The Grand Opening
Beyond the brightness
Tapete Records
After having first found The Grand Opening through the netlabel here a couple of years ago, I thought I had an idea of what they sounded like. Suffice to say, I was a bit naïve in that outlook. With "Beyond the brightness", the music has become slightly more minimal, the lyrics dimmer, and the overall package something quite good. At times, it recalls "Northern blues"–era Kristofer Åström, which is not something to look lightly on. That same, bleak yet beautiful feeling is evident here, and best conveyed on tracks such as "On the losing end" and "Lonely hearts night out". "Anxious looks" starts the album off strong and does not let up much at all. As introspective as it is, it's fragility is so accessible, I can see new fans being won over as a result.
- Matt Giordano
Popjustice has details on Norwegian pop artist Annie's forthcoming album "Don't stop": http://popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2503&Itemid=206
Vice Books will be publishing photographer Pete Beste's work with the Norwegian black-metal scene in a collection called "True Norwegian Black Metal" (naturally) on May 15. Said book includes 200+ pages of photos and interview excerpts plus a sampling of pics from Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen, publisher of the pioneering black-metal zine "Slayer". For more info and ordering details, go here: http://www.peterbeste.com/bm.html
Swedish rockers The Doits will be recording a new album in September/October, once again working with Christoffer Lundquist at Aerosol Grey Machine.
PopMatters reviews the US debut of Norwegian jazz/folk act Farmer's Market and the album "Surfin' USSR": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/farmers-market-surfin-ussr/
Malmö-based indie act Housewifelovers have a new single called "Clarissa" posted as a free download today: http://www.myspace.com/housewifelovers
Buy the band's new 10" EP right here.
Sharin Foo of The Raveonettes is pregnant and thus will be sitting out the remainder of the year's tourdates. The band does promise to continue on without her for the time being, but has not announced any details as to how they plan on doing it just yet.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
02. Vassendgutane - Xo
03. Madrugada - Madrugada
04. Malin - Pang
05. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
06. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
07. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
08. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
09. D.D.E. - 15 år live
10. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
11. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
12. Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments
13. Publiners - driv
14. Farmers Market - Surfin' Ussr
15. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
16. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
17. Gluecifer - kings of rock
18. Madcon - So Dark the Con of Man
19. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
20. Surferosa - The Beat On The Street
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero
02. Sanna Nielsen - Stronger
03. Looptroop Rockers - Good things
04. Christer Sjögren - Jubileum 40 år med Christer Sjögren
05. Brolle - Ett hjärta som glöder som en gång brann
06. The Hellacopters - Head off
07. Håkan Hellström - För sent för Edelweiss
08. Nordman - Djävul eller gud
09. BWO - Pandemonium - The singles collection
10. In Flames - A sense of purpose
11. Linda Bengtzing - Vild & galen
12. Pugh Rogefeldt - Vinn hjärta vinn
14. Amy Diamond - Music in motion
15. Takida - Bury the lies
16. Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm just me (new edition)
17. Oh Laura - A song inside my head, a demon in my bed
18. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
19. Monica Zetterlund - Sakta vi gå genom stan - Det bästa med Monica
20. Tommy Körberg - Rakt upp och ner
Clickmusic interviews Swedish artist du jour Lykke Li: http://www.clickmusic.com/articles/7938/Interview-Lykke-Li.html
My local college radio station KAOS 89.3 FM will debut a new Scandinavian music-themed program today called "Pining For the Fjords" at 1pm Pacific Time. And no, in case you were wondering, no I am not involved and I haven't even met the host Tammy Tillinghast yet (though we have exchanged emails), but I will most certainly be listening in. Stream it online here: http://kaos.evergreen.edu/
More info at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/piningforthefjordskaos
Swedish electronic/techno act Pluxus has licensed their 2006 album "Solid state" to esteemed German-based label Kompakt for an international release. They also have a new EP called "Transient" on the way and will celebrate with a record release show on May 10 at Teater Giljotin in Stockholm. Samples and more details at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pluxus
For those that might be curious, I've started a msgboard thread to track the weekly Gbg Spotlight Series: [click here]
Feel free to make suggestions for future interview subjects and/or artists to cover.