Journal

1.How did you get into 29? (Air)
I guess it was when Sexy Boy & Kelly Watch the Stars got a lot of airplay on MTV in the late 90's.

2. What's the first song you ever heard by 22? (The Radio Dept.)
Not entirely sure, but I vaguely remember seeing them live on a festival in Sweden in 2004, which is probably when I heard their music for the first time. (Mind you, it was at a boozy music festival after all, so it's all a bit of a blur really...)

3. What's your favorite lyric by 33? (José González)
Maybe these ones from Broken Arrow:
"Summerlove left this town
It was too cold to bathe and the leaves turned brown
The sun went down
And with it the love we found
That's the way things are sometimes
Most of the time"

4. How did you get into 49? (Björk)
Well, seeing that I'm Scandinavian she was a pretty big deal there with her debut album (called Debut). The first track I heard was Human Behaviour, but I didn't start listening to her stuff properly until the late 90's.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own? (MF DOOM)
Two (Operation Doomsday & MM Food).

6. What is your favorite song by 50? (M83)
Graveyard Girl.

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? (RJD2)
Not that I can think of, or maybe One Day.

8. What is your favorite song by 15? (El-P)
Tasmanian Pain Coaster is pure genius.

9. What is your favorite song by 5? (Sage Francis)
Sea Lion.

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? (Alias)
Not really, I wouldn't exactly say Alias is famous for his feelgood-tracks. Maybe Dr.C by Alias & Tarsier.

11. What is the worst song by 40? (Coldplay)
Violet Hill no doubt. Can't stand it. I never understood how it could be released as a first album single.

12. What is your favorite song by 10? (Sia)
Breathe Me, followed by Death By Chocolate.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? (Sole)
I remember being on a road trip with my brother and he'd brought 'Selling Live Water' which had recently been released. I had never heard of Sole, but I loved what I heard.

14. What is your favorite song by 38? (CunninLynguists)
It's a tie between Seasons (Remix) and Don't Leave (When Winter Comes). The beat for the remix of seasons is amazing and fits the lyrcs perfectly.

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? (Murs)
The Night Before is nice. Bad Man! is a good party tune.

16. Is there a song by 25 that makes you sad? (Feist)
Yep. Let It Die, The Park & How My Heart Behaves. To name a few.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? (Jean Grae)
Love Song.

18. What's your favorite lyric by 11? (Bat for Lashes)
From Good Love:
"In the night time we are found
Misty sorrow swoop unbound
Whisper you mean it, say you'll stay
Hold my heart till brighter days"

19. Who is a favorite member of 1? (Aesop Rock)
Ian Matthias Bavitz (aka Aesop Rock). Tricky one that.

20. Is there a song by 14 that makes you happy? (WHY?)
Gemini (Birthday Song) and A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under both put a smile on my face.

21. What is a good memory involving 27? (Burial)
I listened a lot to Burial when I initially moved to London, so maybe that.

22. What is your favorite song by 16? (Regina Spektor)
Samson was the first song I heard by her, and I absolutely loved it. Still find it amazing. But she's done so many incredible tracks, other favourites are Ode To Divorce and Somedays.

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? (Radiohead)
Creep, back in the day. Not really feeling their recent stuff.

24. What is your favourite album by 18? (The Clash)
London Calling - one of the greatest albums ever made imo.

25. What is your favorite song by 21? (Madvillain)
Accordion.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? (Masta Ace)
Beautiful.

27. What is your favorite album by 3? (Death Cab for Cutie)
Plans. Even quality throughout, not one bad song on the entire album.

28. What is you favorite song by 2? (Sigur Rós)
Probably Með suð í eyrum or Saeglopur. A lot of good songs to choose from though.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32? (Boards of Canada)
Music Is Math was featured in a Swedish movie, and that's what made me start listening to them.

30. What is you favorite song by 8? (The Album Leaf)
We Need Help.

31. How many times have you seen 17 live? (Bon Iver)
None, but I'd love to. Hopefully within the next year.

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy? (Lykke Li)
Everybody But Me (Christoffer Remix). The lyrics are depressing as anything, but it's still that instant party anthem.

