en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal The Last.fm journal for emptyflow. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2008/06/23/21ccxh_20,000 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:05:00 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2008/06/23/21ccxh_20,000 Hiding all the Way is my 20,000 scrobbled track on last.fm. I am not particularly fond of the entire Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus album, but this song, along with a few others, is quite all right. In fact, I was so disappointed by this album that I haven't really cared to listen to Nick Cave's latest productions, even though some people have recommended Dig!!!, Lazarus, Dig!!!.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2008/04/02/5xaoa_15,000 Wed, 2 Apr 2008 05:56:04 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2008/04/02/5xaoa_15,000 My 15,000 track on Last.fm is South by Karate, a band from the 90's I started listening to a few weeks ago. Karate is great; their music is a mix of indie & jazz, played with a punk attitude (esp. the vocals). It's catchy, but repetitive (in a good way) and intense. I've never come across another band that sounds like them.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2008/01/10/5xao9_10,000 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:11:29 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2008/01/10/5xao9_10,000 My 10,000th track is Worried Blues by John Fahey. I mostly know Fahey's music through listening to Currituck Co..

Any music that saves me from climbing the walls of my office will do right now.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/12/29/5xao8_2007 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:41:18 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/12/29/5xao8_2007 Looking back at 2007, I've explored a lot of music. I've listened to some Brittish, quiet, 'sadcore' music. A few years ago, I bought an album by Movietone, but it is only after a few years that I've realized its greatness. I don't know how I was introduced to At Swim Two Birds, but, anyway, that was a good thing. Now I am exploring the different projects surrounding them and Montgolfier Brothers. If you like hushed, dynamic, sublime, jazzy music - then you should check them out.

I've listened to some Finnish artists as well. Some post-rock. Beautifully simple Hannu (reminds me of Piana somehow) and then the similarly saccharine GENTLEMAN LOSERS. I have also been enjoying Islaja's latest album. While we're still at the department of post-rock, I have to mention Swedish groups like Library Tapes and Porn Sword Tobacco.

Of the more poppy stuff I've listened to this year, Taken by Trees was a pleasant surprise. And it seems as if all good indie pop is Swedish: I've been indulging in (almost) Schlager-ish music by Säkert! and Anna Järvinen.

If we move away from pop, one of my favorite artists recently is Dutch ambient musician Machinefabriek. Quiet noise. Music to accompany one's exporation of the world.

Then I have, as usual, been checking out some country artists. For this year, new acquaintances are Jason Molina (I had heard his band, of course, before) and Alela Diane.

For the moment, I am interested in learning more about jazz. My knowledge is really limited here. I've started off by downloading some random stuff. Interestingly, the good stuff is often Polish. I hate all things funk, so groovy jazz with a fat sound is nothing for me. Actually, I don't know what I'll like yet.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/09/02/5xao7_5,000 Sun, 2 Sep 2007 17:27:40 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/09/02/5xao7_5,000 My 5,000 track is Jeff Buckley's The Way Young Lovers Do. It's a good song, but the live version I listened to is a little excessive.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/24/5xao6_purrbot Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:01:30 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/24/5xao6_purrbot J has introduced me to yet another band: Purrbot. The music is sad and simple, often revolving around acoustic guitar. What they are doing reminds me of many artists, but the music is, importantly, never derivative. If you like Rivulets, Great Lake Swimmers and Jason Molina you might also appreciate Purrbot.

I hope this band will be discovered by many people - they deserve it!]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/17/5xao5_alcohol_fueled_robot Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:27:46 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/17/5xao5_alcohol_fueled_robot I did something bad
I got in a fight about drugs
Kicked him in the neck
I am Helsabot
I am all you're not, but you wish you were
I am working hard, don't you laugh at me
I am Helsabot, alcohol fueled robot
I take off my clothes
Then I say to Joe,
'Do your pants ever just fall off off off'
A menage a trois is fine

Helsabot by Ten In The Swear Jar: it's such a wonderful song.
This version is, I think, quite different from the later one by Xiu Xiu.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/13/5xao4_afternoon_delight Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:16:03 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/13/5xao4_afternoon_delight Madagascar was recommended to me this week by the Last.fm program. I started listening to their 'Similar artists radio' and their song I Know That I'll Be Ture was played. It does not happen that often that I like a song the first time I hear it. But this was something special. Maybe it's just my fondness for accordion. Not to mention the charming title (Ture!).
Anyways, this song made me really happy, and I hope this band has made other songs as good as this one.
Now, I should get back to thinking about Peter Winch and his conception about what it is to understand other human beings.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/03/5xao3_six_organs_of_admittance Fri, 3 Aug 2007 21:48:31 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/08/03/5xao3_six_organs_of_admittance I happened to check concert calendar for Turku on Last.fm a few days ago (by the way, congratulations Last.fm for developing so many good features!). I was very surprised when I saw that Six Organs of Admittance were to perform in Turku the next day.
It was a nice surprise, all in all, and it was also a very nice thing that they didn't play at a larger place, but at Dynamo (which is indeed quite small).
I didn't even know that this band had a fan base of their own in Finland, but apparently, perhaps thanks to the glories of downloading piratism, they do (I guess their music must be available in music shops, but I am not sure about that). Anyways, a decent bunch of people turned up for the concert - and interestingly: people of very different kinds (why was I tempted to add some ironical little remark at this point? - Boring inclinations).
The show was really good. With songs mainly focusing on repetition, their music seems destined for great live performances. This proved right. That night, the band mostly chose songs that were more 'songs' than jamming. The show created a wonderful atmsophere, and by and by, people stopped chatting and seemed to dive into the music. I liked how a kind of rawness was added to the songs, and blended into the paradoxical, deceptive threatening softness that I find characteristic of the songs.

Well, now that I've seen Six organs of admittance and Xiu Xiu I have gained much more hope about the music scene and audience for live music in Finland. I regret that I am not in Turku today, in that case I would've been at the Islaja concert. Next time.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/07/29/5xao2_flawless_albums Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:49:01 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/emptyflow/journal/2007/07/29/5xao2_flawless_albums Mark Hollis:
The last two Talk Talk records were hints of what was to come, but this is still something different. It is a quiet record, but every turn of the music is a blow.

Ocean Songs by Dirty Three:
Before retiring, my father worked on a ship transporting cars from Europe to various parts of the world. A few years back, I asked him to look for some records by Australian artists. My father is the conscientious type, so he engaged the whole crew at the ship to hunt down the records. I don't know who finally found Ocean songs, but be that as it may, I am grateful. Interestingly, even my father (whose taste in music is non-existent) told me he had appreciated the music. I can figure he did, listening to it gazing out at the Indian Ocean.

Debridement by Rivulets:
Nobody evokes fear and a vague sense of discomfort in the same way as the music of Nathan Amundsen. Taken by themselves, his lyrics are maybe not that brilliant, but the combination of Amundsen's expressive, yet never posturing, style of singing and his quite original way of playing the guitar creates some of the best music I've heard to this date. Unsettling, gentle.
I wish I'll have the opportunity to see him live. But I doubt Rivulets will ever tour in Finland. But who knows? - The Xiu Xiu concert planted some hope in me that there indeed exists an audience for this type of music.

I could also add many albums by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

I guess these three albums give some kind of indication of my taste in music...:)

PS: If anyone would come to think of music resembling the records mentioned here - please let me know!]]>