Would you love me through the winter?

I once posted a Nick Drake album, perhaps as early as 2008. The "Nick Drake Estate" Bryter Music kindly asked me (they did, they were ever so polite) if I could please remove it and I complied; I'm not a bad sort.

But dammit, this blog is not complete without Nick. He was a beautiful being and I recognise a lot of myself in him (minus the talent and creativity, and he was also rather more handsome than me). His music is exquisitely beautiful and fueled by a pain that proved sadly genuine.

I want to post the one track for you. Just the one, and hope nobody notices. I sincerely hope you get as much out of it as I frequently have. If you enjoy sad music, and I mean really sad enough to make you cry then please, please, please take this song, there is no better. After hearing it hundreds of times it still works for me. In fact, if you can't cry to this you were probably the school bully, and spent your free hours setting cats on fire.

This song's for Chief Commies, curly-haired Imprint journalists, blonde Swedes that think the party is always right, their girlfriends who decidedly don't, and YOU.

Northern Sky

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky.

I've been a long time that I'm waiting
Been a long time that I'm blown
I've been a long time that I've wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind's eye.

Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me 'til I'm dead
Oh, if you would and you could
Come blow your horn on high.

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky.

Jim Croce - You Don't Mess around with Jim

Genre(s) - Folk, singer-songwriter
Origin - Philadelphia, USA
Year of release - 1972
Bitrate - 128 kbps
Size - 29.65 MB

Here's a guy that my mum introduced me to only about a month or two or so ago: Jim Croce. A big man with a big moustache, who could have led the big life if he hadn't died in a plane crash together with his friend and second guitarist Maury Muehleisen, ahead of garnering most of his success. He was a gifted singer-songwriter and guitarist known for simple, natural-flowing songs that speak to your heart and lift you up in quick succession. I believe he was a man from the country, not the city, and seems to me like one of the most normal, down-to-earth people ever to grace the music business. My favourite track is Operator, but it's a very charming, chilled out album altogether that's finished before you know or want it.

1. You don't mess around with Jim
2. Tomorrow's gonna be a brighter day
3. New York's not my home
4. Hard time losin' man
5. Photographs and memories
6. Walkin' back to Georgia
7. Operator (that's not the way it feels)
8. Time in a bottle
9. Rapid Roy (the stock car boy)
10. Box #10
11. A long time ago
12. Hey tomorrow
    

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The Smiths - Thank Your Lucky Stars

Genre(s) - Smiths music
Origin - Manchester, North West England, UK
Year of release - Nope.
Bitrate - 160 bkps
Size - 82.22 MB

Sooooo... The Smiths. Well, I like 'em. Here's a bootleg, recorded at 28-08-1986 at Irvine Meadows, Laguna Hills, Ca. This is a very good concert and exceptionally good recording, for an unofficial one. It has some of my favourite tracks from The Queen is Dead including Cemetary Gates, The Boy and - yes! - There Is a Light, and what may or may not be a funky instrumental Cyndi Lauper cover. If you like Rank, well, I think this one just a little better (all opinions I read agree with me), but that is of course personal. Morrissey is not as savage here but the tracklist suits me fine, and occasionally the band puts some over-enthusiastic security personell back in place. Who couldn't excuse the crowd for being a bit tempestuous, I mean, it IS the Moz on that stage. If you find this review a bit understated it is because I am too enthusiastic about The Smiths to properly put into words. Rest assured this comes preposterously, obsessively, unhealthily recommended.

1. Please, please, please let me get what I want
2. Still ill
3. I want the one I can't have
4. There is a light that never goes out
5. How soon is now?
6. Frankly, mr. Shankly
7. Panic
8. Stretch out and wait
9. The boy with the thorn in his side
10. Is is really so strange?
11. Cemetary gates
12. Never had no one ever
13. What she said/Rubber ring
14. That joke isn't funny anymore
15. Heaven knows I'm miserable now
16. The queen is dead
17. Money changes everything
18. I know it's over
    

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Miserere Luminis - Miserere luminis

Genre(s) - Black metal
Origin - Québec, Canada
Year of release - 2009
Bitrate - 320 kbps

