Austra - Olympia [12", 2LP]

When this second AUSTRA album came out, i didn't really know if i liked it or not. At first listen, it missed instant hits like her first album Feel It Break had (Lose It, Beat And The Pulse, Spellwork). But OLYMPIA grew on me, and at this moment i've come to the point that i like it at least just as much as her debut. It might even end up in my album top 10 list of this year, for that matter.

Label: Domino
Cat.nr.: WIGLP 314
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. What We Done?
02. Forgive Me
03. Painful Like

SIDE B:
01. Sleep
02. Home
03. Fire

SIDE C:
01. I Don't Care (I'm A Man)
02. We Become
03. Reconcile

SIDE D:
01. Annie (Oh Muse, You)
02. You Changed My Life
03. Hurt Me Now

Austra + Gina X - Mayan Drums [12"]

This laidback song was released as a 12" for Record Store Day this year, and as far as i know it will not appear on AUSTRA's upcoming new album Olympia. It's a collaboration with legendary German electro/wave icon GINA X (and perhaps more importantly Zeus B. Held - look him up on Wikipedia if you don't know him). It doesn't say on the release but i've been thinking that MAYAN DRUMS might refer just as much to Austra's drummer Maya Postepski than to the actual Maya indians.
There are 5 versions besides the original on this 12", and Zeus B. Held's Voice Versa Remix is the one i like the most. Extremely limited release by the way: only 500 copies were made worldwide.

Label: Domino
Cat.nr.: RUG522T
Year of release: 2013

SIDE A:
01. Mayan Drums (Original)
02. Mayan Drums (Instrumental)
03. Mayan Drums (Vocal)

SIDE B:
01. Mayan Drums (Zeus B. Held Voice Versa Remix)
02. Mayan Drums (Doldrums Remix)
03. Mayan Drums (Hervé Retro Dark Dub)

Austra - Sparkle [12"]

The SPARKLE EP by AUSTRA features 6 remixes from songs from the band's debut album Feel It Break. Nice stuff for the dancefloor; especially the Still Going and Steffi Bass-Break Dub remixes of Beat And The Pulse are really good. There's a download card included for these 6 tracks + 4 other remixes, all of the song Lose It.


Label: Domino
Cat.nr.: DNO938
Year of release: 2011

SIDE A:
01. Spellwork (MNDR Nighttime Remix)                                                   
02. Lose It (Mark Pistel Dub Remix) 
03. Lose It (PlanningToRock Remix)

SIDE B:
01. Beat And The Pulse (Still Going Remix)                                                   
02. Beat And The Pulse (Steffi Bass-Break Dub Remix)                                                   
03. Beat And The Pulse (Kool Thing Remix)                                                   

                                                 

Austra - Feel It Break [12", 2LP]

This debut album by AUSTRA was one of my favourites from 2011. FEEL IT BREAK is packed with nice electro-goth songs. Icy vocals, warm & fuzzy synths. Fever Ray meets Giorgio Moroder meets Ladytron meets Bat For Lashes; something like that. And quite a good live band as well.

Label: Domino
Cat.nr.: WIGLP270
Year of release: 2011

SIDE A:
01. Darken Her Horse
02. Lose It
03. The Future

SIDE B:
01. Beat And The Pulse
02. Spellwork

SIDE C:
01. The Choke
02. Hate Crime
03. The Villain

SIDE D:
01. Shoot The Water
02. The Noise
03. The Beast