Swedish artist Moneybrother will be releasing "Real control" in the US on April 27 via in a new version with four re-recorded tracks. And no, I'm not sure which ones, but this will be his proper US debut following ' sampler "They're building walls around us" which came out a few years back. Want one? I've got a few copies left and will sell 'em cheap! Otherwise, check him out when he's on tour:
03/30 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA (solo)
04/10 - East End, Portland, OR ,
04/11 - Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA ,
04/15 - Pourhouse, Raleigh, NC ,
04/16 - The Handlebar, Greenville, SC
04/17 - Alley Katz, Richmond, VA
04/18 - Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA
04/20 - Southgate House, Newport, KY
04/21 - Headliners Music Hall, Louisville, KY
04/22 - Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
04/23 - Headliners, Toledo, OH
04/24 - Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
04/25 - Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
04/26 - Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
04/28 - Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME
04/29 - Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
04/30 - Crazy Donkey, Farmingdale, NY
05/02 - Disel, Pittsburgh, PA
Might as well follow up my last mp3 post with something from their split-mates Axe before the record release show tonight. Axe are more spastic than EL-SD, more dense too. Every note is played like it's trying to hold on for dear life as they get tossed into the maelstrom. A clattering din held together by tightly-wound vocals. Reckless, anxious and angry; they're calling you out: "Hey! You're full of bologna!" Well... are you?
The Ark may be distributing their new album with a glossy magazine, but I think Petter's one-upped em by releasing his own condom: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article6873265.ab (in Swedish)
They'll be given out for free at music festivals this summer, should you want one.
Noisy Swedish indierock is always my go-to scene and now you can add EL-SD to the list of current acts making a successful go at it. "Walking sideways" is a new track from the band that's not yet available on any release, but they've got a split 7" with fellow like-minded act Axe (remember?) that comes out tomorrow and you can celebrate with them both (+Soviac) at SugarBar in Stockholm. Expect a full review of that record in the not-so-distant future, meanwhile enjoy this fine slice of sharp, discordant rock.
01. The Radio Dept.
02. Jonathan Johansson
03. Kent
04. Sophie Zelmani
05. The National
06. Håkan Hellström
07. Shout Out Louds
08. Loney, Dear
09. The Tough Alliance
10. Love Is All
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has signed Swedish/Norwegian electro act Code 64 and will be releasing the group's third album, "Trialogue" in late summer/early fall. The first single "Stasis" will be released digitally on April 21 and can already be previewed at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/progressproduction
David Pagmar is proving himself to be quite the prolific pop-artist, and with his new moniker Monty, he's at his most straightforward yet. The change of name is to signify his switch into his native language craft, and the focus found on past releases not wane at all -- in fact, it is up there with "Clocks" as his tightest set of songs. Like most of his releases (barring the aforementioned "Clocks"), "2010" took me a few listens to realize his accomplishment. As a reference point for Montt Mardié fans, this release has the feel of the world he created on "Metropolis" throughout the entire album, a mood piece so to speak, that hides itself in dimly-lit corners only to reveal itself as not an aspect to fear, but one to embrace. However that is not all, because on "2010" Pagmar is also embracing the listener in every track -- it's dank sparseness is an enveloper in an oddly comforting way. - Matt Giordano
has announced the signing of Den Svenska Tystnaden and will be releasing a series of three EPs from the band over the course of 2010. Up first is "Större avstånd högre spänning" on April 30, to be followed by "Långsamma repliker all tid i världen" (August 30) and "Utsikter från botten" (December 30). And for the trivia-minded, the band features label head Magnus Bjerkert's brother John Bjerkert, whose resume includes stints with ARC labelmates David & the Citizens/David Fridlund as well as Emil Jensen.
Monty