Bad Afro will be releasing the debut 7" from Copenhagen-based psych-rockers Ghost Rocket on February 14. The band features ex-On Trial member Morten Aron and is said to sound like the "13th Floor Elevators, Love and obscure rock'n'roll and psych from the past 50 years." The a-side is the aptly-named "Drug freedom" and the b-side is "1 million times", both of which they say are about "drugs and cheatful women."
Norway's Span has announced that they are almost done with their new album and it should be out in March or early April in Scandinavia, the rest of the world soon after. The album was mostly self-produced, but they did enlist the help of Brad Cook (Fun Manchu, Nebula, Foo Fighters) as well. Look for tour dates in Scandinavia and the UK to be announced shortly.
Stylus posts their 40 worst album list which includes media darlings Jens Lekman, Deathprod, Annie, Stina Nordenstam and more: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1403
It's actually the same list as their top 40 best albums, just with um slightly different commentary. Everyone loves to see the hyped acts taken down a notch. Also posted at Stylus today is a review of Scorch Trio: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2651
Are the fates conspiring? Splendid has posted a review of The Insult That Made A Man Out Of Mac: http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=11032824408533
Let me remind you that you can download a track from these guys on the right.
Denmark's Wild Evil Entertainment Dept. recorded a new single entitled "SSDD" this past weekend. Look for them to tour Sweden again this coming March.
Plugged Records sub-label Inpediente has signed Göteborg-based act Private Angus and the Plug Or Die hard-rock imprint has signed Paperback Freud from Stockholm. More news about when they'll actually be releasing albums from these bands coming soon.
pHinnMilk Records, run by the man behind pHinnWeb (obviously), has announced the release of the "Richard D. Anderson Album" from Unidentified Sound Objects. As with all pHinnMilk releases, it comes as a "highly collectable, ultra-limited edition" CDr, but is also available at the online electronic music store Foryourears.com. Find out more here: http://www.phinnweb.org/USO/RDAA/
I don't think the finished product has been posted online quite yet, but American artist Stephen O'Malley (he also plays in the bands Sunn O))), Khanate, etc.) is the man responsible for the artwork of Logh's upcoming album "A Sunset Panorama". As mentioned here before, the entire disc was recorded live while being simultaneous filmed by five cameras. It was then mixed down in both stereo and 5.1 sound and will be packaged with a standard audio CD and a DVD for no extra cost. Release dates have been set for February 21 in Europe, February 23 in Sweden and March 7 in the UK. International touring will commence almost immediately, beginning with the UK in mid-February. Without a doubt, this is my #1 most anticipated release for 2005 and I can't wait to hear it. Hopefully I'll be getting confirmation regarding the US release very soon - it will happen - I've even been informed of the label, I'm just not sure when.
Sentenced drummer Vesa Ranta talks to Metal-Rules about their new album: http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=54
Hi, I'm like a million years behind the times, but I finally caved in and joined myspace: http://www.myspace.com/itsatrap
We're friends, right? Oh, and you can listen to a stream of that exclusive KVLR song from the IAT comp over there, too.
Download the title track from Björn Norestig's new album "Come take a shine", due out later this month from A West Side Fabrication: http://www.cabal.se/westside/audio/lamasa/lamasa2.mp3
Swedish rockers Wired for Mono have a few new demo tracks for download on their website: http://www.wiredformono.com/music.html
Lo-fi indiepoppers Thehelpmeplease have posted a couple tracks for streaming and download up at Audiostreet: http://www.audiostreet.net/thehelpmeplease
The Soundtrack of Our Lives have rescheduled their UK dates:
02/21 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (UK)
02/22 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (UK)
02/23 - King Tuts, Glasgow (UK)
02/24 - Liquid Room, Edinburgh (UK)
02/26 - Univ Stanley Theatre, Liverpool (UK)
02/27 - Cockpit, Leeds (UK)
02/28 - Concorde 2, Brighton (UK)
The new single "Heading for a Breakdown" comes out February 9 and an animated video from directors Andreas Nilsson and Johannes Holm (The Knife, The Plan, Hell On Wheels, Silverbullit) will be airing shortly.