Written by Fense
Today may be the inauguration, but the “magic” doesn’t start until January 28. That’s when The Sound Of Arrows (MySpace) will debut and release their new record, Magic, on Labrador Records. Below is a little video preview of the album, in true retro-Disney-ish style. For the full track, you can click the little stream “Play” button, or download it by right clicking the linkable text.

Written by Fense
I cannot get “New Hampshire” by Wild Light out of my head. Now, this isn’t one of those pestering annoyances that has you doing everything in your power to replace it with something else. No, this is a good thing; the song is catchy and filled with emotive pop that’s easy to get into and dig wholeheartedly.

Written by Joshua Britton
Sound the mighty, holy trumpets for Teru’ah as they return with Mad Kids in the Holy City, their follow-up to 2006′s Calvin Names the Mountain. Teru’ah is Mike Cades, residing in Brooklyn, and John Killeen, who lives in Asheville. Finally firmly planted in their respective cities, the stability has provided the duo with a clearer vision for this album and, therefore, finely-executed tracks again reminiscent of 70′s soft rock, early 80′s punk and the 90′s alternative scene the two grasped a hold of in order to survive …

I met a shorter-haired James Sasser (second from the right) at a friend’s party in Portland a few years back. After imbibing a bit, a group of us went to a small rock-a-billy bar and watched him play. I picked up a copy of his album, Southside of Sorrow, that evening. It was an excellent mix of folk and country. Now Sasser fronts a new group – one not named after him. That group is Lostine.

Written by Fense
Check out this lovely little video by Sweden’s Sweet Sweet Concorde. It features stuffed bears and paper cutouts of trees. The group comes to us via a FensePost favorite, Series II Records, and their recent release is called Life In The Canopy.

Contrary to what many much older than myself would believe, the best instrumental music is typically reserved not for the classical genre. It’s a mash of classical with… something else – be it electronic, folk, or whatever. Sure, there are some more contemporary exceptions, like Kaada and the epic Johnny Greenwood (I’m thinking his score for There Will Be Blood here). But the mashup allows for something a bit more unique, typically.

Oh god, what have I done? Why have I done it? Actually, why haven’t I done it? I, of course, am referring to my extensive music library lacking anything whatsoever from Handsome Furs. I mean, how could I have let this happen? I guess you know what’s coming next… yep! They’ve got a new album coming out soon.

Written by Fense
I cannot tell you how I stumbled across Ballboy (MySpace), mainly because I cannot remember, despite it being just a moment ago. I had been searching a different band I’ve been contemplating covering, clicking random links and two to four clicks deep I was there, on their page. As far as I can tell, there’s very little in common between the two groups, other than being from Europe. And that’s a continent. So that doesn’t count.

Written by Fense
I initially had difficulty classifying this album. After all, Dandelion Gold is both a label and a collective of musicians — would it then be a label compilation or a blend of songs by the collective and thus titled as such? While I ultimately chose the latter, I later altered it to reflect the individual musicians within. The artists that make up Dandelion Gold consist of experimental masters like Johnny and Ola of Cock and Swan, as well as other underground favorites like Olie Eshleman …

Written by Fense
It begins with static, not quite white noise, maybe feedback. Gradually, decipherable sound fades in, but the original noise remains. Combined, “Heavens On Ice” is numbing, a drone blessed with the prickly icicles of a hazy winter morning fog. Then it morphs into… something… say, something along the lines of a less psychotic Wolf Eyes, but just as far out in space.