The Room – Restless Fate (album release)

After a lengthy hiatus, Liverpool post-punk / indie rock stalwarts The Room are back to release the first new music recorded in 38 years. Originally formed in 1979 by singer Dave Jackson and bassist Becky Stringer, their new album Restless Fate was recorded and mixed at Ark Studios in Liverpool and co-produced by Steve Powell (Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band, Autour De Lucie, Echo & The Bunnymen). The Album is out today on 9×9 Records. Restless Fate picks up where the band left off. At times shimmering, at times haunting, their melodic blend of progressive, alternative pop and sultry post-punk is just as relevant and captivating now as when they broke up in 1985. An exploration of man’s search for meaning and the dysfunction of the human condition, there is still a relentless optimism at the core of this record.

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Hansan – Blod Eller Bläck (single release)

Hansan is a Swedish-German duo consisting of Swedish folk/Americana artist Sofia Talvik (who recently charted with her single Too Many Churches on folk radio U.S., and German cello genius David Floer. Together they create beautiful New Acoustic music under the name Hansan (derived from the Swedish word for the Hanseatic league, a trade union between Sweden and Germany originating in the 12th century). Their debut album Nattflykt was out in 2020 and all the songs are self-composed, inspired by everything from Jazz to old traditional folk songs.
Hansan draw inspiration from the raging seas and the Swedish magical forests, but also covers more difficult subjects such as the me-too movement (Hej Då), immigration (Sjung Min Lilla Näktergal) and break-up and independence (Du Du Du). A new album, Blod Eller Bläckwill be out on February 14th on Makaki Music.

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The Declining Winter – Really Early, Really Late (single premiere)

The Declining Winter is the band led by Richard Adams, the co-founder of the group Hood. Their sound is a unique blend of influences from lo-fi, electronica and post rock with a strong visual aesthetic inspired by the countryside of Yorkshire. Their debut single was The Future Sound of Hip Hop Parts 1 & 2 on Misplaced Music fifteen years ago. This was followed up by the debut album Goodbye Minnesota released by Rusted Rail in 2008 and, in 2009, by the mini album Haunt the Upper Hallways on Home Assembly Music. After a long period of silence, the band (now consisting solely of Richard Adams with various guests) returned in 2013 and 2014 with a couple of eps and a new album, Home For Lost Souls, in 2015, again on Home Assembly Music. Belmont Slope arrived three year later and, in 2021The Definition Glance 7″ appeared on Spanish indie label Acuarela followed by another single I Remember – the lead track featuring the words of poet Thomas Hood.

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fhae – love you (Premiere)

fhae is a Meanjin-based experimental DIY solo project created by Ellena Ramsay, in which they combine ambient acoustic guitar and gut wrenching vocals. The project was first established in early 2021 and their first EP Fruits and Vegies quickly followed that same year. Ellena uses creative bedroom production paired with abstract household and DIY recording equipment. 
Layered vocals and melancholic harmonies are employed to devastating effect as they venture through various concepts and delivery methods, as with their “gibberish album” — ehu ofepr which doesn’t adhere to any language guidelines.

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Mimi Parker: Amazing Grace

Francesco Amoroso per TRISTE©

“It’s so easy to laugh/ it’ so easy to “It’s so easy to laugh
It’s so easy to hate
It takes guts to be gentle and kind
“

Oggi non c’è spazio per parlare delle novità discografiche, per esaltare le ultime uscite o per raccontare di qualche canzone o album che mi appassiona o mi ha appassionato.
Oggi, nel mio cuore, c’è spazio solo per Mimi (e per Alan e per i loro figli).
Per Mimi Parker che era nata cinquantacinque anni fa in Minnesota e che, da allora, con il suo modo di essere schivo e gentile, è riuscita ad arrivare dritta al centro delle nostre anime, che ora si scoprono straziate, non senza un po’ di pudore e imbarazzo.
Pudore e imbarazzo perché nessuno di noi conosceva davvero Mimi Parker e sentirci in diritto di essere tristi, distrutti, devastati, sembra un’arroganza, un’invasione della privacy e un’offesa al dolore altrui.
Eppure non poss(iam)o che esserlo.
Distrutti. Devastati. Con un buco al centro del petto, con un senso di vuoto che non sarà facile colmare tanto in fretta.

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