Ex-Gus Gus vocalist Daníel Ágúst has just released his first solo album "Swallowed a star" via fellow Icelander Björk's label One Little Indian. Check out the first single "If you leave me now" right here: http://www.icelandairwaves.com/artists.asp?pageID=18&artistID=208
Updated tourdates for Denmark's Lack:
10/06 - Golden Gate, Berlin (GER) w/The Nothings (Free!)
10/07 - AZ Conni, Dresden (GER) w/Monochrome
10/08 - Les Instants Chavirés, Paris (FRA) w/Tias Carlson
10/09 - Caravan Serail, Toulouse (FRA) w/Greg MacPherson, Zann
10/11 - Montpellier (FRA)
10/12 - Zoo Bar, Rome (ITA)
10/13 - Mono Spazio Bar, Pescara (ITA)
10/14 - Bunker, Bolzano (ITA) w/Bridge To Solace
10/15 - Blois (FRA)
10/16 - Le Brooklyn Cafe, Rouen (FRA) w/Amanda Woodward
10/17 - Le Mondo Bizarro, Rennes (FRA) w/Amanda Woodward
10/18 - Le Cluricaume Café, Poitiers (FRA) w/Chris Leo
10/19 - Le Vauban, Brest (FRA) w/22 Pistepirkko
10/20 - Le Wheely Bar, Clermont Ferrand (FRA)
10/21 - Kts, Freiburg (GER) w/Inside Me, September Malevolence
10/22 - Steffi, Karlsruhe (GER) w/September Malevolence
10/25 - UKA-05 festival, Trondheim (NOR)
11/10-19 - Lack/Barra Head Dobbeldate-tour
Confirmed US solo dates for Kenneth Ishak (Beezewax):
10/17 - Charm City Art Space, Baltimore, MD
10/18 - Litlounge, NYC, NY
Anyone interested in booking him for any last minute shows, let it be known that he is available to do both solo and full-band gigs and will be in and around the NYC area from October 12-27. Contact mikael at kasual dot se if you can help out.
Burst has cancelled their previously announced UK headlining tour and will instead be supporting fellow Swedes Opeth all over Europe. Look for new UK dates to be announced for February 2006. Otherwise, find the current dates here.
The new issue of Danish rock'n'roll webzine LowCut is online: http://www.lowcut.dk/
No big features on any Scandinavian acts this time around, but plenty of album and live reviews.
David Fridlund has posted a number of pics from his recent tour of Germany and Austria: http://davidfridlund.webblogg.se/041005202356_some_pics_from_the_germanyaustri.html
A-ha has a new website design to match their new album: http://www.a-ha.com/
Beware the autoplay music for those of you in quiet offices.
MP3: Laakso - In my blood
The best thing about the new Laakso single? Obviously it's the high-pitched over-the-top backing vocals. Despite vocalist Markus Krunegård's best efforts to caterwaul through the entire album, this is the song that sticks out the most. And don't forget the "solo" - or whatever you want to call it. It sounds more like they're dismantling their guitars. Oh, and when the Jerry Lee Lewis rock'n'roll piano kicks in! Golden! It's a mess, but it's beautiful.
Laakso - In my blood
If you look to the right you'll see that there's a new EP for download on the IAT netlabel from Pacta Sunt Servanda. It's funny the way these things come together sometimes. Just two weeks ago I got an email from singer/songwriter Thomas Denver Jonsson with links to some of his new songs and a postscript about a local electronic artist he enjoys. I followed the link, downloaded some songs and was immediately impressed so I sent off an email inquring about possibly working together in the near future. We corresponded a bit and barely another week goes by before I suddenly find five brand new tracks waiting for me in my inbox. How amazing is that? PSS (aka C-J Larsgården) creates his ambient drones from a variety of sources: keyboards, guitars, tape-loops, field recordings, computers, whatever. But I prefer not to dwell too much on the mechanics of creation, but rather just sit back and enjoy the evocative nature of the music.
Those of who waiting for the US edition of The (International) Noise Conspiracy's newest album "Armed love" get a special live bonus disc if you buy it direct from the band on tour or at select stores. Said disc was recorded at the band's recent LA show at The Echo and features the following songs:
01. Black mask
02. Smash it up
03. A small demand
04. Capitalism stole my virgintiy
05. The way I feel about you
Memento Materia/Prototyp has signed Swedish industrial act Thirteenth Exile. The act in the project of Thyrfing guitarist Henrik Svegsjö and he performs live with the help of Per Åhlund (Sophia, Erebus Odora) and drummer Joakim Kristensson (Thyrfing, Rutthna). The debut album "Assorted chaos and broken machinery" is due out this winter and you can hear samples here: http://www.mementomateria.se/13thexile.html
My wife said one of the tracks sounded like "a demon vomiting" to which I say: Awesome!
Gluecifer will be joining Rocket from the Crypt for what will be a big last blowout show for both bands in NYC at the Hard Rock Times Square on October 28. No doubt this will sell out fast, so get tickets while you can.
Global Domination has posted yet another entertaining interview, this time with Satariel: http://www.statikmajik.com/gd/interviews/satariel.php