Happy birthday to Fredrik Granberg of Randy!
New artists confirmed for the Malmö Festival: Mattias Alkberg läser poesi, Darling Desperados, Under Byen, Ramses Revolution, Moder Jords Massiva, Sophie Rimheden, Livekaraokeshow and more. Details: http://www.malmofestivalen.nu/
New pics of Victims and Strip Music up at Musique One Stop: http://www.photohenrik.com/mos/
I now have joined the elite with a Google gmail account and can be reached via aviroig at gmail dot com. Please update your contact lists, thanks.
Export Music Sweden has published a new newsletter: http://www.exms.com/pdf/smu/smu022004.pdf
As usual, it's nothing regular readers of this site shouldn't already know, but maybe worth checking out anyways.
Pluxemburg, the label of Fibes, Oh Fibes! and Pluxus, has a fancy new website online: http://www.pluxemburg.com/
Danish band No Privacy has signed with US label Hard Soul who will release their debut full-length in January. An EP for the single "Beautiful Life" will be out in July. Hard Soul was founded by Trevor Randall, the executive VP from Acid Jazz Records in London, the label that signed Jamiroquai, the Brand New Heavies and Mother Earth. Be sure to check out the 'message from our president' on the Hard Soul site: http://www.hardsoulrecords.com/
Fjärde Världen has updated their website with a ton of new downloads: http://www.fjardevarlden.com/
Norway's Surferosa will release their album "Shanghai my heart" in Japan on June 19 via Labels/EMI. The band will fly to Tokyo on June 17 to promote the release, culminating in a show at Harajuku Astro Hall on June 22.
Millencolin report that they've written about 20 songs for their next album, 12-14 of which will make the final cut. Chips Kiesbye from Sator will produce and recording is scheduled to begin on August 7 at Kuling Studios in Örebro, Sweden.
In semi related news, Chip's brother Emile's band Filled will have a song featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming film "Hundar och Alkohol". They will be playing Klubb Hellmutt at Debaser on Thursday as well.
Some news from Ulver:
Los Angeles was strange. Blood Inside, gold outside. Friggin' Frank Zappa's guitar player, Mike Keneally, ended up going mad over our record. We are proud to probably not use much of it. We also had Tom McRae with band over for a day of improvising for the film "Uno". Some sort of moon unit we were in Ronan's own Woodstock, with pianos, acoustic guitars, cello, violin and of course Rhodes. We have four hours on record which will be edited down for an "unplugged" disc accompanying the final film score. Still in the making. "Uno" opens the Haugesund International Film Festival in August.
The score for Mona J. Hoel's film entitled "Zalo, Salmiakk og Kaffe" is done. Featuring Sámi siren Mari Boine and percussionist Marilyn Mazur, who's played with Miles Davis for crying out loud. We make a CD for you.
Oh beautiful harvest.
Check out the video for "Att dansa och slåss" from Peggy Lejonhjärta: http://www.engstrand.nu/pop_peggy.htm
Melody Club will release their brand-new single "Take me away" on June 30. A video is on the way and you can call either 08 52715195 (or +46 852715195 internationally) to hear a preview. Apparently it's just a regular phone line so no additional charges will apply besides standard long distance billing. In other news, the band got a favorable write-up in the UK mag Q. Check it:
With Duran Duran back in business and the Scissor Sisters leading the charge of the neo-'80s revivalists, Swedish dandies Melody Club arrive perfect timing. This debut, a Number 1 hit back home, is unashamedly cheesy, its electro power-pop tunes recalling A-ha and OMD, and carrying a sense of euphoria akin to Suede's "Coming Up". There are echoes, too, of Suede's world-weary comedown song on the slow, wooxy "My Soft Return", whole best of all is the disco-rock of "Stranded Love", its dazzling, hi-energy Euro-pop remining of Abba at their peak.
When will lazy reviewers stop feeling necessary to cite Abba in their reviews of Swedish music? At least it is sort of relevant here, but it's still annoying.
Updated European tourdates for JR Ewing:
06/16 - Club 3voor 12 Radio Show, Amsterdam (HOL)
06/17 - Winston, Amsterdam (HOL) w/Oil
06/18 - Simplon, Groningen (HOL) w/Oil
06/19 - Peace Dog Festival (HOL)
06/20 - Nighttown, Rotterdam (HOL) w/Oil
06/22 - KAB-Usine, Geneva (SWI)
06/23 - Sedel, Luzern (SWI)
06/24 - Reitschule, Bern (SWI)
06/25 - Textielhuis, Kortrijk (BEL)
06/26 - Osmose Festival, Clermont-Ferrand (FRA)
06/27 - Fury Fest, Lemans (FRA)
06/28 - Le CAT, Bordeaux (FRA)
06/30 - La Loco, Paris (FRA) w/Dillinja
07/01 - FO'MO Festival, Paris (FRA)
07/02 - Eurockeennes Festival, Belfort (FRA)
07/03 - Catalacum Festival, Limoges (FRA)
Push Music Group Sweden has purchased the record label MNW, as well as s56. Cripes! Whether or not all current bands on these label's rosters will stay remains to be seen, but I suspect that blood will be shed. Will somebody just release that new Silverbullit record already? Read more: http://www.musikindustrin.nu/mi/smpage.fwx?page=198&NYHETER=4691 (in Swedish)