33. How did you get into 12? (Madlib)
Through Jaylib's Champion Sound.

34. What is the worst song by 45? (Buck 65)
Kennedy Killed the Hat (which a lot of people seem to love)

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? (Groove Armada)
My friend, yet again on MTV back in High School. I still remember the video.

36. What was the first song you ever heard by 48? (Koushik)
Lying in the Sun.

37. How many times have you seen 42 live? (One Be Lo)
None.

38. What is you favorite song by 36? (The Shins)
New Slang & Sea Legs.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? (Cat Power)
The Greatest

40. What is you favorite album by 7? (J Dilla)
Donuts! A classic.

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? (P.O.S.)
Goodbye. Great beat.

42. What is your favorite album by 41? (Zero 7)
Simple Things.

43. What is your favorite song by 24? (Azure Ray)
Rise. (In fact the song with the most plays in my entire library.)

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46? (Dosh)
I listened a lot to Wolves and Wishes when I went to Tokyo last year, and listening to that album still reminds me of the good times I spent there.

45. What is your favorite song by 35? (DJ Shadow)
Stem/Long Stem, hands down. Amazing track.

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? (The Streets)
I guess the easy answer here would be to mention any song off Everything Is Borrowed. But I'm not really a big fan of Mike Skinner going all happy-go-lucky, so I'd have to say Fit But You Know It and Don't Mug Yourself.

47. What is your favorite album by 4? (Atmosphere)
Lucy Ford, followed by God Loves Ugly.

48. Who is your favorite member of 37? (Bloc Party)
Don't have one.

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? (Band of Horses)
The Funeral. Still reckon it's one of their best songs.

50. What is your favorite song by 20? (The Roots)
You Got Me. High school memories right there.

It's the list of bands that I'm going to check.
I am going to put there all bands that someone suggested me to listen to and if I tried it - write "CHECKED" next to it.
It's going to be a huuuuuge help for me, because I am a little bit confused with all of it. My room is full of shits of paper with names of bands, songs etc.
So this list is my hm... kind of substitute of organisation that, sincerely, I haven't got at all.
But it's worth trying, isn't it? ;)
It's going to be reaaaaallyyyyyyy looooooooong, but I think it's not as bad as it looks.
I hope my "music horizons" will be muuuuuuuch wider because of it. And my mind - horizons as well.
Of course, there's a huuuge group of bands that I know and sometimes listen, but only a few songs and I want to explore them more (or something like this xD) and group of bands that I have to check since oh-i don't-know-when xD

Oh, I've almost fogotten.
Little message to people, who accidentally read it: I'm sorry for my mistakes, if there's some, but, you know, I'm just a little polish girl... :D

So, here's THE LIST:

The Smashing Pumpkins
Stafrænn Hákon - CHECKED
Moby - CHECKED
Die Mannequin
Skunk Anansie
Bat for Lashes - CHECKED
múm CHECKED
Psaap
Ólafur Arnalds
You Love Her Coz She's Dead
Roisin Murphy
Moloko
Seabear
500won Project
Slowblow
Kira Kira
Pornopop
Final Fantasy
Pete Yorn
Passion Pit
HeartsRevolution
Alec Empire
Kap Bambino
Daft Punk
Robots in Disguise
She Wants Revenge
Death Cab for Cutie
SOiL
Pissed Jeans
Klingonz
Flogging Molly
The Amino Acids
Fucked Up
Zebrahead
Motörhead
A Static Lullaby
Audioslave
Batmobile
Hellbillys
The Gun Club
Sense Field
Explosions in the Sky
Red House Painters
Bob Dylan
David Bowie
Kings of Leon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Boards of Canada
Eths
Fuck... I'm Dead
Arctic Monkeys
White Lies
Rezurex
Mad Sin
Muchy
Rotofobia
The Quakes
L.Stadt
Drivealone
The Car Is on Fire
Tiger Arm
George Dorn Screams
Kawałek Kulki
Gabriela Kulka
Lili Marlene
The Meteors
Muzyka Końca Lata
Phantom Rockers
Los Gatos Locos
MUM
Guana Batz
Os Catalépticos
not
Efterklang
Dick4Dick
Thee Merry Widows
Miss Kittin
Ladytron - CHECKED
The Album Leaf
Saluminesia
Edyta Bartosiewicz
Puscifer
New York Crasnals
Bajzel
Kiev Office
Iowa Super Soccer
Renton
Reverend Horton Heat
ASHES dIVIDE
Mudvayne
Worm Is Green
Fischerspooner
The Used
Aphex Twin
California Stories Uncovered
Retard-O-Bot
The Peacocks
Stone Sour
The Other
Deftones
Emigrate
Patrick Wolf - CHECKED
Suchy Chleb Dla Konia
Maanam
God Is an Astronaut - CHECKED
Chicks on Speed
Mono
T.Love
Mister Monster
Lesbians on Ecstasy
Pencey Prep
The Brains
Jonny Greenwood
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Dope
Godsmack
Cobra Starship
Röyksopp
Animal Collective
The Rapture
!!!
Enter Shikari
Cobra Starship



