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that's punk » general rock http://thatspunk.net/blog scene love & unity forever! Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:17:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Vicious Mixtapes – EP http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/09/vicious-mixtapes-ep/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/09/vicious-mixtapes-ep/#comments Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:23:55 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=1882 all fans of upbeat and happy pop music will no doubt remember back when I posted Hit Factory (if you don’t – you might want to go download their EP a little further down). Vicious Mixtapes aren’t as grand-sounding. they take a little more floating and dreamy approach. it’s a tranquil and broad sound, sort of reminiscent of Incubus’ “Aqueous Transmission”. for fans of rock music with much pop appeal! get this.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/09/vicious-mixtapes-ep/feed/ 0 Cindy – The Influence http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/03/cindy-the-influence/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/03/cindy-the-influence/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:12:25 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=1013 Cindy are one of the many great bands from Narvik (Norway) that are either broken up or not situated in Narvik any more and performing under a different name. thankfully, this band isn’t among the broken up ones. they are alive and well under the new name The Hex. I have no idea what they are doing, but they told me that an album should be out this spring – so look out for that; I know I will. but anyway let’s talk about this 2006 release – The Influence – by Cindy. comparisons to other bands from Narvik like Cactus and Please Turn Over (now known as New Frequency) are more than appropriate. for those of you oblivious to either of those bands, this music draws influence from many different sounds. alternative bands like Foo Fighters, early Radiohead and Muse, are maybe the main focus, but there’s quite some bit of emo bands like Dominic and At the Drive-In, as well as some more straight rock oriented stuff like newer Turbonegro. there are even hints of mid-career A Fire Inside. the vocals kind of remind of Davey Havok’s tone… at times at least. anyway, my point is that this is fairly general rock music, though with plenty of different intriguing elements within the sound. this means that this can easily attract any audience; any fan of rock music. their sense of melody, atmosphere and overall understanding of how to compose music that feels accomplishing and rewarding to listen to despite its approachable and “poppy” sound, makes The Influence a truly interesting piece of music that can be valued by both the casual music listener, as well as the above average musically interested person. it’s catchy and light without being shallow. to put it short: Cindy rules. download this.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/03/cindy-the-influence/feed/ 0 Dunderhonning – Ka du vente på? http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/01/dunderhonning-ka-du-vente-pa/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/01/dunderhonning-ka-du-vente-pa/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:46:58 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=791 Dunderhonning are a Norwegian rock band from Harstad, somewhat similar to e.g. IHAB and Sinnssyk Ugle who are posted below. they draw heavy influence from Britpop and English “NME” alternative, so actually they are even more reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys than any other band on this blog. these are dancefloor compositions. they build up and climax, drop, build up and climax and so on, like good dance tracks. all with awesome jagged riffs and cool vocals and an overall laid back and cool approach to the melodies. in addition to the “NME” alternative influence, there’s also a great deal of noise rock in here. Sonic Youth much? yes. on some tracks there’s even a hint of Dinosaur Jr., and their way to make a noisy mess of a pop song. it’s loud, messy and filthy, but at the same time definitely melodic and catchy. highly distorted guitars with lots of feedback and drums that are essentially all over the place, and that sort of nonchalant voice is what Dunderhonning is. and sort of philosophical Norwegian lyrics. this is a band that would be insanely popular if they were from Seattle in the early ’90s and had a little heavier sound, or a band that would be insanely popular if they were from Scotland or England in the mid-’00s and had a little lighter sound. this album is an ambitious punch to the face; take the hit!

