Swedish post-rockers Scraps of Tape are hard at work on new material and are planning to record a new album, but first they will be hitting the road in May. Dates and details so far: http://www.myspace.com/scrapsoftape

Swedish netlabel Stålverk has two new releases posted for free download this month from the artists Tunic and Jonperman: http://www.stalverk.se/

US tourdates for Norwegian act Shining:

03/10 - Knitting Factory, NYC, NY
03/11 - The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
03/13 - End Of An Ear (3:00 PM), Austin, TX
03/15 - Emo's Jr. (SXSW), Austin, TX
03/16 - Relax Bar, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

Here's the video for the new Markus Krunegård single "Jag är en vampyr": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGNvjAWaRhA

Swedish artist Lukas Scherfig has a new (unfotunately all Flash-based) website where you can stream tracks from his new album "Soul vacation": http://www.lukasscherfig.com/

Jenny Wilson is working on a new album for release in late summer/early fall.

Norwegian piano trio In the Country will play in Italy in April: http://www.inthecountry.no/livedates.html

Danish indierockers Beta Satan have posted the track "Math and chemistry" from the 7" split with countrymates Lack on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/betasatan
Good stuff!

Norwegian-literate readers can keep up with Draumir as they blog the recording of their new album: http://blog.myspace.com/draumir
As mentioned before, they have enlisted the talents of legendary producer/engineer Phill Brown (Talk Talk, Robert Plant, etc.) and no longer playing with frontwoman Alexandra Bråten. Expect a fall release.

Malmö-based sound/art group Laika has a new episode of their quarterly podcast series posted for free download: http://www.laika.nu/

Finnish indie/postrock act Myne has a new track on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wearemyne

Headspin have added a brand new Ass track to their online radio widget: http://www.headspinrecordings.com/

Diet Records will be releasing a career retrospective from Holiday With Maggie this coming May featuring ten of their best songs plus seven previously unreleased/rare tracks. More details tba.

Swedish indie act Go Drowsy will play Scotland in May:

05/16 - The Vale Bar, Glasgow
05/17 - Bannermans, Edinburgh
05/18 - tbc, Dundee

Finnish bitpop favorites Desert Planet will release their brand new album "Moonrocks" on March 19 at home and on April 8 in GAS via 9pm-records. They describe the record as "more electropunk, more action-game oriented and more science fiction influenced than earlier" and will be unveiling a a free downloadable single on March 7. The group will also be posting a tour movie featuring a collage of footage from their tours these past few years plus a few live tracks and a video for the new track "Green fireballs".