Of course, there's much more xD I will add here the others ;D
And I am only afraid of that my life won't be long enough to check aaaaaaaaall this music that's waiting for me now and in my future life.

1. John Frusciante - The Will to Death

Ein Album, das mich ganz und gar durchdringt!

2. Clueso - Gute Musik

Gute Musik steht zwar drauf, aber drinnen wirds besser.

3. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

Bam bam bam!

4. Sigur Ros - Takk

Gefühlvoll, aufbrausend - einfach genial!

5. The Mars Volta - De-loused in the crematorium

Ein Geniestreich!

6. Muse - Absolution

Ein Album, bei dem es möglich ist sich fallen zu lassen aber auch derb zu zappeln.

7. The Album Leaf - In a safe Place

Wird nie langweilig, wunderschöne Sturkturen, die einen in eine andere Welt entführen.

8. Rosie Thomas - Friends of Mine

Aus wenig alles gemacht, Wahnsinn!

9. Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State

Synfonieartiges Singer-/ Songwriting, wobei dieser Begriff zu wenig ist.

10. Kings of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street

Man liebt es immer ein Stück mehr, nachdem man es gehört hat.

11. FK Allstars - En Directo

Wohl das beste Livealbum, das ich kenne.

12. Creed - Human Clay

Ehrliche, schöne und brilliante Rockmusik!

13. Donavon Frankenreiter - Pass it around

Wer hier nicht tanzt stinkt!

14. Opeth - Damnation

Düster, aber musikalisch das beste Album der letzten 10 Jahre.

15. Matt Costa - Songs we sing

Perfektes Singer-/ Songwriting!

16. Coldplay - Parachutes

Jedes Lied ein Kunstwerk.

17. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Knallt, rockt, schiebt!

18. Amos Lee - Amos Lee

Schöne jazzangehauchte Platte, die mein Herz erwärmt.

19. Deftones - Deftones

Das Album, wenn man mit dem Vorschlaghammer eine Wand einreißen will!

20. Beirut- The Flying Club Cup

Ein Album das leicht ist und glücklich macht.

xxvii steps about the moon
an almost love story, with some kcrw experience.

1. Husky Rescue - Good Man
2. Iron & Wine - Waitin' for Superman
3. Tanya Donelly - Sweet Ride
4. Minotaur Shock - Motoring Britain
5. Jon Kennedy - Waiting for the Sea to Freeze
6. Nina Simone - I Can't See Nobody (Daniel Y. Remix)
7. The Real Tuesday Weld - The Day Before You Came
8. Camille - Au Port
9. Lunz - lunz (adem's lunz)
10.The Cardigans - Higher (Nåid Remix)
11.Clue to Kalo - Do You Know That Love Can End?
12.The Album Leaf - Storyboard
13.John Martyn - Glory Box
14.Dolly Parton - Jolene
15.Lindsey Buckingham - Never Going Back Again
16.Mary Margaret O'Hara - To Cry About
17.Tom McRae - You Cut Her Hair
18.Yo-Yo Ma - Cello Suite No.1, 1. Prelude
19.Frost - Byssan Lull
20.Piano Magic - never will it be the same again, pt. 1
21.Archive - I Will Fade
22.Under Byen - Plantage
23.Cousteau - You My Lunar Queen
24.Nick Cave - Into My Arms
25.Sia - I Go To Sleep
26.Brad Mehldau - Exit Music (for a Film)
27.Dusty Springfield - Goin' Back


front cover

back cover

http://rapid_share.com/files/257932838/xxvii_steps_about_the_moon.zip
(for the correct link, delete the '_' between rapid and share)

Because I've basically saved every song I've ever collected in my long life of music listening, I figured it would be fun to compile CD length playlists containing songs that best represent my music taste at various stages in my life. What's interesting is that there are very few bands that I used to listen to that I now say are terrible. It seems like my tastes haven't exactly changed; I've merely added new genres and bands to my collection, and I still listen to artists that I rocked out to as a wee youngin. See what you think of my former selves, and sound off on which one's taste sucks the most if you want. It's all kosher here.