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2010/01/dunderhonning-ka-du-vente-pa/feed/ 0 IHAB – IHAB EP http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/ihab-ihab-ep/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/ihab-ihab-ep/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:04:38 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=710 IHAB (formerly known as I Has A Bucket!) are a Bodø-based rock band that sounds just like that, a Bodø-based rock band. Sinnssyk Ugle and Kråkesølv are the two most popular ones that come to mind. while Sinnssyk Ugle has a sort of Britpop edge and Kråkesølv are more emo-like, IHAB has more of a garage sound. they might have some teeny weeny little twinkly emo in their sound, but that’s probably just a result of Kråkesølv. this is definitely not an emo band, let me assure you. it would be easier to compare them to Britpop, like Sinnssyk Ugle. they sound like they owe a great deal to NME rock (Franz Ferdinand, The Kooks, Bloc Party…) with danceable chord progressions, tongue-in-cheek lyrics (in Norwegian though) and an upbeat and flowing feel. this is groovy garage rock that is willing to slow down and unplug the guitars if the song’s mood requires it.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/ihab-ihab-ep/feed/ 0 Rover – Latvia Sessions http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/rover-latvia-sessions/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/rover-latvia-sessions/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:46:18 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=708 if you just can’t get enough of Rover, here are two extra songs for you! the title of the opening track “Furious” pretty much sums it up, because compared to The Great Outdoors EP, these two songs are harder and far more straightforward rockers with more of that weird power metal influence. not that the influence itself is weird, but the outcome of power metal influence on pop rock is a bit weird. not weird as in awkward but as in unheard of. which is good. Rover has their own distinct sound which you should’ve learnt to appreciate by now. so get these two rocking tracks and learn how to further appreciate this great band. (yes, there are woah-ohs on this two-track, don’t worry.)

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/rover-latvia-sessions/feed/ 0 Rover – The Great Outdoors EP http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/rover-the-great-outdoors-ep/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/rover-the-great-outdoors-ep/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:32:50 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=706 starting off with mid-tempo coldwave-tinged pop, you’d never recognize this as the new Lucid Dreams if not for the distinct vocals. however once the ultra-catchy pop rock chorus comes in and takes your breath away, you immediately know where you’re at again. Rover are Lucid Dreams albeit with some change of personnel. so what’s changed? well they are more diverse, for one thing. they experiment with more sounds and patterns, though still keeping the woah-oh pop rock core intact. this is not an abandoning of the sound displayed on Dark Rain Beautiful, only an evolution. where Dark Rain Beautiful on the surface was mostly upbeat rock songs or downbeat rock ballads, The Great Outdoors EP attempts to do more. Dark Rain Beautiful was detailed and diverse, but you had to pay attention and look for the elements hidden within. with this album here, it’s much more obvious. the incorporation of more dynamics and more piano/synth-focused mid-tempo coldwave-tinged pop rock songs doesn’t beg you to look for its hidden secrets. but for those of you who were more fans of the upbeat rockers of Dark Rain Beautiful than the power ballads, fear not. there are rockers here as well. including a remake of “Wings Orion”! so there’s plenty of goodness to satisfy every taste.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/rover-the-great-outdoors-ep/feed/ 1 Lucid Dreams – Dark Rain Beautiful http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/lucid-dreams-dark-rain-beautiful/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/lucid-dreams-dark-rain-beautiful/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:33:33 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=701 Lucid Dreams are a largely – if not criminally – overlooked rock band from Norway that draws influence from theatrical variants of heavy metal and the melodic riff approach of alternative rock. with great use of piano/keys/synths and dynamic acoustic/electric guitar combinations, Lucid Dreams almost pass into progressive metal territory, not straying further away from it when the power metal-esque vocals are taken into account. in other words, Lucid Dreams are a modern rock band with many details to process, much like Finnish rock band Sentenced. add plenty of pop hooks (there are quite the few woah-ohs in here) and a great feeling of finesse to the flavour, and you should have a pretty good idea of how Lucid Dreams sound. capable of both slow-paced ballads as well as straight up rockers, this is a band that puts all they’ve got into every approach they make to song writing. no matter what they attempt, they succeed by putting a lot of power and conviction into it.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/11/lucid-dreams-dark-rain-beautiful/feed/ 0 Rhyn – Home Recording Made Easy http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/06/rhyn-home-recording-made-easy/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/06/rhyn-home-recording-made-easy/#comments Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:33:16 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=392 Rhyn are from Buckinghamshire. they started out in 2003, and released this album in 2005. it’s a rock albums that incorporates elements of alternative, classic hard rock, emo, electronica and pop music. consequently there are guitar heavy instrumentals, piano driven Ben Folds pop as well as a good portion of Foo Fighters alternative with emo-esque chord progressions. if you aren’t put off by garage recordings with a somewhat lo-fi production, you are sure to enjoy the catchy hooks this album has to offer. this is simple though no less brilliant because of it pop rock (well except for the house tracks). check it out, yo.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/06/rhyn-home-recording-made-easy/feed/ 0 The Dharmas – Album and Singles http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/04/the-dharmas-album-and-singles/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/04/the-dharmas-album-and-singles/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:06:13 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=565 let me introduce you to one of the most charming folk rock bands I have ever listened to. all of you who follow my blog should have made the acquaintance with Steadman, that awesome rock band from the UK. well, before Steadman there was The Dharmas. even folkier in their approach, this band knew how to craft beautiful and bittersweet pop music with sensere and sensitive lyrics about life and everything that affects it. there’s an album and a singles collection in the link at the bottom. go get it! because this is one of the most honest and genuine bands you will ever come across.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/04/the-dharmas-album-and-singles/feed/ 0 Byron T – Demo Demos http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/04/byron-t-demo-demos/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/04/byron-t-demo-demos/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:47:53 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=294 this is an album full of awesome classic 60s/70s rock with those nice synths that were reserved for only the most epic of anthems, mixed into some weird British invasion pop mixed with Britpop lovechild… and some flair… straight outta Iowa! Byron is a fun man who writes, performs and records his fun music for all of us to listen to it. and lawd are we thankful for his adventures throughout the rock’n'roll highlands – because this is – pardon my French – awesome. catchy pop hooks that leaves no one left without at least humming. this is simply a great deal of fun to listen to, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to absolutely everyone, given its potential to be a hit no matter who you are. your mother will like this. that does not mean you should be ashamed for liking it as well. enjoy!

