A member of Moneybrother's American backing band is blogging from their current US tour for Willamette Weekly: http://blogs.wweek.com/music/2010/04/21/moneybrother-it-only-takes-a-couple-of-short-skirts-to-remember-who-we-are-raleigh-nc/
It's true about Seattle too, shows there almost inevitably suck. Lame crowds, lame scene.
A couple tracks from Grande Roses' new EP "Say it to my fervent heart" are now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/granderoses
I'm fortunate enough to have heard the entire thing already and can confirm that it is excellent.
Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal recently spent a few days in the studio with drummer Morgan Ågren (Mats/Morgan Band, etc.) working on a sequel to Thordendal's legendary solo album "Special defects: Sol niger within" from way back in '97. No word yet on what form it will take or when we'll get to hear it, but supposedly "hours" of material has been recorded and I'll be sure to keep you posted if I hear anything further.
Not exactly new, but news to me: Japanese label has released an Abhinanda best-of collection entitled "Kizuna" featuring cuts from the band's entire catalogue as well as a new, previously unreleased track recorded in 2009. Full tracklist details here: http://refusedfan.com/abhinandakizuna.html
The Knife will be taking their "Tomorrow, in a year" electro-opera to London in July. Full details at the group's newly revamped website: http://theknife.net/tomorrow-in-a-year-the-opera-comes-to-london
Ludwig Bell singing his new single, on a boat: http://stockholmboatsessions.blogspot.com/2010/04/ludwig-bell.html
If you didn't manage to grab a copy of the excellent and long-sold out compilation #2 featuring Erik Enocksson, ASS, Detektivbyrån and Gösta Berlings Saga, the latter group is now offering their two contributions to the collection as a free download: http://www.gostaberlingssaga.se/gbs2/2010/04/from-obscurity-to-free-download/
As for the other GNR comps, I've still got a few copies and they are all very recommended!
Swedish goth act Bandjo will be releasing their debut LP on June 2 via .
Direct link to video: http://vimeo.com/10615296
Swedish indie act Marching Band have a couple new tracks up at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/marchingband
has unveiled the full tracklist for the upcoming album from The Göteborg String Theory, featuring an all-star cast:
01. Ben Lauber - Sadludium
02. Warren Suicide - Fuck off, happy
03. Jmy Haze - Promise
04. Bow & Arrow - Higher
05. Silverbullit - Magnetic city
06. Pacific! feat. El Perro Del Mar - From lips divine
07. José González - Cycling trivialities
08. Wildbirds & Peacedrums - So soft so pink
09. Ebbot Lundberg - There's only one of us here
10. Jaqee - Kokoo girl
11. Fox Machine - Frank Lloyd was wright
12. Jaw Lesson - Rats and rifles
13. Midaircondo - Come with me
14. Studio - Out there
15. El Perro Del Mar - A better love
More info, including samples and preorder details are available here: http://www.kningdisk.com/index_tgst.htm
The new Masshysteri is the consensus release of spring among my circle of friends. The first album was pretty great, but this new self-titled release easily tops it by being way catchier than anything they've ever done before. Almost every single vocal line is sung in harmony and when they're not, there's usually a fantastic single-note guitar lead to take over. And sometimes, like on the chorus of "Dom kan inte höra musiken" ("They can't hear music"), you get both at once. Killer subtle guitar/sax solo too; blink and you'll miss it. I'm not sure when the domestic version on will be officially released, but it's on the top of my want-list for sure.
Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höra musiken
Aftonbladet reports that the folks from Swedish pop act BWO are going their separate ways and will all be concentrating on individual projects for awhile: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article6990636.ab
TOW, the new band from Ex-Breach vocalist Tomas Liljedahl, is streaming three new demo tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theoldwind
are streaming the new Alice in Videoland single "Spaceship": http://www.wonderlandrecords.com/aivspaceship/
Swedish hip-hop group Movits! will be touring Europe this summer:
06/05 - Wilvarin Festival (GER)
06/17 - tbc, Brighton (UK)
06/18 - Bangers & Mash @ McQueen, Hoxton, London (UK)
06/19 - Paradise Gardens Festival, Victoria Park, London (UK)
06/19 - Electro Swing @ The Book Club, Shoreditch, London (UK)
06/20 - Tooting Tram & Social, London (UK)
06/21 - Sixty Million Postcards, Bournemouth (UK)
06/22 - tbc, Bristol (UK)
06/23-27 - Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury (UK)
07/14 - Veszprem Street Music Festival, Veszprem (HUN)