Mimas video live: Why in the world not?

(From "The Worries")

An interview with Mimas...

Distile: Hey Mimas! Where are you from?

Mimas: We're from the future. No just kidding. We were formed in 1960 and then we broke up and reunited in 2004 with the name Mimas and Papas, but now we just like Mimas more. We live in the only country in Scandinavia where you can get seriously drunk without being the poorest person on earth the day after. Booze is cheap here!

Distile: Why are you named Mimas?

Mimas: We really think that most good artists start with a M. Megadeth, Madonna, George Michael.... So we were really sure about the M. Imas we came up with while playing squash. It's a mental conidtion.

Distile: How would you define you?

Mimas: If you would think of a mix between the old Take That and then take some of Ice Cubes solo stuff and put in a bit of the more melodic Norweigian Black Metal you would be completely off. We're just way more indie than that.

Distile: Your first album “The Worries” will be out soon on Distile Records. How is everything going so far?

Mimas: Well. Very well. All we ever wanted since we were small kids on the playground shitting our pants and eating dirt was to make music and play it for people.

Distile: Your record is already a success in the UK and you will tour Europe on June 2009. Are you planning to tour the US soon?

Mimas: World domination is on our to do list, so of course!

Website: Mimas

We announce!

Atlanta avant-rock combo Untied States will release their third full-length on Distile at the beginning of 2009. Untied States' electrifying experimental rock has already attracted attention from a number of influential tastemakers including Dusted, Popmatters, Smother, Tiny Mixtapes and Delusions of Adequacy. These masters of pop disaster will pull out a whole new assortment of tricks to bring us one of the most inspired records of the new year.
>>>Myspace

Listen to: Untied States - You Own Your Own (from Retail/Detail)




Danish band Mimas will be the second big surprise in store for Distile fans in 2009. The quartet's debut record, "The Worries", strikes the perfect balance between post rock atmosphere, pop melody, and jazzy freedom, all tied to a distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic. Mimas have become prominent in the Danish and British indie-scene since the release of their EP “Hands will Carry” and have been recommended by Drowned in Sound, Rough Trade, Tasty Fanzine amongst others.
>>>Myspace

Listen to: Mimas - Cats On Fire (from The Worries)

O! The Joy will hit Europe on December 8th

After having being compared in the United States with bands such as The Mars Volta, Portugal The Man or The Fall of Troy, the Sacramento’s quatuor will spread their disillusioned joy in Europe. This is about to be one of the highlight of the end of this year.The release date is scheduled on December 8th.

To put it simply, O! The Joy’s Zen Mode has been one of the most stimulating listening for a while. Blending every possible musical genres, from prog' to math, from pop to experimental, from jazz to soul, from emo to noise, the album is multi-directionnal and unpredictable such that you could be lost and baffled while you are listening to it. Be warned.

O! The Joy was designed since their beginning to be the ground of experimentations. This is a free electrons band and a three strong-charactered musicians’ gathering, leading by the virtuoso drummer Justin Goings (Mister Metaphor, Playing To The Grandstand). Add an unconventionnal guitar player (Jason Ellis) and a slightly emo singer (Kurt Travis), and you will get the point! Zen Mode is a challenging and amazing masterpiece.

Listen to: Zen Mode

Norcal Math Rock

Everything you always wanted to know about math rock (but were afraid to ask). Music writer’s Nick Greer of Sputnikmusic.com has just published a comprehensive report about this little-known rock subcategory. Illustrating his paper with the best Californian math rock bands around, this should give you a good overview and make you want to go further. And yes, we are very glad to see our Planets featured in this article!
We will offer you a video interview of Paul & Thomas very soon, originally shot for the European broadcast “Tracks” to follow the discussion.

Norcal Math Rock by Nick Greer: read the full story.

Steps

June 26th. A muggy afternoon in Brooklyn. Paul parks his trailer next to the Galapagos Art Space. Tonight the show will be starting at midnight after a couple of crappy local bands. Planets is pretty lucky though, their tourmates Ahleuchatistas will be playing at 1 am...
A couple of hours to kill in this quiet neighborhood. An interview for a European TV broadcast called "Tracks". Conversations about music and politics, about the differences between the States and Europe, about the meaning of what it is to be an underground rock band today...

Thomas is rehearsing the battery in the van while Paul moves his 6 handmade speakers up to the stage and puts the finishing touches for the show. Now it's time to get dressed like ghosts. Now it's time to go fast and furious.

The show will be short and hectic. Songs following each other without a rest. A wall of sound and fury, a music mixed up with psychedelic images creating a new dimension in which you are entirely -physically and mentally- absorbed. When the show is finished, you need a few minutes to return to Earth. But you definitely want to buy another ticket.


Steps. A journey through the song.

Commodor's "Driving Out Of Focus"

If you didn't already know that Switzerland is home to a bunch of kickass rock bands, you'd better get up to date immediately. One of the first bands that introduced us to this hectic scene was called Honey For Petzi. Mathy* as we like, here at Distile. And here’s a few more names: Shovel, Favez, Impure Whilelmina, Ventura, Knut...yeah, heavy rock for your I-pod-filled ears. Well I guess if you're browsing this blog, you're not too afraid of experiencing more breakthrough tunes. So let’s introduce you to Commodor.

Commodor is a trio from Geneva with Adriano Perlini (guitar, vocals), Tim Robert-Charrue (bass, keyboard) and Christophe Henchoz (percussion). If you have been educated at the Swiss school, you should know that Tim holds the 6-strings in Knut (Hydrahead Industries). That's the heavy element.
Thus, Commodor has a rich loud sound, yes. You can't deny their origin. They have the acrimonious and abrasive sound of their Swiss mates for sure. And since I’ve seen them live in first part of Trans Am, I can tell you that these guys are seriously busy on stage.

But Commodor also comes up with the vision of frontman Adriano Perlini and the background of jazz drummer Christophe Henchoz who set the band apart and pushed it in other directions than purely heavy. They bring the "post" and the "math" to the heavy part.
Kind of Girls Against Boys or These Arms Are Snake? Maybe.
Just check them out and stay tuned of their upcoming US Tour 2009.

Commodor - Driving Out Of Focus available in the United States of America on August 12th 2008 (Stickfigure).

*Assuming you're not afraid of this bad bad word.

MEDIA
Listen to: Commodor - Panavision