nanoomi

No Brain on allkpop & Radio Radio MV

Allkpop has acknowledged the release of No Brain’s High Tension today, including a passage on the purpose of the album: No Brain returns after five years with sixth album, “High Tension”. Though contrary to what the headline suggests, No Brain has continuously been releasing mini albums and singles as well as contributing to various soundtracks since the release of fifth full length album 그것이 젊음 in 2007.

The music video for main track Radio Radio, directed by Johnny Royal’s Kimhwan, was released today: No Brain “Radio Radio”

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Two much-anticipated releases showed up in Hyang’s preorder section today. Almost two dozen addictive, warm indie pop songs coming up shortly!

Yesterday the mastering of the first album from lovely duo Autumn Vacation finished. The self-titled release will be out in digital format already this week on October 7 and the CD release follows suit a week later on October 14.

The musical genius of Julia Hart’s Bobby Chung paired with the warm and sweet vocals of Gyepy proved successful already last year with the release of a self-titled digital single, and I’ve loved everything I’ve heard since as well.

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Han Hee Jung will release a new EP, 잔혹한 여행, on October 6. In addition to six new titles, it also includes a band version of Drama that she sang together with Mot’s eAeon on her first album. Pastel Music offers a brief sample of the title track.

A bunch of links found via my feed reader over the last few days:

The Korean has put one of the bands that turned me towards the more alternative sides of Korean music on his list of influential artists: 50 Most Influential K-Pop Artists: 46. Deli Spice

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Lots of stuff happening on the Korean indie scene, including:

GoGo Star remasters first album
Disco rock band GoGo Star released Sept. 17 a remastered version of the now sold-out first full-length album Last Show. Although missing both You and 빠리미용실 간 제임스, the digital album instead features 악마성, originally from Go Go Party!, as a bonus track.

Sugar Donut releases new EP
Two years since the last full-length album and with a solo album from guitarist The Ash in between, “hybrid punk” band Sugar Donut is back with more Weezer-influenced music on the new EP called Say Yes. It would seem recordings started a couple of months ago and it was released Sept. 16.

Earlier this week, an official Sugar Donut Twitter account was launched.

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March was an unusual month for me, something that has been reflected in the updates here. Hopefully I’ll have a little more time for updates soon, so as a first step in the right direction, here’s a bunch of March releases left without a proper mention on the blog until now:

March 4:

Disco rock band GoGo Star has released its second single – “성난 인형극” (Seongnan Inhyeonggeuk”). It offers three new songs, and a music video has been recorded for the title track.

The re-worked songs on afro soul funk band Serengeti’s digital single Hello, Bye… have been released on a CD going by the title of Jam Bo Ree. Alongside the two original tracks, the CD also offers studio live recordings of “꿈속의 Africa” (“Kkeumsokeh Africa”) and 코끼리 (“Kokkiri”) from second album Oasis and Afro Afro, Come On and Wimbo from first album Afro Afro.

March 9:

New York Fish, the vocalist of latin jazz band Cobana has followed his 2007 solo debut Fish, Out From Water with a second full-length album called Forest of Truth. Janet previously posted a link to the music video for album main track Love Again

March 15:

Ego trip – “Lee Sang Hyub’s trial project” – has released a CD single called “봄, 밤” (“Bom, Bam”). From what I’ve gathered, this Lee Sang Hyub took part in the ninth Yoo Jae Ha singer-songwriter competition back in 1997. If the album info is to be trusted, the two songs on the single go in the style of acoustic modern rock and folk with a touch of electronica.

All-female pop/rock band Sweet Revenge has put out their second EP, Refresh. Just like last year’s debut Blow Out the new CD has been self-released. Hyang Music offers a brief sample for main track “Real One.”

March 16:

Super Kidd guitarist Johnny Kim and DJ DonG-Q have teamed up to form electronic DJ duo Hologram Party. Their first mini album is called RE’AL”ST.ORY.

I don’t really know what Gwan Ja Nol E is but the project appears responsible for a most interesting compilation called 야간활동 (Yagan Hwaldong). From modern rock and electronic pop to death metal and house, advertises the album info. Check out a short video clip for “녹차 프라푸치노” (“Nokcha Frappuccino”) from Flatshoes on YouTube or listen to samples from every song on MySpace.

Yi Eum’s first single l i g h t offers a sweet electronic pop number called “연애편지” (“Yeonae Pyeonji”), deemed a must-listen by Janet. In spite of the title, the single’s other song, “Take Me In An Acoustic Frame Of Mind,” too appears to fall within the same genre.

March 18:

After releasing a self-titled digital single in March 2009, indie pop duo Creamchou has now released its first full-length album, Shining Love. While the self-titled song from the single is nowhere to be found, other single track “샤워” (“Shower”) is included on the album tracklist. To hear vocalist Miyou’s lovely voice, check out the title track music video.

Female-fronted gothic metal/art rock band Opheila has released a CD called Sympathy with Your Fantasy. With a play time close to 80 minutes, it appears to be a narrative over 13 months with each month getting a song of its own. A video with samples of four songs from the album can be found on YouTube.

March 23:

Allegedly the Jason Mraz of Korea, Chekone has released his first EP, the self-produced Happy Train. Once one member of punk trio Bad Boy’s Circle (where Shin Tai Kwon too started out), it appears he’s now doing a mix of funk and soul.

March 31:

Rock band Jekyll is back with third full-length album Shining Heaven. I have yet to hear anything from their new album, but they tend to have great melodies that according to mrkwang fall within ’80s-style heavy metal.