
1. Nothing Is The News 2. Life Away From The Garden 3. Maraqopa 4. This Time Next Year 5. Reel To Reel 6. Working Titles 7. Everyone A Star 8. So On, Nevada 9. Museum Of Flight 10. Mountains Still Asleep
Museum Of Flight
Damien Jurado (USA)
From the forthcoming album, 'Maraqopa', Secretly Canadian.
Greek indie rock outfit The Finger are set to release their debut album, I Don't Believe My Eyes next month and have decided to gift us the title track as a free download which you can grab below. The Thessaloniki five piece first appeared in the middle of 2011 with the track Die! Die! Superhero! and while both tracks are pretty straightforward, in a time when the genre is struggling somewhat, it's great to hear some melodic power rock in the best of the tradition. The aforementioned title track stands out for its crisp production, powerfully angular bass lines, melodic guitar work, dramatic instrumentation and the strong vocals of Lia Souti. I Don't Believe My Eyes is out March 15.
Tracklist
1. I Don't Believe My Eyes 2. Die! Die Superhero! 3. My Room 4. Still Here 5. I Was So Young 6. Too Slow 7. Brain stroke 8. Something Wrong 9. Ten Pound Heavy Heart 10. Tin Can 11. In A Fragment Of Time
I Don't Believe My Eyes
The Finger (GRE)
From the forthcoming album, 'I Don't Believe My Eyes', Self Released. Out March 15.
The second track has streamed from John Talabot's forthcoming album fIN. Called 'Destiny' it's a busy yet laconic ride that again features the eerily dulcit tones of frequent collaborator Pional. fIN is out physically on February 7 but you can order your vinyl copy now here.
Maryland's Prolific electro master Skai Nine has just dropped another EP which is kindly being offered for free via his Bandcamp and Soundcloud pages. Mellow, soothing, with just the right amount of a 90s electro bent and a massively positive vibe is the order with Ember, the sixth release in twelve months. You can check them all out, from the debut Lux, and hear the experimental sounds develop and grow from strength to strength along the way. With a natural talent, Skai Nine incorporates indie and retro synth influences into a fusion that is uniquely his own. With occasional samples, loops and vocals, it all equals a recipe for bliss while conjuring up images of a smokey and sweaty dance-floor. Check it all out yourself through the media outlets below and see where it all recently began with the track 'Trek' from last year's Lux, and download the brilliant 'Telescope' fresh off the new EP. He has told us to expect a new release very soon, of which he has 'no idea what it will sound like, isn't that half the fun?'. We're looking forward to it, more on Skai Nine to come soon.
Listening to the cinematic sound-scapes of Condre Scr. is a hell of a journey, passing through degrees of light and shade in a complex and multi-layered atmosphere, that has put them at the top of their game over the last few years. The German five piece have followed up their acclaimed debut, Jar Marsen with a full length album due to drop February 24, You Are Genius. The four years between recordings has seen some reorganisation and collaboration with producer Tobias Siebert (who has worked with Kettcar, Sometree, and Phillip Boa). What has emerged is a tight and impressive collection of eight tracks that will nicely transport you to that place instrumental post rock does so well. And Condre Scr. do it very well. You Are Genius will be out through Oxide Tones. Have a listen and be taken away with a taste of the LP via the track 'Bogatell' below. Stay tuned to Indie30 for more news on Condre Scr.
Bogatell
Condre Scr. (GER)
From the forthcoming album, 'You Are Genius', Oxide Tones. Out on Feb 24.
It's one of life's great pleasures as a music tragic to see talented musicians get the opportunity to ply their trade under their own terms in surroundings that become them. This is definitely the case when is comes to the new record by the sisters that make up Stockholm indie folk/rock duo First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar. Whether on their own or working harmonies, the exquisite vocal talents of the Söderberg sisters, Johanna and Klara, certainly get the chance to shine backed by the production of Mike Mogis.
