Two final NYC shows for Marit Bergman
Marit Bergman will play two final NYC shows before departing back to Sweden:
12/17 - 1st Unitarian Church, Brooklyn (as part of the Sirens of Brooklyn Choir)
12/19 - Sycamore, Brooklyn
Country: Sweden
Tom Karlsson
Pojknacke
Lystring
The label that brought us the most recent Brainbombs album ("Fucking mess") blesses us yet another lesson in uneasy listening, Tom Karlsson's "Pojknacke". However, this time the bummer vibes come not from harsh repetitive riffs and questionable lyrical content, but from minimalist industrial sound collage layered with the sort of overcooked narration you expect to hear at a puppet show. Can't say I'm all that into it though, especially without the proper Swedish comprehension skills to follow the narrative, but what it comes down to is that the music simply isn't all that compelling. Songs start and stop without much in the way of drama or dynamics and after a while I'm left thinking "is this it?" Thankfully no, Mr. Karlsson did see fit to provide us with a spectacularly gruesome gatefold cover image, so at least it's got that going for it.
- Avi Roig
New Backlash EP on the way
Swedish electro/EBM act Backlash will release the 2nd of their planned 4-part EP series on December 18, this one containing the single "Divine", a remix, 2 b-sides and a cover of "Wishing" by A Flock of Seagulls. Sample at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mementomateria
MP3: Tobias Hellkvist - Arms
When pondering Tobias Hellkvist's new record "Evolutions", keep the title in mind and remember that evolution takes place over huge periods of time. It is not revolution and though this new album does show progression, it does not reflect monumental change. The readily identifiable guitars are gone, replaced by tones and drone, all drifting towards monolithic ambience. "Arms" is a track built on echoing chimes and overtones, sounding something like an underwater clockshop. Or maybe it's your head that's underwater, as the cacophony eventually reveals a deep the groan of a sinking ship that in turn shifts into a light roar of rushing currents and cracking ice. Of course, this being Tobias and his music being the way it is, it's far more dreamy than dreadful. The term "Dronepop" has been floated before, but Tobias is the one artist who I think personifies it best.
Tobias Hellkvist - Arms
Opeth is turning 20
Opeth will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next spring with an international series of special concerts that will feature them performing the album "Blackwater park" in its entirert along with an additional set of material spanning the band's entire career. Read more: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=13689
Various Artists
Great Northern Recordings compilation #4
Great Northern Recordings
This fourth installment in Great Northern Recordings's sampler collection offers yet another foray into the realm of the avant-garde and ambient lives of four Swedish artists. Lakes of Grass and Gold kick off the proceedings with a feedback-induced drone that winds up the most unsettling of the units on here. This is particularly evident on second track "Lament" with its eerie, almost Native American chants laid over a creepy soundscape. Stockholm trio Tape offer a selection that, while much brighter in the use of playful melodies, is reflective and ponderous in its melancholic phrasing. There's the very slightest hint of a bleak industrial touch on "Brakes" while "Millipede cathedral" displays an innocent beauty quite at odds with the former effort. First track from The Magic State, "Something else", is firmly ensconced in the uneasy otherworld where pure dark ambient resides, while "Spectrum" comes off as a self-styled dark electronica that offers allure and desperation in equal measures. The icing on this rather atmospheric cake, however, is with closer Tsukimono, the super-prolific Johan Gustavsson from Göteborg, who demonstrates that minimalism can truly evoke emotion when administered with style and expertise. "A little heart explodes" oozes a sort of ethereal euphoria, while closing track "Mimilalanono" does the very same in the blending of styles to create one, unique, trance-inducing sequence. Yet again, Great Northern have shown that they have the vision necessary to bring together Sweden's anomalous underground and showcase the creative talent that the country's scene quite obviously has.
