Nodic by Nature Popkomm podcast
Nordic by Nature has put together a podcast mix to go with the showcase they're putting on at this year's Popkomm Festival: http://soundcloud.com/shibie/nordic-by-nature-popkomm-2010-podcast
Country: Sweden
MP3: CEO - No mercy
I like CEO best when he goes for a more ominous tone as opposed to the now-typical Balearic Plague sweeping the world. "No mercy" does retain some of those summer beach vibes, but the first 30 seconds or so before the vocals come in sounds like Death in June and I love it. I know I shouldn't be surprised, considering the title, but then again, I suppose that surprise is the name of the game for . They're constantly in danger of painting themselves into a corner and I'm doubtful that anyone in that circle of artists will ever be able to deliver a confident live show, but once in a while they do something so right that it's worth taking notice. Even for someone like me who could usually care less about this sort of indie/electro pop.
CEO - No mercy
Kristian Antilla & Sylvia Vrethammar - Magdalena (livet före döden) (video)
This is the new Kristian Anttila single, a duet with famed jazz vocalist Sylvia Vrethammar. Kinda mellow/easy-listening, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmUQjIY5G_U
Pitchfork reviews Drivan
Pitchfork reviews the new album from Drivan, Kim Hiorthøy's full-band project: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14590-disko/
The Bear Quartet - Fist or hand
The new The Bear Quartet single "Fist or hand" isn't officially released until September 1, but the label is already offering it for download along with a b-side reggae cover version by Desmond Foster featuring Gordon Cyrys on vocals: http://www.adrianfiles.com/BQ-Fist_Or_Hand-MP3.rar
No Balls
Problems that will solve themselves 7"
self-released
Not much progression on this, the band's third release, though it's not as if I expected any from this pair of knuckle-draggers. No Balls are still purveying the same dismal caveman pummel as before and I suppose you either like it or you don't. I do, despite my best intentions to consider myself above this sort of grating drivel. Intentionally aggravating and often half-baked, but no one does it better. 4 songs, 306 copies.
- Avi Roig
Adam Tensta - Young black boy
Check out a new track from Swedish rapper Adam Tensta: http://soundcloud.com/rmh-mgmt-grp/adam-tensta-young-black-boy
V. Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble - End alone
There's a track from the new V. Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble album "Lover man" now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kalligrammofon
The High Hats to tour Spain
The High Hats will tour Spain in September:
09/17 - La Gramola, Orihuela
09/18 - Lili Marlene, Almeria
09/19 - Sugar Pop, Granada
09/21 - Gruta 77, Madrid
09/22 - Fiestas de San Mateo, Oviedo
09/23 - Sala Mercantil, Badajoz
09/24 - Sala Palo Palo, Marinaleda/Sevilla
09/25 - Sala Arco, Alcazar de San Juan
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. Säkert!
02. Jens Lekman
03. Robyn
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Shout Out Louds
06. Kent
07. The Concretes
08. Best Coast
09. Efterklang
10. The Radio Dept.
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/
Mob 47 tourdates
Confirmed North American dates for old-school punks Mob 47:
11/05 - A Varning From Montreal IV, Montreal, Quebec
11/08 - tba, Boston, MA
11/09 - Whitney House, Hartford, CT
11/10 - Club Europa, Brooklyn, NY
11/11 - The Beaumont Warehouse, Philadelphia, PA
11/12 - No Way Fest, Richmond, VA
Torpedo - An invention
Torpedo's new Justin Timberlake-produced single "An invention" is now streaming in its entirety at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo
Rasmus Kellerman
The 24th
Startracks
For fans of Tiger Lou, "The 24th" will feel a little like coming home after a long absence –– echoes of tracks like "Sam, as in Samantha" and "Like you said" quietly haunt the album's more melancholy works, and the overall feel of "Is my head still on?" is recognizable throughout Rasmus Kellerman's debut solo effort. The optimism of the self-titled opener, which finds Kellerman reflecting on his youth, fades into "The greatness & me", a track that starts with fond memories of childhood, images that are used as comparisons to a bleaker present and the unknown future, the theme of the following track, "Five years from now". These opening three compositions move wonderfully through past, present, and future, showcasing not only the musical and vocal talents of their creator, but Kellerman's vision and strength as a storyteller. Not all of "The 24th" is as obviously interconnected as these first three tracks, but numerous images and themes recur throughout the album –– laying in the shade of trees, houses by the ocean, the seeming incompatibility of one's past and present coloring their idea of the future, to name a few –– granting "The 24th" a powerful sense of coherence. While not all of the songs are of the caliber of "The greatness & me" or "Five years from now", the record never stumbles, and, as an album that can be played through in its entirety, has grown on me a little more with each listen.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Säkert! - Fredrik (video)
Gaffa has the premiere of Säkert!'s new video for the single "Fredrik": http://gaffa.se/tv/clip/401