PopMatters reviews I Was A King
PopMatters reviews Norwegian indie act I Was A King's latest record "Old friends": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/134898-i-was-a-king-old-friends/
Country: Norway
Phonophani, Sigbjørn Apeland, Alexander Rishaug to tour Japan
Norwegian experimental/electronic artists Phonophani, Sigbjørn Apeland and Alexander Rishaug will be heading to Japan in February:
02/16 - Gift, Tokyo
02/17 - Urbanguilde, Kyoto
02/18 - Common Cafe, Osaka
02/19 - Guggenheim House, Kobe
02/24 - Sample, Nara
02/25 - K.D.Japon, Nagoya
02/26 - Soup, Tokyo
All Scandinavian top 20 albums of 2010
Fellow Nordic music blog All Scandinavian took their time, but they did finally get around to assembling their top 20 albums of the year: http://allscandinavian.com/4931/the-20-best-albums-of-2010/
Check elsewhere on their site for a few other best of-type posts.
120 Days - Dale disco
There's a brand new track from Norway's 120 Days streaming at Drowned in Sound: http://drownedinsound.com/news/4141864-listen--120-days-dale-disco
Definitely going a bit more "out there" on this new recording it seems; not sure yet if that's good or not.
Honningbarna wins Urørt
Nö Music reports on this year's winner of the NRK Urørt prize for best unsigned act, Honningbarna: http://www.nomusicmedia.com/2011/01/24/honningbarna-crowned-ur%C3%B8rt-2011/
The Terrifieds 7" now available
The debut 7" from Norwegian all-star power-pop act The Terrifieds is now available from : http://www.popdetective.com/The_Terrifieds.html
Other bands the members have been involved with include Hurra Torpedo, The Cumshots, Turbonegro, Datsun and more.
MP3: Dark Times - Worlds away
I first became aware of Dark Times when I saw that they were supporting local-to-me act Gun Outfit in Oslo awhile back. That, in combination with their affiliation, ensured them a spot on my to-listen list. Actually, the latter would've been reason enough as Norway's current underground scene is simply ruling right now, but the Gun Outfit matchup is an interesting note because it implied a divergence from the Black Hole Crew's typically raw and brutal sound. Suspicions proved correct on listening: much like Gun Outfit, Dark Times are far more readily identifiable as an "indie" band -- more melody, less heavy -- but also very firmly rooted in punk/hardcore and easily matched with bands on either side of the spectrum. I've still yet to grab the band's self-titled cassette as I'm on a self-imposed record-buying moratorium (which is especially painful considering that I'm currently travelling abroad and seeing all sorts of stuff I could never ever find at home), but lucky enough, the band has made the entire thing available as a free download. No email required, just grab it. "Worlds away" in particular is a great example of the band at their best; a dark trudge brimming with resentment. Still raw like Okkultokrati and Drugged SS, but in a totally different way. I'm way into it.
Dark Times - Worlds away
The Megaphonic Thrift to get US release
Norwegian noiserockers The Megaphonic Thrift have signed with US label who will be releasing the band's "Decay decoy" LP over here on March 8.