I haven't come across this on any blog yet - but not actively scoured the hundreds of thousands of BM blogs for it either - and it took me very long to find it on soulseek, but it proved its worth. I was so anxious to hear it because it features both members of Gris, who weren't featured on the first post of this blog for nothing. Third member is Annatar from Sombres Forêts whom I've never liked so much. But with two against one luckily the Gris faction had a bit more to say about the direction for Miserere Luminis and you can hear that from the deep atmosphere, which is more than simply depressive; there lurks something very unhinged and perverse at the heart that not a lot of bands can convey. It is less focused on neoclassical segments or use of grand piano, but it is equally subtly unruly, in the sense that there is usually some aspect of the music that doesn't quite do what you are expecting, and as such enhances the alien-ness and wonder of the music. Take the weird drums patterns in Ciel Tragique, which immediately drew and held on to my notoriously fickle attention. It's this kind of thing that made sure that after almost eight years of exploring this style, and after many other new musical genres in my life, entirely different friends, and a whole different outlook on the world, I have never once lost interest in the majestic art that black metal, if written and played with intelligence and sincere emotion, still can be!

The album is chopped in half due to its size. If you enjoy this, take the Gris album as well or I will hate you forever.

1. Cineris
2. Le mal des siècles
3. Ciel tragique
4. IV
5. Birth of new ages
6. The mist
7. Senectus
8. Miserere luminis
9. Exulcerare
   

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Part 2: Load it down (62.27 MB)

The Cavalcade - Meet you in the rain

Genre(s) - Indie pop
Origin - Northwestern England, UK
Year of release - 2009
Bitrate - 320 kbps
Size - 24.83 MB

I wanted to meet you in the rain/but you never showed/I've waited for most of the day/I hope that you know. This rather passive-aggressive end to a chorus line stands in shrill contrast to the sound of this delightful EP. On Meet You, The Cavalcade play calm, bittersweet little songs (generally a bit more bitter than sweet, but not begrudged at all) that are bound to conquer your thoughts and feelings, there is just no resistance. The jangly guitar and wonderfully imperfect vocals are the centerpoint but an important part of the musical experience is the chemistry between those and the limited keyboard touch-ups. It's over before you know it and you will most likely directly be tempted to listen to it again. Do it. It's no use fighting; surrender is not a choice, it's a given. Also warmly recommended to folkies.

The Cavalcade are signed to (among others) the wonderful Cloudberry Records with which I seem to share a lot of values in life.

1. Meet you in the rain
2. Voices
3. Rooftops & chaotic streets
4. This silent town
5. Nobody's child
   

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Black Sun Aeon - Darkness Walks beside Me

Genre(s) - Doom metal
Origin - Finland
Year of release - 2009
Bitrate - 128 kbps
Size - 39.90 MB

Black Sun Aeon are a young and hopeful new and quite melodic death-doom band and their first album definitely doesn't sound bad. They immediately reminded me of the Russian band The Morningside, who sounded more convincingly doomy and sorrowful at the first attempt than many lauded adept bands ever have. Though it could have been a bit slower and heavier, this kind of stuff is really my style, with grand, sweeping melodies in a warm tone, that succeed well in conveying the passion with which they are evidently played. Doom metal, every time you hear it it should really be a casual stroll on the path of no return. Black Sun Aeon knows this, and they are quite prepared to take you by the hand. Great effort, which leaves me wondering why this didn't end up in my list for 2009!

1. Chapter 1 (a song for the introduction)
   
2. Chapter 2 (a song for my wrath)
   
3. Chapter 3 (a song for my demise)
   
4. Chapter 4 (a song for my sorrow)
   
5. Chapter 5 (a song for my weakness)
   
6. Chapter 6 (a song for this winter)
   
7. Chapter 7 (a song for my illness)
   
8. Chapter 8 (a song for my funeral)
   
9. Chapter 9 (a song for the one who passed away 4.9.2008)
   

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A non-committal list of albums released in 2009 that I really enjoyed lots (now with pictures 'n shit)

picture also unrelated

Because you know, it's hard for me and a huge emotional confrontation to rank albums because it feels like they are living humans and I don't have the right to tell them that maybe some other album is better or more loved, it would cause lasting damage to their faith in humanity and I would feel really wretched if I did that.

