Finnish indiepop act Daisy has posted the new video for "Go!" up on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-45kCPk-bM
Swedish indiepop act Vit Päls have two new tracks on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/vitpals
PopMatters reviews Norwegian artist Silje Nes: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/silje-nes-ames-room/
Paper Thin Walls drops a track review on Lykke Li's "Little bit": http://www.paperthinwalls.com/singlefile/item?id=1547
Wonderland Records (Emmon, Universal Poplab) has signed the new artist Jesper, the solo act of Jesper Mossberg. Go here to download two tracks or hit up myspace for more samples. Also, check out that first link for two new tracks from Universal Poplab.
Saybia's new video for "On her behalf" is now online: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=32962776
Cult Norwegian black-metal act Fleuerty has had their album "Min tid skal komme" reissued on gatefold 2xLP via UK-based label Aesthetic Death featuring new artwork by Trine & Kim. Read more: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=102125736&blogID=384726442
MP3: Folke Rabe - Argh!
Folke Rabe is a Swedish composer, probably best known for his piece "What??", an early example of modern drone/minimalism that premiered in 1967. I am not nearly as familiar with his oeuvre as I should be, but after seeing his name in the lineup for May's "Swedish Outsiders" festival in London, I wanted to revisit the one piece of his I do have, "Argh!" (1965). "Argh!" is a work of sound collage, created back in the time of analog tape manipulation. Even without that consideration, this is an amazing piece of editing and layering, long pre-dating the similar, infamous sound experiments performed by Negativland that gained them notoriety. Voices come and go, melodies slip in and out, but it holds your attention all the while. In some ways, I think it works even better now with the added layer of nostalgia as the sound sources are obviously from a bygone era. Also, it's important to remember that there were no sampling laws back then, so anything was fair game. Can you imagine negotiating the clearances on something like this now? No question about it, it just wouldn't happen. So, however you want to listen to this, be it for technical or aesthetic or even historical appreciation, I think all approaches work. It's a remarkable composition.
Folke Rabe - Argh!
Swedish twee/pop/disco artist Cloetta Paris made it onto the Pitchfork Forkcast: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/50016-cloetta-paris-secret-eyes-mp3stream
Keith Canisius
Ferris wheel makeout
Quince Records
There's no escaping the My Bloody Valentine comparisons with "The sea me, feel me", the opener of Rumskib composer Keith Canisius' debut solo effort. But with other examples such as "Naïve struggle" also available to the listener, it seems somewhat unfair to solely refer to Canisius as yet another Kevin Shields' disciple. It's undeniable that "Ferris wheel makeout" is strongly influenced by Shields' songwriting and production, but there are numerous departures from the crashing waves of delay-saturated guitars and soft vocals. The electronic drum arrangements allow Canisius' songs to feel focused in their quicker tempos, funneling the dreampop, shoegazer instrumentalism into digestible avenues -- especially apparent on the song "Watching old films with new eyes". No matter how overwhelming the keyboards or guitars become, Canisius never lets his compositions slip out of control. While the songs do meander at time, the fact that a listener is left with some sense of coherence at the end of any given track is a testament to Canisius' ability as a composer.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Norwegian act Skambankt will be recording their third album in May: http://skambankt.com/index.php?id=103528
Coming to London in mid-May: "Swedish Outsiders", a festival of experimental sound and film: http://www.no-signal.net/
Artists presenting include Hans Appelqvist, Mats Gustafsson, Folke Rabe, Tape, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Henrik Rylander and much, much more. See a pdf of program notes here: http://www.no-signal.net/swedish/nosignal-SwedishOutsidersFestival-PR.pdf
Regain Records has signed Unanimated and will be remastering/reissuing the bands first two album "In the forest of the dreaming dead" and "Ancient god of evil" this June. As for the band's next record, they'll be recording this summer.
Watch news footage from San Diego featuring an abandoned drug boat being washed ashore with commentary from Turbonegro bassist Happy Tom who just happened to be on the scene: http://www.kusi.com/home/17993667.html?video=YHI&t=a
Guitarist Blasphemer aka Rune Eriksen has parted ways with Mayhem. Read his statement here: http://www.thetruemayhem.com/updates/20082204.htm