Henric De La Cour - Grenade

Grenade takes some heavy heavy Depeche Mode inspiration and runs it through a shoegazing filter to stunning results. Simply a great single. The B-side, a punky goth'ed up cover of black metal legends Venom's Harmony Dies is also cool. This delivered on clear vinyl with a great cover? Me gusta.

But the best thing is the video. It's a real contender for video of the year and takes one part corpsepainted synth-king and mixes him with some of Sweden's best beach-volleyball players for an epic standoff in Portugal. The result is brilliant.

The School - Never Thought I'd See The Day

Finally The School released their comeback single. I'm a huge fan of their first album, Loveless Unbeliever, which offers shimmering indiepop that draws heavily on Northern Soul and 60s girlpop while still sounding fresh. Never Thought I'd See The Day sounds familiar to anyone who heard their first album, yet more assured. While none of the four tracks are a match for the best Loveless Unbeliever tracks the EP offers 4 slices of cute, retro indie pop that is guaranteed to leave a smile on your face.

EP highlight Where Does Your Heart Belong also got a nice b&w video! 

Hi blog!

It's amazing how the end of a five year long relationship and serious illness in the family can zap away the inspiration to blog.

Anyhow. I should try to get back into the record-blog saddle again. Here are a list with 12 of my favourite songs from last year to tide people over. Links only where I could find songs in decent quality...

M83 - Midnight City
After School - Shampoo
Les Demoniaques - Teenage Lust
Invasionen - Martyrskap
Brown Eyed Girls - Sixth Sense
The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre
Nicola Roberts - Cinderella's Eyes
iamamiwhoami - ; John
Mariachi El Bronx - Poverty's King
Girls' Generation - The Great Escape
Amanda Mair - Doubt
Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing

And my six favourite 2011 albums

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre
Invasionen - Saker Som Jag Sagt Till Natten
Nicola Roberts - Cinderella's Eyes
Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
Girls' Generation - Girls' Generation (the Japanese album)