I Break Horses - Chiaroscuro [12", LP]

CHIAROSCURO, the second album by I BREAK HORSES, came out in January this year. Two and half years after their debut Hearts, which was one of my favourite albums of 2011. And i must say that this one also has become one of my favourites of this year. Not sure if it will end up in my Top 10 of 2014, but i've still got some weeks to think about that. Compared to Hearts, it's just as electronic - but on the other hand sounds ten times more electronic. Any connections with shoegaze like they had in the past have disappeared, however Medicine Brush would come close to dreampop if it wasn't for the beats and elecronica. A grower, this album. Put on your headphones and let it get under your skin.

Label: Bella Union
Cat.nr.: BELLAV428
Year of release: 2014

SIDE A:
01. You Burn
02. Faith
03. Ascension
04. Denial
05. Berceuse

SIDE B:
01. Medicine Brush
02. Disclosure
03. Weigh True Words
04. Heart To Know

The Flaming Lips - The Terror [12", 2LP, Bonus 7"]

After releasing The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends last year, THE FLAMING LIPS decided that this year the time was right to release a new album completely on their own. The result is just great. Weird and psychedelic as ever. It's even so that THE TERROR has become one of my favourite Flaming Lips albums ever. It took a while to grow on me, but songs like Try To Explain and Be Free... A Way are among the best the band has ever done. The vinyl edition has one track extra compared to the CD (We Don't Control The Controls, which fills the whole D-side) and there's a bonus 7" as well, with an extra track and a Beatles cover. Together with the beautiful shiny cover artwork it makes a really nice package.

Label: Bella Union
Cat.nr.: LP388
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Look The Sun Is Rising
02. Be Free... A Way
03. Try To Explain

SIDE B:
01. You Lust
02. The Terrror

SIDE C:
01. You Are Alone
02. Butterfly, How Long It Takes To Die
03. Turning Violent
04. Always There In Our Hearts

SIDE D:
01. We Don't Control The Controls
mashed-the-fuck-up-remix
Dan Deacon and Electric Worms insight violence

Label: Bella Union
Cat.nr.: BU7666
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Sun Blows Up Today

SIDE B:
01. All You Need Is Love

The Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends [12", 2LP]

Originally released on vinyl for Record Store Day 2012, THE FLAMING LIPS AND HEADY FWENDS got a regular vinyl release later this year in the autumn. Although not looking really regular, as it is a fine piece of art, both the artwork and the vinyls themselves. The album contains collaborations between The Flaming Lips and various artists such as Bon Iver, Neon Indian, Nick Cave, Tame Impala and even Erykah Badu. Every side of this 2LP ends with an "eternal groove", that goes on and on and on if you don't turn it off yourself. Have never seen the original RSD version so i wouldn't know for the artwork, but there's at least one difference when it comes to the music on the album: the song I Don't Want You To Die, with Chris Martin, is replaced by Tasered And Maced with Aaron Behrens. That song had also been replacing it on the CD and digital version already, which came out in June. Not a fan of mr. Martin so i couldn't care less to be honest.


Label: Bella Union
Cat.nr.: BELLAV351
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. 2012 (You Must Be Upgraded) (featuring Ke$ha, Biz Markie & Hour Of The Time Majesty 12)
02. Ashes In The Air (featuring Bon Iver)
03. Helping The Retarded To Know God (featuring Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

SIDE B:
01. Supermoon Made Me Want To Pee (featuring Prefuse 73)
02. Children Of The Moon (featuring Tame Impala)
03. That Ain't My Trip (featuring Jim James of My Morning Jacket)
04. You, Man? Human??? (featuring Nick Cave)

SIDE C:
01. I'm Working At NASA On Acid (featuring Lightning Bolt)
02. Do It! (featuring Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band)
03. Is David Bowie Dying? (featuring Neon Indian)

SIDE D:
01. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (featuring Erykah Badu)
02. Girl, You're So Weird (featurning New Fumes)
03. Tasered And Maced (featuring Aaron Behrens of Ghostland Observatory)
                                                  

I Break Horses - Hearts [12", LP]

This debut album HEARTS by I BREAK HORSES was released at the end of summer last year and is one of my favourite albums of 2011. This Swedish band (a duo actually; Maria Lindén and Fredrik Balck) came up with a great album filled with electronic shoegaze/dreampop/chillwave. Some songs remind me a bit of Cocteau Twins; undefinable vocals over dreamy soundscapes. But then most of the times with a solid electronic beat. Great stuff and i hope there'll be more coming out from them soon.

Label: Bella Union
Cat.nr.: BELLAV 289
Year of release: 2011

SIDE A:
01. Winter Beats
02. Hearts
03. Wired
04. I Kill Your Love, Baby!

SIDE B:
01. Pulse
02. Cancer
03. Load Your Eyes
04. Empty Bottles
05. No Way Outro