roadburnfestival

August 19, 2020

Born out of an expanding consciousness, Finnish freakout fusion explorers Kairon; IRSE! defy space and time, bringing multicolored dreams into a new dimension on their upcoming album, Polysomn, which will be released on September 11 via Svart Records.

Led by Oranssi Pazuzu’s Niko Lehdontie, Polysomn sees the band futuristically journeying through your cerebral cortex, reshaping prog, post rock, acid folk, fuzz, and dreamscapes – all at the same time. It’s the natural continuation of Kairon IRSE!’s ongoing evolution into sparkling luminaries of the European psychedelic post-rock scene.

We’re thrilled to present Kairon; IRSE!’s new single here today – White Flies. Offered as a video designed and generated by Lionel ‘Vinyl’ Williams, White Flies and its accompanying kosmische visuals have us going interstellar to fully embrace Kairon; IRSE!’s euphoric bliss.

If you’re ready to dive right in, we strongly recommend preordering Polysomn, otherwise, we’ll see you drifting along in this mind-altering and visionary universe.

August 14, 2020

There sure is a lot of bands releasing cover versions at the moment; some hit the mark some are… questionable.

Over the years, THOU have spoiled us with a wide variety of cover songs, and those of you present during their Misfits set at Roadburn 2019 can confirm that they bring their own distinct energy to the songs of others. Today they have released an album of various covers from the likes of Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath and Shellac… and we couldn’t resist kicking off this week’s Essential Sounds playlist with one of theirs…

If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:

Thou – Fourth of July (Robotic Empire)

Svalbard – Listen To Someone (Holy Roar)

Holy Fawn – hf:/LHPN/seer/REF2.alt (Tripple Crown Records)

The Devil’s Trade – The Call of the Iron Peek (Season of Mist)

Teethgrynder feat. Richey Beckett – Ornament (Self-Release)

Orville Peck – Fancy (Columbia Records)

Future Islands – Thrill (4AD)

Sólveig Matthildur – Last Date (Artoffact Records)

Rope Sect feat. Mat McNerney – Prison Of You (Self-Release)

Pallbearer – Rite of Passage (Nuclear Blast)

Alexis Marshall – Nature In Three Movements (Sargent House)

Primitive Man – Consumption (Relapse Records)

Duma – Lionsblood (Nyege Nyege Tapes)

Deaf Kids, Petbrick – Sweet-Drenched Wreck (Rocket Recordings)

Barst – Conspiracy for a Cvlt Nation (Consouling Sounds)

August 12, 2020

We might not have, for the moment, the instant, up-close fix of Roadburn spirit that are the many live shows where our wonderful community gathers as one, but we can keep sharing great music with each other in other ways. So let’s venture forth together through sun-drenched farmlands, breezy woods darkening under cloudy skies and even the odd decadent urban scenario with our new communal playlist on Spotify, Roadburn: No Harvest!

These days, perhaps more than ever before, we are constantly being amazed by artists, many of them far from widely known, that are simultaneously on the outskirts and also at the forefront of what it means to be “heavy.” From moody singer/songwriters to shadowy practitioners of dark folk, from purveyors of twisted and reimagined Americana to genuine country troubadours, they are redefining emotional and sonic heaviness every day.

So come on, pick up your metaphorical hoe, walk the endless fields with us and help us reap the (no) harvest, unearthing all the best contemporary artists and turning this into a true radio for the fringes, build by our community!

Please note: Roadburn: No Harvest is defined by dark folk, Americana, singer/songwriters and country balladiers only.

August 10, 2020

There are better ways to start the week than being dumped, that’s for sure. However, if bad news is inevitable, there are few sweeter ways for it to be delivered than by Sólveig Matthildur.

We’re thrilled to bring you the premiere of the video for her most recent single, Last Date. Much like her other solo work, Last Date elicits a melancholic feeling totally at odds with the way it prompts an urge to dance; somehow the two moods work together perfectly. Sólveig tells us:

“I wrote Last Date a year ago.  It’s the soundtrack of the smile you squeeze through your tears at the discotek. The struggle of choosing between options that will equally hurt. It’s the first track I worked on with Baldur Hjörleifsson. I’m really grateful for him and his work.”