Age 13 (When I was an awkward, fat teenager)
Beastie Boys - Intergalactic
The Beatles - Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
Collective Soul - The World I Know
Dave Matthews Band - What Would You Say
Kent - Things She Said
Meja - All About the Money
Mikael Wiehe - Flickan och Krakan
Oasis - Wonderwall
Robbie Williams - Millenium
Seal - Kiss From A Rose
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
Sugar Ray - Falls Apart
Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
Verve pipe - Freshman
The Wallflowers - One Headlight
The Who - My Generation

This playlist shows the beginnings of my exploration of music. At this point in my life, I got music from two sources: my parents and my radio. My mom would buy me popular bands such as Dave Matthews Band, Sugar Ray, The Wallflowers, etc. My dad would play me records and CDs by artists such as The Beatles, The Who, Sweet, and Black Sabbath. The radio introduced me to the grunge movement, alternative rock, and The Beastie Boys. I even distinctly remember a short fascination I had with the Aqua song Barbie Girl... anyways, you might notice a few outliers there, namely Meja, Kent, and Mikael Wiehe. I spent one semester of 8th grade in Sweden, where my friends and neighbors had a considerable impact on what I listened to. So that's that, then.

Age 17 (senior year of high school)
Alizee - Moi Lolita
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - For Tha Love Of Money
Bright Eyes - The Calendar Hung Itself
Death Cab for Cutie - Photobooth
Finch - What It Is To Burn
The Get Up Kids - Long Goodnight
GLAY - Two Bell Silence
Jay-Z - It's Like That (w/Kid Capri)
Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness
L'Arc~en~Ciel - Spirit Dreams Inside
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song
Noir Desir - Le Vent Nous Portera
Poison the Well - Torn
The Rasmus - In the Shadows
Red House Painters - I Feel The Rain Fall
Sigur Ros - Hjartao Hamast
Something Corporate – Hurricane (Changing Weather Patterns)
The Used - Buried Myself Alive

Ah, I remember this time in my life so clearly. This was probably the biggest change in my listening habits. I had tapped out radio-friendly music and, becoming more internet savvy, I decided to expand my music horizons through talking to people online and, probably the most effective way, searching for random words in file-sharing programs. By searching for “spirit,” I got “Spirit Dreams Inside” by L’Arc~En~Ciel. By searching for “hjarta” (Swedish for “heart”) I got “Hjartao Hamast” by Sigur Ros. By searching for “vent” (French for “wind”), I got Noir Desir etc etc. I also discovered an online game called “The Emo Game” that introduced me to bands like Bright Eyes and The Get Up Kids (although they’re admittedly not emo). I also got some rap music for blasting in my car like pretty much every other idiot jock.

Age 18 (after my first year of college)
Abandoned Pools - Start Over
Avenged Sevenfold - Remenissions
The Beautiful Mistake - Circular Parade
boysetsfire - Full Color Guilt
Dave Matthews Band - Grey Street
Erase the Grey - Rain
From Autumn to Ashes - I'm The Best At Ruining My Life
Guided by Voices - Liquid Indian
Her Space Holiday - My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Jimmy Eat World - Claire
Keepsake - Cartoon Life
Murder by Death - I'm Afraid of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Radiohead - My Iron Lung
Rise Against - Like The Angel
Sparta - Light Burns Clear
Sunny Day Real Estate - Pillars
Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance
Thursday - Standing on the Edge of Summer

