HFN Music Schallplatten & CDs

Review: HFN Music is making a big noise about this debut album from Copenhagen-based duo Fluqx (AKA producer Joel Krozer and Of The Valley singer/songwriter Brian Della Valle), describing it as "hotly anticipated". While that may be a stretch, "Monolith" is certainly a very impressive and enjoyable debut album. The pair's distinctively dreamy, drowsy style seems indebted to shoegaze in some regards - particularly Della Valle's vocals - but closer in tone and feel to the kind of deep, melodious and emotive synth-pop more associated with the Junior Boys. Throw in beats and electronic refrains that cast furtive glances towards 1990s IDM and you have a set that's well worth your attention.

Review: It was way back in 2009 that Anders Trentemoller first invited us on a musical trip around the Copenhagen harbour via an inspired DJ mix that drew on leftfield rock, punk and skewed pop as well as ambient, IDM and, of course, his beloved atmospheric house and techno. This belated follow-up treads a similar path, offering a diverse but hugely enjoyable nautical musical journey that variously touches on shoegaze, industrial, cult Danish records (see How Do I's bizarre but brilliant cover of Abba's "Knowing Me, Knowing You", for starters), glassy-eyed electronica and more rhythmical, dancefloor-focused fare. It's a hugely enjoyable journey with plenty of surprises along the way, including an inspired cover of Neil Young's "Transformer Man" by Trentemoller himself.