Nothing - Downward Years To Come EP [12"]

A couple of days ago i wrote about the Dreampunx album by Anne. It was released on the same label as this DOWNWARD YEARS TO COME EP by the band NOTHING: the hardcore/metal label A389 Recordings. As far as i understood from their bio on the website of Relapse Records, to which they recently signed, Nothing's main man used to be in a hardcore band called Horror Show. That could explain the fact that this release is on a typical hardcore label, because otherwise (just like Anne) Nothing's music has nothing to do with hardcore nor metal. It's pure shoegaze. Signing to (extreme metal label) Relapse for their upcoming full length is for that matter also a very interesting fact. This particular EP was released in 3 versions (a black, white, and clear vinyl edition) for Black Friday in 2012. As you can see, i have the clear version. It contains 5 tracks, of which the title track is the best one i think. As far as i'm concerned, Nothing's sound can best be described as some kind of mix between Starflyer 59 and A Place To Bury Strangers, with the obvious bit of My Bloody Valentine added as well. Excellent stuff, and i look forward to hear their full length when it comes out early 2014.

Label: A389 Recordings
Cat.nr.: A389-112
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. The Dives
02. Downward Years To Come
03. Mine Is Clouds
04. If Only

SIDE B:
01. The Rites Of Love And Death

Tomahawk - Stone Letter [7"]

It has been a bit quiet around TOMAHAWK, the band that features Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantômas, Mr. Bungle), John Stanier (Helmet, Battles), Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard) and Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle). Their last album was from 2007 so that's 5 years already. But here's a sign of life: for Black Friday 2012 they've released this one-sided 7" single of the song STONE LETTER, which will be featured on their upcoming album Oddfellows (scheduled for January 2013). Curious to hear that album, as this single is pretty darn good. Like said it's one-sided; the B-side is etched.

Label: Ipecac
Cat.nr.: IPC 141
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Stone Letter

SIDE B:
etching

Asobi Seksu / Boris - Split EP [7"]

This limited split 7" by ASOBI SEKSU and fellow-Japanese BORIS was released for Black Friday 2012. Only 1000 copies were made, and the special thing about this release is that both bands cover eachother's song. Farewell (in its original form a great shoegaze/post-metal song on the Pink album by Boris) is turned into a really nice electronic dreampop tune by Asobi Seksu. But my favourite of the two is Neu Years (originally on the Citrus album by Asobi Seksu, where it was called New Years) performed by Boris. They stay pretty close to the original; maybe that's why i like it that much, as it's one of my favourite Asobi Seksu tunes.

Label: Polyvinyl / Sargent House
Cat.nr.: PRC SH 001
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. ASOBI SEKSU - Farewell

SIDE B:
01. BORIS - Neu Years

M83 - Reunion Remixes [12"]

Didn't buy many Black Friday releases this year but this was one of them: a remix EP for the REUNION track by M83. It contains four remixes; not all of them equally good, i'd have to say. Don't like the Mylo remix very much for example. Too uptempo and stressed for me. The Sei A remix is a decent tech house tune that will do great in clubs, but my favourite by far is the Naked And Famous remix. It slowly builds up to a climax with some distorted synths that make you wonder if your speakers are still OK. The Polly Scattergood remix starts off properly, before some oldschool hiphop bassline takes over and spoils the rest of the tune. As far as i'm concerned the weakest link here. But overall, a nice EP.


Label: Mute
Cat.nr.: 9548-0
Year of release: 2012

SIDE A:
01. Reunion (Mylo Remix)
02. Reunion (Sei A Remix)

SIDE B:
01. Reunion (The Naked And Famous Remix)
02. Reunion (Polly Scatterhood Remix)