Danish alt-country act Lost Alma on tour in Germany this week:
04/07 - Pony Bar, Hamburg
04/08 - Polyester, Oldenburg
04/09 - Intersoup, Berlin
04/10 - Prinz Willy, Kiel
04/11 - Hasenschaukel, Hamburg
04/12 - Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig
Progress Productions is offering up a few free downloads from the new Red Cell album "Lead or follow": http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=87118675&blogID=375139268
The Swedish "crossover/electro-metal" act will release said album on May 18.
The Raveonettes have wrapped up their US tour and are now working on recording three new 3-4 track EPs for release this coming fall, the first due in September. For more details, including a bit of background info concerning what the band is all about, go here: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4263957&blogID=374651865
Check out a live video of Fredrik playing with a full choir at a homeless women benefit concert in Malmö: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSsPQ4-JVnc
In other news, word has it that their album "Na na ni" will be getting a US release later this. Details when I get 'em.
Swedish punks Nitad are making progress on the recording of their upcoming full-length: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=52311492&blogID=374154540
Here is the It's a Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:
01. Håkan Hellström
02. Jens Lekman
03. Radiohead
04. Feist
05. The Beatles
06. Death Cab for Cutie
07. Belle and Sebastian
08. Lykke Li
09. The Smiths
10. R.E.M.
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/
Hey look, 3rd rate Motorhomes wannabees: http://www.myspace.com/longdistancerunners
It's actually not that bad, but does the world really need more bands like this? Now?
Besides the compendium of Håkan Hellström coverage we have posted today, don't forget to check out the new podcast mix I made: [click here]
Somehow I almost forgot to post this week's radio show playlist:
01. Bloodbath - Blasting the virginborn
02. TALK 1
03. Håkan Hellström - Långa vägar
04. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr. Happy
05. Victims - Bomben har fallit
06. TALK 2
07. Death By Kite - Sweet M
08. Ef - Thrills
09. The Bombhappies - Nothing at all
10. TALK 3
11. Motorpsycho - The alchemyst
12. Marybell Katastrophy - Hidden agenda
13. TALK 4
14. In Flames - Moonshield
15. Maskinen - Alla som inte dansar (100dirty remix)
16. The Social Services - Baltic Sea
17. TALK 5
18. Peter Morén - Social competence
19. Lack - Bombing the moon
20. Dmitry Fydorov - Signal
21. TALK 6
22. Looptroop Rockers - The building
23. Six Guns - Think positive
24. Nybakat! - Limu limu lima
25. TALK 7
26. Saft - Sizzling
27. Electric Retard - Greenvalley High
28. Lukestar - The shade you hide
29. Samtidigt Som - Constant in motion
30. TALK 8
31. Bad Cash Quartet - Monday morning
32. Monkeystrikes - I'm sorry, but I'm very dramatic
33. Commando M Pigg - Shoeshine boy
34. Weeping Willows - Touch me
35. TALK 9
36. Pistol Disco - Beat of the tune
Håkan Hellström
För sent för edelweiss
Dolores
There are few albums I have fallen for quite as hard as Håkan Hellström's debut "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg". For many, this first album is Hellström's high-water mark. In reviews of his subsequent records, "Känn ingen sorg..." is cast as a specter that Hellström is haunted by, an accomplishment he has not been able to match or surpass. That being said, "För sent för edelweiss" does not eclipse Hellström's debut, but it matches this earlier triumph. "För sent för edelweiss" shows that Hellström is a versatile artist and songwriter, creating a brilliant album that amalgamates the distinctly Swedish sound his first album reveled in with a Springsteen-esque quality -- capturing both Springsteen's talents with anthemic compositions (not that Hellström himself is in anyway lacking when he sets his mind to the anthemic) and the Boss' remarkable ability to craft slower, more moving numbers, with Hellström layering in his own distinct sound throughout. Opener "Tro och tvivel" feels like a track off of the seminal "Born to run", its final moments paying homage to Springsteen's "Backstreets". "Zigenarliv dreamin", the strangest addition to the album, though one that has grown on me, only strengthens the comparisons between Hellström's newest and the records of the 1960s and 70s. In "Kärlek är ett brev skickat tusen gånger", I hear echoes of Van Morrison; the wonderfully lo-fi production enriches the opening of the title track, amplifying the Simon & Garfunkel quality of the song; "Kär i en angel" feels like the songs of the 60s and 70s that Jens Lekman emulates; and it's difficult not to sense a touch of Bruce Springsteen in "För en lång lång tid", my favorite from this album, and one of the best songs I've heard in the past few years.
