The nominations for the Danish Music Awards (the Danish Grammy) have been announced. Here are the nominees in most of the Danish categories:
Album:
Efterklang - Parades
Natasja - I Danmark Er Jeg Født
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
Tina Dickow - Count To Ten
Volbeat - Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil
Group:
Alphabeat - Alphabeat
Dúné - We Are In There You Are Out Here
Efterklang - Parades
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
Volbeat - Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil
Female Artist:
Anne Linnet - Anne Linnet
Ane Trolle - JaConfetti
Natasja - Natasja
Annisette - Savage Rose
Tina Dickow - Tina Dickow
Male Artist:
Isam Bachiri - Isam B
Jens Unmack - Jens Unmack
Thomas Troelsen - Private
Sune Wagner - The Raveonettes
Michael Poulsen - Volbeat
Newcomer:
Alphabeat
BliGlad
Dúné
JaConfetti
The Kissaway Trail
Hit:
Alphabeat - 10.000 Nights Of Thunder
Infernal - I Won't Be Crying
KNA - Connected Fibs (Løgn & Latin)
Private - My Secret lover
TV-2 - S.O.M.M.E.R
Rock:
Dúné - We Are In There You Are Out Here
Figurines - When The Deer Wore Blue
The Kissaway Trail - The Kissaway Trail
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
Volbeat - Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil
Pop:
Alphabeat - Alphabeat
Isam B. - Institution
Private - My Secret Lover
Tina Dickow - Count To Ten
TV-2 - For Dig Ku' Jeg Gøre Alting
Electronica:
Efterklang - Parades
JaConfetti - The Rainbow Express
People Press Play - People Press Play
Hip-Hop:
Booty Cologne - BC
Marwan - P.E.R.K.E.R.
Suspekt - Prima Nocte
Hard Rock:
Hatesphere - Serpent Smiles And Killer Eyes
Mnemic - Passenger
The Psyke Project - Apnea
Songwriter:
Jens Unmack
Natasja
Thomas Troelsen (Private)
Sune Wagner (The Raveonettes)
Tina Dickow
Producer:
Natasja - I Danmark Er Jeg Født (Pharfar)
Private - My Secret Lover (Thomas Troelsen)
Suspekt - Prima Nocte (Rune Rask & Troo.L.S)
Music Video:
Efterklang - Mirador (Hvass, Hannibal & Ufex)
I Know That You Know - You Need Paths To Draw Maps (Fabulab)
JaConfetti - Step Up (Mary Mary)
Artwork:
Efterklang - Parades (Hvass, Hannibal & Ufex)
Savage Rose - Universal Daughter (Nego & Brando)
TV-2 - For Dig Ku' Jeg Gøre Alting (Jo Dam Kærgaard)
Read more: http://www.dma08.dk/
The new single "The hotspurs" from ex-The Mo act Kaka is available for streaming/download on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kakaricky
Their debut album will be released on January 30 via Despotz Records.
Animal Alpha is utilizing the Radiohead "pay what you want" model for the release of their new album "You pay for the whole seat but you'll only need the edge", 'cept with a twist - instead of anonymity of the internet, they'll be selling the album in-person on January 25 in Oslo. They'll also be offering it in a multitude of formats including USB thumb drives and Bluetooth transfer, something I think is even more interesting than the pricing scheme. Read more for details: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=11767843&blogID=348363538
Britta Persson's "Cliffhanger" is both the first single and lead track off her new album "Kill Hollywood me" and it's a great song with an odd, unconventional melody that almost seems modal in timbre. As the title suggests, the chords shift restlessly without quite coming to a pleasant "pop" resolve until maybe the bridge. Even then, there's still an uneasiness to it. The very out/almost dissonant voicings of the piano only add to the unsettledness. It's definitely the jazziest we've ever heard from her and, as Lars suggests, is also reminiscent of adventurous 70s rock. Best of all however, is Britta's newfound level of supreme confidence. Her early demos were charming and always displayed huge potential for her talent, potential that's now being fully realized. The new record is good, but I think I'm even more excited to hear what's next.
Britta Persson - Cliffhanger
Robyn will finally release her new "Rakamonie EP" in the US on January 29 via Konichiwa/Cherrytree/Interscope and will also be coming over for a few select live dates:
02/05 - Highline Ballroom, NYC
02/07 - Popscene, San Francisco
02/09 - The Troubador, Hollywood (sold out)
Look for more dates around SXSW (mid-March) to be announced soon.
Ane Brun's brand new single "The puzzle" is streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/anebrun
Look on the left-hand side for the new Magnus Renfors-directed video as well. The album "Changing of the Season" will be out this spring via Ane's new self-run label Balloon Ranger Recordings. Ane will also be touring Europe in April and dates are posted at the aforementioned myspace link.
The cover art and tracklist for Lack's forthcoming album "Saturate every atom" has been revealed: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=45634190&blogID=348365463
It comes out March 3 via PlayRec and is highly recommended - I've been fortunate enough to receive an advance copy and find it to be a worthy successor to their last album, the excellent "Be there pulse".
Madrugada has now added the new track "Hour of the wolf" to their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/wearemadrugada
8
Something must have happened in Sweden around the time artists like Annika Norlin (Hello Saferide, Säkert!), Frida Hyvönen and Britta Persson were young. Even as my musical tastes led me further from the introspective narratives of singer/songwriters from the United States and Britain, I've never been able to 'outgrow' many the female artists that populate the Scandinavian music scene. Many of these songstresses effortlessly combine the poppy with the shadowy, the quirky with the straight-forward, all without straining, overburdening, or warping the overall structure of their compositions. Britta Persson's "Kill Hollywood me" is no exception. The album kicks alive with "Cliffhanger" and its progression from guitars that feel as though they should lead into a huge 70s rock ballad, through wonderfully playful piano notes, and eventually to a bittersweet chorus, its chord progression never jarring the listener, though not unfolding in the way we've become accustomed to pop songs developing. All of the tracks on here are equally interesting to watch evolve in their idiosyncratic, sometimes eccentric, schemes; "Enter and leave" and "Happy hour" being my favorites. If you know what Britta Persson is about, then "Kill Hollywood me" is an organic continuation of her earlier work. If you don't, this album isn't a bad place to start.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Negative has parted ways with guitarist Sir Christus. The band still plans to enter the studio in February to record their next record and will continue on for the time being as a five-piece.
Finnish act Disco Ensemble will do a few last-minute support gigs with Linkin Park in Germany:
01/16 - TUI Arena, Hannover
01/20 - Festhalle, Frankfurt
01/21 - Kölnarena, Cologne
Jesper 'Junior' Mortensen from Junior Senior has a new solo project called I Scream Ice Cream who just got signed to up-and-coming label Tigerspring. Listen to samples: http://www.myspace.com/iscreamicecreamrocks
MIC Norway on the album "Tension and release" from "cosmic bikers"/"Reader's companion" alums WE: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2008011613285764012359
MIC Norway profiles up-and-coming artist Ingrid Olava: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2008011614540976899519
Her upcoming debut album "Juliet's wishes" was produced by Frode Jacobsen of Madrugada and will be out in March.
Britta Persson