Nun Music is taking Norwegian hardrockers WE worldwide and has licensed their latest album "Smugglers" for release in GAS in April via German label Rodeo Star and in Sweden in May via V2. No word yet on a US or UK release, but I figure it can't be too far behind. In case you didn't know, WE is one of the many fine acts appearing on the "It's a trap! reader's companion" CD. Read more: http://www.nunmusic.com/
Two new 7"s coming from Finnish avant label Fonal in February:
Ville Leinonen & Valumo - Varpunen / Hei, Sisareni
Risto - Hessu Kostaa Ja Muita Hiirtitarinoita
Jens Lekman talks to Pitchfork about his current musical hiatus: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-12/16.shtml#jenslekman
Noisedfisk interviews Hanna Fahl of Swedish Radio's P3 Pop: http://noisedfisk.com/2005/12/16/an-interview-with-hanna-fahl2
MIC Norway on kitchen appliance bashing rock act Hurra Torpedo and their recent US tour: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005121612495042715037
Finnish music blog Lupatarkastaja presents a new mp3 mixtape from Kjell Hansson of Lolita Stasi: http://lupatarkastaja.samizdat.info/2005/12/16/luuvitosen-vippi-7-kjell-hansson-lolita-stasi/
The Kahvi netlabel has a new release from Norwegian electronic artist Xerxes for free download: http://www.kahvi.org/98.php
Norway's Delaware has posted a new song for download on their website: http://www.delawaremuzic.com/
The Guardian reviews Swedish/French indiepop act The Envelopes: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,,1668114,00.html
Check out a special Christmas download from The Perishers: http://media.nettwerk.com/mp3/ThePerishers_BlueChristmas.mp3
Aversionline spotlights some more crushing Finnish hardcore: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2005/12/more-furious-finns.html
Stockholm City's picks for the best music of 2005: http://www.city.se/ArticlePages/200512/15/20051215152756_040/20051215152756_040.dbp.asp
MP3: Alog - Catch that totem!
I'm kind of cheating with today's mp3 post. My normal modus operandi for Fridays is to post an older track and this song only kinda/sorta qualifies as this particular piece was originally released in 2002 on M-narsitik, but I only just heard it for the first time on the recently released "Catch that totem! (1998-2005)" collection that Alog recently released via Melektronikk. I consider these guys to be my favorite electronic act right now (their latest album of all-new material "Miniatures" made my top 10 for 2005) and this new disc of odds and ends is a fine addition to their discography. This particular is based on the song "Vitamine" by the Swiss group Velma, but Alog didn't have the lyrics at the time and decided to make up their own instead and ended singing the tracklist for the "Duck-Rabbit" album that they were working on at the time. Having never heard the original, I can't really judge how well it compares, but I like it just the same. Note: I hope to be getting copies of this CD in the mailorder by the end of the month, but you can always order it directly from the band or the label.
Alog - Catch that totem!