Extremely contradictory times (yes, we're being euphemistic) out there. Freedom is to be found in alcohol, the ugliest face of neoliberalism needs police repression "to show" how liberty flourishes... and the right to self-defense means bombing other's territory. More than enough to drive you crazy. We don't pretend to have a solution here. But at least we can offer you a way to disconnect, or at least entertain yourself for a while, with the tunes gathered in our latest TOP TEN JUKEBOX. Peace signs... Hope you enjoy, and remember to join us at our Soundcloud page!
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius...
Showing posts with label Desperate Journalist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Desperate Journalist. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Saturday, October 10, 2020
The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 268
Another extremely disgusting political week, thanks to far-right politicans here and there keeping with the destruction of democracy in order to retain or (miserably) obtain power. But here comes music to our rescue, a little glimpse gathered in our TOP TEN JUKEBOX. Whatever you want, we have you covered. Brilliant sociopolitical statements enveloped in knocking angular riffs, courtesy of Lawn's and Tough Age (sign us beloved Flying Nun!). An exciting dose of new discoveries, including Blog's trademark antipodean sounds. Ace newbies by Kevin Morby and dear Phil Sutton. Even a great cover of a Pulp's masterpiece by friends Desperate Journalist. A lot to get fuelled (and/or) distracted for a while from this somber times... Have a great weekend ahead, and remember to join us at our Soundcloud page!
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Best Records of the Year 2019: 1-20
As we said yesterday, we now have 40 records for our best of the year list. So, after the first round of LPs, comprising positions between 40 and 21, it’s time to show & rank our Top 20 albums of 2019. Those that we haven't been able to get out of our heads and deserve a standing ovation and, most importantly, constant spins. We’ll have a little break next week for recharging batteries, but we promise that we’ll be back before the year ends… ready to unveil our favorite songs of 2019. So, in the meantime, enjoy the records... and happy Holidays!
20. Eraserland - Strand of Oaks
19. In Search of the Miraculous - Desperate Journalist
18. Better Oblivion Community Center- Better Oblivion Community Center
17. Anxiety Art - The reds, pinks and purples
16. Grass Stains and Novocaine - Seablite
15. Largos Agotadores - El Palacio de Linares
14. Whoosh! - The Stroppies
13. Useless Coordinates - Drahla
12. Time Again - Dumb Things
11. Tallies- Tallies
9. Purple Mountains- Purple Mountains
8. Designer - Aldous Harding
7. Jeanines- Jeanines
6. I Am Easy to Find - The National
5. Quiet Signs - Jessica Pratt
4. Dead Calm - The Boy With the Perpetual Nervousness
3. Olympic Girls - Tiny Ruins
2. Dogrel - Fontaines D.C.
1. Crushing - Julia Jacklin
Want to check the best recors of 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011?
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Best Records and EPs of the year 2019... so far
Arista Fiera- Mi Defensa Personal
Bedouine- Birds Songs of a Killjoy
Better Oblivion Community Center- Better Oblivion Community Center
Business of Dreams- Ripe for Anarchy
Butcher the Bar- III
Desperate Journalist- In Search of the Miraculous
El Palacio de Linares- Largos Agotadores
Ex Hex- It’s Real
Fontaines D.C.- Dogrel
Holiday Ghosts- West Bay Playroom
I Was a King- Slow Century
Jeanines- Jeanines
Jenny Lewis- On the Line
Jessica Pratt- Quiet Signs
Julia Jacklin- Crushing
Seablite- Grass Stains and Novocaine
She Keeps Bees- Kinship
Stella Donelly- Beware of Dogs
Strand of Oaks- Eraserland
Swimming Tapes- Morningside
The Boy With the Perpetual Nervousness- Dead Calm
The National- I Am Easy to Find
The Stroppies- Whoosh!
