Nomethod has a new simple + elegant website: http://www.nomethod.se/
Be on the lookout for the debut solo album from Mixtapes & Cellmates frontman Robert Svensson, now confirmed for release on October 1.
There's now a video for the new Nordpolen single "Skimret": http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0081.html
Also new from Sincerely Yours is a 6-track EP from Air France called "No way down": http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0082.html
Watch a scene from the season finale of "Grey's anatomy" featuring music from Ida Maria: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_u6rkyjic0
Nebraska-based indiepop label Series Two Records will be putting out new releases from Back in Judy's Shack, Peace In Our Time, Lonely Boy and more this coming June. Details soon.
Peter Bjorn and John's forthcoming, long-promised instrumental album has now been given the working title of "Seaside rock" and should be out this fall. As for the band's next lyrical pop collection, they hope to record this summer for a March 2009 release.
Paddington Distortion Combo will be releasing a new album on October 3. As for any details beyond that, I have no idea.
Apparently Primal Scream will be releasing a new album as recorded with Swedish producer extraordinaire Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John).
Here is the It's a Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 albums of the week:
01. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
02. Feist – The Reminder
03. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
04. Håkan Hellström – För Sent För Edelweiss
05. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
06. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
07. Radiohead – In Rainbows
08. The Radio Dept. – Pet Grief
09. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
10. Familjen – Det snurrar i min skalle
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
MP3: Abduktio - Kevään merkkejä
With the release of their new album "Thermidor", the Finnish band Abduktio has evolved into an impressive progressive-minded hardcore act. The band still thrashes hard, but they aim much higher and as such, temper their sound with an epic melodic sensibility that's unusual for the genre. Think of Japanese band Envy and their post-rockish tendencies or perhaps consider Canadians Fucked Up and the way they stretch beyond the confines of the typical 2-minute punk track. Abduktio embraces similar tendencies and make it their own. "Kevään merkkejä" ("Signs of spring") is the centerpiece of the album, a song about the environmental consciousness that rises out of watching the world thaw, but also a song about similarly waking up to all the injustice of the world around you. Clearing the frost from your eyes, as it were. I love the way the song twists and turns, the subtle unexpected melodic shifts, the crisp recording that allows every instrument to be equal in focus. Despite the non-standard structure, the piece never loses direction and always returns seamlessly to the various refrains. Thank goodness there's bands like this out there to push boundaries.
Abduktio - Kevään merkkejä
It may be Memorial Day here in the US, but that doesn't mean I'm taking off. Quite the contrary! In fact, I've got a brand new MyFriends feature posted today as well as a new review and all the rest of the usual content you expect. No worries!
Also, if you haven't voted for It's a Trap! yet for the Svenska Podradiopriset (Swedish Podradio Prize) in the best mp3-blog category, please do so now: http://www.daytona.se/podradiopriset
I don't know if winning actually means anything, but I still want to win anyway and I can't do it without your help!
Anna Ternheim
Halfway to five points
Decca Records
Honestly, we will never hear Anna Ternheim sing songs more cheerfully than "Today is a good day" (track 3), but that doesn't matter. Not at all. She can be called Sweden's singer/songwriter queen when it comes to English lyrics and songs, with dark mystifying tunes. This is sloshed high-quality music, this is fragile and fragile is good, fragile is to invite us listeners to participate. You could recently hear her on National Public Radio's World Cafe with David Dye and maybe you have seen her around here and there, and maybe you have caught some of her tunes, which according to some can be abscribed a likeness to PJ Harvey or Nick Cave. Anyhow, her new album, "Halfway to five points", was recorded during this winter when Anna Ternheim successfully merged old handpicked songs from the album "Separation road" with a few fresh ones into this new assemblage, portraying one of those stay-home and stay-inside-days, when you just want to stay in your bed, daydream and let the mind go elsewhere. I would say this is a new dreamier Ternheim sound going more narrative, with an orchestral touch and more experimental acoustic instruments which, for example, make the new version of "Girl laying down" exquisite. The more "Halfway to five points" is played in my stereo, the more it makes sense and the more beautiful it's turning out to be. I just want to stay inside, listen to her fragile tunes, stare up in the ceiling and exist in the music. This album has a good freaking message.
- Therese Buxfäldt
MP3: The Leather Nun - No rule
Freddie Wadling has been a Göteborg mainstay for many, many years. I've covered Cortex before, but he also did time in early punk acts such as Liket Lever and Straightjackets and various other influential acts such as The Leather Nun (today's featured mp3), Blue for Two, Fläskkvartetten/Fleshquartet, not to mention his work as a solo artist and more recently, with the group Mother. And that doesn't even touch on his work in other arenas, such as the stage. So yeah, a busy guy with a vast discography. While I appreciate a huge swath of his work, I'm definitely drawn more to his earlier material. Naturally, Cortex is a huge favorite (easily my #1 Swedish postpunk band), but I also really like The Leather Nun, especially their debut record "Slow death". This is proto goth rock, stripped raw and angry. They do sometimes exhibit some of the theatrics inherit in the genre, but you'd never know it by hearing "No rule", a revved-up fury of a track. More Misfits than Bauhaus, if you know what I mean. The band would later polish up quite a bit on subsequent recordings though they never were able to top the debut in my mind. A certified classic, if you ask me.
The Leather Nun - No rule
New items in stock and ready for order:
Sophie Rimheden - Traveller (CD)
v/a - Swedish indie 1988-2006 - A love story (2CD)
More stuff coming soon!
Danish act Johnny Deluxe is streaming their new single "Så er det sommer" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/johnnydeluxe1