The setbacks just keep piling up for Gorgoroth as guitarist Infernus (aka Roger Tiegs) is sentenced for rape: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=36438
Of course since this is black-metal, it probably means that they're guaranteed to sell even more records now that they've proven how "true" and "kvlt" they are.
The Candy Mind netlabel has a new release from electronic duo Hectopascal: http://www.candymind.com/candy005.html
Look for them to release a full-length with the Kahvi Collective in the near future as well.
Speaking of Kahvi, the netlabel has a new release from Sweden's Slem: http://www.kahvi.org/77.php
This week's Musikbyrån update features videos from The Tough Alliance, Paragon, Monkeystrikes, Efterklang and more: http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=32531
Swedish folk/electronic-rock act Godrun has posted two new live tracks at their website: http://www.godrun.com/
Preview the new Vanessa and the O's album over at their website: http://www.vanessaandtheos.com/
As mentioned before, the group is an all-star collaboration featuring James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Niclas Frisk (Atomic Swing), Andreas Mattson (Popsicle) and French frontwoman Vanessa Quiñones along with special guest guitarist/engineer Pelle Gunnerfeldt.
The new video for "Always on my mind" from Antennas is now online at the Novoton Records site: http://www.novoton.se/antennasvideo_aomm.html
Also at Novoton are some pics from Existensminimum's gig at Cirkus opening for Moneybrother. Check 'em out here and here.
The Adrian Versus club night is taking a break, but in the mean time label rep Jason Christie has posted a virtual mixtape of sorts for your listening pleasure: http://www.adrianrecordings.com/default.asp
Audrey
Live @ The Betsey Trotwood, London, 04/30/05
This was the first time I had been to the infamous Betsey Trotwood, the 60 capacity venue in Farringdon. It's the one venue in London that always seems to attract Swedish bands on their first visit to this country. The sound of Audrey is hard to pin down as they have so many fantastic influences. Prior to seeing the performance I had read about their comparisons to Low and Red House Painters. Whilst Audrey do have their sombre moments, there is also an underlying depth of their songs which suggests that beneath every cloud there is a silver lining. The band is made up of four young girls from Göteborg who display a maturity beyond their years. In fact, it is hard to believe that their recently released EP is their debut. During the performance the only song that the band play from their record is "Box and fights", which is mostly instrumental and builds up into a waltz-like pace, and features a whispered narrative from drummer/vocalist Anna Tomlin. To sum things up, Audrey make music which is as fresh as the morning on a clear spring day. With a little more touring in the UK they could well pick up a sizable cult audience.
- Nick Levine
Bunnies with Bullets
Bulletrain
self-released
This is awful metal with some of the silliest lyrics and vocals that have ever been recorded. I rather eat a rotten orange than listen to this again.
- Simon Tagestam
Lack
Be there pulse
PlayRec
How can it be so hard to find good, new hardcore that's filled with passion and an actual message? Thank goodness there's bands like Lack around to help carry us forward because I've come awfully close to giving up hope. So yeah, no bedroom poetry, no crap about wanting to murder your ex-girlfriend (or other ugly misogyny), just high-quality rock with meaning and a purpose. Amazing duel guitar lines don't hurt matters either. This record gets a solid A for Awesome.
- Avi Roig
Melpo Mene
Holes CDS
Imperial Recordings
Listen to this, here's a guy who wears jeans with holes in them, got holes in his head and problems with someone, and to top it all off he's walking out in the bloody snow (what will his mum say when she hears this song!). Such a masochistic setting sounds more like the template for a Nine Inch Nails song, but what we get treated to instead (thankfully), is a nice little folk sounding number that reminds me a lot of Currituck Co., and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a great compliment, you know.
- Simon Tagestam
Perfect Combination
Conquer
self-released
When I first listened to this CD it felt like I've stumbled on a treasure chest, then it turned out that the gold coins were full of chocolate and there were just too many of them, and it consequently made me feel sick and tired. This album is good in small doses, some of the tracks are superb, such as the mad nice opening and title track (an instant classic!) or "Stray" that has some strings that would make RZA blush. But, as I tried to say in the contrived metaphor in the beginning of this review, the album doesn't stay that great for all 13 songs, which is a bit of shame, really.
- Simon Tagestam
Popsicle
The good side of
Warner Music Sweden
If you like your music twee and melodic, you should check out this compilation from Popsicle, a Swedish band that were active in the '90s, and released some fine albums. This is a double cd, with the standard "one cd full of hits / the other full of b-sides" design. Earlier this year, Popsicle came back from the dead for a one-off gig, and every day I prick my stomach with a needle for missing that show. I have many fond memories from these tunes, and if you're a fan of Teenage Fanclub and their ilk – you should get this and get some of those memories yourself!
- Simon Tagestam