SRVC Paris #1
Swedist act Boat Club will be heading to Paris with folks from their label for a showcase at Le Tigre on February 18. Details at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271809671892
Country: Sweden
The Swede Beat #12
Issue #12 of email newsletter/mag The Swede Beat is now online: http://www.theswedebeat.com/magazine/nordic-night/
Featured artists include Stockholm Beat Connection, Dmitry Fyodorov and Jesper Waldersten.
Musik med Anna von Hausswolff
Live music at PSL with artist Anna von Hausswolff: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/02/01/musik-med-anna-von-hausswolff/
2010 watchlist
One of the main reasons I created the site's new custom filter feature is to create lists, both for my own good but also for you, the reader's benefit. Instead of keeping my own private list of my most anticipated releases of 2010, along with tracking all the excellent albums I've already heard and rank highly, I've created a custom filter to do it for me: http://www.itsatrap.com/filter/2010-watchlist
Keep track of my favorites and follow what I say about them; create your own list and do the same!
Presenting: Nattmaran
is the name of a new noise/dark ambient label founded by the folks behind and Ättestupa. Their first releases: a self-titled 12" from Göteborg duo Källarbarnen and the Kristian Olsson album "Att vara där jag var innan jag var jag". Full details and ordering info: http://www.nattmaran.se/
Dmitry Fyodorov - Shapeless, the mixtape
The new Dmitry Fyodorov album "Shapeless" is out now, both as a (paid) digital download and also as a free mixtape. Go to the site to grab the latter: http://www.adrianrecordings.com/default.asp?newsid=256
Metal Nightmare: Blood Mortized, Unanimated, Bone Gnawer
The Metal Nightmare zine interviews Blood Mortized, Unanimated and half-Swedish act Bone Gnawer as part of their final issue: http://www.metalnightmare.com/issue_twenty_seven/issuetwentyseven.html
Bengtsarvet to support Mono
Swedish instrumental/postrock act Bengtsarvet will be opening for Japanese genre legends Mono for a leg of their upcoming European tour. Dates and a sample tune at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bengtsarvet
Galaxy Safari
Star of the masquerade
Granat Records
The type of music that Sweden's Galaxy Safari play can often fall into the abyss of boredom that only a handful of bands have successfully managed to escape. Big players like Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Unida and, to a lesser extent, Liberty 37 and Galactic Cowboys are all referenced here in one way or another and show that Galaxy Safari are adept at mimicking their outer influences and stamping their own initials on the outcome. However, an essential aspect that's quite often lost on a great number of bands attempting to follow this path is the concept of tempo variation and this is also a problem on "Star of the masquerade". The vast majority of songs on here follow the mid-upbeat tempo characteristic of this genre and it unfortunately detracts from an otherwise pleasing album. It's not so much that the album isn't enjoyable, rather it loses its potential impact by failing to address the need for variation in this area. Sure, tracks like opener "Save me" and "Far too long" kick the speed up a tad, but that's not exactly what it's about. It's about more divergence within the songs and without it we have an album that is disappointingly generic in feel and quickly tiring. It also, however, shows a band with the potential to pull a great recording out of the bag if they knuckle down and take some time to be creative instead of going for the quick fix.
- John Norby
Morbus Chron demo coming in February
Old-school Swedish death metal revivalists Morbus Chron report that they'll be releasing their much-anticipated demo tape via in February with their proper full-length debut following sometime later via .
Nikola Sarcevic - Tro
Nikola Sarcevic is streaming the brand new song "Tro" at his website: http://nikolasarcevic.com/start/?p=300
The Sound Projector Invasion Table
The Sound Projector rounds up a batch of recent releases from the always-excellent label, including stuff from Tsukimono, Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words and more: http://www.thesoundprojector.com/2010/01/30/invasion-table-vacant-stare/
Nice Idiot confirm debut album
Swedish punks Nice Idiot report that their debut album "This is no party" is done and will contain 15 songs, all recorded "mostly live" in the studio. will release the CD version in March/early April and the vinyl edition (with bonux track) is still being worked on.
Lo-Fi-Fnk - Marchin' in (video)
In case you missed the Facebook unveiling, here's the new Lo-Fi-Fnk video for the single "Marchin' in": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPgkz4zAHM4&fmt=18
The Grand Opening in mixing mode
The Grand Opening report that their new album, their 3rd overall, is 98% finished and is currently being mixed by Christoffer Roth.