Eardrums Music on Azure Blue

Eardrums Music on Azure Blue, the new solo act from Irene frontman Tobias Isaksson: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2010/10/06/azure-blue-new-solo-project-from-the-singer-of-irene/

Boeoes Kaelstigen - Desolate view

Boeoes Kaelstigen have just released their new single "Desolate view" which features guest vocals from Stefan Storm of Sound of Arrows and you can listen/download here: http://boeoeskaelstigen.co.uk/?p=121

Case Conrad - Hold up this song (video)

Gustav Haggren of Gustav and the Seasick Sailors has a new band called Case Conrad and this is their debut single. Look for the John Roger Olsson-produced album "Dew point" to be released on October 23 via Red Olive Music.

Petter Seander - Silver spoon (video)

Check out the video for the new single "Silver spoon" from Swedish artist Petter Seander (Sleeping Beauty, Kristian Anttila): http://vimeo.com/14799725

MP3: Britta Persson - Toast to M

"Toast to M" is oddly cheery sounding for a song about suicide, but I suppose that's the point. It's about making peace, not wallowing in misery. It's also an obvious standout on Britta Persson's new record "Current affair medium rare", which is one of three great new Swedish albums out this season, all fairly obvious picks from established artists. As with the others, one of Britta's best qualities is her consistent progression -- she abandoned straightforward girl-with-a-guitar based songwriting with previous album "Kill Hollywood me" and has now gone further into rhythm-heavy composition, building songs around memorable beats. Naturally, having someone as gifted as Per Nordmark (Fireside, Bad Hands, etc... playing Friday at Debaser Malmö for IAT! Clubnights) as your sideman certainly helps, but let's not diminish Britta's wonderful phrasing, among other highpoints. There's lots to like, moreso on the record as a whole.
Also note that Britta Persson will be one of Club Killers' special "secret" guests at Strand on October 8 where she will be singing "Bleeding love" and "Kids in America" with the band. So there you go, two must-see shows on each side of Sweden. I won't be anywhere close, but I would if I could.

Britta Persson - Toast to M

The Last Magazine interviews Anna von Hausswolff

The Last Magazine talks to Swedish artist Anna von Hausswolff, her very first English-language interview: http://thelast-magazine.com/?p=1920

Musik med Little Children

New live music at PSL with Swedish act Little Children: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/10/05/musik-med-little-children/

MF/MB/ - A beautiful sigh (video)

Video #3 from the album "Folded". Direct link: http://vimeo.com/15531896

Guitar World reports from Hole in the Sky

Guitar World has posted an extensive report from Norway's Hole in the Sky festival: http://www.guitarworld.com/article/hole_in_the_sky_2010

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. Håkan Hellström
02. Junip
03. The Bear Quartet
04. Säkert!
05. Glasser
06. First Aid Kit
07. Familjen
08. Bob Hund
09. Jens Lekman
10. Robyn

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/

MP3: Mother of the Forest - Vid berget

Taking a cue from Swedesplease to focus your attention on Mother of the Forest and his new EP "Ryka i ro", which was recently posted for free download here. As Craig rightfully points out, this is for fans of creative music that takes risks and is far, far more exciting than the typically mediocre guitar rock that gets sent my way. It also helps that it fits in nicely with a lot of the other similarly minded goth/industrial clatter I've been listening to as of late. As for a more direct comparison, Sällskapet comes to mind, though Mother of the Forest is much weirder, taking far more influence from The Bear Quartet's noisier efforts. As if it wasn't obvious by having Matti provide guest vocals. Anyhow, Mother of the Forest is great and the EP is free, so you really can't go wrong. Listen and help spread the word!

Mother of the Forest - Vid berget

Alexis Weak - 112 (video)

This is the new Alexis Weak single "112" from the forthcoming album "Till minne av". Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur5yXArB8EE

Kvalität: Sibling Sense

Kvalität is updated with a new clip from Sibling Sense: http://www.kvalitat.com/2010/10/sibling-sense-lights-out/

TSOOL prepare best-of collection

The Soundtrack of Our Lives will release the remastered greatest hits collection "Golden greats no.1" on November 24, which will of course include the requisite new track "Karmageddon". Preview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MtxmG_Lr-o

Bastard Priest
Under the hammer of destruction
Blood Harvest

There has been an increase in the retro death metal style in recent years; new bands strive to create an old sound while old bands relinquish their new sound and attempt to revert back to the halcyon days of death metal. Stockholm's Bastard Priest fall under the first category and are one of the few out there who actually sound properly old-school in every manner. Some may say they emulate the Swedish output of the late-'80s, but it seems to me there's something in there that's more akin to an amalgam of the likes of "Scream bloody gore", "Consuming impulse", and "Morbid visions" with a hefty nod towards their fellow countrymen from back in the day. There's a definite attitude on here that was only ever really captured in the Swedish death metal explosion of the late-'80s and there is, without doubt, the definite punk influence that also permeated the scene back then. Definitely one of the best retro bands around today and so authentic that I almost find myself surprised to come out of the listening experience and find that it's not 1989.
- John Norby