US-based synth label A Different Drum has signed Swedish one-man electropop artist A Blue Ocean Dream. Look for the new album "On the road to wisdom" to be released this summer.
Think Small gives praise to Finland's Starflower: http://www.thinksmall.nl/blog.php?id=6#56
Mp3 blog Mystical Beast talks about the new Raveonettes album and offers up a few tracks: http://mysticalbeast.blogspot.com/2005/03/raveonettes-have-new-album-due-in.html
Fluxblog has a track from Swedish pop star Robyn today: http://www.fluxblog.org/2005/03/echo-in-my-head-robyn-be-mine-in-this.html
Here's this week's MTVe UpNorth video chart:
01. Smak - Hallanvaara
02. Moneybrother - They're Building Walls Around Us
03. Christian Walz - Never Be Afraid Again
04. Thomas Dybdahl - A Lovestory
05. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himlen men ingen vill dö
06. Lazyboy - Underwear Goes Inside The Pants
07. Hammerfall - Bloodbound
08. Annie - My Heartbeat
09. Håkan Hellström - En Midsommarnattsdröm
10. Husky Rescue - City Lights
11. In Flames - Touch Of Red
12. LAB - When Heaven Gets Dirty
13. The 69 Eyes - Lost Boys
14. The Confusions - Don't Let the World Catch You Crying
15. Darin - Money For Nothing
16. Johnny Deluxe - Vi Vil Ha Mer
17. The Ark - One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young
18. Pain - Same Old Song
19. Moder Jords Massiva - Fast Attack/ Slow Decay
20. Gubb - Om Änglar Finns
Challengers:
01. Mendez - Is That Ok
02. Deportees - Champagne
03. Sugarplum Fairy - Far Away From Man
04. Jim Stärk - Morning Song
05. Beats And Styles - Two White Monkeys
Go here to vote for your favorite.
Candlelight Records, no doubt looking to cash in on the success of bands like HIM, has signed Norwegian goth-rockers Audrey Horne. The band apparently features members from Enslaved and Gorgoroth and will release their debut Joe Baressi-produced album "No Hay Banda" in the UK this coming May.
In other Candlelight news, the label has confirmed a May 9 release for the new album from Norwegian female doom act Octavia. I was impressed by the demo tracks I heard from these gals and have been looking forward to their album for awhile.
Norwegian bands Arcturus and Red Harvest will tour together in September. Dates so far:
09/15 - Sweden
09/16 - Denmark
09/17 - K17, Berlin (GER)
09/18 - Poland
09/19 - tba
09/20 - Czech Rep
09/21 - Austria
09/22 - Slovakia
09/23 - A 38, Budapest (HUN)
09/24 - tba
09/25 - Alpheus, Rome (ITA)
09/26 - tba
09/27 - Suisse
09/28 - Marseille, France
09/29 - Mephisto, Barcelona (SPA)
09/30 - Stereo Club, Alicante (SPA)
10/01 - Ritmo & Kompas, Madrid (SPA)
10/02 - Trunk, Irun (SPA)
10/03 - Lion, France
10/04 - Paris, France
10/05 - UK
10/06 - Rock City, Nottingham (UK)
10/07 - Patronaat, Haarlem (HOL)
10/08 - Goudvishal, Arnhem (HOL)
10/09 - 013, Tilburg (HOL)
10/10 - tba
10/11 - Backstage, Munchen (GER)
10/12 - Germany
09/13 - Denmark
09/14 - Sweden
Britta Persson reports that she recently completed work on a video for "Defrag my heart", a song that I presume will be the first single from her upcoming EP on Startracks. "If you like American cars and girls in bikini, this is the video for you!" she says.
The Ark will play a couple additional dates in NYC when they are over here with ExMS. More info can be found at the band's website: http://www.thearkworld.com/
Check out an e-card for Finnish goth-rockers The 69-Eyes: http://www.emi.se/artists/69eyes/index.htm
Upcoming tourdates for Norway's Jim Stärk:
03/16 - Folken, Stavanger (NOR)
03/17 - Byscenen, Haugesund (NOR)
03/18 - Rust, Ørsta (NOR)
03/19 - Hulen, Bergen (NOR)
04/01 - Samfundet, Trondheim (NOR)
04/06 - Studentersamfunnet, Ås (NOR)
04/07 - Musikkflekken, Sandvika (NOR)
04/08 - Cafe Promenaden, Sandefjord (NOR)
04/22 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
04/23 - Kroa i Bø, Bø (NOR)
04/28 - Musikcafèen, Århus (DK)
04/29 - Rust, København (DK)
05/01 - Bergenfest, Bergen (NOR)
05/04 - Driv, Tromsø (NOR)
05/06 - Rock Café, Bodø (NOR)
05/07 - Bacalao, Svolvær (NOR)
05/13 - Balejazz, Balestrand (NOR)
Jim Stärk contributed the award-winning track "Morning song" to the "It's a trap reader's companion" compilation.
New photos of Speedmarket Avenue, Kontrovers and Backyard Babies now up at Photo:Henrik: http://www.photohenrik.com/
The German webzine Sellfish reviews the new Evergrey live 2xCD: http://sellfish.insfx.com/_start.php?link=review/03-05.htm%23ever