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/04/byron-t-demo-demos/feed/ 0 Arctic Monkeys – Don’t Believe the Hype http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/03/arctic-monkeys-dont-believe-the-hype/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/03/arctic-monkeys-dont-believe-the-hype/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:16:00 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=187 I suppose the world’s biggest band or so at the moment does not need any introduction, but still – let me pretend it still is 2004 or whenever I downloaded these off of SoulSeek. the band was admittedly not as famous back then, but they were definitely as good as they are now. these demos shows a new band in town, eager to show off their newly discovered skills at composing and performing music. the music is in fact extremely eager. they play fast, intense and energetic punk tracks, with several tracks clocking in well under three minutes – some even under two. the waililng guitars are loud as can be. the whole sound picture is generally fast and loud. crashing drums, distorted and crisp guitars, shouted vocals and fast bass. but what perhaps makes Arctic Monkeys stand out the most are their intelligent and observant lyrics, penned by guitarist/vocalist Alex Turner. some have even compared him to Jarvis Cocker (that might be a bit over the top though), due to how he manages to put down what’s going on in his world to paper. there’s no “bigger picture” here, it’s just Turner and the way he sees the world. what’s going on in his head. whether it’s clever observations on the youth cliques, patronizing words on a scumbag, or simple straightforward tunes about love – Turner knows his shit when it comes to writing. and so does he when it comes to killing his guitar, like Jamie Cook also does his fair share of. so if you’re into crisp and deadly guitars, loud and fast drumming, melodic and hasty bass and shouted vocals that tells stories – this is for you. download it!

