If I may direct your attention to the right, you'll see that there's a new interview posted with The State of Samuel. Be sure to check it out.
Finnish electronic artist Mr. Velcro Fastner has a new website: http://www.mrvelcrofastener.com/
Check out a video from MoHa!: http://www.n-collective.com/files/moha2.mov
The duo's debut album comes out January 24 via Rune Grammofon.
Upcoming releases on the way in 2006 from Norwegian label Checkpoint Charlie:
Popface - Eleven Pieces Of A Broken Heart - 02/20
Jackman - tba - 03/06
The Colors Turned RedTHE COLORS TURNED RED - All The Way Up - 03/13
Thomas Dybdahl - tba - fall 2006
Mayflies - tba - fall 2006
More details: http://www.checkpoint.no/
NorthSide reports that they will be releasing a new Gjallerhorn album "Rimfaxe" this coming fall. Look for a US tour as well.
Gluecifer may be dead and gone, but that's not gonna stop them from putting out more records. Captain Poon is currently compiling a "best-of" record which will also include a bonus disc of obscure and unreleased material. And don't forget the promised DVD from the final show at Sentum, too. Also in the works are reissues of the band's first three records "Ridin’ the tiger", "Soaring with eagles at night" and "Tender is the savage". More info tba.
Norwegian act The Beautiful People have rechristened themselves Sex Beat (ugh) and are currently wrapping up production on their debut album with producer Knut 'Euroboy' Schreiner of Turbonegro. Negotiations are underway with hip US label Vice and the record is supposed to be out this coming fall.
Direct competition for TTT? SoNorsk is the name of a new Norwegian club night to take place at the Beachclub in London on January 16. Appearing on the inaugral date will be singer/songwriters Kaya and Kari Kleiv plus the band Brainchild. Read more: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006010611252288653696
Pitchfork on the latest Circle record: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/c/circle/forest.shtml
Check out an ecard for the new Raunchy album, due out soon on Lifeforce Records: http://www.lifeforcerecords.com/ecardraunchy.htm
Fuzzorama Records has signed a deal with US label Meteorcity (Hermano, Atomic Bitchwax) to cooperatively release the third pressing of Truckfighters' excellent album "Gravity X" worldwide. Look for it on February 7 in the US, late March in Europe. Highly recommended for fans of fuzzed-out stoner rock.
MP3: Nicolai Dunger - We left us
By the time I discovered Nicolai Dunger he was already on his third album, the excellent "This cloud is learning". "Soul rush" came out soon after (I was already late with the previous record) and the combined grandeur of those two records sealed it: I was impressed. So of course I started to poke around his earlier discography and was moved considerably by what I found. The musician I thought was a retro-folkie/Donovan-throwback was actually a formidable experimental musician, willing to dabble in many genres and play around with all sorts of interesting textures and arrangements. It's no wonder he never got much attention until he toned it done with the records I heard first - this is not accessible pop. It's not so surprising for people getting into Dunger today; his experimentations are now well-known and celebrated - the upcoming Edith Södergran tribute is just one example. I can't say that all his dabblings have been successful to my ears, but I applaud him for trying. It's much more risk than most musicians are willing to take on. So today here's a track from his first record "Songs wearing clothes". The guitars are distorted and King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp lends his patented 'Frippertronics' to the proceedings. Even if you're not into that sort of thing, it's worth listening to just to experience Dunger's expanse of talent.
Nicolai Dunger - We left us (ft. Robert Fripp)