- John Norby
Idealists for Ideal CS review
The blog Pringles for Breakfast reviews the "Six idealists for Ideal" cassette comp, singling out the Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words track as a "ripper": http://pringlesforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2009/11/six-pack-outstanding-review-new.html
"Bourgeois Shangri-La" to get single release, more
Miss Li's "Bourgeois Shangri-La", the song you hear on those new iPod ads including the one at Pitchfork, will be officially released as a single on December 15 via . Also coming out that same day will be the singles "Voodoo doll" from Val and the Bitches and "Trip to Luleå" by NEI.
New Rigas album confirmed
The new Rigas album "Let's get gone" is now finished and confirmed for an early March release via . Said album was written and produced by Rigas in conjunction with his friend, labelmate and frequent stage companion Pelle Lindroth (Parken, The Chrysler) and will also feature guest appearances from the likes of Anna Maria Espinosa, Jenny Wilson and more. Expect the first single in mid-January.
Yet another Warvictims split?
will be out a split 12" featuring Uncurbed and Warvictims. Eight tracks each, expect a January/February release.
U.X. Vileheards debut coming out on Deranged
Deranged Records is putting out the debut 7" from Umeå-based hardcore act U.X. Vileheads (ex-DS-13, Vicious, Regulations, etc.) and has it available for preorder: http://www.derangedrecords.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=373
PopMatters reviews Fire!
PopMatters reviews Rune Grammofon act Fire! and their album "You liked me five minutes ago": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/116610-fire-you-liked-me-five-minutes-ago/
MP3: AC4 - Pigs lose
I had no doubts that AC4's self-titled debut would be decent even if some of David and Dennis' post-Refused/Final Exit meanderings have been sub-standard because I know their hearts are in the right place and they really do truly believe in what they're doing their place in the hardcore/punk/DIY world. And of course, there's no faulting the cred of their bandmates from The Vectors. My only point of contention: Dennis' vocals. His affected screech is pretty tiresome with The (International) Noise Conspiracy (not that Ian Svenonius did much better with Nation of Ullysses or The Make-Up, but I digress), but to hear him raging in full-on hardcore mode... I am satisfied. Still prefer David on the mic, but whatever, give me anti-cop anthem with a catchy chorus and I'm happy. Give me a few more (see also "Fuck the pigs", "Coptown") and what can I say? I love it.
AC4 - Pigs lose
P3 Guld nominees are in
The nominees for this year's P3 Guld awards have been announced:
Newcomer:
Fever Ray
Erik Hassle
Lorentz & M.Sakarias
Maskinen
Miike Snow
Song:
Agnes - Release Me
Erik Hassle - Hurtful
Markus Krunegård - Hela livet var ett disco
Mando Diao - Dance With Somebody
Promoe - Svennebanan
Group:
Fibes, Oh Fibes! - 1987
[Ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet
Kent - Röd
Mando Diao - Give me fire
Takida - The darker instinct
Artist:
Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen
Markus Krunegård - Prinsen av Peking
Miss Li - Dancing the whole way home
Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
Guldmicken (best live):
Miss Li
Promoe
Takida
Jenny Wilson
Lars Winnerbäck
Dance:
Adam Beyer – Various productions
Axwell – Various productions
Dada Life – Just do the dada
Fever Ray – Fever Ray
Samuel L Session – The man with the case
Hip-hop/soul:
Lorentz & M. Sakarias – Vi mot världen
Mohammed Ali – Processen
Näääk – Näääk vem?
Promoe – Kråksången
Stor – Nya Skolans Ledare
Pop:
Deportees – Under the pavement – the beach
Fever Ray – Fever Ray
Fontän – Winterwhila
Miike Snow – Miike Snow
Taken By Trees – East of Eden
Rock/metal:
Abramis Brama – Smakar söndag
Babian – Fullproppad, listtoppad, livrädd & uppstoppad
Gösta Berlings Saga – Detta har hänt
Satan Takes a Holiday – Satan takes a holiday
Switch Opens – Switch Opens
Go here to vote: http://www.sr.se/sida/default.aspx?ProgramId=3636