Apparently there's been some debate about who owns the Musik Industrin website domain name, but I can't really make heads or tails of it. Read for yourself: www.musikindustrin.se (in Swedish)
From the rumor mill comes word that the latest UK-hyped Swedish act The Concretes will be signing a deal with EMI.
David & the Citizens and Björns Vänner will be playing live on the P3 Swedish radio program "Så funkar det" on December 26 at 5pm and it will be replayed on New Year's Eve beginning at 9pm. As always, you can listen live via the P3 website.
Smalltown Supersound has put up an mp3 sample of the track "Tics" from Lars Horntveth's forthcoming album "Pooka", due out in February in Norway (mid-March rest of world). As mentioned before, Lars is the main songwriter behind Jaga Jazzist and this will be his debut solo release.
"Let's Grow Together - The Comeback Of St. Thomas" is title of the new record from Norweigan singer/songwriter St. Thomas, due out on January 12 on Racing Junior. This will mark his fourth album and it's being hailed as a comeback both musically and personally. St. Thomas himself also played most of the instruments, co-produced and made the cover art. There will also be a release on 12" vinyl and an "exclusive" 7", but I don't have the details on those yet. ST got a bit of international hype with his last release, but it never really translated into big sales abroad. Maybe this time will be different. For those curious about his sound, a good point of reference would be Nicolai Dunger (whose own new EP "Hunger" is quite good).
By way of Dagensskiva, here is thist week's Swedish student radio top 20:
01. (03) The Radio Dept. "Pulling Our Weight EP" Leaving the chart:
02. (07) Essex Green "By The Sea"
03. (17) Bergman Rock "Help The Band"
04. (09) Monastir "The Shape Up EP"
05. (06) The Chemical Brothers "Get Yourself High"
06. (02) The White Stripes "The Hardest Button To Button"
07. (01) The Coral "Bill Mc Cai"
08. (05) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club "We're All In Love"
09. (08) Niccokick "Turn 27 EP"
10. (NY) Dizzee Rascal "Jus'a Rascal"
11. (13) Holly Golightly "Walk A Mile"
12. (14) Bubba Sparxxx "Deliverence"
13. (11) Chicks On Speed "Wordy Rappinghood"
14. (12) The Knife "Handy-Man"
15. (NY) Chords Ft. Timbuktu And Miki "Slap Your Pops"
16. (NY) The Mountain Goats "Palmcorder Yajna"
17. (09) Mew "She Came Home For Christmas"
18. (18) The Raveonettes "Heartbreak Stroll"
19. (20) Timbuktu Med Peps "Dynamit"
20. (NY) Alice In Videoland "Got To Go"
10. Yo La Tengo "Today Is The Day EP"
15. Laakso "Demon"
16. The Cardigans "Live And Learn"
19. Fattaru Ft. Masayah "Ton För Ton"
Voice of a Generation is headlining the Beat Em Down Festival in Nürnberg, Germany on April 10. Details: http://www.beatemdown.de
Singer/songwriter Johan Bergqvist has been forced to postpone his planned recording sessions until early next year, but he still hopes to have something done for a March release. I'll keep you posted.
Go here to vote for your choice of the "world's best song." No, you don't get to write-in your pick, but rather you are forced to choose between various hits from a diverse Swede-heavy roster of artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Cure, Kent, Broder Daniel, Queen, Europe and even The Ark.
Olof Dreijer, one half of The Knife, has done the music for a modern dance production in cooperation with Moose Dance Company entitled "Pjong Spox" that will be performed at Moderna Dansteatern on December 12-13.
More info: www.moosedancecompany.com / www.pjongspox.com
Tickets: www.mdt.a.se
Division of Laura Lee are reportedly in the studio with Kalle from Soundtrack of Our Lives mixing their new album this week.
Mando Diao has a new website. No news, but it looks like they're setting up a web-diary for the band.
The Cardigans have cancelled their scheduled Russian dates following the recent terrorist activity there and the subsequent death of six people in a Moscow bomb attack. No word on if they'll reschedule.
Vendlus Records is putting out the US DVD release of the film "Lyckantropen", directed by Steve Ericsson and featuring an excellent soundtrack by Norway's Ulver. The disc features deleted scenes, a slideshow, "the sound of wolves" and a 20-minute interview with the band. View the trailer here and go to the label's newly redesigned website to order.
Also coming up from Vendlus in the near future is the US releases of the Lamented Souls album "Origins of Misery" (feat. members of Dimmu Borgir, Borknagar, Beyond Dawn, and Arcturus) and the Bomberos "Hate" CD/10" (members of Mayhem, Virus, Beyond Dawn, Aura Noir, Cadaver Inc.). Both of those releases are on license from Norway's Duplicate Records, the label run by Einar of Beyond Dawn (hence his involvement with both projects).
Tim Christensen, Kira And The Kindred Spirits and Under Byen are the first three acts confirmed for next year's Roskilde Festival in Denmark on July 1-4. More info: http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/