The video features Sólveig – looking every inch the movie star – deliberating over the difficult choice. Of the video she elaborates further:

“The video is recorded and edited by Dean Kemball and Kinnat Sóley. We rented a hotel room in Leipzig at and shot the whole video there. In the video I am having a date with someone which will, sadly, be the last one.”

We consider ourselves long term fans of Sólveig – both in the company of her bandmates as part of Kælan Mikla, and as a free-wheeling solo artist, forging her own path. The track can be streamed via Spotify or downloaded via Bandcamp – where you can also pick up Sólveig earlier releases, including 2019’s Constantly In Love album which is a firm favourite here at Roadburn HQ.

August 7, 2020

Today is another day when Bandcamp are waiving their fees to support labels and artists during the pandemic. There are many artists that will welcome the extra support if you can spare the money to buy their music today.

Our playlist today is – as ever – a collection of songs that have inspired, motivated and otherwise kept us going over the past week or so. Maybe today they’ll give you a spark to support artists on Bandcamp, but if not, there’s still pleasure to be found with these new tracks! If you find something you love – share it!

If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:

Sólstafir – Akkeri (Season of Mist)

Briqueville – Akte XIII (Pelagic Records)

Khemmis – Down In A Hole (Magnectic Eye Records)

Motorpsycho – The Same Old Rock (One Must Imagine…) (Stickman Records)

Polymoon – Helicaling (Svart Records)

Shaman Elephant – H.M.S: Death, Rattle and Roll (Karisma Records)

Advertisment – Always (Patchwork Fantasy)

L.A. Witch – Gen-Z (Suicide Squeeze Records)

The Lemon Twigs – Moon (4AD)

Osi And The Jupiter – Appalachia (Eisenwald)

Paul Oska – Long Lives Are Lost (Self-Release)

Steve Von Till – Wild Iron (Neurot Recordings)

The Ocean Greys – Feeling Like New (Self-Release)

Kira McSpice – Loon (Self-Release)

German Army – Zoulou Danse (Crash Symbols)

Dame Bonnet – Portamento (Höga Nord Records)

Shit And Shine – Hillbilly Moonshine (Rocket Recordings)

Jaye Jayle – I Need You (Sargent House)

Hifiklub – Medicine Dream (Parallel Factory)

July 31, 2020

We decided not to hold back with this week’s lengthy playlist… and suggest that you do the same when listening. Let this collection of songs guide you through all the pitfalls we’re currently facing, while discovering some new favorites along the way.

If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:

Crippled Black Phoenix – Cry of Love (Season of Mist)

Death Bells – Heavily Bodies (Dais Records)

Four Stroke Baron – Lungs (Prosthetic Records)

Mastodon – Fallen Torches (Reprise Records)

Realize – Disappear (Relapse Records)

Torn Relics – Restrained Faith Leyla Records)

Vous Autres – Vesuve (Season of Mist)

J. Zunz – Four Woman and Darkness (Rocket Recordings)

Anna Von Hauswolff – Sacro Bosco (Southern Lord)

Bing & Ruth – I Had No Dream (4AD)

Brockmann // Bargmann – Element (8MM Music)

Ora Cogan – Fixe (Prism Tongue Records)

Annie Barbazza – Ys (MaracashRecords)

Matt Elliot – Farewell to All we Know (Ici, d’ailleurs)

Bill Callahan – 35 (Drag City)

Courtney Marie Andrews – How You Get Hurt (Fat Possum Records)

The Secret Sisters – Late Bloomer (New West Records)

Bdrmm – Push / Pull (Sonic Cathedral)

Tesa – IV (My Proud Mountian)

Shaman Elephant – Wide Awake but Still Asleep (Karisma Records)

Neptunian Maximalism – Nganga (I, Voidhanger Records)

Sumac – The Iron Chair (Thrill Jockey)

July 30, 2020

July 24, 2020

This week’s playlist is – as ever – a collection of songs that have piqued our interest over the last week or so. Maybe you’ll recognise some, maybe you’ll discover something new.

