The debut record from Samuraj Cities has been set for a June 14 release via Imperial Recordings. Record-collector geeks that they are, it will be limited 7" featuring the song "Saturday night is never fair to everyone" b/w "Hard rain", both of which can be heard on the recently released "Lesson No. 1" compilation. A digital release of those two tracks will also come on June 7.
Jonatan and Micke have left the band Emerald Park, but the rest of the band is continuing on with recording a new album under the tutelage of Ola from Moonbabies. I've been fortunate enough to hear two songs and it sounds damn good. Maybe I'll get permission to share one of them with you someday.
Swedish emocore act Promise Divine will play two shows at this year's Warped Tour, August 4 and 5 at Philadelphia and New York respectively. The band is trying to set up a few more shows for when they're over here, but nothing's confirmed yet.
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Lasse Stefanz - Pickup 56
02. The Poodles - Metal will stand tall
03. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao på turné
04. Shirley Clamp - Favoriter på Svenska
05. Patrik Isaksson - Patrik Isaksson
06. Magnus Carlsson - Magnus carlsson
07. Eric Gadd - Eric Gadd
08. Lars Winnerbäck - Efter nattens bränder - 1996-2006
09. BWO - Halcyon days
10. Totta & Wiehe - Dylan
11. Atomic Swing - The broken habanas
12. David Urwitz - I väntan på vad
13. Snook - Är
14. Sebastian - Sebastian
15. Linda Bengtzing - Ingenting att förlora
16. Andreas Johnson - Mr johnson, your room is on fire
17. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
18. The Refreshments - 24-7
19. Backyard Babies - People like people like people like us
20. Laleh - Laleh
Neumu on the latest from Motorpsycho: http://neumu.net/fortyfour/2006/2006-00085/2006-00085_fortyfour.shtml
Long-time IAT favorites Det Gamla Landet have a track featured on the latest "Wire Tapper" CD packaged with copies of UK avant music mag The Wire. Buy their first self-titled album here and don't forget they have a previously unreleased track on the latest "Reader's companion" disc.
The video for Katatonia's latest single "Deliberation" is now online: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7z1lntprsUw
Ink19 on Firefox AK: http://www.ink19.com/issues/may2006/musicReviews/musicF/firefoxAk.html
Sadly, I just ran out of copies of her full-length album "Madame, madame!" for resale, but I hope to get more ASAP. Regardless, I've still got a few copies of the "What's that sound" EP: [click here]
Nomethod has revealed that besides from new full-length albums and digital singles from both Mixtapes & Cellmates and Aerial, they'll be doing a comp this winter featuring a large cast of exciting Scandinavian artists. Names confirmed so far include Bobby Baby, Mixtapes & Cellmates, Kuryakin, Most Valuable Players, Aerial, Tar...Feathers, Echo Is Your Love, Cat Burglar, Penny Century, We Are Soldiers We Have Guns, Otur, Audrey and KVLR. More details to come!
Sudd's promised "Startelvan" compilation paying tribute to World Cup Football (that's soccer to us Yanks) is now online and ready for download: http://www.sudd.org/startelvan.htm
Eleven artists including Björns Band, The Dweller and 50 Hertz, all contributing their own version of a football anthem.
Division of Laura Lee singer/guitarist David Fransson's new solo sideproject New/Moscow will be releasing a single on the UK label Young and Lost Club featuring the song "C'mon up" b/w "Go rebel go". Despite recording his debut album "Verse chorus worse" all by his lonesome, David has enlisted a live band and will be taking the show on the road for a week of shows in London. Dates:
05/22 - Y&L Club Single Launch Party at Old Blue Last (Vice Pub)
05/23 - White Heat @ Madame JoJo's
05/24 - You Do The Maths @ Nambucca
05/25 - 1234 Action @ Old Blue Last (tbc)
05/26 - Wolfgang Bopp @ Brixton Windmill (tbc)
05/27 - Y&L Room at Frog, Mean Fiddler
UK label Nude Records will be releasing a 7" from Laakso featuring the song "Kiss me" b/w "Someone somewhere". The a-side was originally released as a b-side on 2005's "High drama" EP and the b-side comes from the band's excellent, most recent album "My gods". The band will make their UK live debut at Audio tonight in Brighton.
After being robbed in NYC, The Concretes have befallen yet another setback. Frontwoman Victoria Bergsman has taken ill and a doctor advised they cancel the rest of their current US tour, so the band reluctantly agreed, threw in the towel and has flown home. No word on when they'll be back, but they say they hope to reschedule the dates eventually.
MP3: Existensminimum - Changing lines
The new Existensminimum album with the long, clumsy title "Last night my head tried to explode and I wrote everything down" surprised me. I didn't have a lot of expectations, but I never imagined that it would end up to be such a lush pop symphony. I suppose it makes perfect sense since Existensminimum mainman Magnus Henriksson made a name for himself as an engineer and producer before releasing this debut solo album. (He's also well-known for being Moneybrother's live drummer, but that's less important in this context) I know that the single "Changing lines" has already been circulated a bit, but it makes sense as the track immediately jumps out with its strong, soaring melodies and driving bass line. The rest of the record is less straightforward and more sonically adventurous, so it's a bit tougher to pick outstanding moments. I think that's a good thing though - it proves the music has lasting value. There's a ton of earcandy to absorb, so grab your headphones and dig in.
Existensminimum - Changing lines
In case you haven't noticed the obvious, I've adjusted the stylesheet a tad so that the daily mp3 posts are highlighted. Got any other suggestions? Let me know in the forum.