The Alialujah Choir is Adam Shearer and Alia Farah of Weinland, and Adam Selzer of Norfolk & Western and M. Ward. The Portland, Oregon outfit have delivered a delicious album that radiates sincerity and poignancy, without resorting to the type of earnest claptrap which has blighted the scene these past few years.

If you’re a fan of well crafted folk/pop with gorgeous harmonies, this band is for you! Check out this clip, the first song from their first ever live show, in their hometown:

The album will be out 14th February 2011.

The video for the lead track, ‘Anyone But You’ was directed by Manchester’s Plastic Zoo and was shot as an homage to long forgotten family holidays on an ancient VHS Camera.

Catch the boys live around the UK in support of the single, before heading back to the US and a return to SXSW in March.

February
24th – Edinburgh, Henry’s Cellar Bar
25th – Sunderland, Independent
28th – Sheffield, Bowery
29th – Leeds, Nation Of Shopkeepers

March
1st – London, Shacklewell Arms
3rd – Manchester, venue TBC
10th – Baltimore
11th – Philadelphia
13th – 18th – Austin, SXSW
20th – Virginia
21st – North Carolina
23rd – New York, Cake Shop

Pre-order the single here

Why Phone Joan?

There are many reasons why we think you should, but mostly because you could. Just dial +47 917 99466.

Can you tell us a bit about where you are from and how you got together?

Most of the band members rose from the cold and wet basements of Oslo, Norway’s indie-rock scene during the financial crisis that took place around 2008-2009. All of us were starved for anything with substance. The superficial and tiring Norwegian music scene needed someone to shake things up a bit. So we all decided to call her. She’s the one bringing us together. This, and the fact that we were promised lots and lots of beer (and if you think about it…. who the hell could say no to that?) made us form Phone Joan in 2009.

You’re video for ‘Damned’ is pretty powerful stuff, tell us more.

You know, information is so shock oriented. More and more of it is aimed to produce an emotional rather than rational response to what is presented. And most of the propaganda gladly vomited on us is only aimed to create fear. From one day to another, it seems the only question is how to top it. Everyone’s ending up screaming at each other, but none of us ever get the time to sit down and listen.

This video doesn’t cover the aspect which the song is about, but portraits some of these issues, for better or worse, because nothing is forbidden in the struggle against indifference.

It is produced by “FOLKEFIENDER,” which directly translates to “public enemy” and it portrays this beautiful woman’s “walk of shame” ending up, right back, where she started. It’s so beautifully shot giving the viewer a glimpse of our city Oslo.

Who has influenced your music the most?

It depends on who you ask. Elisabeth (drummer) is more into soul, jazz and hip hop. Randi (bass) could like most anything, while Carina (vocal) and Rikard (guitar) are more into the older stuff. The mix which she creates is more in the middle of everything; gluing it all together into a ramshackle 70’ shoegaze thing. Some say they hear a lot of Neil Young, others say The Dead Weather and Ida Maria.

If you phone Joan and ask her, we think she can relate to any of those.

What was the first piece of music you ever heard that really left a mark on you?

Again it depends on who you ask, but we all think Ida Maria is an awesome person who needs to be mentioned just because of that.

Mentionable “Joan likes” though are: Wildbirds and Peacedrums, Blind Faith, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Jack White, Beyoncè, Erykah-Badu, Led Zepplin, Prince, and a bunch more….

Name one thing no one knows about the band?

Well everyone thinks this is a band that consists of 3 women and 1 man, but in fact there are no evidence yet been presented that Rikard actually has a penis. In fact all of us, even Rikard himself, are convinced of the opposite.

Where do you stand: MP3 or Vinyl?

Vinyl! You can’t touch or fondle with the mp3. +47 91799466 will only come out in full version on vinyl. Only 9 of the 12 tracks will be made available for digital download. We don’t do this only because we need to have a product that is just that…. an actual product, but also because we think vinyl gives more authentic sound quality to the recordings.

