EIC's 10Q's w/ Die Jungen

"..Golden Era of Wall Of Noise Pop meets Surf Rock.."

Die Jungen

Timeworn Spindrifter

Die Jungen Bio:

“Stuck somewhere in the past, Die Jungen plays nightly as the radio stations come to a close. One last record, one last good bye before the night ends.” (unholyrhythms) <--The only Bio I could find.. Die Jungen is a solo side project of Klaus Von Barrel of The KVB. Check out his work HERE.

Hello, how are you?
I am very well, thank you.

What are you currently listening to?
Lots and lots of stuff. However, the last couple of days I've been listening to Death In June's 'Operation Hummingbird' mini LP and to a band called The Vivids from L.A.

Care to shed some light on the band name?
Its German and means 'The Young' in English - I decided the call this project it, as I had been to Berlin shortly before recording the first tracks and then I needed a name quickly; 'Die Jungen' just came to me, so I went with it.

LOVE your debut LP, care to tell us a little bit about it; theme, recording process, likes/dislikes, etc.?
Thanks. The 12 tracks were recorded at different stages throughout 2011, the first tracks were recorded in February and the last by September and various points in between - the recording process for the tracks was pretty simple though. Once I found the loops I wanted to use, I manipulated the speed/pitch etc. and began trying to add different parts. I think there are lots of themes in the album; love, loss, hope, nostalgia, drugs, friendship, life!

Will you be touring to support said release ?
I have been playing occasional shows in support of the release - no actual tour yet, but we'll see what happens. I do have some shows lined up for the near future though, so keep an eye out for them!

Did your parents introduce you to the music you pay homage to? Is Phil Spector your hero?
Yeah, it was them who introduced me to lots of artists from that era. I wouldn't say Phil Spector is my 'hero' but I love the music he produced.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to your music?
I'm not sure, I haven't tried watching a full length film to my music. I used a french film called 'Les Mistons' for the music video to the track "I've Been Glad" and I think that worked quite well.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
'Forever Changes' by Love

Are you living your dream?
Hmm my dream's are always changing, so maybe not quite yet!

Thanx Klaus!

Die Jungen recently released the b-sides companion to (the excellent) 'At Breath's End', which you can find HERE...

REVIEW: Die Jungen - At Breath's End

9 out of 10

Find it here.

I can't remember when (at least months ago) /where (probably online;) I came across Die Jungen, but I am definitely happy/glad I did. Like all of you I go through "phases of music-listenings/seasonal ear syndrome". Some days it's slow (most), some it's loud (sometimes), and some it's Surf Rock/Dream Pop/Spector influenced Indie Oldies ..to anything in-between really. Guess which mood I was in when I discovered this band, c'mon guess..? Also Die Jungen reminds me of Bradford Cox's earlier/online demo days (just with a lot more Oldies samples), I miss these days sometimes (and it's nice to hear someone else did too). This is not only something I can sleep to, it's something I hope to awake to, everyday.

Die Jungen is actually a new project from Klaus Von Barrel of The KVB. The KVB is Shoegaze/kind-of APTBS-y project, good stuff actually, but I gotta say Die Jungen is my favorite of his sounds (I only hope he carries on with it). The formula you ask? Guitar + keyboard (something lo-fi sounding) + drum sampler (maybe a few live drums?)/ an 8 track (possibly 4?) + samples from the Golden Era of Wall Of Noise Pop meets Surf Rock. I love Oldies, SELECT Oldies though, somehow Klaus surfed straight into my brain and pulled those out and placed them on this record. Such a simple sampling process, yet so effective, love-love-love this. Innovation through simplicity and a good ear for music that out-lives/transcends generational borders; 'At Breath's End' really should have something for everyone in need of a break/mellowing out.

