Life goes on the same. Bury the pain. And hold on to love.
I love my hometown the way ‘ballboy’ love Scotland.

ballboy – I Hate Scotland

Wild Nothing

Here is a little bite for starters. Check out ‘We Must Not Shut Ourselves Away’ ; new single and the black and white fancy video. Enjoy the gaze, post-punk beats and glorious vocals of Matt Forder along the way.

In case you want more TDS in your life check out their blog. It’s a good read!
thedominostate.blogspot.com/

You’ve gotta be silent in order not to wake the devils up. Invisible insects and you and your empty cups. Tonight is fenouil-proof! Like the ones before. You’ve always liked that linden smell anyway. Maybe because once upon a time in the past; ‘your skin smells linden’ you were told. Now that feels warm. No? Time is kicking seeming a bit shy below the darkness. You wish you had some linden and Elliott Smith.

Last Call

Alcohol, my permanent accessory…

Time flees. It’s been 30 years today. More decades will come and go. The inspiration shall remain. R.I.P. Ian Curtis!

Joy Division – Decades

We all need some. Not in the crude way. Softly and gently. So that it won’t trigger my migraine. Wouldn’t like to be the type wearing sunglasses day and night. So soft that the caramel looking color invites you to hallucinate over the shadows. Make up the story of the whitewashed wall behind. Not so depressive, please. Light brings hope. So said Daniel Johnston once: ‘Maybe hope can shine a light… Love can save you now’.
Then there goes Jacob Golden’s calling to mind: ‘My favorite Daniel Johnston song was recorded on a tape deck before you were born...’ Can’t truly figure which song is Jacob’s favorite. Not a big big deal anyway. I will just shine my lights on tonight.

Jacob Golden – Shine A Light

I put your stockings in my purple boots. What if I don’t get over you?

Even better is the improvised cover in natural medium. Bother to click on. It’s fun.

Very much beloved Jimmy LaValle is back with his magic stick in hand. That magic he is generously spreading through The Album Leaf is entitled ‘A Chorus of Storytellers‘ this time. Such poetry! Been almost 4 years since Into The Blue Again has turned us upside down. Imagine the thirst we Album Leafers have towards new stuff. 4 years, I mean! (However a new Tristeza release last year helped me to whine less but still The Album Leaf is no Tristeza… Right?)

Recorded by Ryan Hadlock in Seattle and mixed by Birgir Jon Birgisson of Sigur Ros in Reykjavik (Oh yes!); new album is released on 2nd February through Sub Pop family again. I love my Sub Pop more each day.


First impressions; I am fascinated. As usual. ‘There Is A Wind‘, ‘We Are‘, ‘Falling From the Sun‘ and ‘Stand Still‘ are promising to become new Album Leaf classics; recalling ‘On Your Way’, ‘Over the Pond’, ‘Eastern Glow’…etc.

The thing about this new album is that for the first time the whole live band have performed the songs together instead of LaValle playing them as he did for earlier releases before. LaValle is becoming more of an orchestra now sharing his spot behind the mixing desks and all that stuff. Bringing together the chorus of his precious touring team: Matthew Resovich, Drew Andrews, Luis Hermosillo…

Perro’s down to earth opening of the record is like giving a soft massage to one’s soul. Getting followed with bagpipe like sounding Blank Pages and more strings and horns attached soul breakers down the line.

I guess Within Dreams, Summer Fog and Until The Last are few songs that Jon Birgisson affect is felt most. The strings, soothing catastrophe getting you déjà vu the calmest moments you have cherished back from Takk days.

Most powerful and say charts-friendly tune Almost There and Thule-esque Tied Knots wrapping up this 11 piece of ethereal balance. Satisfaction. And beyond.

Downtempo, piano, violin, sheltering vocals (some from The Black Heart Procession’s Pall Jenkins)… Same old beauty in the haunting ambiance, LaValle and co. are digging deep that sleeping desolation in mankind.

pre-order here

And here is a little bonus nicked from The Album Leaf’s official website. Enjoy!

Mixing in Iceland from TheAlbumLeaf on Vimeo.