Either way, we hope you enjoy our latest Essential Sounds playlist, this week featuring…

If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:

Ulver – Nostalgia (House Of Mythology)

Zetra – Union (Death Walz Recording Company)

John Carpenter – Skeleton (Sacred Bones)

Roll The Dice, Grindvik – Burried (The New Black)

Miles Brown – Summon Chanted Evening (Death Walz Recording Company)

Greg Puciato – Do You Need Me to Remind You? – single edit (Federal Prisoner)

Terminal Nation – Disciple of Deceit (20 Buck Spin)

Black Magnet – Divination Equipment (20 Buck Spin)

Imperial Triumphant – Atomic Age (Century Media)

Jaye Jayle – The River Spree (Sargent House)

Jess Williamson – How Ya Lonesome (Mexican Summer)

Cinder Well – Our Lady’s (Free Dirt Records)

Molassess – Through The Hollow (Season of Mist)

July 17, 2020

This week’s lengthy playlist offers the soundtrack for a journey through your mind – a trip into the vast unknown devoid of a challenging future. Let your imagination run free and let’s keep our spirits up this summer!

Dive in headfirst…

Einar Selvik – Hrafnsmál – The Words of the Raven (Lakeshore Records)

Osi And The Jupiter – The Binding Will of Mountains – Single Edit (Eisenwald)

Gillian Welch, David Rawlings – Hello In There (Acony Records)

Grace Cummings – The Look You Gave (Flightless Records)

TAU and The Drones Of Praise – Speak Your Truth (Drone of Praise Records)

Maud The Moth – Finisterrae (Self-Release)

Protomartyr – Worm In Heaven (Domino Recording)

De Underjordiske – Ilddøbt (Flammekaster Records)

Kestrels – A Way Out (Darla Records)

Kairon; IRSE! – Welcome Blue Valkyrie (Svart Records)

Master Oogway – Garmonbozia (Runne Grammofon)

Neptunian Maximalism – NNMM – Ptah Sokar Osiris (I, Voidhanger Records)

Sun Ra Arkestra – Seductive Fantasy (Strut Records)

Dallas Acid – The Enamel Sea (All Saints Records)

Tengger – Bliss (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records)

Offermose – Sjælens Ruin (Third Coming Records)

Zombi – XYZT (Relapse Records)

Menzi – Zulu Warrior (Hakuna Kulala)

Health, Full of Hell – Full Of Health (Loma Vista Records)

Special Interest – Disco III (Night School / Thrilling Living)

Jesse Draxler, Vowws – Them (Federal Prisoner)

Senyawa, Ian Urbina – Storming The Thunder (Menantang Badai) (Synesthesia Media)

July 10, 2020

Here’s another lengthy playlist to help you through the strange and unprecedented times we’re currently living in. Whether these songs help you to escape this boggling reality, or just have you pining for summer, hopefully these tracks will boost your morale altogether.

If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:

Svalbard – Open Wound (Holy Roar Records)

Liturgy, Leya – Antigone (NNA tapes)

Imperial Triumphant – City Swine (Century Media)

Pallbearer – Forgotten Days – Edit (Nuclear Blast)

Hum – The Summoning (Earth Analog Records)

Enslaved – Jettegryta (Nuclear Blast)

Inter Arma – Runnin’ Down a Dream (Relapse Records)

Blues Pills – Kiss My Past Goodbye (Nuclear Blast)

Maggot Heart – Roses (Self-Release)

Jesu – Never There For You (Avalanche Recordings)

Deaf Kids, Petbrick – Força Bruta – Single Edit (Rocket Recordings)

Pink Siifu – FK (Field-Left)

Ho99o9 – Christopher Dorner (Toys Have Powers / 999 Deathkult)

Party Dozen – Auto Loser (Grupo)

Future Islands – For Sure (4AD)

Orville Peck – Smalltown Boy – Spotify Singles (Sub Pop)

Mattiel – Guns of Brixton (Heavenly Recordings)

Lonnie Holley – Like Hell Broke Aawy (Jadjaguwar)

Gnod, João Pais Fillipe – Faca De Ar (Rocket Recordings)

Spiritczualic Enhancement Center – Where Is My Palm Leaf? (Crash Symbols)

Centre El Muusa – Burning Lawa (Sulatron Records)

Postcards – Dead End (T3 Records)

Valium Aggelein – Triumph Of The Metal People (Numero Group)

Ssaliva – Gateway (Luik Music)

Emma Ruth Rundle – Staying Power (Sargent House)

The Devil’s Trade – Három Árva (Season of Mist)