Tiny Ruins- Olympic Girls
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
The Indie Anthology 81: essential songs
New year, new attempt to recover the pace of the Blog posts and revitalize some of its dearest sections, like the Indie Anthology. And to do so, here's one of my favourite post-punk tunes from a short-lived but pretty amazing band. Oh, their rapture, one of these nights!!
Song: Brother
Artist: The Organ
Year: 2004
Agreed, the post-punk revival was, mostly, a bunch of crap. But there were amazing exceptions to the rule, like Interpol's first albums, Editors' debut and the majestic 'Grab that gun', from Vancouver's quintet The Organ. Still sounding like an album resulting from the marriage of Morrissey (the meaningful one) and Joy Division and The Cure, with hints of Siouxsie, Patti Smith and Kristin Hersh on the arresting voice of Katie Sketch. Sadly, it was just a very short ride, with the band disbanding shortly after, but a striking one. I could choose among half of the record tunes, but I'm sticking with 'Brother', its bouncy immediacy coming out of nowhere, propelled to stratosphere thanks to the simple-yet-mind blowing melody-bearing bass before Jenny's Hammond organ embraces you while guitar lines and concise drumming bring you back to the late 80s now in sepia. I hear bands like beloved Desperate Journalist or even Savages here, and I wonder where The Organ could have achieved. Well, at least their testament was a hell of a record. It was exciting then. It is still exciting now...
Artist: The Organ
Year: 2004
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Best Records and EPs of the year 2017... so far
Aimee Mann - Mental IllnessAlexandra Savior - Belladonna of Sadness
Apartamentos Acapulco - Nuevos Testamentos
Chastity Belt - I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone
Danny de la Matyr - Crybaby
Desperate Journalist - Grow Up
Fazerdaze - Morningside
Ghost Transmission - Echoes
Hazel English - Just Give In/ Never Going Home
Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Navigator
Kevin Morby - City Music
Land of Talk - Life After Youth
Novella - Change of State
Priests - Nothing Feels Natural
Renaldo & Clara - Els Afores
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The French Press
Rose Elinor Dougall- Stellular
Slowdive - Slowdive
Stutter Steps - Floored
The Bats - The Deep Set
The Courtneys - The Courtneys II
The Fireworks - Dream About You EP
The Magnetic Fields - 50 Songs Memoir
The Mountain Goats - Goths
Últim Cavall - Records de Kyoto
Friday, February 3, 2017
The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 133
Dear followers, while the world outside keeps going mad, prepare yourself for an amazing new TOP TEN JUKEBOX. Pardon the lack of modesty, but this is a complete, straight flush. Friends of the Blog coming back with a bang? Check, we have When Nalda Became Punk and Desperate Journalist. A return to form? Check, Bleached "dealing with it". Confirmations? Check, Fazerdaze and Ms. Burch, ready to blow our minds. Discoveries? Check, of course, Coco Hames, Priests, Dag... Oldies but goldies? Check, glorious power-pop courtesy of The Modulators. And, last but by no means least, one of our all-time favourite bands, Sleater-Kinney, storming Paris live... on a gig we were lucky to enjoy at the very first row. Not bad for a playlist, don't you think? And remember, all songs are available at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!).
Friday, January 13, 2017
Music to look forward in 2017
A bit later than last year, but a tradition is a tradition. Here are our new year's music wishes! A quick top ten of summary of the music releases/events we're looking forward the most in this 2017.
1. The year begins with Rose Elinor Dougall’s new album ‘Stellular’, arriving next week. What can we say? It’s been too long without her and I’m pretty anxious to hear it. Please tour Spain, please tour Spain, please tour Spain… Exactly the same can be said with masters The Bats, who will release ‘The Deep Set’ in January 27th. A terrific way to start 2017, musically speaking (no politics in this post or we’ll all get depressed).
2. Two sophomore albums from two mesmerizing bands that you SHOULD see live if you have the chance. After the mighty ‘Land’, Novella returns to action with ‘Change of State’, scheduled for mid-February, with the first tunes setting the bar as high as expected. And Desperate Journalist will follow with ‘Grow Up’, arriving in late March, a record that should confirm them as one of the bands to follow devotedly.
