Aftonbladet has the video for the new Moneybrother single "Blow him back into my arms", my favorite track from the most recent album "To die alone": http://www.aftonbladet.se/atv/index.html?catID=29&clipID=1357
Norwegian hardcore act JR Ewing has updated their website with soundsamples from the new major-label debut album "Maelstrom": http://www.thejrewing.com/
The band is currently in negotiations for an international release and hopes to have it out all over the world by the fall. More details to come soon.
The new In Flames album has wrapped up mixing at Tonteknik in Umeå and will now be called "Come clarity", not the aforementioned "Crawl through knives". It comes out this fall via Nuclear Blast.
Arcturus has revealed that "Sideshow symphonies" will be the title of their new album, tentatively due in September through Season Of Mist.
Annie
Live @ Koko, London, 06/16/05
Annie performed her debut London gig at this incredibly plush venue on one of the first stifling hot nights of the year. After a smattering of DJ appearances earlier in the year, Annie's first London live performance was well anticipated. Although, only billed as the support to St. Etienne, the venue was packed to the rafters by the time Annie hit the stage. Accompanied by a DJ who introduced her by playing a Blondie record, Annie was clad in a down to earth floaty white top and black jeans. This non-pretentious appearance acted as a subtle sign that Annie is destined the masses, and not just for the style and fashion press. In this sense, it's hard to understand how her debut album "Anniemal" has failed to crossover at present. In her performance we are treated to gems such as the perfect pop of "Chewing gum" and "Heartbeat", Pitchfork's favourite song of last year. The live airing of "Chewing gum" featured a cute exchange between Annie and her DJ, via use of a vocoder. Alongside the standout songs on "Anniemal", a couple of new songs are played including one featuring the repeated line "Will you marry me," accompanied by some cheeky finger pointing at the crowd. Ultimately, these songs are dance music with an added pop sensibility. Tonight the people wanted to dance, something which the absurdly busy nature of the venue did ill afford
- Nick Levine
El Perro Del Mar
Look! It's El Perro Del Mar!
Hybris
This is not an album but a compilation of EPs (+ one unreleased songs), but it feels exactly like an album, and an absolutely amazing album that is! When I first heard El Perro Del Mar, I wasn't sure about her music, but after a couple of weeks living with this album and it sort of turning into a pet, I don't even wish it upon my worse enemy to miss out on her. Her quiet, melodic and folky songs are the perfect soundtrack for summer days in the park, and also summer nights in the dark (doing decent things, of course, I am no advocate of lewdness!). That's the deal with great music, I guess- it suits every occasion.
- Simon Tagestam
Gluebellies
Demo
self-released
Two tracks of well-produced pop-rock with an ever-so-slight melancholic feel. The vocal refrain on "The waterfront" drives my wife crazy with all the oohs and ba-ba-bahs, but I think it's actually quite clever and kinda catchy. Anything that inspires a reaction that strong is worth noting. Anyhow, tbis demo isn't edgy enough to appeal to my tastes, but I can't deny that they do a good job with the style.
- Avi Roig
Britta Persson
Found at home
Startracks
I got goose-pimples when I heard Britta perform at Vinterviken in '04, and still do every time "I search in you, you search in me" from "Demo 2" is played. So with great anticipation "Found at home" was initially welcomed here at review HQ. So lest not beat about the bush: much of Persson's attraction is her relationship to the KÅ/Hidden Truck/Fireside/Startracks family, and the natural interest which that brings. This is singer/songwriter Persson's first a "real" release. It has a fuller more complete sound, thanks perhaps largely to bedfellow Kristoffer Åström's backing vocals, production, and guitar playing. Åström guests from on "A dad for you" and again on track 4 "The past is not for real". This is a predominately two chord, slightly folkesque song (in her voice there is a Irish lilt, sometime shrill, in his a gruff hung over tone!). Neither a bad thing, because I want to rave about this release. But it is hard. Persson sounds like Cranberries singer O'Rioden or Sinead O'Conner (read again: Irish lilt) just a bit too often for my tastes. Sad, it would seem because Persson is definitely doing something... although the songs are lyrically naive. This EP somehow falls short of the virgin feeling created on her own self released EPs from 2004. The positive effect of considered production seems, in my ears, to detract from the former urgency held on the DIY demos. Next question: When will this singer try out a backing band? It might be the progressive step she needs.