In college, I connected with people on my hall that had similar music tastes. Two of my closest friends got me into Avenged Sevenfold, Thrice, Thursday, Sparta, From Autumn to Ashes, Rise Against, all that jazz. I randomly heard Abandoned Pools while I was walking past a kid’s room once, and I ran in there and asked him what it was because it was so incredibly beautiful. I continued finding stuff on my own, introducing myself to Radiohead, Guided By Voices, and Murder By Death. I also had my second Dave Matthews Band resurgence; after hating Everyday, Busted Stuff and the Lilywhite Sessions came out and blew my mind with yet another sound, this one more folk/bluesy. It seemed like every other album they’ve put out are the ones that everyone cracks on for being lame (Crash (though it’s only because of Crash Into Me, the rest is awesome) Everyday, Stand Up), and the good ones they do so well on (Under The Table and Dreaming (aside from Ants Marching and What Would You Say), Before These Crowded Streets, Busted Stuff, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King) go unnoticed… but enough legitimizing my on-again-off-again romance with a band that’s trendy to hate. I listed Jimmy Eat World again because while the band moved in their mediocre pop direction (Futures, Chase This Light), I started going back in their history, checking out Static Prevails and Clarity and the various underground comps they lent singles to. They used to be so good, so raw…

Age 20 (senior year of college / becoming a music snob)
The Album Leaf - On Your Way
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Ariel Kill Him - Ca-cao
Atkins Lane - Everything Was You
Bishop Allen - Ghosts Are Good Company
Dinosaur Jr. - Even You
Fugazi - Give Me The Cure
Iron & Wine - He Lays In The Reins
JR Ewing - Fucking & Champagne
Life at These Speeds - Land Filled
Love Lost but Not Forgotten - Perfectly Fucked
M83 - A Guitar And A Heart
Marc Broussard - Home
Matt Pond PA - The Trees And The Wild
Minus the Bear - This Ain't A Surfin Movie
Rites of Spring - For Want Of
Saetia - Venus And Bacchus
Tujiko Noriko - Aru Choten
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start - Come Away
Wilco - At Least That's What You Said

This was when I truly got into underground music. The girl I dated at the time started hating the music I listened to (and we actually broke up not long after I refused to go to a Brand New concert with her). I had a torrid love affair with Dischord and Level Planes (my man crush on Guy Picciotto supercedes all other musical emotions even today) caused by a single listen by Saetia’s Venus and Bacchus that lead to me buying over a dozen CDs in a week, including Love Lost But Not Forgotten, Fugazi, JR Ewing, Life At These Speeds, Saetia, Rites of Spring and so many more. I also started moving in the exact opposite direction, away from drum- and guitar-driven rock and hardcore and towards minimalist indie and vocal work. I bought The Album Leaf album without even hearing it, which started me on the road towards Ariel Kill Him, Tujiko Noriko, Iron & Wine, and M83. I also started seeking out rising indie bands like Arcade Fire, Up Up Down Down, and Minus The Bear, catching on right before the huge upswell in popularity. I had my first Wilco moment, and fell in love with Marc Broussard’s voice and writing at first listen even though I only listened to him to be able to mock him (I saw him on Yahoo! Music and thought he was another boy band reject from his looks). I also began getting into unknown bands through random concerts around town (Atkins Lane, matt pond PA).

Age 22 (Wasting time / looking for a job / The Guitar Hero era)
All That Remains - This Calling
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - A Classic Arts Showcase
The Appleseed Cast - Here We Are (Family In The Hallways)
Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Carissa's Wierd - Ignorant Piece of Shit
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Details of the War
Greenleaf - Agents of Ahriman
I Would Set Myself on Fire for You - Seven
Lightheaded - Poetry in Motion
Mac Lethal - Turn Off The Radio
The National - Fake Empire
Othello - Seasons Greetings (feat. Sirens Echos)
Scar Symmetry - Artificial Sun Projection
A Silver Mt. Zion - Take These Hands and Throw Them In The River
Strange Fruit Project - Get Live (feat. Erykah Badu)
Strata - Night Falls (The Weight of It)
Suis La Lune - Quiet, Pull The Strings
Trophy Scars - Alchemist. Alchemists.
65daysofstatic - This Cat Is A Landmine

