PopMatters reviews Mnemic: http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/mnemic-audio.shtml
Code is the name of a new black-metal act featuring Vicotnik from Ved Buens Ende/Dødheimsgard on bass, Kvohst from Void (aka Ionman) on vocals and AiwarikiaR from Ulver on drums. The band's recently-completed debut album "Nouveau gloaming" will be released by Spinefram in March.
Smalltown Supersound sub-label Smalltown Superjazz has signed Free Fall, a trio featuring Ken Vandermark, Ingebrigt Flaten and Håvard Wiik. The group previously released their debut album "Furnace" on Merge Records offshoot Wobbly Rail in 2002. The new, as-yet-untitled album is due out in April. (via)
Zyklon is reportedly working on a new album for release this coming August. Read more: http://www.bravewords.com/news.html?id=21993
Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. The Ark - State of the Ark
02. Daniel Lindström - Daniel Lindström
03. Lasse Stefanz - Röd Chevrolet
04. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
05. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
06. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
07. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
08. Uno Svenningsson - Ett andetag från dig
09. Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe - 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna
10. Marie Fredriksson - The Change
11. Arne Domnérus - Best of Dompan
12. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
13. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
14. Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin vol. 1
15. Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book
16. Totta Näslund - Totta 7: Soul!/På drift
17. Markoolio - Bäst off
18. Peter Jöback - Storybook
19. Silverbullit - Arclight
20. Ulf Lundell - OK Baby OK
Danish folk/country duo Spildt Mælk have an album's worth of material available for download on their website: http://www.spildtmaelk.dk/
They plan to travel to Malmö to record their first proper record in March.
Long-running Swedish death-metal act Dismember has signed with Regain Records. The band's last album "Where ironcrosses grow" was released last year on Karmageddon Media.
Swedish hard-rockers King just entered a studio in Köping to record three brand new tracks. They hope that this will be the first step in what will eventually become their debut full-length album.
Head over to Elin Sigvardsson's website to hear some samples from the new album "Smithereens", due out February 2.
Denmark's Lampshade is touring Germany in February:
02/16 - Knust, Hamburg
02/17 - Hafen 2, Offenbach w/Tiger Lou
02/18 - FZW, Dortmund
02/19 - Museumskeller, Erfurt
02/20 - Pfefferberg, Haus, Berlin
Apparently The Ark are setting their sights on conquering the world market: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,585104,00.html (in Swedish)
They better get on it before the whole new-wave sound becomes passé. The new album "State of the Ark" really leans heavily upon the current trend, but probably has enough quality songwriting to help it rise above the rabble.
Download the video for "2004" from The Je Ne Sais Quoi: http://www.cilla.com/tjnsq/video/tjnsq_-_2004.wmv
The clip was made using various footage the band filmed during their December European tour.
I saw the Norwegian film "Kitchen Stories" ("Salmer fra kjøkkenet") this past weekend and of course the first thing that struck me about it was its use of the Jan Johansson tune "Visa från Utanmyra" during the opening. The song is the lead-off track from the classic album "Jazz på Svenska" (now packaged along with "Jazz på Ryska" (Jazz from Russia) in a collection called "Folkvisor"), Sweden's #1 top-selling jazz album of all-time. And it's no wonder - the way that Johansson flawlessly blends Swedish folk melodies with jazz is absolutely breathtaking throughout the entire album. Be sure to check out the mp3 posted on the right to hear for yourself. As for the film, I enjoyed it quite a bit and definitely recommend it, but it will never match the masterpiece status of the music.
Splendid gives kind words about the "It's a trap reader's companion" compilation: http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=1102677457319175
The latest issue of Amplifier Magazine also has a nice review and I'll be typing it up a bit later today. UPDATE: Check it out right here.