Tuesday reminder: it's time once again for Galaxy Gramophone radio, tonight at 10pm Central: http://www.galaxygramophone.blogspot.com/
They're back to spotlight new-ish material this week. The planned '22-Pistepirkko Power Hour' will have to wait.
Pitchfork acknowledges Alog with a track review: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/tracks/06-01-03.shtml#song3
Finland's Insert Remedy has posted their entire "Disintegration of the Human Mind" EP for free download: http://www.insertremedy.com/ (via)
Check out the trailer for the upcoming Broder Daniel movie: http://www.dach.se/bddamnit.mov
The nominees for this year's Spellemann (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:
Female artist:
Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive (Det Er Mine/V2)
Lene Marlin - Lost In A Moment (EMI)
Marthe Valle - It's A Bag Of Candy (Grammar Records)
Maria Mena - Apparently Unaffected (Sony BMG)
Simone - Last Days And Nights (Daworks)
Male artist
Alejandro Fuentes - Diamonds Or Pearls (Sony BMG)
Magnet - The Tourniquet (Atlantic)
Robert Post - Robert Post (Universal)
Sofian - This Is Sofian (C+C Records)
Pop group:
Jim Stärk - Jim Stärk (Sweet Recordings)
Ravi & Dj Løv - Den Nye Arbæidsdagn (Sony BMG)
Röyksopp - The Understanding (EMI)
Electronica:
Alog - Miniatures (Rune Grammofon)
Datarock - Datarock Datarock (Yap/VME)
Toy - Toy (Smalltown Supersound)
Rock:
Bigbang - Poetic Terrorism (Gransport Records)
JR Ewing - Maelstrom (Sony BMG)
Madrugada - The Deep End (EMI)
My Midnight Creeps - My Midnight Creeps (MMC Records)
Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh (Honeymilk)
Metal:
Audrey Horne - No Hay Banda (Dog Job/Tuba Records)
El Caco - The Search (Black Balloon Records)
Extol - Blueprint (Century Media)
Stonegard - Arrows (Bonnier)
Hip-hop/Rnb:
Cast - Problembarn (Pass It Records)
Paperboys - When Worlds Collide (Bonnier)
Tommy Tee - Tommy Tycker Om Mej (Tee Productions/C+C Records)
Jazz:
Hans Mathisen - Quiet Songs (Curling Legs AS)
Jimmy Rosenberg/Stian Carstensen - Rose Room (Hot Club Records)
Karin Krog/Bergen Big Band - Seagull (Grappa Musikkforlag AS)
Sigurd Køhn Quartet - This Place (Heidi Køhn)
Solveig Slettahjell - Pixiedust (Curling Legs AS)
Open class:
Arild Andersen Group - Electra (ECM/Grappa)
Beady Belle - Closer (Jazzland)
Jaga Jazzist - What We Must (Smalltown Supersound)
Nils Petter Molvær - Er (Universal)
Shining - In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster (Rune Grammofon)
Best newcomer:
Animal Alpha - Pheromones (Racing Junior)
Audrey Horne - No Hay Banda (Dog Job/Tuba Records)
Draumir - Draumir (Playground/Little Hill)
Marthe Valle - It's A Bag Of Candy (Grammar Records)
Sofian - This Is Sofian (C+C Records)
Best song:
Alejandro Fuentes - Stars (Sony BMG)
Kurt Nilsen - Never Easy (Sony BMG)
Madrugada w/Ane Brun - Lift Me (Det Er Mine/V2/EMI)
Maria Mena - Miss You Love (Sony BMG)
Ravi & Dj Løv - Tsjeriåu Me De Månråus (Sony BMG)
Music video:
Maria Mena - Miss You Love (Sony BMG)
Animal Alpha - Bundy (Racing Junior)
Ravi & Dj Løv - E-Ore (Sony BMG)
Robert Post - Got None (Universal)
Röyksopp - What Else Is There (EMI)
For all categories, go here: http://www.ifpi.no/spellemann/nomlst.html
Winners will be announced on January 28.
Aftonbladet lists their top album picks for 2005: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,755161,00.html
Swedish label Sudd is offering up a free downloadable comp of Scandinavian music entitled "Nordic combination". Artists featured include Sophie Rimheden, Fujasaki, Thomas Danger, Ponas and more. Check it: http://sudd.org/
There are new pics and video clips of Killl online from their recent tour this past September: http://www.b-o-r-g.org/
Of the many female singer/songwriters to make waves in Sweden this past year, Ane Brun never really captured my attention. Sure, I listened to her records in passing, but they never left any sort of lasting impression. That is, until "Duets" came out. I always like projects like this because they seem so fun for everyone involved. They are also a great excuse for an artist to stretch their repertoire and try new things without the pressures usually associated with an album release. Ane's voice really shines on this collection's song selection and bare-bones arrangements. There's an interesting variety of duet partners, too. Teitur's quiet, hesitant voice on the track I've selected for posting today is the perfect male counterpart for Ane's oohs and ahhs. Nice stuff.
It's a new year and I've already got some new reviews for ya. And a new album of the month, too. Originally offered as only a limited bonus CD with Kristofer Åström's most recent full-length "So much for staying alive", "The Thorskogs sessions" is now available as a stand-alone paid mp3 download. If you dug the stripped-down acoustic material on "Loupita" you need this. Trust me. But act fast - I'm only selling it for a limited time.
Also, please note that I am now carrying Marilyn Records stuff in the webstore. Mp3s only for now, but CDs will be in-stock soon as well.
Norway's William Hut will release their 2004 album "Days to remember" in Europe and the US on March 24 via CoraZong Records.
Speaking of Swedish power-pop acts with new websites, The Drawbacks have updated theirs: http://www.thedrawbacks.tk/