I call this the Guitar Hero era because being introduced to that game hearkened back to high school when I actually used to try to play instruments… I returned my focus to instrument-driven work, paying more attention to technique and individual performances instead of the whole song. This lead to a lot of progressive rock and metal. Mike Martin and Olin Buchanan of All That Remains single-handedly slated my guitar-shredding thirst for almost a year. Trail of Dead, Appleseed Cast, The National, Strata, and Trophy Scars kept me happy with unusual drum-work and time-signatures and variations on the 4/4 that would blow most musicians’ minds. Suis La Lune, I Would Set Myself On Fire For You, 65Daysofstatic, and A Silver Mt. Zion created beautiful and off-kilter music. Bands like Greenleaf and Scar Symmetry gave me the guitars to fill the void that All That Remains couldn’t. I also began my foray into undergroup hip-hop, using Mac Lethal as a springboard into balding white rappers and Lightheaded and Strange Fruit Project introducing me to rap music that can uplift and energize. Finally, I continued to get into indie music, playing Black Kids, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Carissa’s Wierd till my roommates wanted to kill me (insert music asshole joke about how one play is all it took here).

Age 24 (Gainfully employeed / the man I am today)
The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
Bottomless Pit - Leave The Light On
Dave Matthews Band - Why I Am
Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
Jacobi Wichita - I Only Draw Chairs
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
The Mae Shi - Run To Your Grave
Mars ILL - Fade to Black (feat. Sintax)
MGMT - Time To Pretend
Nizlopi - Last Night In Dakar
Pierce the Veil - The Cheap Bouquet
Restiform Bodies - Foul
Silversun Pickups - It's Nice to Know You Work Alone
United Nations - The Shape of Punk That Never Came
WHY? - Good Friday
Zolar X - I Pulled My Helmet Off (I'm Going to Love Her)

Once I got my life on track and got into the real world, my music tastes matured with me. The “My Grass Is Blue” movement in Blacksburg got me into The Avett Brothers and Fleet Foxes (not exactly related, I know, but bear with me), Carissa’s Wierd led me to Band of Horses, peeks at Pitchfork and last.fm led me to Justice, The Knife, and MGMT, and random music review sites turned me onto Jacobi Wichita (still only 250 listeners on last.fm is a crime!) and Zolar X (extremely awesome David Bowie’s mind meets Styx’s sound meets Rush’s instrumental insanity space-age love progressive rock). I also continued to find underground hip-hop, experiencing a love for half of Anticon (Restiform Bodies, Why, Odd Nosdam, etc) and a mixture of disgust and pity for the other half (all the straight-edge assholes like Non-Prophets). I had my third DMB sighting after Stand Up made me hate the band, but Big Whiskey made me their bitch again, and I continued to find bands in genres I thought I already nailed down (Bottomless Pit, Pierce The Veil, Niz, Silversun Pickups, United Nations).

Last Sunday, in a mist of cigar smoke and Cava, I left the city I have called home for the better part of the last seven years: Gothenburg, a place once described by a foreign friend of mine as "a veritable chateau of the music landscape". Madrid, my new habitat, may not be able to claim local artistic excellence in the genres revered by both me and said friend, but can nevertheless boast an extremely vivid music scene. Interesting concerts abound, as expected in a major Western city, filling my calendar for the fall to the brim.

As a warm-up for my most anticipated concert since visiting London in May, I took the opportunity to attend my first Fikasound event. Usually devoted to Swedish indie pop, the Madrid-based promotion company used Thursday's concert at El Sol to showcase two acts from neighboring countries: Danish duo Monkey Cup Dress and, most importantly, Norwegian Rockettothesky, whose wonderful song Grizzly Man had already made a strong impression. And well, despite a confused and very late starting time, recurring sound problems, and a near-empty albeit charming venue, the concert turned out rather well.

But the highlight of the week was undoubtedly to be the performance by Texan neo-classical post-rock band Balmorhea. I planned to see them at 2008's Preview Festival in Gothenburg, but due to poor tour management, their appearance was cancelled shortly before the show. To my disappointment, the event's promoter also failed to deliver on his promise to bring them to Sweden in the spring instead. But the long wait surely made Friday's concert even more special.

Arriving a little late, I unfortunately missed the opening act, which was supposed to be local ambient/IDM solo project The Folding and the point - who I will try to catch later this fall instead - but had been replaced by the indie rock band Meryll, formed by the headliners' sound engineer. My venue of choice for a Balmorhea concert would probably be an old theatre with excellent acoustics, or better yet one of the limitless open-air variety. The cramped, smoky basement of Siroco, however, offered no such ambiance or charm. Supposedly with a total capacity of 350, the two-floor venue held barely 100 madrileños when Balmorhea took the stage at 11pm, but considering the crampedness and temperature, I wouldn't want the attendance for a concert there to be much higher. Still, what the audience lacked in strength of numbers, we more than made up for in enthusiasm.