3. Two of the Blog’s most anticipated and awaited albums of 2017 doesn’t have a release date yet, which make us even more impatient to get some update on them. We’re referring, of course to "our" music genius from Boise and most beloved sure-fire, Jeremy Jensen, aka The Very Most. He announced a few days ago details on new music are about to come, yay! The other is a debuting name that has all the numbers to release one of this blogger’s record of the year; Filthy Friends, or the supergroup (usually not my cup of tea) lead by Corin Tucker and Peter Buck, alongside plus Scott McCaughey, Kurt Bloch and Bill Rieflin. Judging from the first glimpses you can hear at the Internet (Todos los Santos’ Festival and first tune ‘Despierta’) expectations couldn’t be higher...
4. Not enough? There’s not a lot of announcements right now, but you can always trust labels like Flying Nun, Shelflife, Jigsaw Records, Slumberland, Matinée, Test Pattern, WWNBB, February Records, Kanine, Fishrider, Merge, Sub Pop, HHBTM, to just name a few. Sure they have prepared a wonderful year of music for us.
5. In what regards to national releases, 2017 is the year of several personal favourites returning to action. First take, a trio of infallible bands: Me and the Bees, When Nalda Became Punk and Los Punsetes.
6. Want more? Here’s a second take, courtesy of the great label El Genio Equivocado: Cosmen Adelaida, Ghost Transmission and Grushenka. Add the usual wise ears of the folks running labels like Discos de Kirlian, Pretty Olivia or La Castanya (Beach Beach is also back right?) and the year couldn’t look brighter. And yes, I know there’s some band from Granada set to return too...
7. Time for live music now. Our first VIDA! And with my beloved Real Estate presenting new album? All we have heard about the Festival’s vibes are excellent, so we are really excited about going down to Vilanova i la Geltrú!
8. And another Primavera Sound Festival ahead, this time with all the line-up unveiled and several mandatory gigs, as usual: Angel Olsen, Mitski, Julia Jacklin, Hamilton Leithauser, Magnetic Fields (new album)… and, finally (space for the drums rattling, it’s a “big finally") Teenage Fanclub! The wait is over...
10. And, of course (yes, saved for the very last, to keep “the tension”) this is the year of The National’s comeback... Just in time to strike back at the "fake empire" about to arise in Washington D.C...
Granted, many more records, songs, gigs and amazing moments related with music are awaiting us, so let’s 2017 officially (musically speaking) begin!
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| Stellular's about to land, the voice is back |
2. Two sophomore albums from two mesmerizing bands that you SHOULD see live if you have the chance. After the mighty ‘Land’, Novella returns to action with ‘Change of State’, scheduled for mid-February, with the first tunes setting the bar as high as expected. And Desperate Journalist will follow with ‘Grow Up’, arriving in late March, a record that should confirm them as one of the bands to follow devotedly.
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| Filthy Friends, let's talk (again) about the passion... |
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| Delightful pop stings granted... |
6. Want more? Here’s a second take, courtesy of the great label El Genio Equivocado: Cosmen Adelaida, Ghost Transmission and Grushenka. Add the usual wise ears of the folks running labels like Discos de Kirlian, Pretty Olivia or La Castanya (Beach Beach is also back right?) and the year couldn’t look brighter. And yes, I know there’s some band from Granada set to return too...
7. Time for live music now. Our first VIDA! And with my beloved Real Estate presenting new album? All we have heard about the Festival’s vibes are excellent, so we are really excited about going down to Vilanova i la Geltrú!
8. And another Primavera Sound Festival ahead, this time with all the line-up unveiled and several mandatory gigs, as usual: Angel Olsen, Mitski, Julia Jacklin, Hamilton Leithauser, Magnetic Fields (new album)… and, finally (space for the drums rattling, it’s a “big finally") Teenage Fanclub! The wait is over...
