Christian Kjellvander's new video for "Poppies and peonies" is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjXVJYPt8vQ
Swedish alt-country act Sleeping Beauty has a new song on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sleepingbeautyrocks
Portland-based label Shelflife Records will soon be putting out new CD+7" sets from Swedish indiepop acts Days and Kuryakin. Read more: http://www.shelflife.com/
Molesome, the solo project of Swedish producer Mattias Olsson (he also plays/ed with Pineforest Crunch, Nanook of the North and Two Times the Trauma to name a few), has a new limited edition experimental album called "Dial". Read more: http://www.roth-handle.nu/news/2008/01/molesome-dial-it-feels-slightly-odd-to.html
MP3 blog Metal Bastard on the old Thåström industrial sideproject Peace Love and Pitbulls: http://metalbastard.blogspot.com/2008/01/peace-love-and-pitbulls-red-sonic.html
Jens Lekman will return to the US in March for SXSW and other dates: http://www.jenslekman.com/shows.htm
Norwegian female-fronted metal act Animal Alpha have a new track on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/animalalpha
Their new album "You pay for the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge" is out on January 28.
Eardrums on Lukestar sideproject Truls and the Trees: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2008/01/10/truls-and-the-trees/
Swedish indierockers Winny Lee will release their new album "So here we are" for free download on January 16 via Background Noise: http://www.backgroundnoise.se/
The video for the new Astrid Swan single "As long as it's not you" can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvF7ONGldkE
Three tracks from her forthcoming album "Spartan picnic" are also now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/astridswan
MIC Norway profiles the Norwegian acts performing at Eurosonic this week: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2008011015534870041199
Watch Sahara Hotnights' live performance from the Swedish Grammis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHj_WD7sm0U
They play "Visit to Vienna", the excellent opening track from their most recent album "What if leaving is a loving thing?".
Earache will once again reissue At the Gates's swansong classic "Slaughter of the soul", this time with extra tracks and a bonus DVD featuring a live show from Krakow, Poland recorded in 1995. It will be out March 10 in Europe, March 25 in the US.
MP3: TT Reuter - 2000 år
If you've peeped in on the msgboard and seen this thread, you'll note that I've been listening to a lot of Swedish postpunk these past few months, slowly learning about more and mire bands. I'm still very much a novice in navigating the scene, but I've managed to accumulate a ton of great music so expect me to be posting about it regularly for many Fridays to come. Today's featured act is TT Reuter, a Lund-based act formed in 1978 following the breakup of New Bondage. They only lasted until '81, but released two albums and a few singles, one of which is today's featured track "2000 år". It's worth noting that guitarist Peter Puders went on to play with Commando M Pigg as this song features a similar "Waiting room"-esque riff as this song here. Coincidence? I dunno, but it's not as if those intervals (minor-third riffing on a IV-I progression) are anything extraordinary. Anyhow, the thing I like most about this one is the weird schizophrenic quality it has, switching between clean funk strumming and heavier, distorted parts. It's the kind of thing that shouldn't really work, but somehow they pull it off. And then there's the wacky rocked-out solo section with dual whammy-bar action. Again, it shouldn't work, but it does. I chalk it up to their great live energy - just listen to how the bassist starts hammering out chords near the end to hear what I mean. I can't say this is one of my favorite postpunk picks, but it's worth hearing because it takes risks and embraces the element of surprise. That's reason enough for me!
TT Reuter - 2000 år
Swedish indie act Pinto has yet another new track posted for free download today: http://www.pinto.se/
The song is called "What you did to yourself" and it features harmony vocals from Hannah Tengelin.