Kaizers Orchesta have posted a couple video clips with the behind-the-scenes clips from their new album "Maskineri": http://www.kaizers.no/articles/19/20/document198.ehtml
Sugarplum Fairy recently recorded a new batch of material: http://www.sugarplumfairy.nu/index.php?pID=3&dID=239
No word on how/when it will be released, but I'll keep you posted.
Erik L from Swedish production team Flyphonic is working on a solo album that will feature guest spots from Stray, Kissey Asplund, Cerebral Vortex, Funkenteller (ex-Up Hygh) and Supersci. Hear samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/flyeriklbeats
Efterklang is now offering their latest video for the track "Illuminant" as a high-quality download: http://www.efterklang.net/vids/Efterklang_Illuminant_25mb_by_Tobias_Stretch.mov
There's a new video from Norrland hardcore act Raised Fist up on myspace: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=26749541
Norwegian act Real Ones have signed with Warner and are working on making inroads into the UK music scene. They'll be releasing the track "Outlaw" as a 12" single and will be heading over for a gig at the Electroacoustic Club in London on February 13. The album "All for the neighbourhood" will be out in April. Hear samples: http://www.myspace.com/realonesmusic
PSL has a live acoustic performance from Hästpojken: http://svt-psl.colo.netstar.se/default.aspx?entryID=423
Hardcore Superstar guitarist Thomas Silver has announced that he is quitting the music business. Vic Zino from Crazy Lixx will fill in for him while the band seeks a permanent replacement.
IAT-recommended artist Marybell Katastrophy will release a new EP entitled "You are the two" on March 12 in both digital and vinyl format, just like her last release "This is the one". Download a preview track at her website: http://www.marybell.dk/
Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound will be putting on a showcase event at SXSW this year featuring Bjørn Torske, Lindstrøm, Arp, Diskjokke, Kim Hiorthøy and US signees Sunburned Hand Of The Man. Exact details concerning date/time/location tba.
MP3: Moderat Likvidation - Nitad
Moderat Likvidation are an old Swedish punk band from the early 80s, widely considered to be the very first d-beat/d-takt act on the scene. They recorded a couple EPs before going their separate ways around '85, leaving a small, but important legacy. That is, until this weekend when they will be playing their first show in 22 years at Mejeriet in Lund, Sweden with fellow old-school vets Mob 47 and young upstarts Fy Fan (touring the US in March) and Nuclear Death Terror. Expect all sorts of old dudes crawling out from the woodwork with receding hairline mohawks. At least, that's how I like to picture it. Anyhow, while they are most certainly not my favorite Swedish raw-punk band, their place in history is inarguable. So with that being said, here's their track from the new "Svenska punkklassiker vol. 2" compilation. Enjoy!
Moderat Likvidation - Nitad
The winners of this year's Rockbjörnen:
Female artist: Sonja Aldén
Group: Sahara Hotnights
Newcomer: Måns Zelmerlöw
Male artist: Lars Winnerbäck
Live act: The Ark
Song: Lars Winnerbäck – Om du lämnar mig nu
Album: Kent – Tillbaka till samtiden
Myspace prize: Kid Down
Kenneth Ishak
Silver lightning from a black sky
SellOut! Music
I gather Ishak earned his indie cred as frontman for Norway's Beezewax. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that this solo album, precariously straddling indie and arena, is on a label called "SellOut!" It's as though he hoped that if he threw enough things together, something would stick and make him a ubiquitous radio star. Instead, for every moment of finely-crafted power-pop on here, there's at least one noodling guitar solo or overproduced distraction that renders the whole downright unlistenable.
- Nancy Baym
The video for BigBang's debut American single "Hurricane boy" can now be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afiXxZBbmkE