Allow me once again to recommend. Mew And The Glasshanded Kites. In stores now. Rave reviews from all over the world. I am proud that music like this can come from out of little Denmark.

First a rundown of all the songs and then some reviews, because you need to know this. Or maybe I just need to say it.
—

Circuitry of the Wolf
//

Chinaberry Tree
Tears out, it would feel so
Heavenly, Heavenly, Heavenly
hard now to picture a me
Without a you

Why Are You Looking Grave?
You’ve got smiling eyes
softly dividing
What they see in your face
From what you feel like inside

Fox Cub
And what you thought was true
Well, they were lying to you

Apocalypso
I’ve lost all my pure feelings
The psychiatrist posing as psychologist
When fear predicts
Then doubtly the mind suffers
Are we talking?
White is the winter

Waltz with me, courageously
We’re dancing, dancing
We will not die
Our days are multiplied
And I’m happy again

Special
There’s a taste that you can’t shake
But you can’t seem to let them go awry

The Zookeeper’s Boy
Answer me truthfully, do the clouds kiss you?
With meringue-coloured hair, I know they cannot

A Dark Design
A self-destructive mind of dark design
We may just live through life
Watching it from sweet repose
Cut up with knives that slice open

Saviours Of Jazz Ballet
Hey, folks! It’s the Saviours of Jazz Ballet
Fearless heroes of kick and spin

An Envoy To The Open Fields
In the corners of your eyes
I’ll stretch the sky in blue

Small Ambulance
//

The Seething Rain Weeps For You
Should I re-live my life
I’d run into you much sooner

White Lips Kissed
Our love is a fickle love
Keeps itself locked in a suitcase
To be ready to go
Always

Louise Louisa
And don’t ever think of trouble
The darkness that has been
No, don’t patronize with sorrow

It is prog 2005 style, blending rock and pop. It’s a layered delight that might not be immediate but provides something new with each listen. It’s riff heavy coming across as a modern mix of Yes, Genesis, It Bites and Mike Oldfield. Don’t let that scare you, it all works.
bbc.co.uk

Something has happened in Mew’s world; something enormous and brilliant. Where once were songs now stand slabs of complex yet thrilling symphonic movements that veer between cataclysmic thrashing to delicate minimalism and all points in between, each containing at least five potential songs in their own right, yet none of them hanging around long enough to leave you secure or comfortable. (…) “And The Glass Handed Kites” is truly a masterpiece and one that you’ll keep exploring for years. Goodness knows where they go from here.
uk.launch.yahoo.com

Mew have been sending their epic rumblings towards the mainstream for as long as this beer-decayed brain can recall (that’ll be two or three years then), but with Frengers, 2003’s much-acclaimed debut album, still riding high among indie popularity contests in magazine offices and student unions alike, this year looks likely to be the final make-or-break for the Danes.
drownedinsound.com

After the two excellent singles preceding Mews second album “Mew: And The Glass Handed Kites”, there’s no disappointment at all in the bands well appointed and uplifting 14 track collection. (…) This is inevitably an ambitious and complex album, although its sounds are at times sparse – but it’s a release to live with and Mew provide exquisite melodies set to the thinking mans drum beats. It’s well worth investigating.
music-dash.co.uk

This is the band’s follow up to debut album “Frengers” which was released in 2003. These Danish imports are no strangers to the UK music scene and their fans apparently include both Bono & Michael Stipe.
disordermagazine.com

Sure, this album is divided into 14 tracks, but it exists as one enchanting entity, flowing in one marvellous, mesmerising movement of Mew. (…) The throbbing rythms, samples, soaring organs and expertly off-kilter guitar strums that define this album are executed with finesse. Lulling the listener into dreamy soundscapes without ever letting go (…) this is the perfect soundtrack to the band’s own fantastical video imagery. Time to take note.
Rocksound magazine.

Producing dark and atmospheric songs, Mew possess a graceful beauty and create an epic sound with strikingly memorable tunes over which delicate vocals soar to angelic heights.
amazon.com

So they did it again,the Danish professors of genius pop – MEW!
melodic.net

Aside from Carlsberg and bacon, Denmark doesn’t seem to export much. Musically one could be forgiven for thinking only of cheesy pop acts (Aqua, Whigfield, Junior Senior) or bands hopping on the Scandinavian metal bandwagon (Konkhra, Ill Disposed). Until, that is, Mew. (…) they combine the fragile beauty of bands like The Buffseeds or Ooberman with the prog dynamics of Sigur Ros. (…) I still don’t know what the glass handed kites are all about, but by all accounts songwriter Jonas Bjerre has some pretty weird flights of fancy. After listening to this magical album, I’m just about ready to join him…
uk-fusion.com

I’m sorry to have gone all Mew bananas on you, but I got in the mood and didn’t want to resist it. I actually have a whole other entry almost done with some great stuff in it. But that’ll have to wait for tomorrow, or possibly Sunday. For now I’m going to go listen to Mew. Won’t you join me, won’t you please?

Mew official
Purchase!
Buy the album on amazon.com
Buy the album on amazon.co.uk
Buy the album on recordstore.co.uk
And probably other places too. It should be in stores in the UK at least. Of course I would never suggest that you download it from the intarweb because that would be wrong etcetera. I certainly don’t care more about people actually hearing the music than about legalities. Nope. Not me. I’m all about the cold, hard cash.

—
UPDATE:
Oh oh, speaking of Danish music. The amazing Tina Dickow (or Dico, possibly) will be playing in the states. Remaining dates:

01.10.2005 02.20, Boston NEMO – afternoon
07.10.2005 midnight San Francisco CA, Rx Gallery
08.10.2005 midnight Hollywood CA, Hotel Café
13.10.2005 midnight Chicago IL, Uncommon Ground

So if you’re anywhere near there then I suggest you go see her. And tell her Lasse sent you.

Also in the UK:

24.10.2005 9 pm, London, The Water Rats Theatre

Trust me, you won’t regret it. And if you do regret it I’ll refund your ticket. Seriously, I’m not joking. If you go see her and you think she stinks then I’ll personally give you a refund. YOU CAN’T LOSE.

(Just to cover my ass (and that’s a lot to cover), this offer is limited to the first.. oh let’s say 5-6 people. Not that I expect anyone to actually go. But I’m not made of money, you know).

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