Country: Sweden

Masquer prepare debut single

The excellent Swedish indie duo Masquer (featuring Kicki Halmos, also in Lowood) will be releasing their official debut single "Happiness" on May 4. Said single was produced by Per Egland and will also include a b-side remix from The Field. A full-length album will follow in fall, to be distributed via Rough Trade/G-Records.

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 14:13:31

Quit Your Dayjob are back

Swedish synthpunks Quit Your Dayjob are back with the new album "World domination", now confirmed for release on May 11 via Alleycat Records. Check out the single "Environmental" at SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/flagstone/quit-your-dayjob-environmental

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 13:30:50

This Is Head - Det var jag (video)

This Is Head cover Familjen, the video. Not sure if it's just my computer or what, but it looks like something got seriously garbled from my vantage. Anyhow, here's the direct link: http://vimeo.com/22351812

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 13:20:13

SVT Sapmi sessions #1: Krunegård + Juuso

SVT sent a number of popular musicians way up north to create new music together with select Sami artists for a new program series entitled "Sapmi sessions", premiering on April 21 with episode #1 featuring Markus Krunegård and Inga Juuso. Read more: http://svt.se/2.152083/start (in Swedish)

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 13:16:16

This week's Last.fm chart

Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week unique to our group:

01. Anna Järvinen
02. Jens Lekman
03. Jenny Wilson
04. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
05. Bob Hund
06. Håkan Hellström
07. Peter Bjorn and John
08. Me and My Army
09. Acid House Kings
10. Those Dancing Days

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 13:08:51

Kajsa Grytt coming to IAT Clubnights in July

Now confirmed for It's a Trap! Clubnights in July: Kajsa Grytt! Hopefully you are already aware of her legacy, from her more recent solo career to her time with pioneering (post-)punk act Tant Strul and beyond, but if not, she's got a new album (produced by Jari Haapalainen) and autobiography (!) on the way -- learn more here/hear some sample tunes: http://www.kajsagrytt.com/

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 13:06:58

Bird People in an eggshell

A montage of curious new stuff from Göteborg-based indie/psych duo Bird People. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7yZGHQveNw

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 12:47:03

Tyred Eyes to release 7"

Swedish punkrockers Tyred Eyes will be releasing a 3-song 7" on Kenrock sometime before the summer. Preview at Bandcamp: http://tyredeyes.bandcamp.com/
In other news, the band has recruited Johanna Hellqvist as their new guitarist and are planning to start recording their debut full-length very soon.

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 12:39:31

Torpedo's WE now streaming

The world may end tomorrow, but at least you can listen to the apocalyptic pop of Torpedo's new album "WE" in the meantime: http://torpedoband.com/we/
Said record is officially released in GAS on April 22, elsewhere on April 27. The band will head on the road to support it starting in late May -- dates at the aforementioned link.

Tue, Apr 19th, 2011 12:24:58

Me and My Army
Thank god for sending demons
EMI

It was hard not to be intrigued by this album after reading that Me and My Army was made up not only of Andreas Kleerup, but members of Timo Räisänen's band. What I heard in my head when I read about Me and My Army was Kleerup making a guest appearance on Räisänen's "My valentine". This is not a good expectation to have going in. After the distinctly '80s-sounding opener, the band channel their inner Grateful Dead on the title track. This is not to disparage either Me and My Army or the Dead, but to emphasize the strange turns this album makes. There is a lot to like about "Thank god for sending demons", but very few of the album's highpoints have anything in common with the other standout moments: "Far, far away", with its fantastic female vocals and electro-pop sensibilities, feels very removed from the tracks surround it; "Chemicals" opens with Eagles-like swagger, tying it to some of the other Neil Young/'70s Americana-influenced tracks on, but distancing it from many of the other compositions. This album, while definitely worth a listen, is such a disparate collection of influences and attitudes that it is difficult to tell where the heart of the band lies. This is definitely a talented collection of musicians, but the album listens more like a soundtrack than a focused creative effort.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson