The Cardigans are the first band confirmed for the 2012 edition of Hultsfredfestivalen where they will be performing their 1998 album "Gran Turismo" in its entirety. This will also be the band's first live gig on Swedish soil since 2006.
Erik EnockssonSo, how does "Apan" sound, exactly? Like a mid-fi John Carpenter soundtrack with the odd bit of SunnO))) thrown in. There's not much else to be said, really. It's not as good as either, but it's a damn fine marriage that works and that holds attention for the duration of the album. This is Stockholm-based Erik Enocksson's third foray into the world of soundtracks, this time for the 2009 flick "Apan", directed by Jesper Ganslandt and, despite the fact that it's a contemporary film, the music is unashamedly ensconced in the low-to-mid budget horror of the '70s and '80s. Its adherence to that aesthetic ensures that it is both eerie and unsettling, much like Carpenter's early works and quite unlike Erik's previous efforts. There's something quite odd about this, too, which is as much down to the production as the composition. Original? No. Entertaining? Absolutely.
- John Norby
Fin Nettmagasin has a feature interview with Nina and Steffi from Berlin-based Scandinavian clubnight Nordic By Nature: http://www.fin-mag.no/saker/nordicbynature/index.html
will be catering to the vinyl-impaired by compiling Swedish metal act Noctum's two records, "The seance" and "The fiddler" -- both previously released on wax via , onto one CD for release on December 14. If you dig occult metal with a retro vibe ala Mercyful Fate or Witchcraft, you should definitely check these dudes out.
Swedish industrial act Agent Side Grinder will be releasing the new single "Wolf hour" (feat. Henric de la Cour) on November 29.
A new clip from Swedish artist Kristoffer Hedberg off his upcoming album "Mina jag och du", due out December 7.
Dusted reviews Susanna Walløumrod's new album "Jeg vil hjem til menneskene", a tribute to Norwegian poet Gunvor Hofmo: http://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/6821
Via PSL, here's a charming song and video from Swedish indiepop act Pushy Parents.
An official video from "Crime City" hardcore heroes Hårda Tider. Looks like the band will be touring Asia over New Year's too -- stick around to the end for a flyer with dates.
Some serious Robyn-worship going on in this new clip from fellow Swede Vanbot.
Having finally heard "Säkert! på engelska", it's no wonder that Annika Norlin was reluctant to translate her work to English. This is wordy, complicated stuff and while she did a more than admirable job making it work, it's still kinda messy at times, much like the emotional content of the material. Fitting, I suppose, though perhaps not quite as poetic as the original. Still, even less-than-stellar Annika is far, far better than most, whether it's with Säkert! or Hello Saferide or whatever else she sets her mind to, and I'm sure that all of us with lackluster Svenska skills are more than glad she took the time to bother.
Säkert! - The flu
Electronic Beats interviews Finnish skweee mastermind Mesak: http://www.electronicbeats.net/music/interviews/10-x-4-mesak
CHARTattack interviews lead vocalist Victor Nillson of Swedish krautrock act MF/MB/: http://www.chartattack.com/features/2011/nov/15/five-questions-with-victor-nilsson-of-mfmb
