coloring car: January 2009

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG photos

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG interior

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG photos

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG interior

2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Pictures

2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren pics

2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren dashboard

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Pictures

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class picture

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class dashboard

2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4 MATIC Pictures

2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4 MATIC

2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4 MATIC images

2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4 MATIC interior

2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 Pictures

2008 Mercedes-Benz E550

2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 interior

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Pictures

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG interior

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300 Pictures

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300 pics

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300 images

2008 Maserati GranTurismo Pictures

2008 Maserati GranTurismo

2008 Maserati GranTurismo pictures

2008 Maserati GranTurismo interior

2008 Lotus Elise Pictures

2008 Lotus Elise

2008 Lotus Elise pictures

2008 Lotus Elise dashboard

2008 Lexus IS F Pictures

2008 Lexus IS F

2008 Lexus IS F interior

2008 Jeep Liberty Pictures

2008 Jeep Liberty

2008 Jeep Liberty pictures

2008 Jeep Liberty interior

One eye is weeping and one eye is laughing. Ruined by Martin has finally announced a live date. The band’s debut concert will take place on April 25 at Lades in Copenhagen. This is news that I’ve been waiting impatiently for, and then the first date collides with a trip to Tallinn with the boys. But hopefully this is just the first of many live dates to come? If RbM is still unknown territory to you, 5 tracks are free to download from this post.
+ Kaiser Star

Lovely Swedish (somewhat jazz inspired) indie pop quartet Tower of Foil are (according to the band's myspace blog) busy recording, what should end up being their first full-length album. The entire back catalogue (well almost) is free to download from the band’s webpage.
+ Everlasting

Perhaps to celebrate their record contract, which I mentioned yesterday, Ginger Ninja is giving away a free remix of the track Red Lips at BandBase.dk.
+ Red Lips (We Know You Love It Remix)

According to their webpage; the venues for the White Lies concerts in the UK are being upgraded. No upgrade necessary in Denmark (yet), as tickets are still available.

The incomparable Cloudberry Records has just released a split 3 inch CD-R featuring Kevin McGrother and My Laundry Life. This is the purest of indie pop.
+ Kevin McGrother - A Week of Wednesdays
+ My Laundry Life - Sons & Guns

Mitsubishi i Miev Sports Concept

Mitsubishi unveiled i Miev Sport concept at the 2007 Tokyo auto show. i Miev Sport has a simple and fluid exterior and interior design, the layout provides optimal distribution of weight. This futuristic electric car has a sporty performance and spacious interior. This concept car has an aluminum space frame body structure to minimize it’s weight. i Miev also has three permanent magnetic synchronous motors. As environmental considerations, on the roof of i Miev sport an auxiliary photovoltaic generator was installed for energy saving.

i Miev has a sporty, spacious and dynamic interior. The interior gives the security and comfort feelings to the user. Mitsubishi also gives excellent occupant protection from collisions from any direction, even when colliding with a vehicle of different height or weight.

i Miev Sport Specifications :

Introduced at : 2007 Tokyo Auto Show

Dimensions :

length ; width ; height : 3,450 [mm] ; 1,600 [mm] ; 1,400 [mm]

Body Weight : 970 kg

Body Structure : aluminum space frame

Engine :

Motors : Permanent magnetic synchronous motors

Front : In-wheel motors

Rear : Single motor

Max. output Front : 20kW 2; Rear: 47kW

Max. torque Front : 250 Nm 2; Rear: 180 Nm

Range (10-15 Mode) : 200km

Max. Speed : 180km/h

Wheelbase : 2,550 [mm]

Track (F/R) : 1,405/1,405 [mm]

Tires : 175/40R17

Interior :

Seating capacity : 2 + 2

Shorties...

This morning I bought tickets for the White Lies concert in Lille Vega (March 4). Seems like the hype has yet to reach Denmark, as tickets are still available.
+ Death (Crystal Castles Remix)

My Loney, Dear CD collection is now complete, as the missing 4 albums arrived yesterday.

Don’t forget to grab the new track Jetstream by Doves, which is free to download at the band’s webpage. It’s far more electronic than anything we’ve heard from the trio before, and definitely better than any track of the disappointing Some Cities. Kingdom of Rust will be out April 6 and expectations are growing.

Sony has signed Danish indie rock quartet Ginger Ninja. About bloody time if you ask me that some label finally “inked” this extraordinary band.
+ OnePlusOneIsThree

The album The Night Is Ours by Australians Youth Group will be out in the US on April 7. In case you missed it, this was Chris’ favorite album of 2008.
+ All This Will Pass

A fine start...

Perhaps some of you remember that I opted not to post any ”best of 2008” lists. As I wrote back then, it had lots to do with me not liking the “nature” of those lists, as they are so definitive. But in all honesty it was equally caused by the (in my opinion) lack of great album releases in 2008. Well a few outstanding ones aside that was. Therefore it’s really encouraging that 2009 has already given us a few fantastic releases.