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/03/arctic-monkeys-dont-believe-the-hype/feed/ 0 Beowulf – A Rock Operetta http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/03/beowulf-a-rock-operetta/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/03/beowulf-a-rock-operetta/#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:16:56 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=183 this has a great intro that’s just so “right”. really sets the mood. haunting. the violin, the percussion, the vocals… mysterious-like, dark atmosphere. then a more “orthodox” melody starts rockin’. and it really does rock. funky yet sensitive stuff. it’s spaced out track with f’ucked up vocals and punchy, distorted guitars. but it’s also fantastic folky stuff, complete with flutes and what sounds like some sort of goblet drum, like a djembe or whatever. then it’s also Dr. Dre-ish hip-hop with awesome beats and great vocals. it’s an opera. and it allows itself to do whatever the fuck it wants to. and all of it is awesome. also there’s a Ray Charles impersonation. what’s not to love? if Green Day has made you think that a “rock opera” is equal to major suckage – get this, and Beowulf change your opinion on rock operas all together. if you on the other hand *like* rock operas… then why are you still reading this? DOWNLOAD IT!

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/03/beowulf-a-rock-operetta/feed/ 0 Silje Halstensen – Feedback Promo http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/silje-halstensen-feedback-promo/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/silje-halstensen-feedback-promo/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:09:59 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=101 this is a girl and a guitar and some other instruments. it’s as cozy as possible, without getting obnoxious. the guitars are kind of emo, and there’s some inventive drumming. also she has a nice voice. it’s very pwitty. download it and give it a go.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/silje-halstensen-feedback-promo/feed/ 0 Sinnssyk Ugle – Pistola/Chloe O’Brian Demo http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/sinnssyk-ugle-pistolachloe-obrian-demo/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/sinnssyk-ugle-pistolachloe-obrian-demo/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:04:08 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=86 indie rock hipsters Sinnssyk Ugle make very diverse music, without going insane. their tracks tend to sound very different, both in regards to the atmosphere and the overall composition. so if you want to hear two very different but equally well-crafted tracks, you should give this sharp and edgy rock band a go.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/sinnssyk-ugle-pistolachloe-obrian-demo/feed/ 0 Sinnssyk Ugle – Odas Liv Demo http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/sinnssyk-ugle-odas-liv-demo/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/sinnssyk-ugle-odas-liv-demo/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:03:43 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=432 Sinnssyk Ugle are a rock band that could just as well have been straight outta England… if they didn’t sing in Norwegian. but they do. and that sets them apart from the English indie rock bands. other things that sets them apart are how well they create stories, how different every song is and the sharp guitars. this is clever music. get clever.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/sinnssyk-ugle-odas-liv-demo/feed/ 0 boyhitscar – 8 track demos 30-22-00 http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/boyhitscar-8-track-demos-30-22-00/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/boyhitscar-8-track-demos-30-22-00/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:02:07 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=84 boyhitscar are a rock band from the US. they make rock music with very much heart and soul. these demos have harmonic guitars, a deep and fuzzy bass, mostly upbeat and creative drumming, and painfully frail vocals that somehow are very powerful despite the frailty. the guitars show a clearly eastern influence. this gives boyhitscar a kind of spiritual sound, that sounds somewhat trance-ish. as in a trance, not the genre trance. anyway it’s good, get it.

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/boyhitscar-8-track-demos-30-22-00/feed/ 0 Hit Factory – Party Animals http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/hit-factory-party-animals/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/hit-factory-party-animals/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:01:06 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=83 this is basically pop rock. but it’s pretty fucking epic anyway. the sound is huge. and it’s definitely album rock, because these songs all sound like they belong together. it’s tightly produced, and despite basically being a pop album, it has a lot of different sounds to it. noise, alternative rock and ambient are all present. it sounds a bit BritPop influenced, like Radiohead. but at the same time there’s so much folk stuff. and it’s too darn happy to be Radiohead. gotta love this album. upbeat and definitely happy pop music for the masses (that means you!). get it. :D

