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".

Recent arrivals chez RK:
 

MARIBEL: Aesthetics. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Debut album co-produced by Emil Nikolaisen (Serena-Maneesh) proudly pays homage to and builds upon the legacy of MBV, the Telescopes, Spacemen 3, and early Boo Radleys. “[P]erfect pop songs awash in feedback, distortion, gauzy boy/girl vocals and layers upon layers upon layers of sound. The album builds upon itself perfectly, sucking you in slowly and then taking off into a blistering orbit with the middle chunk of the album standing out as some of the best tracks from the genre this decade. Equally perfect for closing your eyes and blissing-out to, or dancing your ass off at the club.” —Dan Sostrom, Clairecords »Listen here.

TESTBILD!: Aquatint. $13 buy CD 

Friendly Noise (Sweden). A beautiful and ambitious album by Testbild! informed by the otherworldly lapping of waves in a forgotten harbor where a lighthouse librarian, left to her own devices when the other lighthouse personnel suddenly disappear, carries on her cataloguing… »Listen here.

THE HEPBURNS: Trojan Hearse. $13 buy CD 

Bendigedig Recordings (Wales). A curiously contemplative album from Welsh guitar pop maestros The Hepburns, recorded with Charlie Francis (High Llamas, Robyn Hitchcock, R.E.M., etc.) at the desk. Despite the banishment of acoustic guitar from the studio, this album’s warmth wraps you like a blanket, even as it contemplates madness, painkillers, paperboys, hairdressers, divorcees, and Roger Federer’s backhand. »Listen here.

LOTHAR: Montgolfier. $13 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Snappy Swedish pop gets an uncharacteristic shoegaze treatment on the debut album by Lothar, a Stockholm 7-piece (4 guitars!) whose sound was purportedly changed when the members set up their rehearsal space next to a whirring, ticking, and buzzing power station on the outskirts of the city. »Listen here.

THE HUSSY'S: Super Pro+. $13 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Hooky goods with entertaining narratives from Fili, James McColl and company. Why can’t US bubble-rock be this smart? Three cheers for Glasgow… »Listen here.

REMINGTON SUPER 60: Go System Go! $13 buy CD 

Cafe 2001 (Norway). Previously a difficult find on these shores, the RK shop has landed a box of this lovely Norwegian album from 2006. On the surface, Remington are about as happy-go-lucky as ever, but there’s some serious musical craft at work in this confection. Light, but ever so packed with harmonic sophistication. Triumphant stuff. »Listen here.

ACTION BIKER: Hesperian Puisto. $13 buy CD 

Friendly Noise (Sweden). Crispy, analogue sweetness. Sarah Nyberg Pergament’s bell-like vocals over baroque music on synthesizers. Hurrah for Action Biker’s first solo album! Two charming animated videos included on the CD. »Listen here.

HEAVINESS: s/t. $13 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Neo-shoegaze mayhem pop strikes with brute force, only to lift up with beautiful melodies. Special Japanese issue of the debut album with a bonus track and new artwork. »Listen here.

SOUNDPOOL: Dichotomies & Dreamland (Japanese Version). $13 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Soundpool’s second full-length release, with tracks re-arranged for a new spin on the album’s original concept. Boasts bonus remixes from Manual & Ursula 1000, available only on this Japanese import. »Listen here.

V/A: Splendid Isolation. $13 buy CD 

Friendly Noise (Sweden). A collection of exclusive tracks from the Radio Dept., Testbild!, Most Valuable Players, Differnet, Action Biker, Viktor Sjöberg, VED, Peter Jackson, Peter Nilsson, Redmalm, Enheten för musik och melodi, Malkovic, Erik de Vahl, Band in a Box, Flow Flux Clan, Robotboy, and Jian. »Listen here.

V/A: Half Dreaming - an Asian shoegaze compilation. $13 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Shoegaze transcends its British influences and resurfaces in Asia with this comp, featuring sixteen bands and sixteen new, unreleased, or re-recorded tracks. »Listen here.

DIFFERNET: Collapsing Universe. $13 buy CD 

Friendly Noise (Sweden). Icy, melodic goodness. Warms the arteries, and it's beautiful too. »Listen here.

ORWELL: Le génie humain. $14 buy CD 

Twin Fizz Records (France). One of my favorite albums of 2007, Orwell's orchestral 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 actually are lovely... »Listen here.

RK Newsletter:

RK Forecast:

Autumn 2009:

The Hepburns: How the Fallen are Mighty
Testbild!: The Lolita Wagner Case
Cavil: Mares' Tails
At Swim Two Birds: Before You Left (Vespertine & Son)
Ecovillage: Phoenix Asteroid (Quince)
My Little Pony: Think Too Much (Quince)
Popface: Eleven Pieces of a Broken Heart (Quince)

later:

The Hepburns: Where the Missing Words Live
The Hepburns: Insomniac's Lullaby
Testbild!: Bed Stilt

RK Playlist July 2009:

Gainsbourg/Colombier/Klein: Mister Freedom
Babla & His Orchestra: Babla's Disco Sensation
Daniel Carlson: Aviary Jackson (demo)
Wendy & Bonnie: Genesis
At Swim Two Birds: Before You Left
Lalo Schifrin: Sade
Gary McFarland: Scorpio and Other Signs
Baskervilles: Twilight

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