The latest Aquarius Records new release list features samples and reviews from Circle, the "Who Will Buy (These Wonderful Evils) Vol II" comp from Dolores, Avarus, The Hives, Kings of Convenience and tons more: http://www.aquariusrecords.org/cat/newest.html
Via pHinnWeb:
The godfather of 1960s Finnish underground, M.A. Numminen (b. 1940), will release a limited edition 7", which includes a reggae(?) version of Andrew Sisters' calypso classic "Rum & Coca Cola". The B-side features a dub version called "Rum & Dub". This single is taken from M.A.N.'s forthcoming long play, "Scratching". This is M.A.N.'s first foray into modern rhythm music since 1995's "M.A. Numminen Goes Tech-No".
More info on Numminen can be found here: http://www.ma-numminen.net/ / http://www.phinnweb.org/early/
Vocalist Pasi Koskinen has left Amorphis. His final appearance with the band will be at the Kontu Rock festival on August 21. As for the upcoming US tour with Type O Negative, fellow Finns Charon will lend frontman Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto for the trip. Dates scheduled so far:
10/07 – Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
10/11 - Irving Plaza, New York, NY
10/12 - Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA
10/15 - Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
10/30 - Eagles Club/The Rave/Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
As for a permanent replacement or an official statement from Pasi, nothing's been announced yet.
This week's Scandinavian music reviews from German webzine Sellfish:
Sweatmaster - Songs with no words
Venus in Flames - Notes of tenderness
Go here to download some free music from Finnish electronic artist Lackluster: http://www.lackluster.org/free/
Be sure to also check out his upcoming release list to see what's coming on the horizon: http://www.lackluster.org/?page=discography&group=1
The top Scandinavian videos streamed last week at on-demand video service Musicbrigade.com:
01. Ana - We Are
02. Gunther & Sunshine Girls - Teeny Weeny String Bikini
03. Kings Of Convenience - I´d Rather Dance With You
04. Nightwish - Nemo
05. Alcazar - This Is The World We Live In
Requested Videos: 130,143
Number of titles requested: 4,467 different titles
Total Streams: 192,364
Keyboard and drum duo Mats/Morgan Band is coming to the US on tour in September:
09/05 - Progday Festival, Chappel Hill, NC
09/07 - The Attic Bar, Detroit, MI
09/08 - Wilbert's, Cleveland, OH
09/09 - Montage Grill - Prog 90, Rochester, NY
09/10 - Berklee College Of Music, Boston, MA
09/11 - NJ Prog House - Metlar Bodine, Piscataway, NJ
09/12 - Tribeca Rock Club, New York, NY
Drummer Morgan Ågran is known for his collaborations with Frank Zappa on albums such as the 1994 Grammy Award winning "Zappa's Universe" and has toured as a member of the Glen Hughes band as well. The group's new album "Thanks For Flying With Us" comes out soon.
As my friends already know, I'm not much of a fan of the much-hyped Concretes. However, I do enjoy the sideproject Heikki featuring Concretes guitarist Maria Eriksson and producer/Bear Quartet guitarist Jari Haapalainen. Of course, I prefer BQ more than both of them, but that's another story. Anyhow, there's a new mp3 from Heikki available for download on the right.
Don't forget this weekend's Sunday show at Café String with Hell on Wheels, The Virtues and Firefox!
Upcoming European tourdates for Ariel Kill Him:
08/16 - Astra Stube, Hamburg
08/17 - Magnet, Berlin
08/18 - Star Club, Dresden
08/19 - Jugendhaus Komma, Esslingen
08/20 - Kremblin, Bilbao
08/21 - Takio Destruction Fest @ Metropol, Torrelavega
08/22 - Xoldo Club, Galicia
08/23 - Malas Companias, Majadahonda
08/24 - La Teteria, Ubeda
08/26 - Groovy Club, Grao Castellon
08/27 - Stereo, Alicante
08/28 - Centre Civic La Fonteta, St. Feliu
08/29 - Ieper Fest @ Vort'n'vis, Ieper
08/31 - Cafe Dwaze Zaken, Amsterdam
NorthSide will release new albums from modern Nordic folk acts Väsen and Triakel on September 14, but you will also be able to order them online in two weeks.
Michael Krohn from Norway's Raga Rockers will release an album with his new band Easy Riders on September 6 through Big Dipper Records/Sonet.