- Troy Convers
Astrid Swan
Poverina
Delphic Recordings
Since female singer/songwriters from Finland don't exactly grow on trees, I pay special attention when one comes along. Astrid Swan has just released this debut CD, and it's a pretty strong effort. Swan has one of those voices that sounds real familiar, yet I can't readily compare her to anyone else. She's got a flair for the dramatic; in fact, the first two tracks "They need you if they think you love them" and "Poverina" sound like they're from some Broadway musical. I can easily picture Astrid onstage, belting out the tunes to the audience and making excited hand gestures. Swan plays fluid grand piano (often accompanied by slick backing vocals) throughout the disc; strong examples include "Rock 'n' roll blonde" and the lively "Good girl", which has a nice hummable chorus. My favorite songs are "The kinda tea you like to cry in", which has competing musical pulses from keyboard and guitar that give the tune a strong rhythmic thrust, and the haunting, minimalist "Daddies". "Life in a container" is also a cool tune. Some of this disc is a little too slick and commercial for my taste, but it's a pretty meaty debut, and Swan's obvious passion marks her as a talent that bears watching in the future.
- Kevin Renick
Washington
A new order rising
Glitterhouse
This Tromsø-based Norwegian band offers melodic epic rock reminiscent of bands like Radiohead, Coldplay and Muse. Guitarist/vocalist Rune Simonsen even sounds a bit like Thom Yorke in ballad mode at times. But this debut full-length (the band released an EP a few years ago) stands on its own quite nicely. If you can avoid thinking about all the stylistic touchstones, "A new order rising" is a very pleasant listen. "Landslide" is a sweet mid-tempo radio-friendly tune where Simonsen quickly shows his voice can soar with the best of 'em, while drummer Esko Pedersen and bassist Andreas Hoyer lay down a solid rhythmic foundation that's crisp and clear. "Have you ever" is actually one of the nicest slow songs I've heard this year, thanks to one of those stick-in-the-head melodies and a beautifully clear vocal (hey, a Norwegian Thom Yorke ain't such a bad thing, right?). Nice mellotron right in the middle, too. "River run by night" sounds like it's in a weird time signature, and it's so mesmerizing and carefully arranged that you imagine the band spending hours in the studio getting it just right. The cool percussion and lap steel guitar make it a standout track. The acoustic "Hymn" lets Simonsen show off his delicately beautiful falsetto, and if that's an autoharp being played behind it, bonus points for your good taste, guys! You're also gonna see a lot of reviews that single out the track "A long poem about the acts of heroes or gods." This nine-minute excursion into deep, Floyd-ian, guitar-based melancholy is the kind of big, expansive tune you can either lose yourself in, or shrug off 'cause it sounds like a bunch of other groups. I've opted for the former, and I've grown fond of this disc, even if it's a little monotonous in places.
- Kevin Renick
Various Artists
Songs we have learned to sing
Klubben Velvet
In case you needed more proof of the depth of talent in Swedish pop and indie rock, here are 19 fine examples assembled by the Velvet Rock Klubb and the student radio station in Uppsala. This one has a bit of everything, from the snappy pop of The Sunshine's "Love" to the darker, Siouxsie Sioux-style sounds on "Pasadena" by Le Muhr to the slow-burning, Swedish-language folk number "Allting ni gör" by [ingenting]. Other standouts include the Joan Jett-on-helium garage of Chick Habit's "Too much is not enough" and yet another track from Convoj, recently given the thumbs-up by my IAT! colleague Navy Keophan. The revelation to me is "Sound of sirens", an insanely catchy slice of indie rock by The Horror, The Horror. I had never heard of them before but will be on the lookout for more of their stuff. I'm not sure you can buy "Songs we have learned to sing" outside of Sweden, but for anyone who can get their hands on it, pick this one up!
- Matthew W. Smith
It took me awhile to appreciate Washington. I got their album "A new order rising" quite some time ago and initially wrote it off as generic mid-tempo melancholy. Y'know, that whole bloated genre populated by bands like Kent, Coldplay, Doves and countless others following in their wake? How much of that stuff do we need, right? But when I heard that Glitterhouse had licensed the record for a full European release (due out June 27), I figured I should probably give 'em another shot. So of course I went back and revisited it and found out my initial opinion was premature. There is a lot to like about this band, it's just that the record is really mellow and subtle, so it can take awhile to connect. For instance, the song I'm posting today is about as uptempo as these guys get. They spend a lot of time in more of an ethereal/folky mode and that doesn't always make for gripping listening experience. Yeah, they borrow quite a bit from Radiohead and Travis, but I think they add enough of their own touches to make it worthwhile. I especially like the use of pedal steel and what I believe is 12-string guitar on this track. Good stuff.
The winners of The Virtues CD giveaway are Uwe Jähnichen of Liepzig, Germany and Ellen Ernhill of Umeå, Sweden. I totally meant to announce it yesterday, but I forgot. Anyhow, your CDs will be sent off in the next day or two. Thanks to everyone who entered.
Swedish hip-hoppers MBMA (Mobbade Barn Med Automatvapen) have a new website: http://www.mbma.se/
Check out pics from the recent Fun/Echo Is Your Love European tour: http://www.noisecorewalze.com/text_template.php?text=fun_echo_tour_2005