November 2015
Teeth of The Sea– ‘Highly Deadly Black Tarantula’, Rocket Recordings
Subheim– ‘Foray’, Denovali Records
Mueran Humanos– ‘Miseress’, ATP Recordings
The Empath– ‘Trackology’, Hymen Records
November Növelet– ‘The World In Devotion’, Galakthorrö
El Vy– ‘Return To The Moon’, 4AD
Les Jumeaux Discordants– ‘Les Chimères’, Athanor
Traams– ‘Modern Dancing’, FatCat Records
We had an idea about how overwhelming 2016 would be but the news keep coming and the year that has just started with some sad and devastating news, seems to be very promising on the front of album releases and gigs! I will start by order of the oldest musician.
Barry Adamson announces new album and show at Islington Assembly Hall on March 3, 2016.
Album title: Know Where To Run
Release Date:February 19, 2016
Tracklist: 1. In Other Worlds/2.Cine City/3. Come Away/4.Hit Man Baby/5.Texas Crash/6. Claw And Wing/7. Mr Greed/8. Up In The Air/9. Death Takes A Holiday/10. Evil Kind
Four years have passed since Barry Adamson last appeared on stage of Queen Elizabeth Hall carrying two white maracas on his hands (he introduced them to us as ‘Dave’ and ‘Henry’). On January of that same year, 2012, the album ‘I Will Set You Free’ was released. This was an album that was moving in soul and funky rhythms with a few rock twists here and there .The sound of ‘I Will Set You Free’ was miles away from ‘Moss Side Story’, aesthetically different from ‘The King of Nothing Hill’ and closer to ‘Back To The Cat’. Barry Adamson is a multifarious artist who, apart from music, has written, directed and scored a number of short films.Central Control International is the label that Barry Adamson has set up and through which he releases his music since 2006. Music that comes from a man like him, involved in many other artistic disciplines, is never a familiar kind of sound but always one that takes us to other dimensions or even shows us ‘the least travelled path’ in our familiar dimensions. Early in 2015 Barry Adamson announced that he was working on yet another ‘more commercial‘ undertaking which will culminate in the release of his 10th solo album entitled ‘Know Where To Run’ on February 19, 2016. (more…)
What a better place to remember all the feelings, thoughts and moods that the music of the year that ended has created, than the place where I was NOT planning to make up my New Year’s Resolutions! 2015 was a year where I was making decisions at the last minute (this is not like me by the way). It was a year where I was pleasantly ‘shaken up’ by rhythms and melodies. During 2015 I attended the worst gig and the worst theatrical performance of my life. Somebody pointed out to me that everything happens for a reason and this was where I immediately thought that these worst performances defined the worst standard for any spectacle! 2015 was a tough year worldwide and this is perhaps the reason that so much good music was created. Blauerosen listened to 187 albums attentively and went to as many gigs as it was humanely possible. 2016 has already given us a taste of what comes next and we can only promise you that we will be listening every release that triggers our interest in any way. Be creative, Be positive, Be true to yourselves and listen to music that inspires you!
Have a great 2016!
This was the soundtrack of Blauerosen in 2015!
Tindersticks- ‘The Waiting Room’
Release Date: January 22, 2015, City Slang
1.Follow Me/2. Second Chance Man/3. Were We Once Lovers?/4. Help Yourself/5.Hey Lucinda/ 6.Fear Of Emptiness/7.How We Entered/8. The Waiting Room/9. Planting Holes/10.We Are Dreamers/11.Like Only Lovers Can
Tindersticks, formed in 1991 at Nottingham and gave another form to the country/folk inspired music of their predecessor band called Asphalt Ribbons. Tindersticks has been a favourite band of mine since 1993 which saw the release of the debut album entitled ‘The First Tindersticks album’. 10 albums and 23 years later, there hasn’t been a release that didn’t leave a strong emotional imprint on me. Deviating strongly from the music trends during the 1990s, taking inspiration from soul music which they rendered much more attractive and melodic by also using as a guide the unique baritone voice of Stuart Sadler, Tindersticks have composed music for films (i.e. ‘Nénette et Boni’, ‘Les Salauds’) as well as 10 albums using a multitude of instruments. The band which undertakes the writing, arrangement and production of their albums, has occasionally offered live shows with a full orchestra. So far ’Curtains’ has been the only album that I have listened to so many times that I’ve lost count. In 2016 Tindersticks will be performing live at the Barbican on April 29, 2016 as part of their extensive tour in the UK and abroad following the release of their 11th studio album entitled ‘The Waiting Room’. Having built a reputation for the composition and unique singing style of melancholic melodies of ‘hard to surpass’ beauty Tindersticks seem to have at their ‘palette’ all the colours of melancholy. In each song they can display the thick dark ones of melancholy with the lighter consolating paler tones of it as well.