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/hit-factory-party-animals/feed/ 0 Steadman – Revive http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/steadman-revive/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/steadman-revive/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:18:01 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=67 I once said this is like the best UK album ever. I might have exaggerated. but probably not. because it’s AWESOME. mad catchy, and straight up fun to listen to. great music. it’s simple but at the same time it almost crosses over to being epic. especially on the title track Revive, that reminds us of all the great English acts throughout time – all at once. let the nostalgia commence! at the same time Steadman sounds very fresh. it’s old and new at the same time. it’s ambitious as hell. “everyone” can produce a catchy backbone. what Steadman are doing here is paying attention to detail. there are no “good” songs here. only marveollous songs. every track is filled with remarkable litte details. from the thumpy drums and energetic guitar harmonies, to the sheer epicness. there’s alarmingly brutal electric guitars on top of relaxed but at the same time intense and passionate acoustic guitars, bass and angst bunny vocals. perfectly synchronized and timed. nothing is too dominating or too lazy. and this album is like the previous one, not filled with the semi-complicated pseudo poetry about simple that many “poets” choose to write about. instead it’s simple words about complicated things. no pompous imagery or long dictionary-words that no one understands anyway. and where Coldplay, Starsailor, Keane, and the older The Verve, Radiohead and The Stone Roses are melancholic and even depressing, Steadman are basically always optimistic, yet extremely sensitive. sensitive and fragile, yet powerful and attention-seeking. like Steadman’s unique vocals, with the Thom Yorke nerves and Ian Brown angst and its very own edge, quality, and impressing diversity. also notice how the band incorporates influences from the very elite of British music the last forty years. there’s The Beends/Ok Computer Radiohead, The Verve vibes, The Stone Roses feel and so on. but also The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and even The rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin and their blues-rhythms. and the production and mixing shines so bright, it makes The Dark Side of the Moon shine less than the dark side of the moon shines on earth (mild exaggeration). what this means is that if put on in ten , twenty or fifty years time – one might be confused as to what year it comes from, because it has a timeless sound. it has loads of obvious influences, but at the same time it’s all very much Steadman at all times. so everyone needs to get this funny and danceable album to get in the mood. it’s the most accessible album ever made or so. all the tracks are super catchy. Steadman are a really good rock’n'roll band that puts a smile on people’s faces. it provokes feelings. good feelings. if everybody listened to this album daily, it would put psychiatrists out of jobs all over the world. there’s just way too much to say about this album! so I’m ending with (the obvious) encouranging everybody to get it, because you need to have it! and don’t forget to donate: http://www.steadmanband.com/shop.html

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]]> http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/steadman-revive/feed/ 0 Steadman – Loser Friendly http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/steadman-loser-friendly/ http://thatspunk.net/blog/2009/02/steadman-loser-friendly/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:17:08 +0000 indietrash http://thatspunk.net/blog/?p=66 one of the best British bands of all time are cool. they give their music away for free. so you should feel encouraged, if not enforced to download their albums. the first one is called Loser Friendly. and it’s really good. some classic tunes on here. rock with heart. and what makes Simon Steadman really stands out is his lyrics. while all the rock stars out there are busy writing very complicated and heavy words about simple matters, Simon manages to write simple words about really complicated stuff. and that is impressing and admirable. No Big Deal for instance – easily the BEST SONG THERE EVER WAS. yes I tend to get carried away with this band. it’s awesome. very melodic and catchy, and very intense and emotional. just download it. and get the miscellaneous stuff to. some very touching tracks right there. also if you want a goodie bag, and to sleep better at night, donate! http://www.steadmanband.com/shop.html – I’m sure they could “utilise” the money. maybe they can make more albums? if so – that is in our best interest for sure. because this arrogantly brilliant début album is a piece of conteporary rock that’s really wonderfully carried out. a broad musical sound in addition to borderline genius lyrics, if not just genius lyrics; period. it’s musically challenging and lyrically uplifting. it might take a few listens to get hooked, but it’s worth listening to over and over again. it’s like typical Britpop meeting ace folk rock and big, epic movie-sountracks. it’s just plain beautiful. there’s a punchy and catchy opening that begs you to put the player on repeat-track already at the first track. and every song feels like this. you just want to hear it over and over again. but *all* the tracks are so fucking awesome, that you’re basically forced to put on repeat-album. you will be blown away by the explosions of violins and passionate, mellow vocals; the psychedelc melodies that are complex and accessible all at once; the caging lyrics… to put it easy: get this!

click here to download

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