Interview: Youngteam.

Youngteam is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and is a 4 piece band consisting of members Johan Angantyr, Peter Eriksson, Fredrik Liljequist and Mattias Hägerstrand.

Youngteam have been featured many times on Northern Star's legendary Psychedelica compilation series (sidenote: WTSH adores these comps) alongside the likes of so many talented bands, both legendary and up and coming artists.

Their sound brings to mind My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Sonic Flower Groove era Primal Scream and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, but they also have a particularly unique sound completely their own. According to Northern Star, there is no better way to describe their music than with the title of Youngteam's upcoming LP on the label, Daydreamer. This is a band to keep your eyes and ears on - Daydreamer is a masterpiece (a review of the LP will be up later today). When The Sun Hits is proud to feature this interview with the band. Enjoy!

1. How was the band formed?

Fredrik: Me and Peter were in another band together, and not really happy about the music, or the situation in general.

I had some songs that I'd had for years, and asked Peter if he could help me to record them. We went to our studio and recorded some of these songs and wrote some new stuff, friends were there helping out....

This gave birth to Youngteam, and our first EP, Missnöjesbandet.

2. Where does the name "Youngteam" come from?

Fredrik: It's taken from Mogwai, their album Young Team. I remember when I first heard that album, it was pretty much what I've been waiting for my entire life.

3. Can you tell us what you've been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future (new releases, tour, etc)?

Fredrik: Of course the release of our debut LP Daydreamer, we have been waiting so long it feels almost unreal, honestly.

Right now were working and recording on our NEXT album. We have recorded eleven new tracks so far that will be finished in 2011.

We will tour in the UK in March/April; that's the plan anyway. For those who are in Sweden around Christmas, we will set up a shoegaze & psychedelic night the 8th of January in Stockholm. We'll be playing, also our friends The Early Days, dj sets etc.

Youngteam. Daydreamer.

4. Do you consider Youngteam's music to be part of the current shoegaze/dream pop scene, or any scene at all?

Fredrik: I don't think you can brand our music. We have grown up with shoegaze, and the 80's/90's indie scene and we all love that music.

I think we're a combination of psychedelic rock, 90's indie, a little bit of 60's and shoegaze...

But we don't think about it much, we make music we would wanna listen to ourselves and that is fun to play.

5. What do you think of modern shoegaze/dream pop artists, any favorites?

Peter: My iPod is filled with old Captain Beefheart and Stooges records so its hard to say. But its inspiring to know that there is a scene and an interest for this kind of music.

6. What is the most important piece of gear for your sound? Any particular guitars/pedals/amps that you prefer?

Fredrik: I must say our Jazzmasters and Jaguars that we always use, I think Jazzmaster is the ultimate guitar, the sound, the tremolo, the long scale, good when playing open chords combined with riffs.

Also, it's very good if you use special tunings, as we always do, to create a sound we really like. Phantom 12 string is often used, really downtuned.

I mostly use a LOT of built in reverb from my vox ac30, and add delay from a boss pedal. Johan is using a LOT of delay pedals and reverse reverb. That's pretty much the basic Youngteam guitar sound.

Youngteam. Fade Into Light (live).

7. What artists (shoegaze/dream pop or otherwise) have most influenced your work?

Fredrik: My Bloody Valentine has been my guide through my music life since I first heard them with the Isn't Anything album. For songwriting and guitar style 2 persons have guided me to where I am - Kevin Shields and Thurston Moore. Bands that we really like and I guess influence us in our music are: My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Sonic Youth, Mogwai, The Brian Jonestone Massacre...

8. Can you tell us a little about what you are currently into (books, films, art, bands, etc)?

Peter: It's hard to tell. We all have different lives and interests, but we are joined together making our music.

9. If you had to choose one Youngteam track that was the ultimate definition of your sound, which would it be and why?

Peter: There is a song called "Adrift" which will be on our second album. It's a definition of our sound, but its impossible to pick only one really. There is a demo version of it on our Myspace, I think.

Youngteam. Adrift.

10. How do your write your songs? Collectively or individually?

Peter: Fredrik brings ideas and sometimes almost finished songs and then we all put in our part. And many of the songs don't get their final shape until during recording.