‘The Waiting Room’ or else ‘The Waiting Room film project’ will be one of the most ambitious albums by the band so far, as each song on the album will be accompanied by a short film, and toured with a series of cine-film events.This album is the result of a collaboration between the band, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and its chief Calmin Borel. Specific filmmakers were approached with the aim of interpreting a different song from the album. This results in a varied collection of styles and techniques that are a perfect foil to Staples’ intimate relationship with the songs. The band has often collaborated with guest musicians some of whom have provided vocals in previous albums, such as Carla Torgerson by the Walkabouts who sang in ‘Travelling Lights’. The album ‘The Waiting Room’ features guest appearances by Jehnny Beth by the Savages a.k.a Camille Berthomier and a duet of Stuart Sadler with his lost friend, the American singer songwriter Lhasa de Sela in the song ‘Hey Lucinda‘ . This album marks a great start of the year and we will bring you more details about it soon!
Sauropod- ‘Roaring at the Storm’
Release Date: January 22, 2015, Riot Factory
1. You And Me Should Leave Together Tonight/2. Winter Song/3.Sunny Day/4. Hausmania/5. Running Song/6. (I’ve Been) Bad On Emma/7.Headphones/8. Fugue/9. Edge of a Cloud/10.Your Line is Divine /11. On The Hill
Norway is a region of the world with a long and rich tradition in heavy, folk and metal music. At the moment there are many bands covering very different music genres from electronica, to pop and punk and the music map is getting more colourful with emotions and sounds.Sauropod a.k.a Jonas Røyeng (guitar, vocals), Kamillia Waal Larsen (bass, vocals) and Jørgen Natland Apeness (drums) is a band that is based in Oslo and whose name is taken by a herbivorous saurichian dinosaur that had very long necks and tails, very small heads and four thick legs. As a result of their explosive energy of the band on stage, Sauropod has built a reputation and a devoted fan base which lead to their inclusion at this year’s Øya festival.With evident influences from grunge and punk sounds and an explosive performing style, the band has released ‘Winter song’ and ‘Headphones’ the first two singles from their upcoming debut album which will be entitled ‘Roaring at the storm’ and is expected to be released on January 22, 2016 from Riot Factory. Judging by these two singles we can expect the album to actually be a sonic ‘roar at the storm’. ‘Winter song’ with Jonas Røyeng at the vocals starts by juxtaposing harsh guitars and grunge rhythms with smoother almost pop melodies which are then giving way to revolting almost protesting vocals which are being replaced/accompanied by guitar trembles (after 2’.05’’) usually associated with black metal music. These alterations to both the vocal tones and the rhythms, are happening discreetly but with a quality that recreates the feeling of entering a labyrinth and encountering a new setting after each turn. Equally interesting, ‘Headphones’, with Kamillia Waal Larsen at the vocals, has more evident punk influences with the added element of harsh guitars at the background. When I listen to this song Amanda Palmer comes to mind. This band’s sound seems to have found a place in between genres, creating a rich and unique sound. We are waiting impatiently for the release of the full length album!
