Popaganda 2010 preview
The folks at Sweden's Popaganda Festival created a YouTube trailer for this year's event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFc6jakQa3w
Country: Sweden
Britta Persson - Some girls some boys
Hear a new song from Britta Persson off her forthcoming album "Current affair medium rare": http://soundcloud.com/brittap/04-some-girls-some-boys
FWIW, I'll be playing her new single "Meet a bear" on my next radio show.
New PB&J in the works
Peter Morén says that the basic tracks for the next Peter Bjorn and John album have been recorded, with two more weeks of tracking to go before mixing.
New blood for Makabert Fynd
Swedish hardcore act Makabert Fynd has enlisted new members Kalle Persson (Skitsystem) on drums Anders Lundin (Abjekt) on guitar.
Division of Laura Lee - Something new ahead (video)
Division of Laura Lee in the studio recording new material? See here: http://vimeo.com/12259691
MP3: Withershin - Wherein I exalt
Black metal in 2010, part I. Did the genre desert me or did I simply lose interest? I've been listening to this new Withershin EP ("The hungering void") and pondering these questions because, while I can tell the music is good, I still can't force myself to care. Well-executed melodic Swedish black death ala Dissection...? There's certainly room for more besides Watain. And yet, I feel nothing. I don't mean that in an ironic kvlt way either -- I'm really surprised by my lack of enthusiasm. So where did things go wrong I wonder? The genre did go through a certain amount of growing pains around the turn of the century and now things seem pretty evenly split among two major strains. First, we have the upper-tier established acts who have been going at it for years, some more progressive than others (Enslaved, Mayhem), others more content to drift towards the mainstream (Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir and seriously, WTF is up with this nonsense?). Some just keep on keeping on (Dark Funeral, Marduk), a few decided to abandon the genre completely (Darkthrone sorta, yes Ulver). Then, on the other hand, we have the new BM underground which, from my point of view, seems all too willing to embrace and accept sketchy politics and increasingly shitty, poorly recorded music. A race to the bottom, as I've mentioned here before I believe. The fact that I hear the new Burzum is getting a third vinyl repress bums me out. That means that competent bands like Withershin don't have a place anymore and boring, jaded dudes like me will shrug it off. I think my major hangup must be the lack of mystery in today's BM -- 15 years ago these bands were legitimately terrifying and sounded barely human. They burned down churches and killed each other and lived way off in some distant land that seemed far beyond reach. I distinctly remember hearing Emperor for the first time and how it sounded like absolutely nothing I had ever experienced. Then, a few years later, I remember seeing Emperor's first video and how amazingly disappointed it made me. No longer the aural expression of pure evil, here were a bunch of average metal dudes making an average metal video and playing dress-up in the woods. To say nothing about how boring they were live when I eventually saw them on tour, but the magic was forever lost and bands like Withershin have no hope to reclaim that. I don't know what's to be done though. Has the grim masquerade run its course? Can we start smiling at each other and simply enjoy the music for what it is, not what it used to represent?
Withershin - Wherein I exalt
Restless Knights - New demo
Swedish melodic hardcore act Restless Knights are streaming a new 4-track demo at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/restlessknightslkpg
"Come with me" = Best new music
CEO's premiere single "Come with me" got best-listed at Pitchfork: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11904-come-with-me/
Little Children sign with Fastcut
Little Children have signed with Japanese label and will be releasing their debut album in September.
Wildbirds & Peacedrums announce 3rd album (sort of)
Wildbirds & Peacedrums have announced that their two vinyl-only EPs "Retina" and "Iris" will be released as a 2CD album package entitled "Rivers" on August 23 via .
PopMatters reviews Erik Hassle
PopMatters reviews Swedish pop artist Erik Hassle and his album "Pieces", his UK release: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/123309-erik-hassle-pieces
The Knife makes big donation to Feministiskt Initiativ
Gaffa reports that The Knife has donated 50,000 SEK to Swedish political organization Feministiskt Initiativ: http://gaffa.se/nyhet/40066 (in Swedish)
Always good to see artists put their money where there mouth is.
O'Spada live in London
Swedish pop/disco/funk act O'Spada are coming to London for a run of dates this month:
06/14 - Hoxton Bar And Kitchen
06/15 - Dublin Castle
06/17 - St. Pancras International
06/17 - YoYo @ Nottinghill Arts Club
06/18 - Last FM presents... @ Big Chill House
06/20 - The Luxe
Robyn annouces North American dates
Robyn will be back in the US this summer:
07/16 - Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago, IL
07/17 - Crofoot Ballroom, Detroit, MI
07/22 - Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
07/23 - The Music Box, Los Angeles, CA
07/24 - Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
07/27 - House of Blues, Boston, MA
07/30 - Disco Lemonade: Summer Mashup Festival, Toronto, Ontario
07/31 - Osheaga Festival, Montreal, Quebec
08/02 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
08/03 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
08/05 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
New Säkert! album in September
Annika Norlin's (Hello Saferide) Swedish-language project Säkert! has recorded a new album entitled "Facit" which will be released on September 15. Look for the lead single "Fredrik" in August. More: http://www.razziarecords.se/news.asp?id=907