Radio Khartoum: sophisticated left-field pop, imaginary soundtracks, graphics by Bügelfrei, the occasional off topic rant. US distribution for a few select items from Vespertine & Son, Friendly Noise, and Quince Records. French travelers should note that it's "Radio Khartoum" and not "Radio Karthoum".

THE HEPBURNS: Something Worth Stealing. A romantic fling with no skeletons in the closet...well, unusually few skeletons by Hepburns standards, discounting the up-tempo duet with the dead guy who comes back to woo a former lover, the ghostly coal mine choir in the jazzy shadows on the ditty about the strongman's cape, and, perhaps, the ode to Scooby-Doo's Velma. This album is more a celebration of joyrides, spring storms, dinosaur incisors, winter fashions, boho wannabes, humdrum and conundrum, the occasional poisoned dart, and the use of the word "penultimate."  Listen here.

RK Newsletter:

live mp3:
Matt Jones and Anthony Rochester live on Gull's Window Circus (WZBC Boston) 13 Nov 2007. Five string guitar and chauffeur service courtesy Dmitry Elentuck. Recording courtesy Patrick Rands. (24 minutes)
Songs:
1. My Brother the Submariner
2. Something Worth Stealing
3. If I Was a Hairdresser
4. Lipscombe Larder
5. Emotional Song No. 1

RK Forecast:
2008:
Action Biker: Hesperian Puisto (Friendly Noise)
v/a: Splendid Isolation (Friendly Noise)
Testbild!: The Lolita Wagner Case
The Hepburns: Where the Missing Words Live
Cavil: Mares' Tails
The Hepburns: Insomniac's Lullaby
Testbild!: Bed Stilt
The Hepburns: How the Fallen are Mighty

RK Playlist Mar. 2008:
Klaxon 5: Hothouse
Apple Orchard: Half-Steps Toward Bright Skies
Gabor Szabo: Dreams
Furniture: The Lovemongers
Minema: s/t
Momus: Don't Stop the Night
The Gist: Embrace the Herd
Hildegard Knef: Halt Mich Fest
Scarboro Aquarium Club: Mountaineering (demos)
   
Recent arrivals in the Friendly Goods dept.:
 

 

ORWELL: Le génie humain. Twin Fizz Records (France). One of my favorite albums of 2007, Orwell's orchesral maneuvers fill the void left by Eggstone, rubbing shoulders with Julien Ribot, Louis Philippe, and Testbild! along the way. I'd say High Llamas too, except that Orwell's vocals acually are lovely... Listen to the clips.
 

 

TESTBILD!: Une teinte intense. Friendly Noise (Sweden). Fifth album from the ever expanding Testbild! collective takes a turn in the Sahara, courtesy of the diaries of turn of the century explorer Isabelle Eberhardt. Exotica-tinged folk-concrete. Listen to the clips.
 

 

THE DREAMERS: Day For Night. Friendly Noise (Sweden). A beautiful late night listener from Kevin Wright (Always, Mr. Wright) and Sarah Nyberg Pergament (Action Biker). Listen to the clips.
 

 

DIFFERNET: Collapsing Universe. Friendly Noise (Sweden). Icy, melodic goodness. Warms the arteries, and it's beautiful too. Listen to the clips.
 


 

 

THE MAMS: Wam Bam! Gonzo/Muso (Wales). One of my mates described Welsh outfit The Mams' debut as "Style Council gone disco" (and meant it in the best possible way), but there's a hell of a lot more than just Paul Weller and Chic sutured between the hand claps, string stabs, grooves and, um, swine rock guitar. Have a listen for yourself.
 

 

NEOANGIN: Scratchbook. Lieblingslied Records (Germany). Junkpop maestro Jim Avignon turns in another 26 sonic gems for the short-attention-span set. Plus a 100 page, hard cover book of Jim's drawings, paintings, and lyrics. Infectious as ever. Listen to the clips.