HANTE- ‘This fog that never ends’
Release Date: January 12, 2015
HANTE a.k.a Hélène de Thoury the second half and the of Minuit Machine has released her debut album entitled ‘Her Rise And Fall’ in 2014 through Stellar Kinematics. Focusing on cold wave sounds and synth melodies, HANTE is a captivating performer on and off stage. I had the chance to see Minuit Machine perform live at this year’s WGT at Stadthalle where I was able to confirm and be amazed by, the emotional strength, conviction and darkness that HANTE’s voice emits when she performed some of her own songs. HANTE, has a bass, mezzo voice which creates an atmosphere much more ‘grounded’ and severe than the average cold wave band and this is the quality that differentiates the sound of her music and of Minuit Machine from the other bands of their kind. The second album by HANTE will be entitled ‘This Fog That Never Ends’ and is expected to be released on January 12 and will be followed by an extensive European tour before HANTE moves to Canada, as she recently announced through her facebook page. Below is a summary of what HANTE has said about the new album so far. We will be waiting impatiently for this album and we’ll bring you more news about it very soon.
‘’I know the title doesn’t sound very optimistic and even seems fatalistic. But I hope that on the contrary, It will help you to deal with the fears that prevent us from moving forward, the fear of living, the fear of dying, the fear of trusting someone and being broken. The album talks about this fog that surrounds us everyday and never disappears, this fog we’re used to live with and is easier to tame than to fight… one song is featuring my dear friend Box von Düe, the amazing singer of Box and the twins! ‘’
Blaue Rosen 
“I was longing to be wooed,I was ready to be humble…“ (lyrics from the song: “Long Strange Golden Road“)
Irish rock’n roll music combined with the Scottish temperament and kindness, swirls around celtic music, hints at country, rock’n roll and Americana, echoes at gospel and rock ballads, bursts with emotional and spiritual wisdom and ultimately takes the form of a revolting performance!
“I was in love with Ireland. Everyday was a new adventure, it was mythical…“ (Mike Scott extract from an interview)
The Waterboys somehow represent the imaginary soundtrack of the travels of a Scotsman who looks at Native American, Irish and celtic music tradition, loves the music of the American South. Mike Scott, is the driving force behind the band and an expressive performer throughout the years. He is a singer that sometimes emits the calmness of a wise person and at other times the explosiveness of a rebel. He has spent a long time at a spiritual community in Scotland, is living in Dublin and has also lived in New York. With all these elements in his heart and mind, and with his guts and his heart as a guide to his art, it is no wonder Mike Scott composes original music that contains elements from many music traditions and styles, jazz, rock’ n roll, Americana, country to name just a few. The music of The Waterboys transcends and advances all of their primary sources of influence since 1983 and the lyrics are sung with honesty and empathy about the stories that they narrate. Like all the long journeys, this one has been accompanied by carefully selected books which talk about Pan, poetry and spirituality which is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to shape a creative world view.
August 2015
Cold Showers– ‘Matter of Choice’, Dais Records
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas– ‘Autoimaginary’, Drag City
Mouse on The Keys– ‘The Flowers of romance’, Mule Musiq
Tapage– ‘Five&Six’, Tympanik Audio
Autobahn– ‘Dissemble’, Tough Love Records
The Fratellis– ‘Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied’, Cooking Vinyl
Chelsea Wolfe– ‘Abyss’,Sargent House
Zachary Cale– ‘Duskland’,No Quarter
Pleasure Leftists– ‘The Woods Of Heaven’,Deranged Records
Deradoorian– ‘The Expanding Flower Planet’,Anticon
Beach House– ‘Depression Cherry’,Sub Pop
Ecstasphere– ‘Carnival of Catharsis’,Raumklang Music
Treha Sektori, RM74,Barst– ‘Tri Muerti’,Counsouling Sounds
Tigercub– ‘Meet Tigercub’,P-Vine Records
Psych Fuck
(or else “The Tower of Foronicity” part two as Henrik Björnsson has recently stated during an interview)
Release Date: October 13, 2015 Fuzz Club Records
A fascination for the occult, an aspiration for the creation of art without intermediaries, a preference for darkness, noise and bleakness and a fondness for the 1990s experimental movie with the same title directed by Nikos Nikolaedes. This is Singapore Sling, the band which is based in Reykjavik and was founded by Henrik Björnsson . I was first introduced to the music of Singapore Sling a.k.a Einar Þór Kristjánsson, Hákon Aðalsteinsson, Helgi Örn Pétursson and Iggi Sniff, through a web radio show (a great source from which to learn about new bands).
