Bergman Rock has rescheduled their upcoming UK shows:
04/12 - Barfly, London
04/13 - Metro Club, London
The band wants you to know that even though the club is billing it as Bob Hund, it really is a Bergman Rock show and all songs will be in English. Drummer Mats has also not fully recovered from his accident (the reason for the initial cancellation), so his place will be filled in by Christian Gabel. In related news, look for Bob Hund/Bergman Rock sideproject Sci-Fi Skane to play the Notting Hill Arts Club on April 10. Not that you should care though, 'cuz you should be at Tack! Tack! Tack! instead.
Stereo Test Kit has posted a new 3-song Boy Omega single for free download: http://www.stereotestkit.com/sounds.htm
It includes two tracks from the new album "The black tango" (due out in the UK on April 17) plus one unreleased b-side. Upcoming UK tourdates:
04/20 - Bar Bloc, Glasgow
04/23 - The Adelphi, Hull
04/24 - Georgian Theatre, Stockton w/Akron/Family
04/25 - Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon, London
04/26 - tbc, Brighton
04/27 - Le Pub, Newport w/Gethin Pearson
04/28 - Tin Angel, Coventry
04/29 - RoTa @ Notting Hill Arts Club, London (Free!)
Boy Omega will also be back to the UK in September for the End of the Road Festival.
In other Stereo Test Kit-related news, Audrey's debut full-length "Visible forms" is done and confirmed for release in June in the UK (May 9 in Sweden via Tenderversion). I've been fortunate enough to hear three songs already and it sounds just as amazing as I'd hoped. Also on the way from STK is a new record from Musika 77 (nee Music 77) called "Brave you free may", due out in early July.
Esteemed Finnish label If Society has confirmed that Echo Is Your Love's new album "Humansize" will be released on May 3, just in time for their US tour. Download two mp3s here: http://www.ifsociety.com/news.php#90
Coming up next will be a new full-length from Finns Valse Triste.
My first impression upon hearing today's new song from The Defectors was that the chorus "Bring on the tentacles!" Obviously that's not the case once you know the song title, but I didn't bother reading the sleeve before I put the CD in my car stereo. So while my head was spinning with the images of a HP Lovecraft horrorshow featuring Cthulu and the Deep Ones, The Defectors were really just singing about graveyards, the undead and other b-movie plots, following in the footsteps of bands like Deadbolt and the Misfits. It's a shame that first impression was so off because there's a wealth of literary inspiration there just ripe for the picking, but I can settle for "Dancing ghouls".
The Defectors - Dancing ghouls
As I said in last week's newsletter (sign up on the right!), this week is all about new music. I've gotten so much good stuff recently that there's no way for me to keep up if I stick to my usual 3x week posting schedule. I like rules and tradition, but sometimes you gotta break free, y'know? Lucky for you.
Today's mp3 comes from Namur, the musical alias of David Åhlén. I had never really paid much attention to his music before, but when he posted the song "Marching" from his new album "Songs from the Valley of Baca" I was blown away. The music takes the atmospheric shoegazer pop of Appleseed Cast's "Low level owl" and expands on it with a broader sonic palette. Whereas "Marching" has a driving beat and hypnotic looping riffs, this particular song I've posted is all about shimmering guitars and creating a mood. The album flows gently from one piece to the next, lulling you in and caressing your eardrums. It's dreamlike, but never boring (or sleep-inducing). Look for the record to be rereleased in Sweden later this month with the help of the Dotshop.se distro.
A new month means a new album spotlight and Hello Saferide was an easy choice for April. Her debut album "Introducing: Hello Saferide" was a top 10 pick for many people in 2005 and I'm happy to offer it to you at a reasonably affordable import price. Don't forget: I've also got copies of her "Long lost penpal" MCD for sale as well.
Also, in case you haven't noticed, I added a few more tracks from the upcoming "Reader's companion volume two" to my myspace page. Check it out!
To celebrate their one-year anniversary as a label, Junk Music will be taking a huge step back in time and rereleasing all their singles and EPs as 78s. Old school!
A new month also means a new "Acid test reel" from Kirlian Crossing: http://www.verdurarecords.com/kirliancrossing/acid.htm
Lampshade will be recording a cover of "Good day sunshine" by The Beatles for an upcoming "Revolver" tribute to be released with the June edition of Mojo magazine.
The Norwegian release date of Satyricon's new album "Now, Diabolical" has been moved up to April 18. The European release is now April 17, but France still has to wait an additional week until the 24th. As for America, we have to wait all the way until June 13, but at least we get the promise of bonus audio and video material.
Check out the video for "Nightlife" from Swedish rockers The Models: wmv / qt
Download the brand new Tiger Baby single "At least I'm honest": http://www.tigerbaby.dk/songs/TigerBaby-AtLeastImHonest.mp3
The track comes from the band's upcoming album "Noise around me", due out April 24.