MIC Norway reports that hyped shoegazers Serena Maneesh will open for Dandy Warhols on their upcoming European tour. Could it be their big break? I think they're decent, but nothing to freak out about. Anyhow, the dates:
10/12 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
10/13 - Folken, Stavanger (NOR)
10/15 - Den Atelier, Luxembourg (LUX)
10/16 - Muffathalle, Munich (GER)
10/17 - Arena, Vienna (AUS)
10/19 - Xtra, Zurich (SWI)
10/20 - Prime Club, Koln (GER)
10/23 - Academy, Glasgow (SCO)
10/25 - Ritz, Manchester (UK)
10/26 - Hammersmith Palais, London (UK)
10/27 - Elysee, Paris (FRA)
10/29 - Max, Amsterdam (HOL)
Also from MIC Norway comes this report on a new initiative to promote Norwegian jazz via iTunes: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005092910523883609521
For the Eardrums has a new downloadable mixtape that features a number of Scandinavian artists: http://eardrumsmix.blogspot.com/2005/09/eardrums-mixtape-7-fix-your-future.html
Norwegian hardcore act Jeroan Drive has signed with Earache subsidiary Codebreaker Records. The band entered the studio at the end of August with engineer Jostein Steinsland Hauge (Ephemera, Kaizers Orchestra) to record their debut full-length album for what I would imagine to be an early 2006 release.
Denmark's Brimstone Butterfly has signed an international deal with US label Silverline Records. Their album "Normality killed the cat" will be released in the US on October 4, October 18 for Canada and England and Germany on October 24.
DigitalMetal reviews the new album from Finnish doom act Swallow the Sun: http://www.digitalmetal.com/reviews.asp?cid=6858
Check out the video for "I fell into a hole" from Norway's My Midnight Creeps: http://www.mymidnightcreeps.com/media/MMC-FDAH_accurate60.mov
The band features guitarists Alex Kloster-Jensen from the Ricochets and Robert Burås of Madrugada and have a dirty rock sound kinda like MC5 or The Sonics. (via)
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
02. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
03. Laleh - Laleh
04. Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
05. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
06. Louise Hoffsten - From Linköping to Memphis
07. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
08. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
09. Tommy Nilsson - Tiden Före Nu
10. Musikal - Mamma Mia
11. Ebba Grön - Samlingen
12. Lasse Lindh - Lasse Lindh
13. Robyn - Robyn
14. The Latin Kings - Familia Royale
15. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten
16. Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
17. Sofia Karlsson - Svarta Ballader
18. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
19. CajsaStina Åkerström - De vackraste orden
20. The Bear Quartet - Saturday night
Tons of new Scandinavian reviews on Aversionline today:
Ambulance - The end of our time
Icos - Walk with me
Auktion - D-beat rock'n'roll mayhem
Audiopain - Contagious
Audiopain - 1986
Swedish punks Alarmrock on tour in Russia and the Baltics:
09/30 - Moloko, St Petersburg (RU)
10/01 - TIR club, Pskov (RU)
10/03 - Klub Vesuvij, Brest (BY)
10/04 - Rytm, Minsk (BY)
10/05 - GCK, Gomel (BY)
10/07 - Kulturas un Sportas Pils, Daugavpils (LV)
10/08 - Green Club, Vilnius (LT)
Hidden Agenda is on a roll with US reissues of some amazing Swedish records. José González justifiably has been getting most of the press so far for "Veneer" (one of 2003's best albums), but we shouldn't ignore Peter, Bjorn and John and the album "Falling out" - one of 2004's best releases. I bought their 2002 self-titled debut release simply on strength of bassist Bjorn Yttling's prestigious production credits and have been a fan ever since. There's a good reason why they have the lead-off track on my "Reader's companion" compilation. The best part about "Falling out" is how the record works as a whole. It's a concept record, not in the way as say "Operation: Mindcrime", but that it's thematic in terms of the overall mood. I actually posted mp3s for every song from the record when it first came out, but here's one of favorites again for those that missed out the first time around.
It's a trap! is branching out into the live music scene with a monthly club night in London called Tack! Tack! Tack! Run by IAT writers Simon Tagestam and Nick Levine, the club plans to showcase the best in Swedish pop through live performances and records. The debut show will be October 24 at the Heavenly Social with Cat 5 and The Legends. Read more: http://www.tacktacktack.blogspot.com/
The Models will be going into Dustword studios with Stefan from Henry Fiats Open Sore to record some new tunes.
Swedish singer/songwriter Kristoffer Ragnstam will play a couple shows in NYC at the end of October:
10/25 - Knitting Factory
10/27 - Lion's Den
Swedish rockers Diamond Dogs have signed with Fading Ways Music and will see their most recent album "Bound to ravage" released in the UK on November 1 and Canada in early 2006. Diamond Dogs on tour in the UK:
11/16 - Queens Hall, Nuneaton
11/17 - Sturdy Lads, Barnsley
11/18 - Junction, Nottingham
11/19 - Civic Hall, Whitehaven
11/20 - The Lincoln Imp, Scunthorpe
11/21 - Underworld, London