It's a Trap! Scandinavian music journal

Sudd's mp3 focus for the month of December is the Icelandic duo Sveimar which translates as 'floating', a quite apt descriptor for their electronic sound. Check it: http://www.sudd.org/focus.htm

Top 10s for 2005: Pacta Sunt Servanda

It's been quite awhile since we've heard anything new from Anja Garbarek. The daughter of renown ECM recording artist Jan Garbarek is oft compared to Stina Nordenstam, both for her reclusiveness and aura of mystery, but also because of her music. Anja's songs tend to be a bit more straightforward in terms of pop melody, but she shares a penchant with Stina for unusual sounds and arrangements. I think the new album "Briefly shaking" is Anja's best, most satisfying work yet - just check out the lead single "The last trick" and tell me you don't agree. I challenge you. If you're one of those folks who's enjoying the new Kate Bush record, this should appeal to you as well. Smart, experimental pop music as good as this does not happen nearly as often as it should.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives are touring Spain in January:

01/20 - Viernes, Barcelona, Sala Apolo (SPA)
01/21 - Sabado, Sta Pola, Sala Camelot (SPA)
01/24 - Martes, Madrid, Sala Aqualung (SPA)
01/25 - Miercoles, Santoña, Sala Tropicana (SPA)
01/26 - Jueves, Santiago, Sala Capitol (SPA)
01/27 - Viernes, Bilbao, Sala Antozokia (SPA)
01/28 - Sabado, Zaragoza, Sala por Confirmar (SPA)

Phaser has totally revamped their website in a new blog style: http://www.phaser.se/

Upcoming releases to look forward to in 2006 from Oscillatone:

Kompjotr Eplektrika LP
Logcabin CD
Bror Stalin LP

The new Montys Loco album will now be called "Man overboard".

Martin McFaul's debut album has been confirmed for a March 15 release via Imperial Recordings.

Racing Ape has a new, unfortunately Flash-heavy website: http://www.racingape.com/

Updated tourdates for Mew:

01/31 - Elvaerket, Holbæk (DK)
02/01 - KB Hallen, Copenhagen (DK)
02/04 - Academy, Cambridge (UK)
02/05 - Arts Centre, Colchester (UK)
02/06 - Arts Centre, Norwich (UK)
02/08 - Old Fire Station, Bournemouth (UK)
02/09 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London (UK)
02/10 - Academy 2, Manchester (UK)
02/12 - Fez Club, Reading (UK)
02/14 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (UK)
02/15 - Sugarmill, Stoke (UK)
03/12 - House Of Culture, Helsinki (FIN)
03/14 - Fryshuset, Stockholm (SWE)
03/16 - Trädgår'n, Gothenburg (SWE)
03/22 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
03/23 - Studentersamfundet, Trondheim (NOR)

The Horror The Horror will be releasing a new single entitled "I blame the sun" on both CD and 7" sometime around New Year's. Look for a video, too.

Dark Dose has a new post on the multitalented Dan Swanö: http://darkdose.com/?p=98

Updated tourdates for Reign of Bombs:

12/14 - Mariaberget, Västerås (SWE) - w/Auktion
12/15 - Kalmar (SWE) w/Auktion
12/16 - Crustmasfest II, Copenhagen (DK) w/Nuclear Death Terror, Auktion, Skitkids, more
12/17 - Berlin (GER)
12/18 - Napajedla (CZ) w/Festa Desperato
12/19 - 007 Club, Prag (CZ)
12/20 - AC Conni, Dresden (GER)
12/21 - Need help! (GER)
12/22 - Need help! (GER)
12/23 - Need help! (GER)
12/24 - Parkhoff, Alkmaar (HOL)
12/25 - Need help! (HOL/BEL/FRA)
12/26 - Paris (FRA)
12/27 - Lyon (FRA)
12/28 - Mulheim (GER)
12/29 - Need help! (GER)
12/31 - Fullersta, Stockholm (SWE)

Recommened music at Amazon from Howlin' Pelle of The Hives: [click here]

The Kahvi Collective netlabel has posted a new comp for free download which includes a track from X-Dump Collective member Skruvmejsel: http://www.kahvi.org/97.php