Each equipped with an acoustic guitar, Rob Lowe and Michael Muller lead off with the twinkles of Elegy, a song that just like Dream Of Thaw, The Summer and Windansea reminds me of The Album Leaf's Story Board, one of my favorite pieces of instrumental music. Their string trio composed of violin, cello and bass then joined in to introduce the next song, the fantastic San Solomon. This track, which both opens and closes their incredible 2008 sophomore album Rivers Arms, defines Balmorhea to me like no other with its soaring piano lines and elemental vocals. And to my relief and pleasure, it was no less amazing in the live setting. Following this masterpiece was no easy task, but a worthy challenge for Night In The Draw, my favorite song from their new album All Is Wild, All Is Silent. In its glory, it also made apparent the habit of Rob and Michael to alternate on piano, acoustic guitar, banjo and electric guitar throughout the set.

Michael then paused to talk about how much they enjoyed having a looser schedule for this Madrid visit than for their last in April, now allowing them time to get to know the city a little. Unfortunately though, Rob was suffering from a cold, something he said was common for him during tours when I spoke to him briefly after the show. On a side note, I could mention that I found his stage manner with the electric guitar oddly reminiscent of that of Claes Strängberg, front-man for Swedish ambient indie rock band Immanu El who I hope to see present their new album Moen here in Madrid in February.

Following the wonderful coahuila and a somewhat somber new track titled Night Sq., Balmorhea then gave us an electrifying rendition of settler with two crescendos that drew massive applause from all in attendance. As Michael then informed us, it was apparently an unusual way for them to do it: "we like to play a version of that song with no claps, but we thought: Madrid, we have to clap!". Continuing to focus on new material, they proceeded with Harm And Boon, during parts of which their drummer to my amusement acted like Pinocchio on speed. Truth, with its majestic finale, was announced as the last song, but after resounding praise, the band returned to play us one last piece, a second new song, Bowsprit, from their new album to be released at the end of February. And judging from the samples I heard last night, it will be just as good as we have come to expect.

To show my appreciation before heading out, I bought their last two albums and a nice-looking t-shirt, duly thanked the band for the great performance and wished them a continued good tour.

Setlist:
01. Elegy
02. San Solomon
03. Night In The Draw
04. coahuila
05. Night Sq.
06. settler
07. Harm And Boon
08. Truth
--
09. Bowsprit

Post your 20 favourite artists and:
a) the first song you've heard
b) the song which made you like them
c) your current favourite song

Evanescence
a) Bring Me To Life
b) Call Me When You're Sober
c) Bleed

Alanis Morissette
a) You Oughta Know (a looong time a go, when I was a child)
b) You Oughta Know (I guess)
c) Hands Clean

KT Tunstall
a) Suddenly I See
b) Another Place To Fall
c) Funnyman

Björk
a) Human Behaviour (I'm not very sure, but I think I've heard this song before I knew Björk)
b) Where's the Line?
c) Heirloom

Madonna
a) Don't Tell Me (not very sure)
b) American Life
c) Intervention

t.A.T.u.
a) All the Things She Said
b) All the Things She Said (also How Soon Is Now?)
c) Stars

Avril Lavigne
a) Complicated
b) Complicated
c) Complicated

Dido
a) White Flag
b) White Flag
c) Honestly Ok

Portishead
a) Cowboys
b) We Carry On
c) The Rip

Moby
a) Porcelain
b) Porcelain
c) Porcelain

The Album Leaf
a) The Light
b) The Light
c) Window

Flyleaf
a) I'm So Sick
b) Cassie
c) I'm Sorry

Leaves' Eyes
a) Norwegian Lovesong
b) Into Your Light
c) New Found Land

Jason Mraz
a) I'm Yours
b) I'm Yours
c) Coyotes

Leaves
a) I Go Down
b) Catch
c) Catch

Sigur Rós
a) Gobbledigook
b) Gobbledigook
c) Inní mér syngur vitleysingur