Engel is the name of a new all-star Gotebörg-based metal act featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-The Crown) and Niclas Engelin (Passenger, ex-Gardenian, In Flames), drummer Mojjo (Relevant Few), bassist Robert Hakemo (ex-Gardenian) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn. They just launched their official website and have a new demo track available for download: http://www.engelpropaganda.com/
Check out an e-card for Bodies Without Organs and their new album "Prototype": http://www.emi.se/artists/bwo/prototype/index.htm
Norwegian industrial/metal act Red Harvest has reportedly parted ways with label Nocturnal Art Productions. No word on a new deal yet, but the band is already starting to work on their next album.
I'm a couple weeks late, but the netlabel 8bitpeoples recently released a new EP from Swedish 8-bit artist Goto80: http://www.8bitpeoples.com/discography_gfx.php#8BP044
Swedish electronic artist Skruvmejsel has a new website with a ton of music available for download: http://skruvmejsel.x-dump.com/
New mp3 today from Denmark's The First Miles. These guys are one of those rare bands who I knew I would love from the very first note. Their songwriting is always heartfelt and earnest and it's especially apparent in singer/songwriter Jeppe Foldager's voice. He's got the gruffness that's appropriate for the Americana style of music they play, but he also allows a level of fragility and weariness for more emotional depth. Today's track comes from the band's forthcoming album "Aim for the heart, go!" which comes out on May 17 via the band's own label Little Bad Bear. I'll be sure to get some copies for mailorder. An interesting side-note: the record was mixed by acclaimed Danish producer Flemming Rasmussen who of I course I know from his work on all of the good, early Metallica records. Not that the two bands are anything alike, but hey - it's worth noting. Very recommended.
I'll gonna try and keep up the pace and post new mp3s every day this week until I leave for Sweden on Friday. In case you didn't already know, I'll be gone from April 1-11, heading first to Stockholm for a few days and then up to Umeå for the Umeå Open. I'll try to post some updates from the road, but don't expect too much. Oh, and of course that also means that the mailorder will be unattended during that time, so if you want to order something, do it sooner rather than later.
Ideal Recordings will be releasing a new CD from Nash Kontroll, a new improv/noise band featuring scene luminaries Mats Gustafsson, Lasse Marhaug and Dror Feiler. Look for it sometime later this summer. Ideal will also be releasing a series of 7"s from Mats Gustafsson doing duos with other artists, all featuring cover art from Leif Elggren. More info on that soon. Lastly, look for the new Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words CD later this summer as well.
Thomas Denver Johnsson has updated his tour schedule:
04/17 - Scheune, Dresden (GER)
04/18 - Strandperle, Limburg (GER)
04/19 - tbc
04/20 - ppc, Graz (AUS)
04/21 - Shelter, Wien (AUS) w/Björn Kleinhenz
04/22 - Siegls, Wr. Neustadt (AUS) w/Björn Kleinhenz
04/23 - Sublime, Aflenz (AUS) w/Björn Kleinhenz
04/24 - Arena, Wien (AUS) w/Logh
04/29 - Boa, Luzern (SWI) w/Logh
04/30 - Hafenbuffet, Rorschach (SWI)
Updated tourdates for José González:
04/20 - La Linea Festival, London (UK) w/Juana Molina
04/24 - Nice and Sleazy, Glasgow (UK)
04/25 - Tin Angel, Coventry (UK)
04/26 - Irish Recreational, Manchester (UK)
04/27 - The Glee Club, Birmingham (UK)
04/28 - 93 Feet East, London (UK)
04/29 - Encompass Festival, London (UK)
05/02 - Knaack, Berlin (GER)
05/03 - Grüner Jäger, Hamburg (GER)
05/06 - Stereo wonderland, Köln (GER)
05/08 - Botanique, Brussel (BEL)
05/09 - Cafe la danse, Paris (FRA)
05/10 - In-store, Hasselt (BEL)
05/11 - Video, Gent (BEL)
05/12 - Boa Bar, Luzern (AUS)
05/13 - Atomic Café, München (GER)
05/14 - b72, Wien (AUS)
05/16 - Carambolage, Karlsruhe (GER)
05/17 - Café Central, Weinheim (GER)
05/18 - Clubkeller, Frankfurt (GER)
05/19 - Festival, Erlangen (GER)
05/20 - Pop Up Festival, Leipzig (GER)
Head over to Viola's website to vote on the theme for their upcoming "Viola day" concert at Semifinal in Helsinki this coming June: http://www.pophurts.com/
Past themes have included Eurodance, hard rock ballads and grungerock and there's live audio samples from each for sampling.
The Chrysler has confirmed that their debut album "Failures and Sparks" is due for a US release around June via my pals at Galaxy Gramophone. Hey Jim - return my emails okay?
Finnish indierockers Universal Audio Attack Orchestra recently uploaded some new mp3s to their website: http://www.uaao.biz/
The Phoenix Foundation on tour in the UK:
05/21 - Fenton, Leeds w/Four Dumb Kids, Defiance Ohio, Dauntless Elite, Leif Ericsson
05/22 - Heaven & Hell, Liverpool w/Four Dumb Kids
05/23 - The Grapes, Sheffield w/Four Dumb Kids, Two Day Rule
05/24 - The Mist, Derby w/Four Dumb Kids
05/25 - The Swan, London w/Four Dumb Kids
05/26 - Café Afrika, Cambridge w/Four Dumb Kids, We Fingerpoint At Dawn
05/27 - tbc, Reading w/Four Dumb Kids
05/28 - Le Pub, Newport w/Four Dumb Kids
Danish DIY indie label BSTBA has signed Manuskript, a band they describe as "click n' cut dreampop + intricate female Danish spoken word magick" and recommend if you like acts such as Manual, Efterklang or Mum. The group's six-song EP "Digt #1" comes packaged with a notebook-eque coil spine and should be available now.