Nuclear Blast has announced the signing of Norwegian act Keep Of Kalessin. Read the press release at Lambgoat: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=10441
Norwegian act Monzano has posted their new single "Pine trees" on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/monzano
Abba drummer Ola Brunkert found dead in gardening accident (I kid you not!): http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQDb9JiHv4VpmH6D6jpOTzxNZ6YQD8VF6TE00
C.Aarmé is looking to record a new album this year and is actively seeking label support: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=2735396&blogID=367625440
The release of Sophie Rimheden's new album "Traveller" has been moved up to April 16. Check the press release: http://www.lafirme.se/sophierimheden.htm
Danish indie act Factory45 have posted four of the five tracks from their brand new EP "Rock music almost ruined my life" on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/factory45
The Next Big Thing weighs in favorably on the latest Novoton releases from the bands Pascal and Paper: http://nextbigthing.blogspot.com/2008/03/day-care-centre-jumpin-jackpot-of.html
Swedish indie act Pinto has two new videos online, one from NY-based director Kevin Doyle and another from Rue23 out of Berlin. In other news, look for the band to play The International Pop Overthrow Festival in Liverpool, England on May 20-21 taking place at legendary club The Cavern.
Dates for the upcoming Rumble in Rhodos/Dominic tour have been posted:
03/29 - Café revolt, Malmö (SWE)
03/30 - Juzi, Göttingen (SWE)
03/31 - AK44, Giessen (GER)
04/01 - T Steegske (Frontline), Gent (BEL)
04/02 - Stattbanhof, Schweinfurt (GER)
04/03 - KTS, Freiburg (GER)
04/04 - Mains d' Oeuvres, Paris (FRA)
04/05 - tba, Zürich (CH)
04/06 - Kuplung Klub, Budapest (HUN)
04/07 - 3raumbar (Arena), Vienna (AUS)
04/08 - Klub V Jeleni, Prague (CZ)
04/09 - Muz Club, Nuremberg (GER)
04/10 - Café Exzess, Frankfurt (GER)
04/11 - AZconni, Dresden (GER)
04/12 - tba, Berlin (GER)
MP3: Ef - Appendix
A nice bonus from having done this site for so long (5½ years and counting!) is that I get to watch bands grow over the years, keeping track of them as they hone their sound and figure out what they want to do. I didn't really care much for Ef at the demo stage - their music was far too busy and unfocused - but their proper debut full-length "Give me beauty... or give me death!" was a huge step in the right direction. Less focus on riffs, more emphasis on composition and songwriting, not to mention a better feel for atmosphere. The new album "I am responsible" takes things further by demonstrating new-found patience and restraint, two traits that were definitely missing from their earliest material. By holding back, they imbue the music with far more drama and I think that's most evident on the track "Appendix". Lots of long, suspended notes; a steady build. The spoken vocals remind me a bit of emo act Indian Summer more than standard postrock flair, but I think that's a good thing. I am typically all about the big, crashing loud part that so often comes at the end of a song like this, but by avoiding that cliché, they've created something with more of their own distinct personality. Nicely done!
Ef - Appendix
This week's It's a Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 tracks of the week:
01. Hot Chip – Ready for the floor
02. Gentle Touch – Once you used to
03. Caesars – Boo boo goo goo
04. Familjen – Det snurrar i min skalle
05. Markus Krunegård – Jag är en vampyr
06. Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
07. Caesars – Strawberry weed
08. Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
09. Lykke Li – I'm good, I'm gone
10. Shout Out Louds – Tonight I have to leave it
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/
Check out video footage of Thomas Andersson Wij and Jennie Abrahamson performing the closing number "Där får jag andas ut" together live in Malmö from their current tour: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vB9Ibho-KLI
Marit Bergman's brand new single "Out on the piers" is now up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/maritbergman
The track will be available as a paid download via Marit's site on March 28 or on Scandinavian iTunes on March 31 and UK iTunes on April 21.
UPDATE: You can also download the track for free at Discobelle: http://www.discobelle.net/2008/03/17/marit-bergman-out-on-the-piers-exclusive/
IAT favorite Tobias Hellkvist has created a mixtape of mostly unreleased material for the Play My Tape site: http://playmytape.net/page.php?id=54
Needless to say, this is VERY highly recommended!