Not only do we have a new interview today with The Horror The Horror, but we've also got an mp3 of their single "Sound of sirens" for your downloading pleasure. IAT contributor Matthew Smith provides the details:
2006 is shaping up to be a big year for The Horror The Horror. The Stockholm quintet just released its debut album on Tapete Records and its second single "I blame the sun". But the song that really got things started for THTH is today's new mp3, "Sound of sirens". The song highlights the best elements of the full album: the jangly, twinned guitars of Mattias Axelsson and Johan Jansson, the crisp, unobtrusive rhythm section of Patrik Thorngren and Jakob Frodell, and the dynamic, urgent vocals of Joel Lindström. The straightforward verses only hint at the hook in the chorus, which makes "Sound of sirens" one of the catchiest things you'll hear. This song has made it to #11 in the FM4 chart in Austria, and expect to hear more from The Horror The Horror as the album gets wider release in the next few months.
The Horror The Horror - Sound of sirens
I really don't know much about Seamonster¹ at all. The Huskvarna, Sweden-based duo started around '97 and put out a few records before dissolving in 2004 or thereabouts and then the two of them (Mustafa Knastr and Kompjotr Eplektrika) each began creating music on their own. I don't think I would've ever bothered seeking them out if it wasn't for the recommendation of a friend who considers them to be one of Sweden's greatest hidden musical treasures. It's certainly surprising that a band this goods perseveres for so long with barely any recognition. I suspect that's partially because they were a bit too early for their own good. I don't think that their style of spaced-out instrumental post-rock had really caught on much back when this particular track was released in '99. Most people probably didn't even know what "post-rock" meant. Not that everyone understands it now, but I think the label's implication is accepted in much wider cirlces. People will nod and pretend like they know - always a winning strategy. But are they really one of Sweden's best undiscovered acts? Listen for yourself.
New reviews posted today: [click here]
John Roger Olsson, the main dude behind IAT.MP3 artists The Grand Opening, has posted a new solo track on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/johnrogerolsson
Sounds great of course. Just wait until you hear the song he gave me for "It's a trap! reader's companion volume two".
Check out the e-card for the new The Sounds album "Dying to say this to you": http://www.dyingtosaythistoyou.com/
Satyricon has posted a sample of the title track from their new album "Now, diabolical" on the splash page of their website: http://www.satyricon.no/
Children of Bodom have announced 3 dates in Japan:
04/23 - Club Citta, Kawasaki
04/24 - Namba Hatch, Osaka
04/25 - Liquid Room, Tokyo
The new album "Hymyilevien laivojen satama (Harbour Of The Smiling Ships)" from Finland's Kuusumun Profeetta has been confirmed for release on March 27 via Ektro Records. Details and samples soon.
Check out an mp3 from the forthcoming Home Groan album "Hey revolution now!", due out March 27: http://www.homegroan.net/music/13%20Gilligans%20Island.mp3
Full tracklist and details here: http://www.homegroan.net/homegroan/discography_revolution.html
Havoc Records has posted a preview of the title track from the upcoming Skitsystem album: http://www.havocrex.com/mp3/Skitsystem_stigmata.mp3
There's been a slight delay in getting this out on time, but it's on the way. The band also plays the UK next week:
02/20 - Engine Room, Brighton
02/21 - Grosvenor, Brixton
02/22 - The Fenton, Leeds
02/23 - The Indian Queen, Boston
02/24 - The Junction, Bristol
02/25 - The 1in12, Bradford
02/26 - Matilda Centre, Sheffield
In other Havoc-related news, head to their website for prelimary US tour dates for Victims: http://www.havocrex.com/tours/
Finally, the full tracklist for the upcoming Danish Depeche Mode tribute "DMDK":
01. Tiger Baby - Strangelove
02. Figurines - Dreamning of Me
03. Marie Frank - It's No Good
04. The Gospel - Personal Jesus (Kira Skov)
05. epo-555 - Stripped
06. Diefenbach - Policy of Truth
07. Mikael Simpson - Det er lige meget
08. Track 72 - Monument (Tue Track feat. Mark Linn)
09. Moi Caprice - Any Second Now
10. Lake Placid - Everything Counts
11. Sterling - Nyt liv
12. Jet - Just Can't Get Enough (Anders Remmer)
More details: http://www.bonnieramigo.dk/index.php?newsid=16 (in Danish)
Tias Carlson will support Christian Kjellvander on tour in Europe. Here's the latest updated dates:
03/02 - Fzw, Dortmund (GER)
03/03 - Römer, Bremen (GER)
03/04 - Café Zapata, Berlin (GER)
03/05 - Scheune, Dresden (GER)
03/06 - B 72, Wien (AUS)
03/07 - Orangehouse, München (GER)
03/08 - Salzhaus, Winterthur (CH)
03/09 - ISC, Bern (CH)
03/10 - Merkker Club, Olden (CH)
03/11 - Bikini Test, La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)
03/12 - Schüür, Lüzern (CH)
03/15 - Barfly, London (UK)
03/17 - Fleche d'or, Paris (FRA)
Via Lupatarkastaja, here's a free downloadable album from Finnish act Plan E: http://www.plan-e-tarium.com/html/download.html
Follow the first link for a hesitant assessment of the music.
Norwegian "future jazz" label Jazzland Recordings details some of their upcoming activities planned for 2006: http://www.jazzlandrec.com/newspage.php?page=details&id=58&view=