Some of Norway's finest musicians, Lars and Martin Horntveth, Thomas Dybdahl, Nikolai Eilertsen and Morten Qvenild, have joined forces in a new band called The National Bank and will be making their live debut at the Øya Festival in Oslo on August 13. The debut album comes out August 16 and here's what the fest organizers had to say about 'em:
This is a goodie that'll blow up like a bomb when people get to hear the material. Who the members are isn't all that important, but the songs are. Every jaw at the Öya booking office dropped when we sat listening to demos and heard The National Bank through the speakers for the first time. What a glorious sound! This only confirms that a lot of Norwegians must have a special gene for melancholy that the rest of the world lacks. And we don't necessarily mean the sad kind of melancholy, but the gentle, lovely blend of sweet and sour. And no, it's not totally unbearable to be sitting indoors while the wind is blowing and the rain is pouring down if you can get to listen to this. Every song has vocals that will go straight to your heart, the string section will make your hair stand on end, and the backing vocals will make you want to hug somebody.
Severe Illusion has signed with US-based label DSBP who will release the new album "Accomplishments of Leopold II" later this year.
It and Michael Bohlin's new band 8thSin now has their website online: http://www.8thsin.biz/
Sadly, no downloads are available yet.
Aversionline reviews goth-revivalists 1999: http://www.aversionline.com/reviews/1633/
Mp3 blog Fat Planet features two from Finland this week, a revisit of noise-rockers Dead Combo and electronic artist Jimi Tenor: http://www.fatplanet.com.au/
Aftonbladet reports that Dhani Lennevald from the A-teens is doing a solo project: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,515389,00.html (in Swedish)
Just what the world needs, right?
Dusted reviews Finnish psych-folk act Kiila: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/1579
Rumor has it that Gorgoroth is signing a new record deal with Season of Mist. They were previously on Nuclear Blast.
Reverend Big O reports that they are hard at work on a new album, due out sometime this fall.. They've recorded 15 songs and it's currently being mixed by Manne von Ahn Öberg at his studio at Mondo in Stockholm. They say to expect a more 'shoegazer' style sound this time.
Okay, a couple site/label related items...
First off, KVLR has been sent out to US/Canadian college radio and has been getting added to a number of playlists. Please call or email your local station and request them! Some of places I've got confirmations for adds include WRGW in Washington DC, UIC Radio Chicago, WFRD at Dartmouth, CHRW at the University of Western Ontario, WRFL at the University of Kentucky, WRIU in Rhode Island and WMBR in Cambridge, MA. Hopefully this is just the beginning.
Next, let me remind y'all that all mailorder purchases will include free promo singles and comps by way of Startracks and V2. You buy something, you get something extra for free. How cool is that?
And lastly, you'll be happy to see that the last two tracks from that live Stina Nordenstam set have been added. Enjoy! Still very excited to hear the new record.
Here's this week's top 20 Swedish albums:
01. Gyllene Tider - Finn 5 Fel
02. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
03. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao!
04. Vikingarna - Bästa Kramgoa Låtarna
05. Gyllene Tider - Gt 25 - Samtliga Hits!
06. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten - Det Bästa
07. Robert Wells - Rhapsody In Rock Anniversary
08. Europe - Rock The Night: The Very Best Of Europe
09. Günther & the Sunshine Girls - Pleasure Man
10. Teddybears Sthlm - Fresh
11. Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book
12. Marit Bergman - Baby Dry Your Eye
13. Infinite Mass - 1991
14. Jimmy Jansson - Flickan från det blå
15. Backyard Babies - Stockholm Syndrome
16. Per Gessle - Mazarin
17. Pugh Rogefeldt - Bästa
18. Shirley Clamp - Den Långsamma Blomman
19. Sahara Hotnights - Kiss & Tell
20. Di Leva - Tiden Faller
It was originally set to come out in July, but now The Knife is saying the "Heartbeats" single will be out in the UK on September 6 and the full album "Deep Cuts" will follow on September 20. Tracklist and more info: http://www.theknife.net/
Here's the lineup for the Startracks Dagen afterparty show happening at Mondo following the free outdoor concert with Kristofer Åström and Christian Kjellvander: Tiger Lou, The Fine Arts Showcase and Be Under Centary Knife (BUCK). Tickets are 80 sek and doors open at 10pm.