11. What is the most exciting thing that happened for Youngteam in 2010?

Peter: It has to be the mixing and mastering of Daydreamer. And knowing that its being put out next year. We started recording it almost 3 years ago so its been a long wait.

12. What is your philosophy (on life), if any, that you live by?

Peter: I guess you could use the answer from question #8: We all have different lives and interests, but we are joined together making our music.

Video: Hypomanie. She Couldn't Find a Flower, But There Was Snow.

Video: All Saints Day.You Can't Be Alone.

Video: Youngteam. Adrift.

It's Youngteam day on When The Sun Hits. Upcoming interview up very soon, and a review of their upcoming un-fucking-believable LP, Daydreamer, released by one of WTSH's favorite labels, Northern Star Records (you can already pre-order the album from Northern Star, so check out their site) later today. Start preparing yourself for...

YOUNGTEAM DAY!

Video: Primal Scream. Darklands (JAMC cover).

So. This isn't the best thing ever or anything. What a lame idea, actually.

Sarcasm unveiled - this actually is the best fucking thing ever.

New Video: Morpheme. Infection.

An updated placeholder video for The Project Morpheme's first stellar single. Psychedelic images + bad ass shoegaze/space rock + Perry Pelonero + Kim Welsh (bliss.city.east.) + Dean Garcia (Curve, SPC ECO). = bliss.

These guys are When The Sun Hits faves. Support this band! We can assure you, it won't be long before these guys start getting major attention.

Free Download: Amber's Shoegaze Radio Show. Aired Jan. 16, 2011.

Free Download: Amber's Shoegaze Radio Show.

originally aired on Jan. 16, 2011 on KTRU 91.7fm

Directions: Click HERE to download the show. Put on headphones or significantly turn up your speaker volume. Enjoyment should ensue.

See set list below for mid-enjoyment reference time. Gaze correctly!

artist . song title

Secret Shine. Every Thought.
Youngteam. Strange Days.
//orangenoise. I Know Everything.
The Jesus and Mary Chain. Darklands.
Insect Guide. Dead Sure.
Keith Canisius. People's Faces.
Bloody Knives. I Was Talking to Your Ghost.
pinkshinyultrablast. Deerland.
Love Culture. Green My Eyes.
The Lost Rivers. Stay.
The Voices. Evermore.
Mogwai. Travel is Dangerous.
Broadcast. Long Was the Year.

William Reid Discusses His Cats: A Thinly Veiled Metaphor.

The Reid brothers are almost as famous for their brotherly contention as they are for their music with The Jesus and Mary Chain. Sibling rivalry is normal - the infamous Reid brother antics are not quite. Fighting on stage, fighting while recording, fighting during interviews, physical brawls, not speaking to one another for years...yes, it's unfortunate, but it's also pretty hilarious. The following is a quote from William Reid about his cats - kind of.

(Thanks to the lovely Rorika Loring of the Fleeting Joys for passing along this quote!)


"I’ve got two cats - they’re called William and Jim. Jim’s a moaning little bastard and William is the nice one. I chose the name after I’d had them a couple of days so I could work out what names would be appropriate… so that I could work out which was the cutest. William is easily approachable and Jim keeps his distance. He’s very, very unfriendly and he’s incredibly timid. I love to torment him the way I used to torment Jim when he was a kid. Jim makes a brilliant noise, squealing. I’m thinking of making a tape loop of it."

– William Reid, August 28, 1987 (via thejesusandmarychain)

Interview: Stephen Lawrie of The Telescopes.

Does this man even need an introduction? For the sake of posterity: Ever since The Telescopes' very first release (a split flexi disc with Loop on the Cheree label in 1988) to the present, Stephen Lawrie (founder of The Telescopes, as well as on vocals and guitar) has never stopped impressing music fans with his output. Whether with The Telescopes or with other projects he's been involved with, his relentless love to create and explore sound has influenced and awed people for more than two decades. When The Sun Hits is extremely proud to feature this interview with the legendary Stephen Lawrie. We also want to thank Stephen for being awesome and doing this interview TWICE (the first one was lost due to a computer malfunction), which we can only imagine was huge a pain in the ass. Thank you, Stephen!