Is "För sent för edelweiss" a flawless album? By no means. Though neither was "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg", if you get down to it. Håkan Hellström's faults are part of his immense charm, and the artist succeeds so much more than he stumbles here. It's hard to even remember the faulty aspects of the album while listening to songs like "Kärlek är ett brev..." and "Långa vägar", and it's even harder to stop listening to "För en lång lång tid". I'll be very surprised if this album is not high up on my best of 2008 list. If you're one who believes that Håkan Hellström lost his way a bit after 2000, "För sent för edelweiss" is more than ample evidence that he's back.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
MP3: Håkan Hellström - För sent för edelweiss
I'm a fan of the new Håkan Hellström album "För sent för edelweiss". I fully agree with Lars that it's his best work since his solo debut, but despite its many charms, I have not fallen completely in love with it. Håkan's youthful charm has given way to retro nostalgia, a fitting touch I must say. Those of us who came of age with "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg" are no doubt similarly settling down, so looking backwards to the music of the past feels quite natural. I can relate; it makes sense. I'm okay with that. But I can also see how one may find fault and that's where contributor Simon Tagestam comes in. Today's mp3 post belongs to him:
Håkan Hellström's got a new album out (his fourth proper one) that seems to have every Swedish journalist trying to outdo each other coming up with texts praising the album and Hellström himself. Personally, I think the album is quite disappointing, there's too much dodgy (Swedish) prog rock on it for my liking. However, there are a handful of fantastic tracks on the album, one of them being the title track, which is also a b-side from "Klubbland" that came out two years ago. It's a very bleak song, lyrically it's quite close to the "loser lyrics" of Broder Daniel (where Hellström played the drums). I love it, it's one of those songs that if I could only listen to 5 songs for the rest of my life, it might just have a chance to be included, since I always welcome songs that make me feel like shit with open arms.
What do you think?
Håkan Hellström - För sent för edelweiss
Kaka
s/t
Despotz Records
I was a huge fan of The Mo, so listening to the solo debut of Richard Karlsson, the band's former keyboardist, was a real treat. It's always interesting hearing solo stuff from an ex-band member who wasn't the frontman. Sure, Karlsson's vocals were all over The Mo sound, from background to chorus, but would his own music be a carbon copy of his former band? It turns out that, while still retaining a lot of what made The Mo work so well as a pop band, Karlsson strikes out on its own, borrowing heavily from electronica and international rhythms including a surprising reggae influence. This is most clearly evidenced in songs like "It's a longshot" and "What a frame", which could be classified as reggaetronica, if such a thing even exists. Think The Tough Alliance with a brighter, more immediate pop sound. Though the album does get repetitive towards the end, the strength of the melodies coupled with the simplicity of the production makes this a very promising solo debut.
- Nick James
MP3: September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?
Another week, another chapter in our ongoing 2008 Göteborg music spotlight. This week's guest: Martin Lundmark from September Malevolence/A TenderVersion Recording.
So what's up with the Gbg postrock scene anyway? Does September Malevolence consider themselves a part of that? Does it even exist?
Well no, I don't really think there's a specific scene for postrock here, the city is too small. There are some bands though, and I guess we all more or less know each other, but scene? Nah.
How would you say the music scene in Gbg compare to other cities in Sweden? What makes Gbg better (or worse) in comparison?
I think it's pretty good, there are loads of bands here. It's also far more diverse than people in general believe. The underground is so much better than the mostly boring bands that get media attention...
As far as TenderVersion goes, do you consider yourself a regional label, dedicated to documenting the local scene? I know you have those shitheads Scraps of Tape from Malmö on your label, but let's forget about them for now, especially that Johan guy. How important do you think it is that there are labels around to do that?
Haha... everybody knows Johan's a dick! I haven't really thought of TenderVersion as being a regional label, and now that Audrey is spread around the country and I've signed Yamon Yamon from Sthlm, I guess it's not the case. It kind of was in the beginning when Once We Were, Audrey and September Malevolence all lived in Göteborg though. The main focus for TenderVersion has always been to get outside of Sweden, that's where the action is.
Jerry Bowman seems to resent me calling him a scenester in an earlier entry of this Gbg spotlight series (see here and here). Was I off-base? What's his deal anyway? Pen Expers are not a good band.
Well, I've only read his blog a few times. And scanning through it now to be able to answer this question, I think you are right. And we don't share the same musical taste for sure. File under: Yawn...
What do you see as the future of the Gbg music scene? Any upcoming trends to keep an eye on?
Hm, that's a tricky one. I hope to see more experimental stuff coming out of Gbg soon. That would be awesome! And that they get some attention mediawise! The 40-year olds at GP write about Håkan Hellström and Kent, the 30-year olds write about Hästpojken... not my cup of tea. What we need now are some passionate kids with a taste for the new and eclectic! Rise above the mainstream, anyone?
And as for September Malevolence, what are your upcoming plans? Care to share a new song?
Well, the new album is released May 30th in Europe and a bit later in Japan. We are hitting the road for three weeks in May/June doing our 5th European tour and are hoping to go to Japan later this year. Basically we want to tour as much as possible... why don't you hook us up in the US dude? ;)
I've attached "Who watches the watchmen?", the first track from the upcoming CD/LP "After this darkness, there's a next". It's a killer!
Indeed it is...
September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?