Oh Laura will be making an appearance on BBC Radio 2 program The Dermot O'Leary Show this Saturday at 4:30pm GMT.
Jezebel Recordings has announced that they will release the new album "Na na ni" from Malmö-based prog/pop orchestra Fredrik on January 15. As with all Jezebel releases, it's interesting stuff and well worth checking out - hear samples: http://www.myspace.com/fredriktheband
Swedish art-punks I Date A Wolf will release a new EP on March 1. They describe the material as "completely new and completely different from [previous album] Postmodern Decay," and that "this time around we abandoned the digital stuff to go just drums and guitar." Hear samples of older stuff here: http://www.myspace.com/idateawolf
Download a free EP from new Swedish indie/electronica act Lissi Dancefloor Disaster via Saftkalas Recordings: http://saftkalasrecordings.se/lissi/
Check out the PopNoise Podcast which features a spotlight on the It's a Trap! netlabel: http://www.popnoise.de/serendipity/index.php?/archives/58-PopNoisePod-006.html
The Raveonettes will support Blonde Redhead on January 19 at Terminal 5 in NYC. Look for more US tourdates starting around late February, just after the new album release.
The Deer Tracks, the electronica duo of David Lehnberg (Ariel Kill Him, Ikaros) and Elin Lindfors, has confirmed that their debut album will be called "Aurora". As mentioned before, it will be released in February via Next Big Thing.
Danish act Carpark North is planning on finishing up their new album around March/April with an eye towards a September/October release. Look for them to do a few Danish tourdates in April to test out the new material.
Due to rising costs, the It's a Trap! Record Club is taking a break for a bit for re-evaluation. Those of you who are already pre-paid subscribers, don't worry! You will be taken care of.
Winter Took His Life has a new track up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wintertookhislife
David Åhlén (Namur) has posted a whole bunch of old material for free download: http://thehourislate.blogspot.com/2007/12/namur-2-songs.html
I can definitely recommend the "Songs from the valley of Baca" material - that stuff is great.
MP3: Britta Persson - Hajar'u de då Jack?
I don't know much about Cornelis Vreeswijk beyond what can be gleaned from his bio at wikipedia, but I am definitely aware of his reputation and eminent stature which is why I was immediately interested in the new all-star recreation of "Poem, ballader och lite blues" curated by Göran Petersson and Nina Ramsby. Wordy music such as this doesn't always maintain its appeal for listeners who won't immediately understand the lyrics, but I find that the melodies are strong enough to carry it. The strong lineup helps too- Martin Hederos and Fredrik Sandsten from The Soundtrack of Our Lives play on almost every track along with respected jazz musicians such as Jonas Kullhammar and Johan Berthling. And that's just scratching the surface. As for the track I've decided to feature today, what's not to like about Britta Persson? I love the waltz-like lilt of the tune and Britta's delivery is fantastic, especially with the way she practically spits out some of the more aggressive lines. Great stuff.
Britta Persson - Hajar'u de då Jack?
Lukestar
Lake Toba
Phone Me Records
Saturated with towering vocals that often exceed the normal male range, hook after marvelous hook, and drumming so fluid, present, and masterful that it is as fascinating to listen to as the vocal and guitar work, Lukestar may have crafted the best Scandinavian rock/pop album since Last Days of April's "Ascend to the stars". Continuing in that vein of music that was so crudely labeled 'emo', a sound mostly abandoned a few years back, Lukestar effortlessly combine aspects of LDoA with the more dynamic fluency of Mew's debut album. "Lake Toba" is a reminder of why bands like Seven Feet Four have been able to maintain their presence and importance, and an indication of the future of this genre (and, more importantly, that this sound actually has a future). While the musicianship is damned proficient, it's the songwriting that brings you back over and over, keeping the album remarkable and engaging after repeated listens, and allowing for the album to be enjoyed as a whole without skipping around the tracklist. Anthemic and vulnerable, hopeful yet cautious, "Lake Toba" is everything that rock record with serious pop sensibility should be. And with that voice, those drums, and a level of musical craftsmanship and consistency that has been lacking on far too many similar records, Lukestar's newest effort is in good position to be one of the best album of 2008.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show, a special feature on 80s punk/postpunk:
01. Cortex - Warrior night
02. TALK 1
03. Docent Död - Solglasögon
04. Dansdepartementet - Wankers!
05. Camouflage - Syster sol
06. TALK 2
07. Di Leva - The single man
08. The Leather Nun - No rule
09. Lolita Pop - Salta diamanter
10. TALK 3
11. Ståålfågel - Något senare
12. Secret Service - A flash in the night
13. Tant Strul - Hela mitt guld
14. TALK 4
15. Kitchen & the Plastic Spoons - Happy funeral
16. Reeperbahn - Främling
17. KSMB - Jag vill dö
18. TALK 5
19. En Halvkokt i Folie - Röda rattor
20. Dom Dummaste - John
21. Unter Den Linden - Film noir
22. TALK 6
23. Ebba Grön - 800°
24. Black Uniforms - F.O.A.D.
25. Lustans Lakejer - Begärets dunkla mål
26. TST - No government
27. TALK 7
28. Sator Codex - Leech
29. Strasse - A stairway to you
30. TT Reuter - 2000 år
31. Syster Lycklig - Drömgränd
32. TALK 8
33. Odd Stories - Dance
34. Stadion Der Jugend - Väktare av mörkret
35. Samedi - Between two hearts
36. TALK 9
37. Ur Kaos - Loved missile
38. Adolphson & Falk - Blinker blå
39. Abcess Exil - Hav av hat
40. Commando M Pigg - Att kasta spjut
41. TALK 10
42. Cortex - Arkham