This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. BWO - Halycon days
02. Totta & Wiehe - Dylan
03. Lars Winnerbäck - Efter nattens bränder - 1996-2006
04. Eric Gadd - Eric gadd
05. Backyard Babies - People like people like people like us
06. Anna Book - Let's dance + 13 favoriter
07. Linda Bengtzing - Ingenting att förlora
08. Magnus Uggla - Ett bedårande barn av sin tid
09. Sebastian - Sebastian
10. The Refreshments - 24-7
11. Andreas Johnson - Mr johnson, your room is on fire
12. Björn Rosenström & Det Jävla Bandet - Syster Gunbritts hemlighet
13. Takida - ...make you breathe
14. The Radio Dept. - Pet grief
15. Anna Christoffersson/Steve Dobrogosz - It's always you
16. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
17. The Knife - Silent shout
18. Laleh - Laleh
19. Sator - Basement noise
20. Christer Sjögren - King creole
Norwegian electronic/jazz/post-rock act Wibutee will release their new album "Sweet mental" on May 22, but you can already preview a couple tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wibutee
In case you don't recognize that voice on "Sweet ball", it's Anja Garbarek. Sounds great. (via)
Satellite radio station Sirius has announced the addition of a new channel called "Nordic Rox" that, much like this website, will be devoted entirely to Scandinavian music. Sadly, the station will be programed with the assistance of Per Gessle and not yours truly, but it's okay. I'm not bitter. Read the full press release: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060427/nyth027c.html?.v=1
Updated tourdates for Jenny Wilson:
04/29 - Kuningas Klubi, Helsinki (FIN)
05/11 - Fondbureaun, Hamburg (GER)
05/12 - Trompete, Berlin (GER)
05/13 - Rote Sonne, München (GER)
05/14 - Schüür, Luzern (SWI)
05/15 - Einbaumöbel, Wien (AUS)
05/17 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
05/20 - Rotown, Rotterdam (NL)
05/25-27 - Popaganda, Stockholm (SWE)
05/26-27 - Siesta Festivalen, Hässleholm (SWE)
05/31 - Vega, Köpenhamn (DK)
06/01 - Studentehuset, Aalborg (DK)
06/02 - Spotfestivalen., Århus (DK)
06/29 - Roskilde Festival (DK)
06/13-15 - Arvika Festivalen (SWE)
07/22 - Slottsfjell Festival, Tönsberg (NOR)
07/28 - Storsjöyran, Östersund (SWE)
10/18-22 - Iceland Airwaves (ICE)
I loved Munck//Johnson the very first moment I heard them. Their haunting, stripped-down sound proves the maxim that less is more. Just like Carpet People, one of my other most favorite downer-acts, I find that musical simplicity works best to convey raw emotion. And also like with Carpet People, Munck//Johnson was an easy choice for inclusion in the "Reader's companion" series. I don't have copies of their latest work "Count your blessings" in stock quite yet, but they are on the way and should be here any day now. In the meantime you can download their latest single "The streets" from the mp3 playlist today, buy "Reader's companion volume two" for the track "Slavesong" (and all the other good stuff contained therein), buy buy their split 7" with fellow Danes Pluto or purchase mp3s of their first album "Unlike you" (CDs coming soon as well). All of which are highly recommended, of course.
Munck//Johnson - The streets
For many folks, Audrey's new album "Visible forms" is one of 2006's most anticipated releases. The post-rock act's debut EP impressed a lot of people, myself included. I still haven't heard the whole thing (copies for the mailorder are on the way and should be here next week), but what I have heard is just as brilliant as I'd hoped for. Brooding, dark and beautiful; these are the key-words. Their skill-level has improved considerably too, as the string arrangements are much more involved and more compelling. I think they're working better as an ensemble as well, proof positive that touring can make a band. So check out this first little taste of the record that their label Tenderversion was kind enough to pass on and get excited for the album's release on May 9.
Now in-stock: a new split 7" featuring melancholy Danish acts Pluto and Munck//Johnson, each with an exclusive cut: [click here]
Don't believe me? Listen for yourself! I know it's not for everyone, but I've been adding a ton of amazing vinyl records to the store recently and will even be putting out some of my own 7"s later this year. Yep, that 's' as in multiple. More details to come.
The Flaming Sideburns have posted a brand new track on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theflamingsideburns
Rotten Sound has posted two new mp3s for your listening (dis)pleasure: http://www.rottensound.com/
Push Music Group, ahem - I mean MNW, will be plundering their illustrious archives for a 3-CD set featuring highlights of the last 3 decades. Details and tracklists: http://www.pushmusicgroup.com/artists/livet/livet.html
Foxy Digitalis interviews renown Norwegian noise artist Lasse Marhaug (Jazkammer, Skull Defekts, etc.): http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/feature_detail.php?id=171
The Wire has posted video footage from the recent Fonal Records tour: http://www.thewire.co.uk/web/camera.php
Jet Black Combo's second album "Southern style" is finally done and will be released on May 4.
Download a track from Norwegian noisy rock act Hope I Die Virgin: http://www.hopeidievirgin.com/noise/hope_i_die_virgin-stoic_deliverer.mp3
The band's debut self-released EP was just released.
Datarock on tour across Europe:
04/27 - Paradiso (Small Stage), Amsterdam (NL)
04/28 - Karlstorbahnhof, Heidelberg (GER)
04/29 - Dampfzentrale, Bern (SWI)
04/30 - Tab Tap, Schaffhausen (SWI)
05/01 - Talacker, Zurich (SWI)
05/02 - Cairo, Wuerzburg (GER)
05/03 - Lovelite, Berlin (GER)
05/04 - Noveau Casino, Paris (FRA)
05/05 - secret show, Paris (FRA)
05/06 - tba
05/07 - Optimo, Glasgow (SCO)
05/08 - Little Civic, Wolverhampton (UK)
05/09 - Lennons, Southampton (UK)
05/10 - tba
05/11 - The Luminaire, London (UK)
06/17 - Hultsfred Festival, Hultsfred (SWE)
08/05 - Klubbfestuka, Bodø (NOR)
08/13 - Festival les Nuits Secretes, Aulnoye Aymeries (FRA)
08/18 - Festival Pantiero, Cannes (FRA)
08/19 - Steinkjerfestivalen , Steinkjer (NOR)
All dates through May are with fellow Norwegians Ungdomskulen.