Creature with the Atom Brain - Transylvania

Great and very groovy psychedelic rock that makes Belgium sound like the new San Francisco.
Probably posted shortly.

Martyrdöd - Sekt
Swedish blackened crust, gloriously driving, nihilistic monotony and filth.
Previous album posted here.

Geïst - Galeere
Nautical-themed atmo-black metal album that has been shockingly underrated.
Previous album posted here.

Antony and the Johnsons - The crying light
Unique voice, unique music. I would gladly give up gender certainty for such a voice.
Previous album posted here.

The Urgency - The urgency
Indie rock barely touching on punk energy, the result is criminally catchy.
Probably posted shortly.

Skagos - Ást
Sublime Canadian atmospheric black metal with apparently some left-wing sympathies.
Posted shortly.

Sólstafir - Köld
She destrooooooooys againnnnnnn!! As good as the previous album,
which you can find here.

Rome - Flowers from exile
Best neofolk-ish stuff I heard since Spiritual Front.
Posted in the longer term.

The Cavalcade - Meet you in the rain
Just a five-track twee folk EP but SO captivating!
Posted shortly.

Alcest & Les Discrets - Split
Fine appetiser, especially the Les Discrets part is amazing.
Earlier material by both here (LD), here and here (A).

Austere - To lay like old ashes
Visionary band daringly taking suicidal black metal into new territory.
Posted shortly.

The Exploding Boy - Afterglow
Anachronistic neo-postpunk goodness from Sverige.
Posted shortly.

Powerwolf - Bible of the beast
Campy yet strong power metal with superb vocals.
Earlier album will be posted shortly.

It May Never End - Such is life
Unknown Aussie group, but best post-rock album I've heard all year.
Posted in the longer term.

Der Blaue Reiter - Nuclear Sun
Intriguing, mysterious, distressing martial ambient.
May feature some time or another, or it may not.

VNV Nation - Of faith, power and glory
Once more with feeling: Great and thoughtful EBM/synthpop champions.
Earlier album posted here.

Panopticon - Collapse
Anarcho-black metal guru Lundr proves himself once more. Old gods, no masters! (?)
Posted here on a blog you should be visiting anyway.

Miserere Luminis - Miserere luminis
Collaboration between Gris and Sombres Forêts, luckily the Gris influences win out.
Gris album can be found here.

Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
"Amesoeurs is dead", not with a whimper, with a bang.
Demo and split here.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The pains of being pure at heart
They'll have you gazing at your shoes through tears of joyful misery.
The proof can be found here.

Sólstafir - Masterpiece of Bitterness

Genre(s) - (Post-)black metal
Origin - Iceland
Year of release - 2005
Bitrate - 128 kbps
Size - 62.78 MB

Iceland! There are many more black metal bands from there than its quickly dwindling number of inhabitants would warrant, but only a handful seem to be actually worth the effort of tracking them down. Sólstafir are one from the latter category, a progressive black metal band with a lot of influences from hardcore, sludge and post-rock. They come across as quite intellectual to me, yet not by far as elitist as most regular bands in the genre. Masterpiece of Bitterness strangely starts off with the main course, an oddly-titled twenty-minute long opus that almost (almost!) makes the rest of the album obsolete. It showcases some dazzlingly expansive atmospheres, made possible in large part by some seriously gnarly, indignantly groaning bass work offsetting the resounding glimmer of the guitars. It's a song, a real bitter masterpiece, in which you can really lose yourself for its entire duration and you may not even need drugs for it - though of course I generally recommend drug use to everybody.