Dear John by Loney, Dear arrived in my mailbox last night and it’s pretty much what I hoped for. A little darker and perhaps a bit more complicated than Loney, Noir, but those charming indie pop tunes are still very much present. Now I'm impatiently waiting for the other 4 Loney, Dear albums to arrive. I've never been good at lengthy reviews, so instead I recommend you read the fine one posted by Chromewaves today.
+ Airport Surroundings

Probably no band is more hyped these days than White Lies, but still the debut album had no problems whatsoever meeting whatever expectations I might have had. Cannot think of a better way to describe the band and its music, than this one, originally posted by Exitfare (the first blog to ever feature the trio): “Think of White Lies as the bastard love child of Editors and The Killers, only better”. White Lies will be playing at Lille Vega on March 4 and I'll do my best to secure a couple of tickets tomorrow, when tickets go on sale.

Another band worth some hype (but not really getting any) is Florida dreampoppers Purplespace. The band’s second album A Tiny Little Spark follows nicely in the footstep of the 2006 debut Broken Bells, as not much has been changed. So once again the band proves, how well shoegaze and electronica blend, and whenever those female vocals set in, it almost make you feel like reaching for the sky!
+ Goodbye

Majorian/Sleep Party People videos...

Neither Sleep Party People nor Majorian should be completely unfamiliar to you, if you’re a semi-regular reader of this blog. But in case you happen to be a newcomer, here’s an ultra short recap. SSP is an electronic solo project of Brian Batz, who’s also one of the driving forces behind Majorian. This weekend Brian mailed me the links for two new videos; one by each band/project, and kindly asked if I'd be interested in posting them...and of course I am!

The first one features Majorian playing a stripped down and really lovely version of the track Island (of their recent EP) prior to a concert. Thus explains why the video bears the additional title “Dressing Rooms Concerts”. Recorded and edited by Martin Thaulow. Shoe polish anyone?

The second one only runs for 1:45 and features the Sleep Party People track In The Morning Sun We Stand. It includes/mixes videos taped in New York and Bornholm, and was recorded and edited by mr. Batz himself.

Paper Sky...

Guess it’s time for something completely different. Not groundbreaking different (not much is these days), but from what I normally post around these parts. Got bored last night while watching 007 on telly, and instead started reading a few promo mails. Thus I got introduced to Paper Sky; an (in their own words) "Anglo/Italian experimental rock pop 4some". And you probably will agree that experimental pop groups finding inspiration in artists like PJ Harvey and Patti Smith aren’t daily news on this blog? Cannot really point out what I like about these songs, and perhaps the band just caught me at a time, where I need a breath of fresh air? Just like I recall from some of those experimental 60’s/70’s bands I've tried listening to every now and then, the songs of Paper Sky have several layers, which sort of prevents them from being instantly likeable (they miss that indie pop charm). But at the same time those are the kind of songs that just seem to get a little bit better for every listen and often ending with a highly rewarding result if you keep your patience. And since so many tracks are free to download, why not risk an ear (or maybe two) and there might even be something for you in here as well?
+ Alligators Sky
+ Chameleon
+ Dear Lover
+ Perfect Day
+ Strong Enough
+ The Last Time
+ This City

Someone Like Me...

Some of you probably agree that countless are the times where I’ve whined about the lack of quality of the music sent to me in various promo mails. And I’ve often asked myself why I even bother checking them out. But then suddenly out of the blue something pops up, which makes it all worthwhile. The most recent example is this energetic, anthemic and catchy track; Someone Like Me; by London quartet glass.ligths. It’s not like this is highly original and it does sound like something you’ve heard times and times before. I mean – it’s pretty obvious that we’re roaming around somewhere in the indie rock neighborhood of bands like Editors, Killers, Kaiser Chiefs etc., but this track has no problems holding its own. Actually it easily outdoes most of the stuff released by said artists. So I guess what I'm really trying to say is that this is a damn good one.
+ Someone Like Me

An Entakt track which didn’t make the På Bagsiden Af Europa album will soon be free to download. It’s named Orkestret Med Det Blotlagte Skelet (which roughly translates to something like; The Orchestra with the Exposed Skeleton) and is said to be somewhat Tom Waits inspired. Check back for more information.

Loney, Dear will be playing at Lille Vega on April 5. Ticket has (of course) been bought.
+ I Am John

Those of us, who actually gave it a listen, probably agree that the debut album Where The Storm Meets The Ground by The Storm was a major disappointment? But the duo seems to be in good spirits and has recently announced that they will soon start recording a follow-up. However I do suspect that everyone’s expectations will be significantly lower this time around. To be honest I’d much rather hear news on the forthcoming Mew album.
+ The Beauty Of Small Things

Last week I posted a pretty good Dave Wrangler remix of the Animal Collective track My Girls. Mr. Wrangler has now set up a small webpage where several other fine remixes are free to download.
+ The Raveonettes - Black White (White Room Remix)

One Weekly Gun is back writing songs again. The first track of 2009 is named The Song that Kills and was inspired by the situation in the Gaza strip. Obviously this is a sensitive topic, which has already led to a heated discussion.
+ The Song that Kills

Labrador gives away the new single by Suburban Kids with Biblical Names.
+ 1999

Shorties...