“…when nobody was doing what I wanted to hear I decided to do it myself instead of complaining…seeing and hearing garbage made me want to do the opposite…“ (Henrik Björnsson, extract from interview)
Violent Rains
1. June 7/2.Battles/3.Everlasting/4. Black Is My Anger/5. Relapse/6. Inner Self/7. The Earth/8.Honey/9.Famous or Dead/10. She Devil (2015 remix)
Release Date: October 9, 2015 No Emb Blanc Records
We first not
iced them in 2014 through their debut album entitled ‘Live & Destroy’, songs from which we listened to clubs. Earlier this year we also had the chance to enjoy their live performance during the 24th Wave Gotik Treffen at the stage of Stadtbad. Minuit Machine a.k.a Amandine Stioui and Hélène De Thoury, take inspiration from the minimal electronic and cold wave scenes and offer music with sensitivity, strong lyrics and danceable rhythms in the synthesizer.
‘Can’t you see you broke my bones
You failed me hard
You let me down…‘
If making a sonic potion was ever a witch’s intention, then she would definitely have given it the name ‘Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat’! You wonder what this potion would be made of? Let me enlighten you…It would contain the following ‘ingredients’ : the themes sang passionately by David Tibet of Current 93,the ritual and repetitive aspect of religious music worldwide, elements from country music, the atmosphere of the music of indigenous people all entwined with the attitude towards the world and its affairs that is characteristic of punk.
Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat, a.k.a Stef Heeren, Matthias Debusshere and Rik de Maré, is a band that takes its name from a phrase that was used during the trials of the Templar Knights in France on 1308 in order to accuse them of being heretics and committing black magic! One of the plenty accusations during these trials, was that Templar knights worshipped an idol made of a cat which had a head with three faces. Many other accusations were added to this one but according to historians, none of these idols were ever produced.
Taking into account that ‘Kiss the anus of a black cat’ is a phrase that has been synonymous with ‘heresy’ since 1308, Stef Heeren couldn’t have chosen a more fitting name than K.T.A.O.A.B.C (abbreviation for Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat) for his band that perceives itself as a heretic organism. Through this band Stef Heeren is giving a music form to his many influences (among which are the ethics of anarchism).
Grau im Licht
1.Sinferno/2.Endless nights/3.Ikarus/4.Krank/5. Die my phobia/6. Grau im Licht/7. SinnFlut/8. HomeSick/9. Schuldig!/10.the Hunted/11. mitGift/12.Schwarz
Release Date: October 16, 2015 Accession Records
Just a year ago Diary Of Dreams released ‘Elegies In Darkness’ an album that made reference to favourite songs from almost all the previous releases of the band. If someone would like to describe darkwave genre, then the music of Diary Of Dreams should definitely be the starting point. The previous album was full with all the elements that define the sound and the character of this band. Motivating danceable electro rhythms and vocals that are making a statement about confidence, 
determination and dynamism. Industrial aesthetics, carefully placed melodies within each song and an atmosphere that brings to mind the soundtrack of war and battle scenes in adventure movies. Adrian Hates is breathing life into all these elements in such a convincing and engaging manner that after listening to each album by the band, one feels stronger as a person!
The artwork of all of the band’s albums has made such an impact that it has acquired the same importance as the titles of these albums. It is safe to say that even is one couldn’t remember the title of an album he/she would definitely remember the album’s cover! I have seen the band perform live many times in Germany, in Greece and in London and I always found it interesting when the make up on stage, was (most of the times) transferring to the audience some of the aesthetics of the albums’ covers.