1. How were The Telescopes formed and how did the band choose that particular name?

I took inspiration to send me away.

It's infectious. I chose the name for it's meaning. "Beyond the realm of natural vision."

2. Do you consider The Telescopes to have been part of the first wave of shoegaze? I've always thought of the Telescopes as more of a psychedelia-oriented band, existing on the fringes of shoegaze. What is your take on that?

I don't have one. It's different for everyone.

3. Do you feel that your early sound changed at all, once The Telescopes moved to Creation Records? Was there pressure to be "shoegaze" under that label? How did you like working with Creation?

Telescopes are in constant flux. Everyone has their own idea of how Telescopes should be.

I liked working with Creation sideways.

The Telescopes. Everso.

4. I've always felt that the Telescopes experimental use of noise and feedback in their songs was exceptionally above the rest of the pack, on both past and more recent Telescopes releases. Can you talk a little about your interest in exploring these sorts of soundscapes, and why they are important to you?

It's the most natural form of expression for me. Songs are written. Even when they seem to fall from nowhere. But I think and dream in noise.

5. I've always felt that there must be a reason psychedelia-infused soundscapes - the feedback, droning, experimental noise, etc. - started to resonate with people, and continue to do so. Sounds once considered chaos are now considered beautiful. Do you have a theory on that?

Chaos reigns.

6. In my mind, there have been several "waves" of psychedelia movements in the past 50 years or so; one seems to be happening right now, with new groups looking to the past for inspiration - re-interpreting those sounds to make something new. Do you feel the Telescopes were/are, a part of this? Why do you think these patterns emerge?

Relay. But patterns are distractions. I'm more interested when things seem to transcend them.

7. What bands or artists most influenced you in your youth and had a significant impact on your own sound, if any?

Everything, nothing and the Velvet Underground.

8. Can you tell us a little about your label, Antenna Records?

Experimental free drone noise and repetition from around the world. Listen in.

9. What do you think of modern psychedelica/shoegaze/dream pop artists, any favorites?

"Villains" by One Unique Signal. "Spacewreck" by The Fauns. The Brian Jonestown Massacre's new album is sounding pretty special...

I'm not entirely sure how to place a lot of the things I enjoy hearing.

The Telescopes. Another Sky.

10. What is the most important piece of gear for your sound? Any particular guitars/pedals/amps that you prefer to get the sounds you want?

My R1. It's a clockwork box made of tin I use on strings/ pick-ups. I can make anything sound good with that.

11. Can you tell us a little about what you are currently into (books, films, art, bands, etc)? What are you presently finding influential?

The Dead c. Georges Bataille. Lars Von Trier. Bridget Hayden. All inspire. My biggest influence at the moment however, comes from working with a group again.

12. If you had to choose one Telescopes track that was the ultimate definition of your sound, which would it be and why?

I would have to take the forfeit.

13. What's next for the Telescopes (upcoming releases/tour/etc)? Are you involved in any other musical projects you'd like to talk about?

I'm always collaborating. Hanna Tuuliki and I are working on something for a Gaelic festival at the end of the month, taking inspiration from Hanna's research into old folk songs imitating bird call. I have plans to record with Afgan this year too. And Bridget and I have recordings we aim to put out. The first is a ltd edition 7" lathe cut due for release on the Champion Version label very soon.

I've just started a new vinyl imprint called Static Charge... A subsidiary of Genepool/Universal. First up is a raw document of a show with One Unique Signal and myself revisiting songs from Taste. It hurts.

And Taste itself is being reissued on Bomp Records with The Perfect Needle EP as bonus tracks. All those songs were recorded during the same sessions, so it's good to reunite them.

The Telescopes. The Perfect Needle.

Also, work has started on a new Telescopes album. We've just recorded a few songs in a studio Anton Fjordson is building in Berlin. People should buy all his records so he can finish that. There's going to be some great music coming out of that place. I'm very excited about what the Telescopes have recorded there.

On the live front - There's a Scandinavian tour coming up in March, the Fauns are helping me out, and scattered dates all over with the Signal.

