Speaking of The Similou, they have a track featured at Fluxblog today: http://www.fluxblog.org/2005/04/janet-renos-dance-party-similou-wild.html
Got an old track for you today from Umeå's hardcore legends Final Exit. This was the band that David Sandström and Dennis Lyxzén were in before Refused. When I was at Umeå Open the other week, my friend Magnus and I were fantasizing about how awesome it would be if these dudes were the secret band. If they were, they'd just have to open with this set of tunes, the intro and lead track from their landmark album "Umeå". I may not go to as many hardcore shows as I used to, but there's no way I could stay out of the pit with a band like this on stage. That scream is just so brutal and that first riff is so heavy. So crucial! Most it up!
Discouraged Records just released a comp entitled "The northern conspiracy" that's chock-full of Norrland punk and hardcore. Check it out: http://www.discouragedrecords.com/
Danish Scandinavian music site Ratatoskonline has a couple tracks up for download from Realones, Quit Your Dayjob and Schtimm: http://ratatoskonline.net/index.php?axelref=news&id=134
Swedish punks Cardiac Arrest have changed their name to Svartenbrandt. The band will be making new recordings in May.
Lady Godiva Operations will release the new "Gotta sing, gotta dance" EP from electronic artist Tsukimono sometime this summer. After that, look for new albums from Dialog Cet and Viktor Sjöberg in early fall.
Splendid reviews Circle's "Guillotine": http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=11126083891340294
PopMatters reviews Icelandic singer Emiliana Torrini: http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/t/torriniemiliana-fishermans.shtml
Swedish female postrock quartet Audrey have signed with Stereo Test Kit Records in the UK and will have their debut EP released over there on May 9. They'll also be heading over next week for their first live gigs on British soil. Dates:
04/25 - Tin Angel, Coventry w/José González
04/26 - Upstairs @ The Phoenix, Manchester
04/27 - The Glee Club, Birmingham w/José González
04/28 - 93 Feet East, London w/José González
04/29 - BBC radio session, London
04/30 - Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon, London
The BBC radio session with be with 6 Music's Gideon Coe at 11:30 BST and will be available for live streaming: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/gideon_coe/
Blindside will be heading out on the road alongside The Showdown and Showbread beginning in late June. Here's the first set of dates:
06/25 - Club Tundra, Syracuse NY
06/27 - Knitting Factory, New York NY
06/29 - Saratoga Winners, Cohoes NY
06/30 - Downtown, Farmingdale NY
07/02 - Cornerstone Festival, Bushnell IL
07/05 - The Intersection, Grand Rapids MI
07/08 - Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago IL
07/11 - Club 3 Degrees, Minneapolis MN
07/14 - Mississippi Nights, St. Louis MO
Though they might be a bit slow to discover them, Musique Machine professes their love for Efterklang: http://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=619