Cut City is working on rescheduling their previously cancelled European tour for September: http://www.cut-city.com/events.asp
Swedish industrial act Sanctum will be doing a few US shows in July around the Cornerstone Festival: http://www.crescens-collective.com/livedates
"Reader's companion" alums CDOASS will have a new digital-only EP called "Pass out your love again" out later this month. Hear the very T-Rex inspired single "Ocean of rocks" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/cdoassfagersta
Swedish act The Legends have licensed an exclusive new track with the working title "Whenever I am near you" for use in a new Volvo ad that will begin airing soon. Hopefully a clip will be available online soon.
All About Jazz reviews the new Scorch Trio album "Brolt": http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29618
A:larm Music has signed Danish indie act No and the Maybes and will release their debut album in September. Listen at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/noandthemaybes
A West Side Fabrication has signed Little Red Snapper. Look for a new full-length album in September (produced by Jari Haapalainen) with a single to precede it this summer. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/littleredsnapper
Recent Razzia Records signees I Are Droid will release their debut album "I are debut" on June 11. Stream the whole thing at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/iaredroid
The band features ex-Lowrider frontman Peder Bergstrand plus Konie Ehrencrona (bass/synth, Konie, Don't Be A Stranger), Jens Lagergren (bass, Thunder Express, Hello Saferide) and Fredrik Bergström (drums).
Voting is still going on for the Svenska Podradiopriset - please do your part and vote "It's a Trap!" for best mp3-blogg: http://www.daytona.se/podradiopriset
The Tallest Man On Earth is in the US this week for a small batch of shows:
06/04 - The Basement, Nashville, TN
06/06 - World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
06/07 - LobsterPalooza Festival, Washington Park, Albany, NY
06/07 - The Parting Glass, Saratoga springs, NY
06/08 - Baltimore chop bookstore, Baltimore, MD
06/09 - The Living Room, New York, NY
06/10 - Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY
Göteborg-based sound artist Jesper Norda has a new EP of piano-based songs posted for free download: http://www.aprilarchives.se/
RIYL Madrugada, Tindersticks, etc.
Pitchfork reviews the new Opeth album "Watershed": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51006-watershed
MP3: Fredrik - 1986
I've been meaning to talk about Fredrik for quite some time now, but it kept getting pushed back for one reason or another. Enough! Good music deserves to be heard! Fredrik the person might be better known as a member of The LK, however I find his eponymous act much more interesting. You get many of the same skittering beats and glitchy electronica, but far more of a low-key folk/pop feeling. "1986" actually has a similar melancholy vibe to the recent Robert Svensson (Mixtapes & Cellmates) single "1987" minus the disco beats - perhaps they are referencing the same childhood nostalgia? That's the impression I get anyway. Regardless, it's well-worth hearing as it's easily some of the best crafted electro-acoustic pop I've heard in a long while. Weird enough to always remain interesting, also melodic enough to hold your attention nomatter where your interests lie. Very recommended!
Fredrik - 1986
Kuryakin
Still here
Shelflife Records
The most obviously Scandinavian of the three Shelflife Records acts I delighted in this past weekend, Kuryakin open their EP with "Take my hands", a song that combines the lush dreaminess of The Radio Dept. with the sample-happy, Motown feel of Jens Lekman -- which is quite an accomplishment to say the least. Effortlessly integrating the organic with the electronic, Kuryakin may carry a torch that many would feel The Radio Dept. initially lit, but this torch lights a very different path for Kuryakin. On "Still here" there is a buoyancy where similar bands explore melancholy, and Kuryakin retain this optimism without sacrificing any of the ethereal quality of their songwriting. "Peace of mind", the closer of the EP, has all the makings of a heartrending composition, instead the song channels all of these genre techniques down brighter avenues. The deft craftsmanship that went into "Still here" has put Kuryakin firmly on my list of artists to keep an eye on. I have the feeling these recordings are only the beginnings of a wonderful catalog.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
The label Mondo Neuvo has posted new singles from both Small Feral Token and Napoleon posted for free download: http://www.mondonuevo.se/