Swedish electronic/experimental artist Jonas Lindgren has posted a new EP for free download: http://www.archive.org/details/jonas_lindgren-lights_will_guide_you_home
Or, as he says himself, "Drone Pop/Screengaze".
Phaser has announced that Assid's debut single "Habibi" will finally be released in February. We'll see if the recent hype of other Swedish indie Europop acts pays off for these guys as well. It's also interesting to note that Firefox AK performs her own version of the song on her upcoming full-length, due out March 1 via Razzia Records.
In other Phaser news, Social Ambitions has posted another new track for free download: http://www.phaser.se/2006/01/12/the-3rd-release-from-swedish-synth-pop-band-social-ambitions-distance/
Swedish glam-rockers The Ark has been invited to open for The Darkness on their upcoming UK/Scandinavian tour:
02/04 - The Point, Dublin
02/05 - Odyssey, Belfast
02/07 - Alexandra Palace, London
02/08 - Alexandra Palace, London
02/11 - Arena, Sheffield
02/12 - SECC, Glasgow
02/13 - Arena, Newcastle
02/15 - Centre, Brighton
02/16 - Pavilions, Plymouth
02/18 - MEN Arena, Manchester
02/19 - NEC, Birmingham
02/20 - Arena, Nottingham
03/01 - Spektrum, Oslo
03/03 - Scandinavium, Göteborg
03/04 - Löfbergs Lila Arena, Karlstad
03/05 - Globen, Stockholm
03/09 - Valby Hallen, Köpenhamn
All About Jazz has posted a primer on Swedish jazz pianist Bobo Stenson: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20257 (via)
The winners of the Swedish categories at this year's Rockbjörnen:
Best male artist: Darin
Best female artist: Laleh
Best group: Bodies Without Organs
Best newcomer: Laleh
Best song: Timbuktu – "Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö"
Best album: Kent – "Du & jag döden"
Read more: http://www.aftonbladet.se/ettor/webb/2805_normal.html
Portuguese netlabel Enough Records has just released a new 8 track, 38 minute dark ambient EP by Lithis, a member of the Swedish electronic collection The X-Dump: http://www.x-dump.com/eng/news_com.php?news=149
David & the Citizens report that they will be officially entering the studio soon to begin work on their third, as-yet-untitled album. More details soon.
OT: Is Conan O'Brien exerting improper influence over Finland's election process? http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/16/finland.election.ap/index.html
This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:
01. Håkan Hellström
02. Kent
03. Jens Lekman
04. Coldplay
05. Sufjan Stevens
06. The Postal Service
07. Death Cab for Cutie
08. The Arcade Fire
09. The Knife
10. The Strokes
Colplay?! Egads, man! Anyhoo, here's the top 10 tracks for the week:
01. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
02. Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
03. Irene - Baby I Love Your Way
04. Cat Power - The Greatest
05. Håkan Hellström - Jag Vill Ha Allting
06. The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
07. The Postal Service - Sleeping In
08. Death Cab for Cutie - Your Heart Is An Empty Room
09. Tiger Lou - All I Have
10. Mew - Apocalypso
Want to see your favorites listed here? Please join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
The new Tina Dico (ex-Zero 7) album "In the red" finally comes out on January 30 in the UK and January 24 in the US. The first single "Warm sand" is out today and you can preview some tracks at her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/tinadico
Upcoming tourdates in both London and the US can be found there as well.
Interpunk reviews the new Trapdoor Fucking Exit album "Crooked life/Straight world": http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=121237
Good to see it's finally coming out at the end of the month.
Ratatosk Online interviews up-and-coming Finnish singer/songwriter Astrid Swan: http://www.ratatoskonline.net/?axelref=news&id=294
Also posted at the site are pics of Dungen and Animal Alpha from the recent Eurosonic festival.
The new 'Famous for 15mb' website is now up: http://www.famousfor15mb.com/
This is a place founded by Tomas Melinder and James Pearse of Aa/Norsordo to spotlight new and upcoming talent with mp3 and video downloads of a managable 15mb or less size. While most of January's artists are Swedish, the site does not discriminate against any styles or backgrounds and will consider every and anyone as worthy of possible contribution. Check it out - there's some good stuff to listen to.