The Latebar

This post was supposed to be about the British pop legends Erasure, their new album ‘The Violet Flame’ and their December 10th gig in Aarhus, Denmark… But though the album is the best Erasure studio-album in a decade and their performance in Aarhus was totally flawless in every aspect, we are still a bit numbed in awe of another duo. The name is ‘Shelter’ and we think it’s safe to say, they made a lasting impression in Denmark.

“Finally!” some might cry out in relief. One of the most promising bands in Denmark these days, Magnolia Shoals, is about to release their debut album. In February 2015 the growing crowd of followers scattered around Europe can add nine new songs to the already cult hits “Looking for Love in Mengele” and “I Will Roam Again” from the 2011 EP ‘Life Danced in the Flesh’, when the band’s first full studio album ‘Tenants’ is released.

The summer in in Scandinavia is running out. But looking back at what was probably the most warm and sunny summer in the past couple of decades one thing sticks out. The collaboration between two of Denmark’s most prominent young contemporary singer-songwriters and the EP that followed their joint-venture.

Even though the bandmembers of the Danish electro-rock trio Carpark North, Lau Hojen, Soren Balsner and Morten Thorhauge are only in their early thirties, they’re slowly turning into well-established veterans on the stage. Currently the band is touring Denmark with their new album ‘Phoenix’ – and as usual the band conducts their gigs as if it were their last.

How often do you come across an entire album of songs that never were meant to be released? Well, here is one – Danish pop band Nice Little Penguins presents ‘Songs – that didn’t make it’. A collection of 15 “old” songs hand-picked by the band members.

On January 20th 2014 ‘Apian’ released the song ‘Breathless’. It was followed by a video featuring the artist symbolically wandering around the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art north of Copenhagen. Maybe seeking a bit of sanctuary at the internationally renowned museum from the numbing brutality in the surrounding world, Apian here explains the inspiration for ‘Breathless’.

We are not short of album-releases containing more or less repetitive nonsense around Christmas. But there is always one, that sticks out – a diamond in the rough, a star that shines through the otherwise overclouded sky of glossy advertisement. Right?
We (at Latebar) are not reluctant to declare Erasure’s album ‘Snow Globe’ that star. This is the Christmas album of 2013.

Just at quick intermission from us here at the Latebar. Especially for all of you synthpop Hurts-fans out there. The full 2013-gig @ Glastonbury is now online. It is definitely worth spending an hour on, as it is well produced and ditto well played.

Latebar was ALSO created to promote Scandinavian bands and musicians we personally find interesting and worth sharing with the world. But we regretfully admit, we’ve probably neglected that a bit. But here’s something any pop-rock lover really should spend a minute on. Check out Morten Abel!

The blessed Scottish outfit, Simple Minds, has just launched a new YouTube-channel, SimpleMindsVideo, which we strongly advise any true fan to give a closer inspection. The channel is already well supplied with many of the old videos and – more importantly – lots of fan-pleasing behind-the-scenes stuff and new interviews.