Music entertainment has already lost most of its core value and is surviving on fumes right now. This is not necessarily because of digital download, but because we can only take so much. The overflow of meaningless shit is grabbing the last of the true believers with them and sending them straight into the void of apathy. And this is where we are right now… packed heavily with good intentions ready to fight it off. But as the song says “we are worried that all of these efforts that we’ve made here, would be worth nothing.” Vinyl is the only thing left with a glimpse of reality in this overpopulated music world although we recognize the value of convenience.

What are your hopes for 2012?

That we might see a shift in the media’s focus and that this year will go into history as the year were music died and then came to life again.

Finally, when the last warning goes off, what track do you stick on your iPod?

Actually, right now, that would be the starting track of the album +47 91799466, a song called “Plastic Rubber Souls,” where the first lines are, “A ball of fire lights the sky, seems like something’s gonna change. Streak of massive orange light, now we be on our way; new plastic rubber souls, new spiritual defense. This bad imitation of life has been giving a second chance.”

This interrogation first appeared on TVDUK

In the fine, longstanding tradition of quality maintained by the Young And Lost Club label, the band, formed in late 2009, consists of Elliot Michaud (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ish Nazmi (bass, backing vocals) and Mike Seay (drums, backing vocals) and look destined for great things in 2012.

Whilst looking for a name for this project, Gabriel turned to one of his favourite albums for inspiration, Kate Bush’s Hounds Of Love providing the necessary latter part of the name.

The album was recorded in living rooms, garages, and in proper studios all over Brooklyn, including Seaside Lounge and The National’s garage studio. It features performers who are in or have recorded with The National, Beirut, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sufjan Stevens, Tune-Yards, Bjork, Jonsi, and St. Vincent. The result is an intimate record that conveys warmth and sincerity with an occasional buoyancy and punch.

The World Unfolds (above) is a Free download from Gabriel & The Hounds

February 27th sees the release of “We Should Be Swimming,” the second single from Zulu Winter on the venerable Double Denim label.

Formed last year, Zulu Winter (Will Daunt – vocals & guitar; Iain Lock – bass; Dom Millard – keyboards; Henry Walton – guitar, and Guy Henderson – drums) have already picked up radio support from Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq, and Huw Stephens.

Inevitably, when listening to this London five-piece’s sound, there’ll be shouts of Coldplay, but maybe, just maybe, they can develop into what Coldplay could have been and not limp into major label tedium as Chris Martin and Co. have. This track and the band’s forthcoming album are produced by the excellent Tom Morris, so there is some hope.

Zulu Winter will be playing a handful of London shows early this year as well as supporting The Horrors in SE Asia and Japan before heading to Texas for SXSW.

Despite the rather daft name (have they never heard of The Good, The Bad & The Queen???) Danish rockers The Good The Bad justify the claims and hyperbole staked on their behalf.

Following their last blast of sonic devilry, the wonderful “030,” comes their latest video for the numerically inferior yet artistic equal of its successor, the glorious “023.”

’023′ by The Good The Bad

The Good The Bad have already clocked up several million plays on Youtube, so they are clearly on their way. This time the buzz is justified, these boys are going places!

Free track available over ‘ere

The Good The Bad are: Adam Olsson (The Adam) on lead guitar, Johan Lei Gellett on drums and Manoj Ramdas (ex-The Raveonettes) on baritone guitar.

… and as a bonus… for all you girl ‘n’ guitar perverts…

Following the recent release of his debut album, Pinemarten kicks off 2012 in generous style by making a track from his fab new EP Here It Is available free from Bandcamp.

Emphasizing the mysterious Derbyshire-based producer’s prolific nature, “Here It Is” picks straight back up from the instrumental remains of his debut album. Slowing things right down from the title track of this new EP, the same infectious, romantically-imbibed synth tones are present throughout but find Pinemarten in a far more introspective and pensive mood.

Here It Is by Pinemarten

Stealing Sheep celebrate their signing to Heavenly Records with a low-key show in London this week. The wonderful folk-rock band from Liverpool play melodically sublime songs that show their impeccable influences, and also their creativity.

For a chance to win two tickets to see Stealing Sheep play a rare London show at the Old Blue Last this Tuesday, December 13th (that’s tomorrow!), just go to the article HERE and Retweet @Strollonlive

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