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| 22 years after, new waves of sound await us... |
9. What else? Here’s a potpourri of names (concerts, albums, wishes) that come to our minds at the moment of writing this lines. For sure, another Minifestival is scheduled for March, with Cristina Quesada & Andreas Johnson playing in Barcelona (another "big finally"!), plus our dear Linda Guilala, Luke Haines and Neleonard. Will Lisa Hannigan and beloved Beth Orton tour here? Albums from The Luxembourg Signal, Hospitality, The Feelies, Alvvays, Tim Darcy, The Shins, and... Slowdive (is that for real?) should/could arrive. And let us dream about Michael Stipe taking back the mic...
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| The end of the world is coming soon (and we know it), so please come back before it's too late <3 |
Granted, many more records, songs, gigs and amazing moments related with music are awaiting us, so let’s 2017 officially (musically speaking) begin!
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Best Concerts of the Year 2016
Too short to rank higher… but what a blast! Giving everything they have from second zero, kicking the gig with ‘Control’ and ‘O’ as starters, taking no prisoners. Heavyweight post-punk, with an unstoppable melodic power and an overwhelming breakthrough, led by the stormy presence of vocalist Jo Bevan. She's an authentic force of nature, able to shock the audience with her frantic performance to disarm you with the introspection of ‘Remainder’ or ‘Wait’ in a matter of seconds. Desperate Journalist are fated for greatness.
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| Desperate Journalist, the sound and the fury. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
9. PJ Harvey (Primavera Sound Festival, June 4th)
It ranks lower because of the unbearable, extremely annoying, disrespectful behaviour of people. So depressing it makes you think what’s the point of attending festivals or concerts (sorry, I’m not interested in drunk people or posers, just in music). And it’s even more depressing if you consider Polly Jean Harvey is one of the most incredible artists a concertgoer can see live. Goosebumps and wonder, goosebumps and wonder, what a show she put at Heineken! Surrounded by an incredible cast, the amount of mesmerizing moments was just unbeatable. The funereal march introducing 'Chain of Keys'. The otherworldly 'When Under Ether'. Or how 'Down by the Water/To Bring You My Love' became one haunting somber number. PJ is in a league of her own, adding real substance and real attitude to pop.
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| PJ, stories from the (real) world. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
8. Espíritusanto (BIS Festival, Espai Jove Les Basses, April 9th)
A truly stunning album ‘Algo nos va a pasar’ released by our friends at Discos de Kirlian. An incontestable live show, founded in the power of keyboards as thunderous as the percussion and, of course, in the vocal dialogues between Andrés Federico and Eli Maqueda. A couple of singers able to channel these emotional heartbreaks in overwhelming choruses, such as ‘Poligono Industrial’, ‘Flores de Bach’, or the epic and frenzied ‘Nadar a croll II’ and ‘La distancia sobrante’. Vine (at last in Barcelona), vidi, vinci. Kings of the BIS Festival.
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| Ready for another striking chorus? Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
7. Tindersticks (Guitar Festival, Auditori, April 14th)
It has been a year heavy on “first times” seeing “major bands” (always a relative, personal concept) live. Like Tindersticks, in Barcelona to present LP ‘The waiting room’. What was I expecting from the Nottingham lads? Exactly what they offered at Auditori. That soundtrack for movies-yet-to-be-filmed. That clash between contempt and drama. Tension and space. That perfection in sound. That smoky, drowned nostalgia. And Stuart Staples’ voice. THAT voice. Since the opener ‘Second chance man’ kidnapped by that baritone voice. By the keyboards of David Boulter or the bass lines of Dan McKinna. And by tunes like ‘Sleepy song’, ‘Medicine’, ‘Boobar come back to me’, ‘We are dreamers!’, ‘My oblivion’ (oh my, oh my) or ‘Sometimes it hurts’. That medicine it works inside of you/ In your head/ In your dreams / In your dreams. The medicine we want...
