January, 2019. Time to sit back and take a knowing look at the year gone by, the year done with, the year 2018. After consulting the likes of Pitchfork, Paste Magazine, Consequence of Sound, Gorilla vs. Bear, and a nice write-up by Brooklyn Vegan, including Barack Obama’s top list, and after considering the releases by household names including, but by no means being limited to, Beach House, Blood Orange, Kurt Vile, Robyn, Lykke Li, Janelle Monae, a Black-Panther-laden Kendrick Lamar, and Kamasi Washington, here goes Team Poule’s list of who steered the rusty old ship of 2018 through the muddy waters.
In no particular order, and alongside handy Spotify links, these are some of the kickers, that will keep shining in 2019. [continue reading…]
One last hoo-rah for 2018. It’s New Year’s Eve and this one deserves a special occasion. Hamburg’s own Mayes end the cake of a year in style, with their new single Icing. The track comes with a warm breeze of lo-fi indie vibe carried by precisely engineered riffs and welcoming vocals.
The group is working on putting together a string of live dates for Spring, and in the meantime cling to the visuals and vibes to Icing, directed by Niklas Zeiner, recorded and mixed by Eugen Koop and mastered by Philipp Welsing, attached below.
Walking by day, dancing by night. Aren’t we all? Main man Jai Piccone here from the little hub that is Byron Bay, Australia, is taking matters to another level though. Walking the runways of this world during his days, for names like Burberry and Lanvin, before getting straight down to business on the knobs and switches to produce a refreshing blend of dance music.
It all manifested itself in the form of Mover, his debut EP that came out last month. A collection of three highly polished yet organic tracks, breathing life, ready to tackle the challenges regular club nights throw at you. Attached below is his biting single Racer, and naturally a reason to catch up with Jai in his temporary studio and hear what the fuzz is all about.
How did it all start?
When I was about 11 I started playing music and learning from my older brother’s friends. I started with a guitar. After a few years of learning, I started working under a project called Tora, where I was (and still am) producing and writing, and it began to go well. Then after I turned 16, I dropped out of school to tour for 6 months in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe and Mexico. During this trip I was exposed to some incredible musical influences. This began to cultivate a further interest in dance music. From this influence, I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to do more than experiment with dance music.
An infectious vibe of road trip romance and the dream of freedom projected on the great plains coming in by way of Lou Z out of Copenhagen and the great Danish flatlands. Carried by luscious riffs, a driving beat and stirring visuals Fairyland Goodbye is his debut single and successfully manages to create a distinct atmosphere and longing to put some asphalt under those wheels. 3000 miles to Graceland.
The track is out now via Copenhagen’s handymen of Møs Møs and comes with a promise for more mullet-powered adventures next year.
Music critic turned musician going by the name of Zustra just released a new curve ball of a single, riding high on those Movember vibes. The Words starts off as a dark dream pop piece and develops into a full blown James Bond theme song aesthetic, a hazy fanfare of synths and dancing silhouettes.
And if you’re thinking, damn I wish I could see this being performed live and on a slightly elevated stage, you’re in luck. Zustra has scheduled one more gig for this old year, playing Berlin’s Privatclub Dec 16th, and a Sofar sounds set for January 11th of the shiny new 2019. Her latest piece is out today, and comes with striking visuals, too, filmed and edited by Christian Schneider at Haltdieklappe Filmproduktion.
Photo credits above go to main man Christian Schneider, again.
Time to slip into those oven gloves because this one comes in sizzling hot from the buzztown that is Aarhus. Bear With Me‘s latest single and prelude to his upcoming debut EP is titled Such A Thing and steams out of the starting gates like a Danish stallion, inducing fire and fury, brought to you as a Team Poule exclusive.
The 4 minute jam comes carried by on-point drums and a mad sense for melody and tempo, evolving into a breezy anthem of good times to be had. The EP then, comes with a promise and warm handshake for Spring 2019, just in time for the blooming cherries, via Copenhagen’s ecstatic Møs Møs.
January, 2019. Time to sit back and take a knowing look at the year gone by, the year done with, the year 2018. After consulting the likes of Pitchfork, Paste Magazine, Consequence of Sound, Gorilla vs. Bear, and a nice write-up by Brooklyn Vegan, including Barack Obama’s top list, and after considering the releases by household names including, but by no means being limited to, Beach House, Blood Orange, Kurt Vile, Robyn, Lykke Li, Janelle Monae, a Black-Panther-laden Kendrick Lamar, and Kamasi Washington, here goes Team Poule’s list of who steered the rusty old ship of 2018 through the muddy waters.
One last hoo-rah for 2018. It’s New Year’s Eve and this one deserves a special occasion. Hamburg’s own 
Walking by day, dancing by night. Aren’t we all? Main man 
An infectious vibe of road trip romance and the dream of freedom projected on the great plains coming in by way of 
Time to slip into those oven gloves because this one comes in sizzling hot from the buzztown that is Aarhus. 