The only thing that could make this album better is if I lived by a beach and could truly soak it in in the environment it deserves.. Either way, I still haven't listened to any album this year as I much as I have with this one. OH! Also, Die Jungen just released a B-Sides companion for this album which is pretty terrific as well..!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Standout Tracks: ALL. esp-ecially; I've Been Glad, When I Awake (yum.), Discretely, The Sun Is Coming Up, In The End

REVIEW: Thrushes - Night Falls

7.25 out of 10
Find it here.

Thrushes are a four-piece Indie-Dream Pop/Shoegaze band based out of Baltimore. "Night Falls" is the groups second album. I first came across this group via an Amazon Shoegaze List of some sort, they (the lister) recommended "Sun Come Undone" by Thrushes. Sidenote: If you've never used "Listmania" on Amazon you are missing out on one of the greatest ways to discover things you have never heard of. Any-who back to the point at hand.. 3 years later the group is back and ready to share some more Blissful Pop Fun and I couldn't be happier.

For the most part "Night Falls" is an "uplifting/fun album". It's upbeat and poppy in all the right parts. Great bass lines, tight drums, soaring vocals that are both endearing and triumphant. But the parts that really get me are the accomplished guitar melodies/distortions that are somewhat reminiscent of MBV. If this albums gets the attention it deserves it couldwill end up on close to every body's year end list. This is indeed an "Indie Pop" album, whatever that even means these days, but know this; I'm very picky with Indie Pop. Most of it sounds the same (sorry to offend anyone) and it usually does nothing for me -- that is unless it's done "right". Give me unique, give me catchy, give me something I will crave. Thrushes "Night Falls" is the kind of music made for anyone that's ever liked any band labeled "Indie-anything". "Night Falls" is for the kind of person needing some perfect Pop simplicity with a few intricate layers of smart noise.

If Phil Spector (I'm actually re-going through a Spector phase right now--so this is good) had the ability to produce Indie Pop albums for likes of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and other bands of that nature I imagine it would sound something like Thrushes. Recommended.

Standout Tracks: They're all pretty catchy.. Trees, Crystals, Night Falls (love the guitar and drum work on this one), Juggernaut (←yeah, what he said)

REVIEW: Parenthetical Girls - Privilege, Pt. 1

6.5 out of 10

Find it here.

I first became aware of Parenthetical Girls with their wonderfully glorious 2008 release "Entanglements". I listened to the album quite a bit when I first got it (almost addictively for a couple weeks). The music Parenthetical Girls creates is a pleasing mix of Indie/Jangle Pop fused with Classical arrangements, Folkloric tales, and unique/acquired vocals. Any-who, for those of you that are unaware; Parenthetical Girls are a group of Ex-Bedroom Pop stars turned Abstract Indie Pop stars who have been noticed by many reviewers and pop stars a-like as being one of "the next big acts". Mix the experimental pop side/early recordings of Brian Eno with the orchestral arrangements of Phil Spector, add a dash of Xiu Xiu's or maybe even Patrick Wolf's "playful side" and there you have it. "Privilege, Pt. 1" is somewhat of a concept album, the idea is to release a slew of EP's rather than one full length and have them all tie in with each other. So far, so good..

Zac Pennington's vibrato has the ability to swoon you under the right circumstances. His voice is truly unique, as well passionate and over zealous. You can hear/feel every emotion with every dip, swell, and quiver of his voice. The music behind the curtain is also quite unique. It could probably be best classified as "Left Field Indie Pop". Quirky electronics (minimal to the rest of the sound) fill in the voids between string arrangements and horn sections that sound seriously just like something you would hear from an old time Spector production mixed with a few other Indie Pop niches. A pleasing experience the first time around with a few more surprises each listen, Parentheical Girls should impress even the hardest to impress critics with ease.

Parenthetical Girls may not be for all, but for those of you that take your Indie Pop with a side order of ambitious and anomalous this could be your calling. If you're just now checking out this band I strongly recommend starting with "Entanglements" and then going on to this release, I do like this, but it's not quite as ardent as the "Entanglements", still though it's pretty great.

Standout Tracks: Found Drama 1, On Death & Endearments