Their last LP, The Big, The Black And The Blue, released in 2010 was a more lo-fi driven affair, pretty much out of the lack of any other choice and in some ways skirted too close to the sum of the influences. Since then though, their work has been noticed and embraced by luminaries such as Conor Oberst, Robin Pecknold and Jack White. The notice gave First Aid Kit the opportunity to record The Lion's Roar in Nebraska in an environment that brings their the growth songwriting abilities, both lyrically and musically, near as possible to full maturation.
Check out the track and video for their country driven single 'Emmylou', as the sisters pay homage to country legend Gram Parsons out at Joshua Tree National Park in California. First Aid Kit is out now on Witchita Records. Grab a vinyl copy here.
Emmylou
First Aid Kit (SWE)
From the album, 'The Lions Roar', Witchita Records.
Today marks the release date of the impressive second album Extinctions by Finnish duo Burning Hearts, our feature album all this week. Sporting nine tracks including last year's outstanding 'Into The Wilderness', which came in at 8 in our 2011 Top 100 list, it marks further growth by the band both in terms of songwriting and production in comparison to the promising, yet somewhat lo-fi debut Aboa Sleeping released back in 2009. Jessika Rapo's spacious and uniquely warm vocals sit perfectly alongside Henry Ojala cautiously lush instrumentation and each track is marked by deliberately and carefully crafted pop structures where attention to detail is ever present but never overbearing. The title is telling lyrically with the first few lines of first track 'On The Last Day Of The Decade' paving the way for the wistful subject matter to follow. The second single 'Burn Burn Burn' has been made available as a free download and you can get that below. Extinctions is out now through Solina in Europe/R.O.W. and Shelflife in North America on February 21 in all three formats (although the vinyl is limited) and is freely available through the web if you live elsewhere. Grab your copy at the links below.
1. On The Last Day Of The Decade 2. Into The Wilderness 3. Modern Times 4. Love And Dissonance 5. The Swallows 6. Burn Burn Burn 7. Trade Winds 8. The Beast 9. Deep Waters
After a series of promising EPs and assorted remixes over the past three years, Barcelona DJ/Producer John Talabot is set to kick off 2012 with next week's physical release of his awesome debut record, Fin. Already garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews for its blissful disposition and organically diverse nature, including a five star review from the often hard to impress Guardian, Fin is sure to already be a candidate for album of the year. Check out album closer and one of the two tracks Talabot collaborated on with fellow Spaniard Pional below and if you live in Australia get yourself along to the country's best indie music festival, The St Jerome's Laneway Festival over the next couple of weeks and catch one of the world's most vital house producers in action. The album is out now digitally and will see the light of day physically on February 7 in Europe/R.O.W and a week later in North America. Pre-order the album here.
Tracklist
1. Depak Ine 2. Destiny (feat. Pional) 3. El Oeste 4. Oro Y Sangre 5. Journeys (feat. Ekhi) 6. Missing You 7. Last Land 8. Estiu 9. When The Past Was Present 10. Horse 11. So Will Be Now (feat. Pional)
Swedish four piece Francis are set to follow up last year's debut album Lekomberg, We Were Kin with a noticeably diverse new EP later next month. Titled This Must Be Blood, it continues the band's foray into pop/rock and their move away from their folk and blues based beginnings. This is no better evidenced by the first single from the release, the melodic and catchy 'Traktor'. Marked by the strong, distinctive vocals of Petra Mases, the delay based guitar of Jerker Henriksson and the muscular rhythm section of Tim Grundtman and Petter Nygardh, the track is certain to push for an early spot on our chart in a couple of weeks. What is impressive though is the other four tracks on the EP take on a life of their own and the single is a little misleading as representative of the recording as a whole. This Must Be Blood is out on February 27 through Strangers Candy and Playground but meanwhile you can enjoy the first single as a free download below.
Tracklist
1. Creek Of Lonesome Town 2. Traktor 3. This Must Be Blood 4. Birds Down South 5. By This Dirty Old View
Traktor
Francis (SWE)
From the forthcoming EP, 'This Must Be Blood', Strangers Candy/Playground.
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