22 Sep 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in the category, 0 Comments

Review: The Big Pink's A Brief History of Love

Courtesy Brooklyn Vegan

NOTE: A lot of records are being released this week. More than we have room for in our eight-pages every Thursday. As such, we’re running some reviews online this week. Check back here throughout the week for reviews of the new WHY?, Owen, Times New Viking and more and don’t forget to pick up the paper Thursday for those other reviews.

Perhaps most famous for being on Pitchfork’s list of best songs of the decade before even releasing an album, the Big Pink’s debut, A Brief History of Love, should be a wretched affair. A post-shoegaze, electro rock, indie pop release with a hefty title not to mention the band’s name, it’s the perfect fodder for some big in 2009, gone in 2010 band.

But Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell do one better. A Brief History of Love is a wholly enjoyable confection. The two approach their music with an all-too-British earnestness, endearing themselves with four-plus-minute pop songs about, what else–love. But what matters on these tracks is not that they are about love but how they sound. In fact, the duo could go Sigur Ros on these lyrics and it wouldn’t make a difference.
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21 Sep 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in the category, 0 Comments

Video: Future Kings of Nowhere at Duke Coffeehouse, 9/19/09

Shayne O’Neill came down to Durham from his new home in BK, NY to preview some new material from his forthcoming album and long-awaited split EP with the Never as well as play some old songs. Check out the video below of the three-person version of the Future Kings of Nowhere playing some new and old tracks (this is also the second time “Paper Napkins” has appeared in video form on this blog.)

10 Apr 2009, Posted by David Graham in the category, 0 Comments

Durham Viking epidemic continues: High Master

Many things pass over the desk of the recess editor, or would if I had a desk. Most of them end of getting chucked, but some are too weird to pass up. Like this one.

Tight on the heels of Viking Storm, the two-day celebration at the Coffeehouse and the Pinhook to mark the release of Hammer No More the Fingers’ Looking for Bruce, High Master–which bills itself as “Durham’s only Viking power rock band”–is playing at the Pinhook Saturday night with Pink Flag and Rat Jackson.

The band includes our friends Paul Overton and Ken Rumble from Duke Performances, and Saturday night will prove whether they’re any good, or if they should stick to presenting real musicians.

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06 Apr 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in the category, 1 Comments

VIDEO: More Viking Storm II

Technical problems have been resolved and here is more live footage of Hammer No More the Fingers and the Future Kings of Nowhere.