28 June 2023

Lotte Kestner "Radiohead Covers" (2023)

Radiohead Covers (ep) (compilation)
release date: Apr. 7, 2023
format: digital (4 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,63]
producer: Anna-Lynne Williams [recorded by]
label: self-released - nationality: USA


Four previously released covers have here been compiled for digital download at Kestner's bandcamp profile. Tracks #1 and #2 are both included on Covers 2 (2020), track #3 was previously included on Covers (2015), and track #4 has previously been available on her bandcamp site. Covers are just a big part of Kestner's music, as most of her releases have included covers, and she has released several singles, eps, and albums exclusively containing cover songs, so covering Radiohead is not such a special thing.
Her speciality, when speaking of covers, is her ability to make her very own and highly original ambient folk-versions of not-folk material, and in that regard it's always fascinating how she chose to arrange these songs.
The four Radiohead songs are all major classics by this great innovative British band and in Kestner's hands they shine anew. I do prefer the originals, but Kestner's versions are still intruiging renditions.

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12 June 2023

Ukendt Kunstner "Dansktop" (2023)

Dansktop
release date: May 12, 2023
format: vinyl / digital (11 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,04]
producer: Jens Ole McCoy
label: FortyFive / Universal Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Hena" - 2. "Dansktop" - 3. "Uden dig" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Gran Turismo" - 5. "Fastelavn" - 6. "Kerosin" - 7. "Stjernekigger" - 9. "Hele dagen" - 11. "For livet" (4,5 / 5)

3rd studio album from Danish rap-duo Ukendt Kunstner follows more than seven years after Den anden side (Feb. 2016). To the regret of half a nation, the two artists announced the end of their project in late '16 despite experiencing massive success. After this, they both concentrated on solo projects. Composer and producer Jens Ole McCoy especially became renowned for his musical scores to movies but also continued as producer, and Hans Philip, who had been the voice of the band, released two acclaimed solo albums before they dropped the bomb: without any rumours or announcements they released this very album and simultaneously declared they were back! Out of nowhere!! Sneaky, sneaky... wonderful guys!
Not only are they now back, but of course they're back with a musical statement. They don't repeat their previous sucesses but come out with a new sound - it's so much part of their instinct not to repeat. Dansktop is in every sense an original album. It doesn't just play along other rap-artists' styles and sound. These two have made their name and continue in a league of their own, and it appears they (can) do whatever they feel like. The album still brings back bits of the groove from their two previous albums, it takes up some of the fragility from Hans-Philips' solo albums, and then it comes out as something new. There's a simplicity to it but also a will to explore and experiment, and in either or any case: they are near sublime. So many Danish rap and hip hop artists walk around the same bushes, do the same mixes, employ the same productions, but this is just original material. Loved it from day one, and it only gets better!
Highly recommended!
[ Politiken, Gaffa.dk 5 / 6, 👍Soundvenue 4 / 5 stars ]

2023 Favorite releases: 1. Anohni and the Johnsons My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross - 2. Ukendt Kunstner Dansktop - 3. Sigur Rós Átta

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