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:
 

MAÑANA: Interruptions. $14 buy CD

Quince Records (Japan). Swiss shoegazery in a Mew/Sigur Ros vein. »Listen here.

MIXTAPES & CELLMATES: Rox. $14 buy CD

Quince Records (Japan). Second album from Stockholm combo. Japanese version features two exclusive bonus tracks: “Summer” and “Apoidea.” »Listen here.

SPC ECO: SPC ECO 3-D (Japanese Version). $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). The return of Dean Garcia (Curve)… »Listen here.

KEITH CANISIUS: Waves. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Layered goodness from Rumskib man, Keith C. »Listen here.

NO AND THE MAYBES: No And The Maybes. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Eccentric pop from Denmark, courtesy of our globe-hopping, music-shopping friends at Quince. »Listen here.

SOLAR POWERED PEOPLE: Living Through the Low. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Spacerock/shoegaze from the Central Valley of California (not so far from RK HQ) brought back to our shores by way of Japan. Think Slowdive, Ride, Swervedriver, Failure, Interpol, Joy Division… »Listen here.

AT SWIM TWO BIRDS: Before You Left. $13 buy CD 

Vespertine & Son (UK). A fresh batch of nocturnal confessionals by RPM Quigley, man without compare (and voice of the Montgolfier Brothers). Bring on the ache! “Melancholia with healing powers in short then…” —adequacy.net »Listen here.

MY LITTLE PONY: Think Too Much. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Need we say more than “Skipping Down the Street”? Pure lemonade-drinker pop from Oslo by way of our friends at Quince in Japan. »Listen here.

POPFACE: Eleven Pieces of a Broken Heart. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). Norwegian shoegaze / indie stalwarts Popface turn their guitars down a notch or two with beautiful results. While overall volume may be lower, the soundscape remains dynamic (and gently experimental). But the main impression is of tender harmony floating on slightly down-tempo rhythms. Nice stuff! »Listen here.

ECOVILLAGE: Phoenix Asteroid. $14 buy CD 

Quince Records (Japan). I have never been particularly interested in artists like Ulrich Schnaus, Manual, or M83. You, however, might feel differently, and if you do, perhaps you should have a listen to this album. Elsewhere on the ’net the word is that Phoenix Asteroid is the dream pop / shoegaze album of 2009. »Listen here.

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.

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.

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:

New Release Forecast:

March 2010:

The Hepburns: How the Fallen are Mighty
Testbild!: The Lolita Wagner Case
Cavil: Mares' Tails

later:

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

RK Playlist Feb 2010:

Colourbox 12"s
The Passage 7"s
Miaow 7"s
Josef K: Sorry for Laughing
Pearly Gatecrashers: Handy Hints
Scarboro Aquarium Club: Mountaineering
Johnny Harris: Movements
Cristina: Sleep It Off
Grady Tate: Windmills of My Mind
Jacques Tati soundtracks
The Hepburns: Trojan Hearse
Dudley Moore: Bedazzled O.S.T.

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