Imperial Recordings (José González, Eskju Divine, etc.) has announced the signing of Göteborg-based act Samuraj Cities. I was quite impressed by their demo, so I'm looking forward to hearing more good stuff from these guys in the future.
Details for the upcoming Skull Defekts/Wolf Eyes split LP on Fang Bomb are now posted: http://www.fangbomb.com/fb001.html
The record comes out March 10.
Copenhagen Records has confirmed that they will release the debut album "Attention please" from Danish singer/songwriter Mads Langer on March 20. The record was produced by Søren Balsner from Carpark North. Listen to the song "Casual cliche" right here: http://www.mads-langer.com/dan/music/cc/mp3player.html
Norwegian black-metal act 1349 will support Venom for a few UK dates:
03/23 - Garage, Glasgow
03/25 - Academy 2, Manchester
03/26 - Mean Fiddler, London
Stylus reviews Danish imports Figurines and I Am Bones: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3768
MIC Norway spotlights pseudo-metal band Animal Alpha: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006020711525712451361
The winners of the Swedish Grammi awards:
Artist: Laleh
Album: Robyn – Robyn
Pop female: Robyn – Robyn
Pop male: Håkan Hellström – Ett kolikbarns bekännelser
Pop group: Bodies without organs – Prototype
Rock album (solo): Thåström – Skebokvarnsv. 209
Rock group: Kent – Du & jag döden
Songwriting: Robyn/Klas Åhlund –Robyn
Lyrics: Jason Diakité (Timbuktu) – Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Producer: Laleh
Newcomer: Laleh
Hip-hop/soul: Timbuktu – Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
Hard-rock: Candlemass – Candlemass
Jazz: Esbjörn Svensson Trio – Viaticum
Club/dance: September – In orbit
Song: Sofia Karlsson – Svarta ballader
Open category: Allan Edwall – Alla Allans visor
DVD: Abba – Abba the movie
Video: Kent - Dom som försvann / Director: Adam Berg
Export prize: In Flames
Full list: http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2198&a=519658&previousRenderType=6
The David & the Citizens DVD countdown microsite now includes a video clip from the 2002 Hultsfred Festival as well as Mikael's weekly anecdotes: http://recycled.se/citizens/dvd.htm
Labrador has updated their release schedule:
03/15 - The Radio Dept. - The worst taste in music CDS
04/01 - The Legends. - Play it for today CDS
04/12 - The Radio Dept. - Language CD
You can also download a few sample tracks from the new Acid House Kings karaoke disc "Everyone sings along with Acid House Kings": http://www.labrador.se/
Danish psychobillies PowerSolo just finished laying down the basic tracks for their next album, the follow-up to last year's "It's raceday... and your pusy is GUT!!" on Crunchy Frog. The band recorded a total of 15 tracks and now will head over to Kondi Frost-studio in Copenhagen to add some finishing touches. Expect a late April release. Upcoming livedates:
02/22 - La Cooperative De Mai, Clermont-Ferrand (FRA) + in-store show
02/23 - Son'Art, Bordeaux (FRA)
02/24 - La Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA)
02/25 - La Nef, Angouleme (FRA)
03/27 - Metro Club, London (showcase)
03/28 - The Water Rats, London (showcase)
05/15 - Vendelbohus, Hjørring (DK)
06/16 - Tivoli Friheden, Aarhus (DK)
Pitchfork reviews the new record from Norwegian "space disco" production duo Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/l/lindstrom-and-prins-thomas/lindstrom-and-prins-thomas.shtml
Swedish electropop act Lo-Fi-Fnk has posted a new remix track for download: http://www.lo-fi-fnk.com/media/Le_Tigre_-_After_Dark_[Lo-Fi-Fnk RMX].mp3
Look for the new single "Wake up" to be released soon.
Ink19 reviews the US release of the José González EP "Stay in the shade": http://www.ink19.com/issues/february2006/musicReviews/musicG/joseGonzalez.html
And another review of the same from Billboard: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews/album_review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001957407
MP3: Loney Dear - The city, the airport
I admire bands like Loney, Dear. They didn't mess around with labels or music business bureaucracy, they just kept doing what they were doing and released their music themselves on CDR until other folks started to catch on. That's the true spirit of DIY. Of course it only really works out in the end if you're both persistent and good. Luckily, Loney, Dear is both. The new album "Sologne" which comes out next week is the band's first "official" CD release. And I use the term band loosely too, as Loney, Dear is essentially the solo project of one Emil Svanängen. I chose to post "The city, the airport" today because I love the way the song builds into the call-and-response chorus. It's so triumphant. I can also relate the words of the first verse about abandoning the city for quieter locales. I made the move recently and don't regret it a bit. Preorder the disc and save a dollar.
Loney Dear - The city, the airport
Hey old-timers! CDs now in stock for The End Will Be Kicks, Aerial, QMGR and The Skull Defekts. You want your music on a slab of plastic, I got it.