14. Through working on this blog and talking to a vast range of musicians, I hear The Telescopes brought up extremely often as highly influential to many of them. Are you aware of how influential the Telescopes have been to other bands, both in the past and presently?

Yeah, people filter things in lots of interesting ways.

15. What is your philosophy (on life), if any, that you live by?

#

(Note from WTSH: Yes, that is a direct quote. We agree with the logic.)

Tomorrow: WTSH interviews Stephen Lawrie of The Telescopes.

No, we aren't joking. Quite an in depth interview with the legend himself - not to be missed. (Commence getting insanely stoked). Here's a video to tide you over!

Top 5 Albums of the Week.

Oh, hi, it's 2011! Welcome to another installment of When The Sun Hits' weekly obsessions. Old or new, undeniably shoegaze or proto-gaze, psychedelic or just plain noisy, we post our top 5 records each week, spotlighting what we've had on constant rotation. It's a great way to give old and new bands exposure, plus we just like making lists, because we are music nerds like that. (You know, studies have show that people with higher intelligence make lists...we're just saying.) Any way you slice it, you get a list of 10 records every week that we think are awesome, influential, and deserving of turning the volume up to 10.

We've archived all of the previous weeks for your browsing enjoyment, which you can find in the right side bar, if you're curious about such things.

*Amber's Top 5 Records of the Week*

1. Secret Shine. The Beginning and the End. Self Released. (2010)










2. Youngteam. Daydreamer. Northern Star Records. (2011)











3. Final. My Body is a Dying Machine EP. Avalanche Records. (2010)











4. V/A. Jesus in Space, The Resurrection Compilation. Killredrocket Records. (2011)











5. //orangenoise. //veracious EP. Self Released. (2011)

*Danny's Top 5 Records of the Week*

1. The Church. Priest = Aura. Arista. (1992)












2. My Bloody Valentine. Sunny Sundae Smile EP. Lazy Records. (1987)











3. Lilys. Eccsame The Photon Band. spinART Records. (1994)











4. Smashing Orange. The Glass Bead Game. American Native Records. (1992)











5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Young Adult Friction 7 inch. Slumberland Records. (2009)

News & Free Download: V/A. Jesus in Space 2011, The Resurrection Compilation.

Killredrocket Records has just released their FREE TO DOWNLOAD new compilation, Jesus in Space 2011, The Resurrection. It features, along with a fabulous album title, many When The Sun Hits favorites: Bloody Knives, Morpheme, pinkshinyultrablast, The Lost Rivers, Chatham Rise and Dead Leaf Echo, to name a few, as well as interesting new finds to check out like Boys Beware (who we're particularly digging right now), We are Hex, Infinity Rider, and plenty more.


Click HERE to download the compilation for FREE. At the very least, check out the track listing - it's a great cross section of bands this blog loves. Once you see that track list, you will be powerless against the need to download immediately. Also do it because Killredrocket Records is totally awesome. GO!

Interview: Me You Us Them.

Me You Us Them is the Brooklyn based trio of Ryan Reesey on guitar/vocals, Ian Ljungquist on bass/vocals, and Zach Eichenhorn on drums. Their sound is amazing but difficult to describe; honestly, the description on their LastFm page - "an anthemic wall-of-sound blitzkrieg" - is basically as on target as you can get with English words. Their 2010 debut LP, Post-Data (which made our list as one of the best LPs of the year), instantly electrified listeners everywhere, and with good reason. It basically kicks ass. An upcoming 7 inch split with When The Sun Hits favorites, Bloody Knives, is soon to be released (read Amber's review of it here), and from where we sit, Me You Us Them are bound for continued greatness. We loved doing this interview - these guys are entertaining, to say the least! We hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did.

1. How was the band formed?

Ian: Ryan and I knew each other from both growing up in Maryland. Over the years, our paths crossed unexpectedly, the last time being here in Brooklyn. He was looking for a drummer, and I had just quit my band. People came and went, I moved over to bass, we changed our name, got our good friend Zach to play drums, and here we are.

2. Where does the name "Me You Us Them" come from?

Ryan: We named ourselves after the only song we had at the time.

Ian: And it's also who we write songs about.

