Pitchfork reviews Ólafur Arnalds
Pitchfork reviews Icelandic artist Ólafur Arnalds' "Found songs": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13808-found-songs/
Country: Sweden
New Björn Kleinhenz vinyl EP in April
The prolific and wonderful Björn Kleinhenz reports that he just sent six new tracks off for a new 10" EP called "Dackes Drabanter" to be released in early April via /.
Free album download from Emerald Park
Swedish indie/pop act Emerald Park has rereleased their 2008 album "For tomorrow" as a free download with two bonus tracks -- go here to get it: http://emeraldpark.bandcamp.com/album/for-tomorrow-2010-edition
Otherwise, the band is currently working on a new album in association with the netlabel.
Moloken to tour Europe in May
Moloken have started to line up dates for a European tour in May: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=173762508&blogId=529242787
Oddjob take on Clint Eastwood
Swedish jazz act Oddjob (feat. Goran Kajfes, Per "Ruskträsk" Johansson, etc.) are paying tribute to actor/director Clint Eastwood with their upcoming album "Clint", due out February 24. Said record will feature the group taking on many famous soundtrack songs from Clint's illustrious film career, including Ennio Morricone's "The good, the bad and the ugly", Lalo Schifrin's "Magnum Force" and more. Read more/hear samples here: http://www.oddjob.cd/albumdetails.php?albumID=7
Beem offering free album download
Swedish electronic artist Beem (aka Fredrik Mjelle) is offering his new album "Peel" for free download: http://www.beem.se/
Apparently a couple of guys from Deportees guest on some of the tracks.
New music from Junip
Junip, the full-band project of José González, has been working on a new album for release this year and it appears that there might be a couple sample tunes posted at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/junip
Saturnia Temple interview at Hellride Music
Hellride Music interviews Swedish doom act Saturnalia Temple: http://www.hellridemusic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21909
Makabert Fynd recording a new LP in April
Swedish hardcore act Makabert Fynd will be going into the studio on April 16 to record a new album. Expect a July release.
Sirius playlist week #7
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Champagne Riot - The champagne anthem
02. TALK 1
03. The Late Parade - We will walk straight through this wall
04. Bolywool - Save my soul
05. Darkthrone - Eyes burst at dawn
06. Boy Omega - Follow the herd
07. TALK 2
08. Isobel & November - She came down the mountain
09. Dream Evil - Kill, burn, be evil
10. TALK 3
11. Martin Senter - Ingenting förlorat
12. Pascal - Tyst här i mörkret
13. Hello Saferide - Anna
14. Brothers of End - Big bird
15. TALK 4
16. Voices Break the Silence - Lost
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.
Robert Svensson recording in May
Robert Svensson (Mixtapes & Cellmates) will be going back into the studio in May to record a new solo album. He will be working at Tambourine Studios in Malmö where many classic Swindie records were made and will have Ludwig Böss (Band of Horses, Ray Wonder, etc.) behind the board. Expect a fall release via .
New Dundertåget single confirmed
The new Dundertåget single "Bara till besvär" will be released on March 16.
House of Tomidas
Dark times!
Brus & Knaster
It's funny, sometimes, how one look at an album cover will conjure up all sorts of references as to the genre a band will fit into or what other bands they'll sound like. Upon seeing the "Dark times!" cover grunge old-timers Mudhoney spring to mind, mainly due to a loose visual connection with some of their album art. When the music kicks in, though, the comparison couldn't be any more detached. The first thing that's noticeable on this album is Britta Persson's vocal performance, which is altogether more eclectic and burlesque than demonstrated on her solo releases. No straightforward indiepop here; rather a gathering of musicians capable of holding their own at any '30s cabaret, yet easily translatable to the present day. The unique combination of quirky song arrangements coupled with Persson's evocative, haunting voice pours forth images of a vaudevillian French setting and that's a very enjoyable aspect of this album. On the other hand, songs like "Daytime drunk" and "From hand to mouth" offer a more contemporary take on things and it's proof of the genius in the band's composition skills that these sit perfectly with their more eccentric, old-time tunes. "The letter" is the biggest surprise on here, a dark creeper that sits right in the middle of a generally upbeat album and that offers a brooding, heartfelt exuberance that belies the rest of the music. A wonderful debut that will undoubtedly please Persson's mainstream fans while simultaneously drawing in the jazz club hangabouts.
- John Norby
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. Torgny Melin - Dansbandsnatt
04. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
05. Zekes - En sån natt
06. Erik Grönwall - Erik Grönwall
07. Nordman - Korsväg
08. Calle Kristiansson - Calle Kristiansson
09. Freda' - Ett mysterium
10. Kent - Röd
11. Date - Här och nu!
12. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
13. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
14. Babian - Hälften dör av fetma
15. Thåström - Be-bop-a-lula hela jävla dan (1989-2009)
16. Louise Hoffsten - På andra sidan vättern
17. Boppin' Steve & The Playtones - Mr Big
18. Dan Berglund - Tonbruket
19. Anne Sofie von Otter - ombre de mon amant - french baroque arias
20. Irya's Playground - Irya's Playground