Haven’t written one of these posts for a while, so let’s see if I can come up with anything interesting (just don't count on it)!

Via It’s A Trap! Campsite has decided to split up. Dead or not Lines Intact remains a brilliant track.
+ Lines Intact

Everyone seems to be so high on the new Animal Collective album Merriweather Post Pavillion. The jury (a.k.a. me) is definitely out on this one, as I find it incredible tough figuring out what’s so great about it. Nice remix though of one of the album’s better tracks.
+ My Girls (Dave Wrangler Remix)

Should have mentioned in my post the other day that new Danish trio The minor Collective features Entakt guitarist Kristian on keys and bass. And since fellow Entakt band member Jonas recently published a few solo tracks under the alias La Volumes Jinns and seems to be highly involved in another project with Andreas Sorgenfrei of Didium & the Black Bonnie Picture, one cannot help speculation that it will take quite some time, before a third Entakt album will see the light of day. But with two albums released within 21 months (Jan 07 & Oct 08) it's not difficult to comprehend the band members need to start focusing on something completely different.
+ The minor Collective - Lose Control
+ La Volumes Jinns – Barcelona or anywhere but here
+ Entakt – Kunsten at slippe taget
+ Didium & the Black Bonnie Picture – Twisted Way of Blues

I need to write a few more of those “emptying the mailbox” posts, as mails are once again piling up.

Nissan Pivo 2 Concept

Nissan Pivo 2 concept was unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. It runs on compact Lithium-ion battery. Nissan Pivo 2 has a rotating cabin and wheels that can rotate 360 degrees, this feature allows easy parking. This cool car also has a Robotic Agent, robotic agent is a voice recognizing interface. This feature allows the car to detect and conclude the driver’s mental state by facial expressions and by voice patterns. With this robotic agent you could ask for directions or the nearest parking space or even basic vehicle functions. This feature is available in English and Japanese languages.

The design of Pivo 2 is very unique and futuristic, it has a round dome as it’s main shape with four small wheels. The chassis of the car doesn't have a front or back, instead the dome revolves, letting the driver face whichever direction needs to be front. The Interior of the car also has a dome shape and the dashboard looks like a toy car.

Nissan Pivo 2 Specifications:

Introduced at : 2007 Tokyo Auto Show

Engine : Energy consumption of a conventional lightweight vehicle

Torque equivalent : V8 4.5L engine (528Nm) (twice the torque output of a conventional electric motor)

Power equivalent : 2.5L engine .

Battery : The new lithium-ion battery (twice the energy density of conventional batteries

Brake : Regenerative braking (Battery capacity has doubled and energy efficiency is improved by better response to regenerative braking).

Special Features :

Robotic Agent : Inferring a driver’s mental state by facial expressions and by voice patterns

Metamo System : a new concept which enables independent control of each wheel (The angles and position of the wheels are controlled to ensure an even load across the chassis to match driving conditions. This optimizes load distribution and ensures stability with minimum body movement during acceleration, deceleration, braking and cornering). The use of In-wheel 3D Motors and X by-Wire technologies.

This and that...

I’m honestly happy for all the bands announcing that they’ll be playing at SXSW in March. Even think it’s quite understandable that they fill up my inbox with messages telling me this. Obviously it’s easy being excited as a band, when something like this happens. But when the bands start asking if we should meet or hope that I will consider them for any showcases I might be hosting, things start getting slightly ridiculous, as the obviously haven’t read a single word I’ve been writing. Then they’d know that I’m 40, married, a father of two small children and living in Denmark. What are the chances exactly that I will be in Austin in March?

In my New Year’s post I vowed that I would continue writing about bands that you’ve probably never heard of. One of those bands could be impressive new Danish rock trio The Minor Collective, which has just published three tracks. Don't be surprised if these guys pop up in some future post.
+ Free
+ Wavelength
+ Lose Control

Like everyone else, I’ve decided to jump on the Loney, Dear bandwagon. Listened to the 2007 album Loney, Noir numerous times yesterday, which then made me order the forthcoming album Dear John. Gorgeous stuff!
+ Airport Surroundings
+ I Am John

Hate this. Promo track Like Lunatics from the Modern Skirts album All Of Us In Our Night was dreamy and beautiful, so I asked for (and immediately received) a download copy of the album to hear if the rest was equally great. Sadly the album (a few tracks aside) is rather uninteresting, and certainly not what I hoped for. But nonetheless please give Like Lunatics a good listen.
+ Like Lunatics