Me You Us Them. "Me You Us Them".

3. Can you tell us what you've been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future (new releases, tour, etc)?

Ryan: I've been working on growing my hair out. It's at that awkward length right now.

Ian: We're writing new songs about it. He looks pretty Biebed out right now. We're also about to release a split 7" with some gents from Texas called Bloody Knives. Perhaps a spring tour.

4. Can you talk a little about some of the special packaging for Post-Data, for those that aren't aware how awesome it is?

Ian: I refuse to address those who aren't aware of us.

5. Do you consider Me You Us Them's music to be part of the current shoegaze/dream scene, or any scene?

Ryan: I never really considered us a part of that scene until people started grouping us in with those types of bands. I guess I can see how an outside perspective might think we're a bit gazey.

Ian: I think there are some very "gazey" and dreamy moments on the record, and I wouldn't hold it against anybody for using those classifications to help describe us to their friends. But I think there are also some influences in there that pull us away from completely fitting into that category. But call us whatever you want.

6. What do you think of modern shoegaze/dream pop artists, any favorites?

Ryan: Lately I've been listening to A Place To Bury Strangers and Hooray for Earth a lot. We can squeeze them in there, right?

Ian: After rehearsal, the last thing I want to hear is a Fender Jaguar and oodles of reverb.

7. What is the most important piece of gear for your sound? Any particular guitars/pedals/amps that you prefer?

Ryan: Fender Jaguar. Reverb pedal.

Ian: Haha. He actually uses his Jazzmaster more often. I sound like I'm covering for him.

Ryan: I use whatever I can afford. It's all important, but we rely pretty heavily on our various pedals.

Ian: That's what we're staring at, people. Not our shoes.

Me You Us Them. "Big Time".

8. What artists (shoegaze/dream pop or otherwise) have most influenced your work?

Ian: My musical quilt: stitched together patches of South of Heaven, Surfer Rosa, Violator, Gone Glimmering, Emergency and I, and The Immaculate Collection. 1000 thread count.

Ryan: Nice. I'm going to go an all cotton blend of Sister, Hissing Prigs in Static Couture, Celebrate the New Dark Age, Dots and Loops, Over the Edge, and Songs from the Big Chair.

9. Can you tell us a little about what you are currently into (books, films, art, bands, etc)?

Ian: Old Kenny Loggins, "The Big Payback" by Dan Charnas, "Breaking Bad", Brie and honey mustard on Wheat Thins, Words with Friends.

Ryan: '80s rom-coms and sandwiches at Vanessa's Dumplings in Chinatown, NYC.

10. If you had to choose one Me You Us Them track that was the ultimate definition of your sound, which would it be and why?

Ryan: From the album? Maybe "As of Now"? It covers a lot of landscape, so you may get an idea of who we are.

Ian: Sure, why not.

Me You Us Them. "As of Now".

11. How do your write your songs? Collectively or individually?

Ryan: Honestly, it's different every time, but me and Ian scrapping over a chord change or song structure is pretty standard practice.

Ian: While Zach just laughs and makes fun of us from the corner. We are probably most productive when we record as we write. That way no one forgets what they were doing last time, and it allows us to revisit, edit, and build ideas between sessions.

12. What is the most exciting thing that happened for Me You Us Them in 2010?

Ian: We released our 2009 debut. It was a little overdue.

Ryan: Haha. We also had the pleasure of getting to meet and play with some pretty fantastic bands, and made a lot of new friends in unexpected places.

13. What is your philosophy (on life), if any, that you live by?

Ryan: Are we there yet? It's my mission question.

Ian: "If time has taught me anything
Got to learn to be the ball
And I can’t keep from laughing at it all (whoa)
I’m gonna laugh" - Kenny Loggins

www.myspace.com/myutnyc

http://www.facebook.com/meyouusthem

New Video: Sleepmask. Run.

News: Northern Star Records to Re-Release The Voices' Final Album.

Breaking news! According to Scott Causer, of Northern Star Records: "The legendary lost album is lost no longer. The third and final album from The Voices will be available through iTunes, Amazon & Play from January 16th courtesy of Northern Star Records."

This is AMAZING news.