The Danish hip-hop awards? No, really: http://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=11673
Rolling Stone columnist David Fricke lauds The Concretes in his Out There column:
"The Concretes are a splendid, peppermint pop octet from Sweden fronted by a pair of flaming lips: singer-lyricist Victoria Bergsman, whose heated coo is a winning blend of Nico and the mid-Sixties Diana Ross. Bergsman pays literal homage to the haughty Supreme in two originals ("Diana Ross", "You Can't Hurry Love"), although the garage-rock organ and acid-fairground brass sound more like Mercury Rev at play."
Outside of already announced plans, Cult of Luna says they won't be touring much this coming spring as they've begun work on writing and practicing for the new record. No studio time has been booked yet, but I figure it won't be too long before they head into Tonteknik to lay down some tracks.
Green Carnation reports that Prophecy Productions is ready with the layout for the upcoming vinyl box set and will soon have it printed. This compilation will contain all three of the band's previous albums on double gatefolded vinyl as well as five bonus tracks and postcards with all of the album motives. Limited edition, of course, release date info coming soon.
New pics of Sahara Hotnights from LA where they are mixing their new album: http://www.saharahotnights.com/pages/photos_pics.asp?i=74
Swedish rockers Hell n' Diesel are keeping a diary of their current adventures touring Europe: www.hellndiesel.net
New bands confirmed for Norway's Quart Festival: Cloroform, Pleasure, Evil Tordivel, Low Frequency In Stereo and Novac.
Norwegian electronic act Frost was recently interviewed by the UK's CMU online: http://www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk/cmuonline/weekly/weeklyfrost.html
They were also recently featured on the BBC One World's broadcast from Sunkissed Live along with Kim Hiorthoy, Nils Petter Molvaer and Bugge Wesseltoft. Listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/urban/oneworld/sunkissed.shtml
The duo will also return to London in-person for a show at Neighbourhood in Notting Hill on March 31. More details about that coming soon.
And lastly, Frost has put out the call for extra inspiration for their new record and want you to tell them about your dreams. Go here and write in your nocturnal experiences.
Puls gives the list of all the endowments being bestowed upon Norwegian rock bands from the government for touring: http://www.puls.no/a.cgi?id=11865
The latest Peggy Lejonhjärta single "Sista" should be out now and the album will follow in March or April.
MIC Norway gives their rundown of the Alarm Awards: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004021710105191324788
Besides the big news regarding the start of Dead Frog Distribution, I neglected to mention yesterday that they also have updated with the first new demo reviews of the year. Check it: http://www.deadfrogrecords.com/demos-reviews/
It's been rumored for awhile, but it's now finally confirmed: Koch will be releasing the North American version of "Long Gone Before Daylight" from The Cardigans on May 25. The album will feature a bonus DVD with videos for the European singles "For What It's Worth" and "You're the Storm" as well as three live clips from last year's Roskilde Festival. There will also be a special previously unreleased bonus track on the CD from the band's recent recording sessions. Look for US tourdates to coincide with the release, too.
And speaking of The Cardigans, here's the video for "Live and Learn": http://www.stockholmrecords.se/repository/50/TheCardigans-LiveAndLearn-broadband.ram
The band has also updated their tour diary: http://cardigans.com/microsites/tourdiary/scandinavia_2003/
Electric Basement interviews Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe: http://www.electricbasement.com/interview_hanoirocks_febuary2004.htm
They discuss the band's recent US licensing deal for the last album "12 Shots on the Rocks", among other topics.