1. I myself the visionary head
2. Nature strutter
3. Bloodsoaked velvet
4. Lux fare
5. Ghosts of light
6. Ritual of fire
7. Náttfari
   

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Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now

Genre(s) - Chamber pop
Origin - Ireland/UK
Year of release - 2005
Bitrate - 128 kbps
Size - 48.23 MB

I like to think all music I post is special for some reason or another, but here's a group that is really quite unlike anything else that I know. The Johnsons play some extremely timeless romantic music that sounds like it belongs in an exclusive nightclub somewhere in the twenties or thirties. The star of the show is the enigmatic Antony Hegarty, with his magical, lilting one-of-a-kind voice that just suits the music so wonderfully. He is also the one laying down the plaintive, desolate piano tones, the music's main ingredient, supported by an understated bass and drums combo and sometimes a bit of brass and violin, lifting for instance Fistful of Love up to be the album's high point. While the melodies themselves are not usually so sad, the music is clearly intended for lonely nights of wistful yearning more than to spice up a party with. Well, I've tested, and it works: there is some fine nightly yearning to be had with Bird Now on.

1. Hope there's someone
2. My lady story
3. For today I am a boy
4. Man is the baby
5. You are my sister
6. What can I do?
7. Fistful of love
8. Spiralling
9. Free at last
10. Bird gehrl
    

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Bedhead - Transaction de novo

Genre(s) - Slowcore/post-rock
Origin - Texas, USA
Year of release - 1998
Bitrate - 128 kbps
Size - 33.84 MB

The aptly titled band Bedhead were an indie rock band who created calm, drowsy, squeaky-clean music with three guitars and a bass, which sounds like it should be listened to after a long hot shower and just before laying down your tired body on the hard, stained but warmly inviting mattress. Throughout their career, their music took on more and more body, some degree of distortion, and intra-track progress and these slowcore-pioneers floated into post-rock territory at a more than leisurely pace. Even with Transaction de Novo, their final album, they still exhibit a rare and deliberate holding back, never falling for useless pomp. It makes Bedhead an excellent band to spend those warm last waking moments of your day on.

1. Exhume
2. More than ever
3. Parade
4. Half-thought
5. Extramundane
6. Forgetting
7. Lepidoptera
8. Psychosomatica
9. The present
   

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[Repost] Skambankt - Eliksir

Genre(s) - Punk, hard rock
Origin - Norway
Year of release - 2007
Bitrate - 320 kbps
Size - 86.22 MB

[Repost because I remembered that the RAR file of this one was corrupt, or the songs skipping or somesuch. Enjoy now, undamaged and in much higher bitrate. Despite my somewhat inane review this really is a punch in the face of glorious punk rock anthems with a sound and approach entirely Skambankt's own. Worth every punk enthusiast's attention.]

Still combining the sounds of old-school punk and old-school hardrock, this album is more in the direction of old-school hard punking rock rather than old-school hard rocking punk, as the previous, equally-awesome self-titled album could be classified. And all in Norwegian! Just think how awesome this world could have been if crappy BM bands like Gorgoroth, Burzum, Mayhem or Satyricon never started playing black metal but played punk instead! Indeed; it would have been super duper awesome! That's why you have to download this album.

1. Intro
2. Nok et offer
3. Dynasti
4. Stormkast #1
5. Tyster
6. Ordets gud
7. Min eliksir
8. Siste stikk
9. Fritt fall
10. Angst
11. Idyllillusionen
12. Bak låste dører
    

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Amorphis - Tales from the Thousand Lakes

Genre(s) - (kind of melodic doomy death??) - Metal!!
Origin - Finland
Year of release - 1994
Bitrate - 128 kbps
Size - 36.20 MB

What a weird release Thousand Lakes is. I don't know, but the mix sounds all weird, really hollow, and with synths whose tone can only be described as weird. Or is it just me? For some reason however, I've always held on to this album and I couldn't face my conscience if I were to say it was bad. It has a quite relaxed overall feeling, with many pleasant and classic melodies that captured a lot of people (at least I know here in Holland Amorphis were universally well-liked and highly esteemed, especially this album). Personal favourites are the threesome of First Doom, Black Winter Day and Drowned Maid, sporting the best harmonies. In constrast to most later work, it's all rather simple in construction (esp. the drums are extremely basic) and too neutral in mood for my tastes, but somehow this has that kind of charm that leaves few people unaffected. But yeah, it sounds kinda weird.

1. Thousand lakes
2. Into hiding
3. The castaway
4. First doom
   
5. Black winter day
6. Drowned maid
7. In the beginning
8. Forgotten sunrise
9. To father's cabin
10. Magic and mayhem
    

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