Marching Band name new album

Marching Band has revealed that their new album, due out this spring via U&L Records, will be called "Pop cycle". Look for a new video to be posted online soon.

The Tiny to play UK, France

Upcoming international (non-Scandinavian) live dates for The Tiny:

03/04 - Union Chapel, London (UK) w/First Aid Kit
03/24 - Cabaret Electric, Le Havre (FRA)
03/27 - Le Ciel, Grenoble (FRA)
03/31 - La Poudriére, Belfart (FRA)
04/01 - Le Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA)
04/02 - L'Atelier, Cluses (FRA)
05/03 - The Borderline, London (UK)

Full schedule at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thetinythetiny

Miasmal to release new 7" in March, more

Swedish death metal act Miasmal will be releasing their new self-titled 2-song 7" in March via Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records. 500 copies, 400 on black and 100 on red. They'll also be rereleasing their 2008 demo tape to coincide with the new material in a short run of 150 copies and then later on, in summer/fall, Detest Records will be doing a CD with all of the tracks compiled together.

Ef - Longing for colors

Swedish postrockers Ef have a new track up at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ef

Holiday for Strings confirm new album

Holiday for Strings, the Swedish dub/pop/postrock/avant/Krautrock act featuring John Eriksson (Peter Bjorn and John) and Pony from Thieves Like Us, will release their sophomore full-length "Favorite flavor" on March 25 via Sea You Records. Hear some sample tunes at myspace, otherwise keep an eye out for tourdates this spring: http://www.myspace.com/holidayforstrings

Kning Disk presents The Göteborg String Theory

Kning Disk has announced they will be putting out a 2CD/2LP record from The Göteborg String Theory, an all-star collaboration of German classical composers and some of Göteborg, Sweden's finest musicians. In addition to the physical release (on April 17), there will also be a live concert at Göteborgs Konserthus featuring contributions from José González, Pacific!, El Perro Del Mar, Fox Machine, Silverbullit, Jaw Lesson, Anna von Hausswolff, Bow & Arrow, Warren Suicide, Jmy Haze, Daniel Gilbert, Ebbot Lundberg (The Soundtrack of our Lives), Ben Lauber, The Skull Defekts feat. Daniel Higgs, Jaqee and The Berlin/Göteborg String Theory orchestra. More info: http://tinyurl.com/y9wqffj

Club 8 - Western hospitality

Pitchfork has a new track from Club 8 for streaming/download: http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13937-western-hospitality/

Sirius playlist week #8

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Agent Side Grinder - The screams
02. TALK 1
03. Susanne Sundfør - The brothel
04. The Skull Defekts - Millions
05. Torpedo - Accelerate
06. TALK 2
07. Donkeyboy - Ambitions
08. Haust - Skate rock
09. Ikons - The hawk
10. Dyno - Deliverance
11. TALK 3
12. Monzano - Waterways and altitude
13. Moto Boy - The heart is a rebel
14. The Graviators - Back to the sabbath
15. Sonic Ritual - (Don't wanna) Feel alright
16. TALK 4
17. Oskar Schönning - Farsan

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Snuff parade

The Soundtrack of Our Lives are giving away the song "Snuff parade" as a free download via Reverb Nation/Playlist 7: http://www.reverbnation.com/playlist7

Festival report: By:Larm 2010 (day 2)

New Familjen single has a title

Adrian Recordings has revealed that the new Familjen single will be called "När planeterna stannat".

New Existensminimum remix EP

Existensminimum has a new EP out for the single "1993" featuring b-side remixes from the illustrious lineup of artists Rigas, Nordpolen and Fé & Pluto. Preview/purchase here: http://www.klicktrack.com/novoton/releases/existensminimum/1993-remixes

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Playtones - Rock'n roll dance party
02. Björn Skifs - Da capo
03. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
04. Torgny Melin - Dansbandsnatt
05. Zekes - En sån natt
06. Erik Grönwall - Erik Grönwall
07. Nordman - Korsväg
08. Freda' - Ett mysterium
09. Calle Kristiansson - Calle Kristiansson
10. Kent - Röd
11. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
12. Thåström - Be-bop-a-lula hela jävla dan (1989-2009)
13. Willy Clay Band - Blue
14. Divine - Divine
15. Mando Diao - Give me fire!
16. Zillah och Totte - Totte (g)apar igen
17. Date - Här och nu!
18. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Samling
19. Meshuggah - Alive
20. Hästpojken - Från där jag ropar

Fredrik's "Trilogi" reviewed at PopMatters

PopMatters reviews Fredrik's "Trilogi" collection: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/120322-fredrik-trilogi/

MP3: Donkeyboy - Ambitions

Here's another song I'm semi-obsessed with right now, though not nearly as deep as Susanne Sundfør's latest. I typically make a point of being at least vaguely familiar with most chart-topping bands because you never know -- sometimes the cream really does rise to the top -- but I had always ignored Donkeyboy because their name sucks and also because, for some reason, I thought they were a hip-hop act and Norwegian hip-hop is almost always awful. I'm late to the game, but I stand corrected! Now I know: Donkeyboy is a fine mainstream pop/rock act that manages to be successful by employing smart, strong hooks with a touch of 80s pastiche. It's a good formula, it worked out well for Superfamily at home in Norway and The Sounds sure seem to do well by it, though I'd argue they are far less "smart"; now Donkeyboy are attempting to take it to the next level (apparently Sweden is already conquered). Good luck to them, I say. They might be a tad too unassuming to break in territories where bold and brash win and that's a shame because that's yet another reason they're a good band. I see bands like Datarock and I think "trying too hard," yet people still seem to like them. Whatever, it's not as if I didn't already think the music biz was a shitsystem.

Donkeyboy - Ambitions