Mortiis has posted an update concerning his recent activities on his website that also details some embarassing antics from a bandmate during the opening of Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle in Norway.
Drummer Anders Johansson has left Stratovarius to concentrate his efforts on his other band Hammerfall. Comments the ever-quotable Timo Tolkki: "I suspect that the decision of Anders has something to do with my reputation. I can understand him very well, I wouldn't join a band in which I would be playing in." Nuff said.
Sub Pop posted a hilarious take on Pitchforkmedia.com today on their website. Why is it relevant? They list their top 10s for 2003 and The Concretes come up quite a few times! Check it: http://www.subpop.com/features/pdork/news.html#story3 (scroll down)
Leiah has broken up! In their own words:
We were in the finishing steadies of finish our upcoming demo and planning the future when we decided to wrap this band up and put it to rest.
It's absolutely no bitter agenda towards this decision. We really had what you can call clarity.
When you have been in a band and the goals you've set up and the music doesn't get you on, then it's time to break up. We could have been doing this band forever but when the hunger and musical differences is not shared within the band then it's not much left.
David and Gunnar already got a new band and are working on songs and making plans for the future. They already have a bunch of songs ready to record so you won't miss out on the action when they drop the bomb.
Martin and Joakim are also making music together and what we heard is quite promising. It's more rock and twisted melodies.
We'll post all news about our new bands here until we got our own homepages so check back frequently for the latest news and gossip.
Thanks to all of you who have ever done something, anything and everything for us. You've made us who we are now.
So I guess it's time to put Leiah into the ground. R.I.P.
Go here for more personal thoughts: http://www.leiah.net/
Melody Club has confirmed their first UK dates:
02/02 - Metro, London
02/03 - Club Fandango @ Dublin Castle, London
02/04 - Underworld, London
Their debut album "Music Machine" will be released over there shortly.
Jaga Jazzist members Andreas Hessen Sche and Even Ormestad both contribute to the debut album "Red Shoes Diary" from TUB Quartet, Andreas with his piano playing and Even with recording and production. The music, described as "moving between contemporary jazz and pop with a strong emphasis on availability and appeal," is written and composed by vocalist Hilde Marie Kjersem and Curling Legs will release the album in mid-March.
Race Will Begin is the name of a brand new virtual 7" label from Sweden and their first release is from Sophie Rimheden. Check it out: http://www.racewillbegin.com/
Their next release from Sophie will include a cover of the Kylie Minogue hit "Slow".
What's a cute lil Norwegian girl like Maria Solheim doing getting production assistance from Emil Nicolaisen of glam-punks Silver? Read more: http://www.nrk.no/musikk/3451031.html (in Norwegian)
Looks like the hard-rockin' females of Satirnine are doing those Baltic dates with Filled instead of Radio Dept. now. Details:
02/15 - Lithuania
02/14 - Lithuania
02/13 - Club Jelgava, Tonuss (LV)
02/12 - Depo, Riga (LV)
The Moonbabies have the #1 album on EMusic: http://www.emusic.com/charts/
They also are lauded in a new review from Indieworkshop today: http://www.indieworkshop.com/reviews/632/
Download "On Top of the World" by Surrounded as remixed by Per Klintberg: http://musik.iped.vxu.se/surrounded/on_top_of_the_world.mp3
Candlelight Records has reportedly sign both Cadaver and Khold to their label. The former's debut album was released by Earache and Khold was on Moonfog, the label run by Satyr of Satyricon.
Smalltown Supersound has revealed that the new Lars Horntveth single "The Joker" will contain two remixes, one from Four Tet of "Tics" and one from fellow Nordes Mental Overdrive.
Listen to "Sista Styverns Trappor", the new single from Peggy Lejonhjärta: http://www.peggylejonhjarta.com/media/sista.mp3
It gets sent to radio next month and the album should follow sometime around April.