Sometimes it feels as if I haven't listening to anything but male Scandinavian singer-songwriters this year, and now with the UK radio playing José González every two seconds, I'm not even left alone in the office from these boys with guitars and broken hearts. Thomas Denver Jonsson has fortunately done a solid album that is very similar to the work of über singer-songwriter Will Oldham (whose brother features on the album). There are a lot of great melodies on "Barely touching it" and one of my personal favourites is "Dance floor borders" because of its heavy Neil Young vibe. It would be cool if José González, Christian Kjellvander and Thomas Denver Jonsson all could go out on tour together – what a showcase for mellow Swedish music that would be!
- Simon Tagestam
What do you get if you mix a sailor, a Viking and a Nazi officer? That's right: Turbonegro. Never having heard this Norwegian band before, I was persuaded by my friend to join the crowd at Koko in Camden. I'm so glad I did. The energy and tempo was unbeatable and the fans superior. All bands have some sort of fan base. Turbonegro have TurboJugend - an army of obsessed fans. Wearing uniform jean jackets and sailor hats, they controlled the venue and with their overhead hand-clapping and did a better job then the band's drummer. One of many highlights was new single, "City of Satan" - a stomping punk-rock song. Hank Von Helvete said Turbonegro used to be a gay band. No sign of homosexuality this night (expect for maybe the sailor uniform) though that wouldn't have mattered. Turbonegro rocked in every way possible. I won't buy their album, but I'd go and see them live again any day of the week.
- David Hellqvist
Unarmed Enemies are the latest signing to new Swedish label, Songs I Wish I Had Written. Unarmed Enemies make the best electronic music in that it has melody, humor and a warmth to it, unlike groups like Ladytron. This humor arises in "Hustlers recharged", where the narrator of the song ponders what it will be like to be fifty years old, have no hair and appalling taste in clothes. This track is also given the remix treatment on the EP by the name-droopingly hip Mr. Suitcase who transforms it into a Europop monster. Right, I'm now off to start my petition to get their cover version of The Go-Between's "Going blind" released.
- Nick Levine
I'm not going to bother with a Friday track this week, but I do have the last two top ten lists for the year from IAT contributors Johanna Smith and Nick Levine. Thanks guys! Looking forward to working with you both in 2006.
The Knife has a new website: http://www.theknife.net/
Smalltown has posted a diary from their recent US tour: http://www.smalltownsweden.com/US_tour.html
Pelle Carlberg will be doing a lot of international touring in 2006: http://www.pellecarlberg.se/live.htm
Danish webzine Undertoner's top album picks for 2005: http://undertoner.dk/article/articleview/1759
New European tourdates for Kaizers Orchestra:
03/09 - Postbahnhof, Berlin (GER)
03/10 - Grunspan, Hamburg (GER)
03/11 - Patronaat, Haarlem (HOL)
03/12 - Effenaar, Eindhoven (HOL)
03/13 - tbc, Doornrosje (HOL)
03/14 - Stollwerk, Köln (GER)
03/15 - AB Club, Bruxelles (BEL)
03/16 - Batschkap, Frankfurt (GER)
03/17 - Alter Feuerwache, Mannheim (GER)
03/18 - Orpheum, Graz (AUS)
03/19 - Bierhubeli, Bern (SWI)
03/21 - Backstage, München (GER)
03/22 - Star Club, Dresden (GER)
03/23 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
03/24 - tbc, Stockholm (SWE)
03/25 - tbc, Uppsala (SWE)
Norwegian folk/rock act Gåte has officially broken up: http://www.nrk.no/musikk/5358176.html
It's quite disappointing news as I really enjoyed both of their full-length albums.
Head over to Eskju Divine's website to download a 'new' version of the song "Fears" and to check out some of the band's top memories for the year: http://www.eskjudivine.com/news.htm
Memphis Industries has licensed El Perro Del Mar for release in the UK and Europe. Details to come. Check out her newly designed, easier to read website: http://www.elperrodelmar.com/
Logh charts at #7 in the Indieworkshop top 50 for 2005: http://indieworkshop.com/articles/270/
Also note that Denmark's The Psyke Project came in #37.