EardrumsPop presents Early to Bed, Oláfachada
The netlabel has two new releases from half-Scandinavian artist duos -- first up is Early to Bed which features a Dane and an American and can be downloaded here: http://www.eardrumspop.com/2011/01/10/epop014-early-to-bed/
Second, is the half-Norwegian act Oláfachada which includes Ola Innset of Mylittlepony plus a Portuguese gentleman; download that one here: http://www.eardrumspop.com/2010/12/20/epop012-olafachada/
Spellemann 2010 nominees
The nominees for this year's Spellemann awards, the Norwegian Grammy, have been announced:
Female Artist:
Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is ()
Ida Maria - Katla (/)
Ingrid Olava - The guest ()
Susanne Sundfør - The brothel ()
Male Artist:
Moddi - Floriography ()
Odd Nordstoga - November (/)
Thom Hell - All good things ()
Thomas Dybdahl - Waiting for that one clear moment ()
Pop Group:
deLillos - Hjernen er alene i Operaen ()
I was a king - Old friends (/)
Kråkesølv - Bomtur til jorda ()
Madcon - Contraband ()
Electronic:
Bjørn Torske - Kokning ()
Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Real life is no cool ()
Ost & Kjex - Cajun lunch (/)
Rock:
Blood Command - Ghostclocks (/)
Kvelertak - Kvelertak ()
Motorpsycho - Heavy metal fruit ()
Serena-Maneesh - No 2: Abyss in b minor ()
Tommy Tokyo & Starving for My Gravy - Go time, showtime & absolute war ()
Metal:
Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini ()
Ihsahn - After (/)
Shining - Blackjazz ()
Solefald - Norrøn livskunst ()
Hip-Hop:
Karpe Diem - Aldri solgt en løgn ()
Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, helt om dagen ()
Salvador Sanchez - Happy daze ()
Folk:
Gjermund Larsen trio - Aurum (/)
Ingvill Marit Buen Garnås og Per Anders Buen Garnås - Salme, segn & solbøn ()
Sondre Bratland/Annbjørg Lien - Alle vegne ()
Unni Boksasp Ensemble - Keramello ()
Jazz:
Elephant9 - Walk the nile ()
Ivar Antonsen/Vigleik Storaas - Dialogues ()
Paolo Vinaccia - Very much alive ()
Supersilent - 10 ()
Trondheim Jazz Orchestra - Triads and more ()
Open Class:
Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge ()
Jaga Jazzist - One-armed bandit ()
Karl Seglem - Ossicles (/)
Pelbo - Pelbo ()
Petter Wettre/Audun Kleive - The only way to travel 2 ()
Lyrics:
Bare Egil Band - I fyr og flamme (/)
Erik Fosnes Hansen - Neste stasjon Grorud ()
Ingrid Olava - The guest (
Pop Composition:
Gjermund Larsen - Aurum (/)
Ingrid Olava - The guest ()
Odd Nordstoga - November (/)
Susanne Sundfør - The brothel ()
Thom Hell - All good things ()
Newcomer:
Bjørn Johan Muri ()
Frida Ånnevik ()
Kvelertak ()
Moddi ()
Thomas Eriksen ()
Winners will be announced on March 5. More here: http://www.spellemann.no/
Casiokids to tour US with Starfucker
Casiokids will be back in the US yet again this coming March, this time on tour with Starfucker. Dates: http://happyjokes.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/us-tour-in-march-2011/
Kvelertak to get US release
Kvelertak have signed a US deal with who will be releasing the band's self-titled album over here on March 15. I presume the band will also be doing some touring in conjunction with their appearance at SXSW, but I have yet to see any confirmed dates.
Splendour to release Joensuu 1685/Brad Laner split
Norwegian label will be putting out a split 12" featuring Finnish act Joensuu 1685 and US artist Brad Laner (ex-Medicine). 1000 copies, due out March 14, full tracklist and cover art here: http://splendour.no/post/2713139579
Ane Brun back in the UK
It's a long way off, but Ane Brun has confirmed some new UK dates for November:
11/08 - Deaf Institute, Manchester
11/09 - King Tuts, Glasgow
11/10 - HMv Institite – The Library, Birmingham
11/11 - Scala, London
The Thing down under
The Thing are heading down under for a number of live dates as well as a recording session:
01/18 - tba Aukland (NZ)
01/20-01/21 - Vitamin S, Wellington (NZ)
01/23 - Mofo Foma Festival, Hobart (AU)
01/25 - Tura New Music, Perth (AU)
01/27 - Room 40, Brisbane (AU)
01/28 - Now Now Festival, Sydney (AU)
01/28 - SoundOut Festival, Canberra (AU)
01/30 - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (AU)
01/31-02/01 - Recording @ Head Gap Studios, Melbourne (AU)
02/02 - The Old Fire Station, Bendigo (AU)