While you couldn't really say that Koko has a unique premise about it, you could quite comfortably declare that it sounds interesting -- an '80s pop elixir laced with electro tanginess and served up by the tongue of Dear Euphoria. Mmmm, tasty. The thing is that despite the potential here -- not least down to the unique and untouchable voice of Elina Johansson -- this debut full-length falls a good bit short of the mark in terms of retaining any initial interest. It just seems like second-rate, done-before, Swedish electropop that, while well enough executed, gets pretty tired pretty quickly. There's a thin air or pretension about "K.O." -- a feeling that a contrived effort to 'think outside the box' has been the main driving force of any kind of variation here. It's a shame, but at the end of the day -- whether contrived or authentic -- "K.O." just doesn't pack the punch it needs to render it essential. - John Norby
Pitchfork singles out Copenhagen hardcore act Lower as "Rising" act: http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/8904-lower/
Also, word has it that the band has been picked up by US label for the release of their upcoming LP.
Ulver will be performing a newly commissioned piece of music at Tromsø Kulturhus with their 35-piece chamber orchestra on September 21. Their words: "The mass is new electronic/symphonic music specifically written for the evening, and it is grave." Furthermore, the proceedings will be recorded and will eventually become the band's next album. More details/tickets (in Norwegian): http://kulturhuset.tr.no/hovedscenen/program/ulver
I don't love Air France, but I do love Göteborg and would move there in an instant if I could, so that's more than enough reason to endorse AF member Joel Karlsson's personal recommendation list for the city: http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/city-guides/joel-karlsson-air-france-102151
I'm not familiar with every place he recommends, but I wholeheartedly back Solrosen as one of the best, most friendly and affordable places we ate on our recent trip.
has announced that Spiders' lead single for their upcoming album "Flash point" will be the tune "Weekend nights". It will get an official release on September 7 with a limited 7" run of 500 copies and will include a cover of "Lies" by 90s-era Swedish retro-rockers The Strollers on the flip.
Swedish instrumental/prog act Gösta Berlings Saga's excellent sophomore release "Detta har hänt" will be getting a much-welcome vinyl next month and the band will celebrate by hopping on Switchblade's record release show on September 20 at Hornstull Strand in Stockholm. Details here.
Koko