Fred Roberts photo
The Pinpricks are a trio fronted by Ronja Kaminsky.
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Dispatches from the Other Side
Music Editor Fred Roberts takes a look back to 2016, which was a rich cultural year — and here, without ado, follows a roundup of some of the highlights…***
Club Fortuna

Motu Matatahi Association poster
IKARUS / JULIA XENIA STRAND
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EurNoVision 2016

The EurNoVision project
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Hits with Tits

Hits with Tits Artwork by Ada Diez
- Girls and boys-and-girls groups (50/50 and a women lead singer is compulsory)
- The selected bands will take part in the compilation with an unpublished, good quality recording song. We will make the master copy.
- Genres: #shoegaze #punk #garage #rock #noise #pop #surf #newwave #postpunk … and other underground sounds For more info: hitswithtits@gmail.com
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Local Heroes
The 2016 Hamburg finale of the Local Heroes band contest, a franchise that discovers the best newcomer bands in Germany, presented a result almost too close to call. The best two bands of the evening were Bony Divesuit and The Pinpricks. Bony Divesuit show a rare synergy that is sure to make them successful. My first reaction before hearing them was “oh no, not another hard rock band.” But they pulled off an incredible performance. Novel arrangements, shared vocals and their powerful cohesion make each tune a pleasure to hear. Their EP Moon Turns Red is a grand introduction. https://soundcloud.com/bonydivesuit The Pinpricks are a trio fronted by Ronja Kaminsky who seems like a bastard daughter of Janis Joplin and Sheryl Crow, if such were biologically possible. Her grainy vocals and mesmerizing guitar solos turned every song into an instant hit. They concluded their set with a cover of Foxy Lady, a daring move, since covers are usually never permitted at Local Heroes, but it was a logical and triumphant conclusion of such a set: classic rock heaven and my most vivid music memory of 2016. The extremely close decision went in favor of the Pinpricks. Their self-titled EP is a good introduction. THE PINPRICKS – No Exit https://soundcloud.com/thepinpricks The winner of the national finale of Local Heroes in Salzwedel is a band from Bad Kreuznach in Rheinland-Pfalz: Mind Trap. Their nuanced songwriting and innovative arrangements are sure to take German radio by storm. See for yourself: MIND TRAP – Far Away***
Alpha Nord (PsyKa Records)
Alpha Nord is a new band of Chris Cacavas, Stv Gar, Filippo Costanza and Oliver van Thiel which hits the ground running in an upcoming vinyl debut (also available in bandcamp). The album is called Live at PsyKa Festival Volume 3. It’s a krautrock inspired coast through the galaxy past quasars and black particles into a blur of rainbow nebulae. Razor-mean solos, funky musical sensibilities and solos that sound like a möbius strip unraveling make this album an immediate classic. My advice is to get it on vinyl. It’s a limited release and sure to be highly sought after in the years to come. https://alphanord.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/alphanords***
Dakh Daughters
The Dakh Daughters are a lady freak cabaret group from the Ukrainian Republic. The only possible reaction to their viral video Rozy Donbass is instant love. I read all I could about them back then, including the statement that they would never release their music on cd. I’m glad the best way to tempt fate is to say never because the ladies have relented and offered a set of songs titled IF. I’ve waited for this for three years and I thank the Gods of art that it finally happened. Dakh Daughters “Rozy / Donbass” Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DakhDaughters/ The entire album IF: https://soundcloud.com/dakhdaughters/sets/if-1About the author: Fred Roberts is music editor of Ragazine.CC. He resides in Germany. You can read more about him in About Us.
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