This traditional acoustic trio (piano, drum, bass) does things differently. The kind of things they do is very similar to what fusion bands did in the seventies (Return to Forever comes to mind) but without all the cheesiness that was involved then. E.S.T. come with a true understanding of post-bob, downtempo and contemporary post-rock music. Never, the music sounds forced. Never, the bit of electronics that come in sound misplaced. Always, the improvisation goes somewhere. All of that is more than I can say for a lot of bands, jazz or else.
- Simon Thibaudeau
It's taken me over two months, but I've finally got a new streaming playlist for you. Check it out over in the article section on the right. Come to think of it, that was probably the last time I spent the day brewing beer, too. But I digress - selections this time around include new tracks from David Fridlund, Logh, Kristofer Åström and Convoj as well as demo stuff from Britta Persson and Plain Fade along with a bunch of other choice cuts from stuff I've been listening to. I admit it's not very lovey-dovey, but consider it my Valentine's day gift to you anyway.
And that's not all! We've also got a new live review of Niccokick from London. Not bad for a Monday, eh?
There's some new downloads available over at the White Noise website: http://chambrenoire.rohr.nu/wn/downloads.html
Denmark's Crunchy Frog Records has launched a new sub-label dedicated to movie soundtracks and their first release will be for the film "Nordkraft". Read more: http://www.crunchy.dk/asp/default.asp?News_Id=128
Swedish metalcore act Nine will make their US debut when they play the Turmoil reunion show at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia on April 15. Other bands on the bill include The Promise, All Else Failed and One Dead Three Wounded.
German Nordic music website "Nordische Musik" (duh) interviews Logh: http://www.nordische-musik.de/artikel/logh.php
Millencolin has posted a video from their recent DJ/promo trip: http://www.millencolin.com/video/promo_dj_trip.mov
They also posted a clip from the video shoot for their new single "Ray": http://www.millencolin.com/video/ray_videoshoot.mov
Synth-player Rob Cruel has left Malice in Wonderland. Read the band's full statement here: http://www.malice-in-wonderland.com/newsindex.php?id=34
Singer/songwriter Pekka Pörtfors is heading to France for a few shows:
03/02 - tba, Bordeaux w/Squeeze Me I Squeak, Garrison Rocks
03/03 - tba, Angers w/Federal, Ozglass
03/04 - Silent Noise Festival @ Le Chat Noir, Paris w/Garrison Rocks, Anoraak, Horses Eat Sugar
03/05 - Silent Noise Festival @ Le Chat Noir, Paris w/Paper Plane Pilots, The Candid Chapel, Pinkerton
As mentioned earlier this month, Pekka recently posted a new 5-song acoustic EP for download on his website: http://www.pekkaportfors.tk/
Swedish indierock label Kasual Recordings, home of bands such as Ariel Kill Him, Ikaros and Beezewax, is now hosting a monthly contest giveaway: http://www.kasual.se/contest
David Fridlund doing his solo thing, but his band David & the Citizens aren't exactly taking time off either according to drummer Mikael Carlsson. They're currently working on new material in rehearsal and hope to record something this summer. The music is said to be "approaching darker and harder sides but the music is still very melodic and hummable."
Finland's Fullstream Records subsidiary 1000 Records has signed two new artists, Pedestrian's Motor and Antero Lindgren. PM consists of members Ville Malja, Jorma Korhonen and Antti Tuomivirta from the bands Lapko and Sara and will release their first EP for the label this coming spring. Download the mp3 for "Quiet heroes" right here: http://www.fullsteamrecords.com/popupikkunat/mp3/pedestrians_motor/01%20Quiet%20Heroes.mp3
As for Antero, look for more info to come later.
Download the track "...but a memory" from Frantic Bleep: http://www.elitistrecords.co.uk/audio/frantic1.mp3
Chick Habit now has a new website online: http://www.chickhabit.se/