This collaborative debut from Sweden's Råd Kjetil & the Loving Eye of God and Orchestra Senza Testa is quite the enigmatic release given its unique perspective on the ambient genre. It's as if the creepy, digitized sounds of the early John Carpenter soundtracks found themselves mixed up with the earthy, natural sounds of Norway's Wardruna and somehow wound up as an otherworldly, out-of-body sonic experience. It's most evident on the first of the two tracks, "Flarkmyr'n" while second and final track "Orrvin över Nattmyrbäcken" offers a bleaker vision within the same realm. That said, the overall vibe of "Vinlinden" is one of an epic journey across vast expanses, where the natural sounds seem more implied rather than at the forefront of the compositions. This will appeal to anyone who likes to coil into their own headspace in order to travel to far off lands. Dark, ethereal ambience as nature wraps itself around the synthetic. An off-kilter bliss, almost. - John Norby
Swedish goth-infused country act Isobel & November report that their new album "Hymns for the Myriad Spirits" is just about finished and on track for a March 1 release. The band recorded much of the material at the famed Svenska Grammofon Studios in Göteborg before taking it back home to their own Grounds for Divorce Studio in Gävla for finishing touches. Expect samples soon!
Finally got official confirmation from that the new Hell on Wheels album "One ros" will be out in early March with the first single coming on January 20.
Swedish act The Deer Tracks have officially signed with US label and will be releasing a trio of releases this coming year called "The Archer Trilogy". Expect EP part one to be released in March/April to be followed by two albums later on.
No big surprise since I figured it would happen, but Asta Kask has now been officially confirmed for Chaos in Tejas along with a bajillion other amazing bands. I mean, seriously? Kreigshög and Curren$y and Autopsy and Youth of Today? Insane.
Synth: Code 64 - Trialogue () Cryo - Hidden Aggression () Page - Nu () Social Ambitions - Almost gone ()
Hardrock/Metal: Ghost - Opus Eponymous () Watain - Lawless Darkness () Khoma - A final storm () Dark Tranquility - We are the void ()
Rhythm: Haci Tekbilek - Türlü () Helt Off - Marknadens Soldat () Million Stylez - Everyday () Serengeti - Standing Steady ()
Jazz: Elin Larsson Group - Live and Alive () Lekverk - Everyday () NEO (Nässjö Extreme Orchestra) - NEO () The Country - The Country ()
Punk/Hardcore Antipati - Frågor som rör det allmänna () Hårda Tider - Gatan Kallar () Old Fashioned Ideas - We're in this shit together () The Baboon Show - Punk Rock harbour ()
Hip-Hop: Academics - Tare Lugnt 4 () Carlito - Guldburen () PH3 - Löser ett fall () Zacke - Visst är det vackert ()
Rock: Bad Hands - Take The Money And Run () Dundertåget - Dom feta åren är förbi () Pascal - Orkanen närmar sig () The Bear Quartet - Monty Python ()
Folk/Visa: Anders Svensson, Magnus Gustafsson, Susanne Gustafsson, Anders Löfberg, Jörgen Svensson - Bålgetingen, Låtar efter August Strömberg () Mats Edén, Daniel Sandén-Warg, Leif Stinnerbom, Magnus Stinnerbom - Anno 2010 () OK Star Orchestra - Sound Classique () Ola Magnell - Rolös ()
Experimental: Ombudsman - And His Father Was A Great Machine () Erik Enocksson - Man tänker sitt () Leif Jordansson - The Comet / The Doll Maker () New Tango Orquesta - Vesper ()
Singer/Songwriter: I'm Kingfisher - Arctic () Daniel Norgren - Horrifying Death Eating Blood Spider () The Tarantula Waltz - Did Not Leave To Find But To Forget, To Leave Behind () The Tallest Man On Earth - Wild Hunt ()
Best live act: Anna Von Hausswolff The Tallest Man On Earth Masshysteri Robyn
Best unsigned act (in collaboration w/P3 Lab): Alice B Katakomb Ascend Broken Boys
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 4 at Nalen in Stockholm. More info: http://www.manifestgalan.se/
It's been awhile since we've heard anything new from Swedish Europop act E-Type, but now he's finally back with a new single called "Back 2 life" which was produced by Max Martin and Shellback, two of the biggest names in pop music production. Look for an EP to surface later this year, otherwise here's a direct link to the track on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ggHEybz-ls
Mr. Jonas Appelqvist, our esteemed IAT! colleague and the booker of our Malmö clubnight, has launched a new booking agency with his partner Sofia Qvarnström called Brother/Sister. Their initial roster, only some of Sweden's finest up-and-coming indie acts: Simian Ghost, Leaders Off, I'm Kingfisher, In These Woods, First Love, Last Rites, NAVET and We Are the Storm. Hit up their website for more info: http://www.brothersister.se/
Swedish act Let's Say We Did are offering the title track of their forthcoming EP "Lost & found" as a free download: http://letssaywedid.com/
The official release date of said EP will happen in late February/early March and will be followed by an album compiling the best tracks from the band's three EPs thus far.
There will be a new album from Brothers of End on April 6 and it will be called "Mound inside". Look for the first single "Daybreak" to be released soon.
Råd Kjetil Senza Testa