6. Robert Forster (La [2] Apolo, January 14h & Primavera Sound Festival, June 4th)
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| Tindersticks, heartache surgeons. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
6. Robert Forster (La [2] Apolo, January 14h & Primavera Sound Festival, June 4th)
A bit of a trick here, as this is not a gig but two. But we are talking about Mr. Robert Forster so his inclusion on the list was a no-brainer for this blogger. More so considering I had never seen him live before. And despite both experiences were sort of incomplete, together blended majestically, as the maestro deserves. First, at La [2] de Apolo, enjoying his solo, acoustic show, where he proved he is a true showman, goofing himself with his “rock star” poses, asking for a coffee at the bar… while delivering the excellent ‘Songs to play’, with gems like ‘Let me imagine you’ or ‘Love Myself (and I always have)’, along with immortal classics as ‘Head full of steam’, ‘Part company’, ‘Love is a sign’ (hit) or ‘He lives my life’ (sunk). But we missed some of the brilliance of his compositions without the instrumental arrangements or Karen Bauler’s vocals. Luckily, there was a second chance awaiting at CCCB. One with full band, including Karen and her violin. The set was too short to consider it a proper gig, but what a pleasure every single minute it was. 2 for 1 of Robert Forster? Isn’t that the real deal?
5. The New Raemon (Sala Apolo, January 29th)
More than a regular gig due to the format and length, two hours & thirty-three songs revisiting his career to date with a full, impeccable band. And because the special company coming from quite far. The occasion deserved. A chance, courtesy of Ramon Rodríguez, to join him in a trip to the (recent) past to celebrate the present and look into the future. Precisely, the night kicked in with latest "icebreaker trilogy" ‘Una historia real’, ‘Oh, Rompehielos’ and ‘Reina del Amazonas’, setting the festive tone of an event with a tone of remarkable moments. Like combining ‘El Refugio de Superman’ with ‘Estupendamente’. Or ‘La cafetera’ with ‘Sucedáneos’. Or knocking us out with ‘Hundir la flota’, ‘Variables’, ‘Risas enlatadas’ in a row, leaving us emotionally messy but with an ear-to-ear smile on the face. ‘Desencuentros’, ‘Fuera complejos’, ‘El fin del imperio’, ‘Te debo un baile’, guest stars like McEnroe’s Ricardo Lezón’, and, needless to say, the end with ‘Tú, Garfunkel’. Hymns for screwed romantics. |
| With Mr. Foster and Co. heads full of pop. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
5. The New Raemon (Sala Apolo, January 29th)
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| The New Raemon, our favourite icebreaker captain. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
4. The Posies (Sala Razzmatazz, April 21rst) And another first time seeing a loved band. And a very special one, as I had the chance of, together with other media, meeting Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer in advance of the gig, chatting with them while we were discovering their flamboyant new record ‘Solid States’. An incredibly nice experience (made the right choice wearing my old, highly recognisable R.E.M. t-shirt) thanks to Scanner FM. And a cool way to warm-up and be prepared with what was about to happen at Razz. A relentless power-pop attack for two generous hours, full of electricity and passion, combining stunning new pieces like ‘We R Power’, ‘Squirrel vs Snake’ and ‘Unlikely Places’, their experimental side (check ‘The Plague’), alongside the unstoppable hits like ‘Dream All Day’, ‘Solar Sister’ or ‘Flavor of The Month’. Plus a heartbreaking rendition of Charlie Bell’s ‘I am the Cosmos’. The complete, knock-out Posies experience.
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| The Posies, making you dream all night. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
3. Minor Victories (Primavera Club Festival, October 22nd)
It was the “big name” of this year’s Primavera Club. And Minor Victories didn’t disappoint. First, thanks to a gigantic Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai) at the guitar, blowing out our heads and ears to the ones that, like us, were located at the first rows (such a heavenly way to die) making the impossible: that the Rachel Goswell (Slowdive) hooligan in me got hooked by the irrepressible strength of the veteran musician, perfectly seconded by the muscular bass of Justin Lockley (Editors) and the shuddering drums of his brother James. But Rachel, that initially seemed to be on the verge of getting buried within the dense wall of sound of the instrumental trio, still had a lot to say. Like the epic fragility of the colossal ‘Breaking My Light’, the incandescency of ‘Folk Arp’ and ‘Higher Hopes’. And, of course the pop gem that is ‘Scattered Ashes (Song For Richard)’. Almost an hour happily lost in space…
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| Rachel Goswell, brekaing the lights. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
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| Whitney, light upon the Primavera Club. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
1. The Chills (Primavera Sound Festival, June 4th)
Who would have guessed I was going to see The Chills live, one of my all-time favourite bands, twice in a three years span? And who would have guessed that the second time, after all the special excitement of the “first time” was gone, it was going to be an even better experience than the gig at the indispensable Indietracks. That’s what happened at Ray-Ban stage. It could be the hour, late afternoon, when Primavera Sound is getting crowded but you can still breath. Or the scenario (the coolest one), specially when the sun starts to come down. Or that this humble fan, impatiently awaiting at the very centre of the first row, knew the lyrics and loved all the tunes of latest LP ‘Silver Bullets’. Or, most probably, because Martin Phillips and Co. just nailed it, making the newest pieces shine alongside with the expected “classics”. An hypnosis session with our eyes (and ears) wide open, with too many moments to treasure: 'Underwater Wasteland', 'America Says Hello', 'Pink Frost' for sure, ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’, where my throat said enough for the rest of the Festival and, in particular, 'Doledrums', as glorious as I ever dreamt of. Best show of the year. Here’s hoping I’ll be able to see them at least a third time soon. Perhaps in a smaller venue for a much longer gig?
Who would have guessed I was going to see The Chills live, one of my all-time favourite bands, twice in a three years span? And who would have guessed that the second time, after all the special excitement of the “first time” was gone, it was going to be an even better experience than the gig at the indispensable Indietracks. That’s what happened at Ray-Ban stage. It could be the hour, late afternoon, when Primavera Sound is getting crowded but you can still breath. Or the scenario (the coolest one), specially when the sun starts to come down. Or that this humble fan, impatiently awaiting at the very centre of the first row, knew the lyrics and loved all the tunes of latest LP ‘Silver Bullets’. Or, most probably, because Martin Phillips and Co. just nailed it, making the newest pieces shine alongside with the expected “classics”. An hypnosis session with our eyes (and ears) wide open, with too many moments to treasure: 'Underwater Wasteland', 'America Says Hello', 'Pink Frost' for sure, ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’, where my throat said enough for the rest of the Festival and, in particular, 'Doledrums', as glorious as I ever dreamt of. Best show of the year. Here’s hoping I’ll be able to see them at least a third time soon. Perhaps in a smaller venue for a much longer gig?
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| Warm, mighty pop waweforms with The Chills. Photo: Bloodbuzzed |
Want to check last year's best concerts? Just click here
What about 2014? Click here
And 2013? Click here
Or 2012? Then check here
And 2011?
What about 2014? Click here
And 2013? Click here
Or 2012? Then check here
And 2011?
Saturday, April 30, 2016
The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 100
100 Jukeboxes!
It's quite a milestone for this humble blog, so we have prepared something special to celebrate it as the occasion deserves: a really awesome (and pretty hard work) playlist with 100 tunes from 100 bands featured in our weekly compilations. From our biggest crushes to our most beloved discoveries, what this small portion of two incredible & fascinating years of music jukeboxes shows the incredible amount of exciting music just awaiting for you out there, deserving to be listened and enjoyed. So MANY thanks bands & artists, what a pleasing ride this has been... and will continue being! Have fun and remember: all songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!).
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