Esbjörn Svensson Trio - "Seven Days of Falling" (Diesel Music)
I don't listen to a huge amount of jazz, but I know what I like and I like this. EST adds just the right amount of Scandinavian melody to their music and doesn't try to overcomplicate things with gratuitously technical playing or showboat solos. They play well as an ensemble and have good, memorable songs. I think I like the last album "Strange Place for Snow" a little better, but this is still quite nice.
David & the Citizens - "Until the Sadness is Gone" (Adrian Recordings)
This is sort of album that works better for me when I have it on shuffle with a bunch of other stuff. I enjoy it much more when I hear it one song at a time, but taken as a whole it kinda bores me. It's not bad, but it feels like something's missing. I think the problem lies in that the backing band is unable to match frontman/songwriter David Fridlund's enthusiasm in the studio. His performance, especially in his vocals, has tons of energy and charm but no one else seems to be feeling it. The playing is solid, but nothing more. Tis a shame, because I feel like this could've been a lot better if they let loose a bit more. On another positive note, there's some really nice arrangements with horns and other instruments.
King vs. The Great Oshkosh Experience - "The Title Fight" (self-released)
A nice split CD EP featuring two bands, one from Sweden and one from Finland. Both play boogie-woogie hard rock n' roll and both are very fun. King (SWE) kicks things off with a great song that combines the right parts of the New York Dolls with Sweet and even a direct riff quote from Guns n Roses. Most bands trying to do that would probably come off as just cheesy, but King pulls it off. I also find that most new bands in this genre lose me with poor vocalists, but both of the guys from these bands are great and are able to utilize some nice backing harmonies and arrangements, too. I think TGOE (FIN) is the weaker of the two in that they have a bit less personality, but they do have some added heaviness and gruffness that I dig. Short, sweet and to the point - the way rock n' roll should be.
Cut City will be entering Hitparade studio later this month to record a 4-song CD EP for Greece's Librarian Records. The band is also name-dropped in the current issue of Wire Magazine and will be putting out a 3-song 7" out on Planaria Records in a couple of months.
According to a posting on the Christian Kjellvander website, the scheduled Nicolai Dunger/Christian Kjellvander shows in Helsingborg and Västerås (10/23-14) have been cancelled.
NORCD will release a new album called "Vals" from Veslefrekk feat. the trio of Jarle, Ståle and Arve from Supersilent (that's everyone but Helge Steen aka Deathprod btw) sometime during spring next year.
Here's the details about those dates that Mustasch is doing with Motörhead in Germany:
11/25 - Columbiahalle, Berlin
11/26 - Docks, Hamburg
11/28 - Thüringerhalle, Erfurt
11/29 - Kick, Herford
11/30 - Soundgarden, Dortmund
12/02 - Alter Schlachthof, Dresden
12/03 - Löwensaal, Nürnberg
12/05 - Stadthalle, Magdeburg
12/06 - E-Werk, Köln
12/07 - Messe Congresscentrum B, Stuttgart
12/09 - Stadthalle, Freiburg
12/10 - Zenith, München
Entombed has updated their tour diary with some funny tales from their current outing with Nine and Disfear.
Swedish rapper Chords is currently filming his next video for the single "Wrap Your Chops" as well as working on promotion and setting up some solo shows. Said single will feature an exclusive unreleased b-side, so keep your eyes peeled. As mentioned before, his new album "The Garden Around The Mansion" comes out October 17 on JuJu Records.
Hell n' Diesel is planning on touring Germany soon with fellow Swedes Sparzanza and German act Duster 69 sometime in the near future. I'll keep you posted.
Switchblade just sent their new album off to be pressed in a nice gatefold vinyl format and is starting to take preorders over at Trust No One Recordings. The sooner you order, they say, the more limited color of vinyl that you'll get. In other news, the band is planning a European tour set to kick off sometime in January, but nothing is confirmed yet.
Umeå-based slowcore rockers Cobolt are getting off their ass and playing some German shows in December:
12/09 - Astra Stube, Hamburg
12/11 - Magnet, Berlin
12/12 - H.O.T. Alte Bude, Magdeburg
Upcoming Soviac European tourdates in support of their new album "Triology Sexlife Rodeo Friscotti":
10/10 - Athus, Le Marignan
10/11 - Selestat, Au Bar Le Tigre
10/12 - Occii, Amsterdam (NL)
10/13 - tba
10/14 - Tanzhalle, Hamburg
10/15 - K4, Nürnberg
10/16 - tba, Kassel
10/17 - Magnet, Berlin
10/18 - Jugendhaus Komma, Esslingen
10/19 - Stellwerk, Donauwörth
10/20 - Prager Frühling, München
10/21 - AZ, Mühlheim
10/22 - Cafe Panama, Fulda
10/23 - Titty Twister, Dresden
10/24 - Zone 11, Hallein
10/25 - Shelter, Wien
10/26 - Fiesta Club, San Vendemmiano
10/27 - Tempio, Pavia
10/28 - Chorus, Lausanne
10/29 - Molodoi, Strasbourg
10/30 - Les Brasseurs, Nancy
10/31 - tba, Berlin
11/11 - Smalls, Västeråas w/Black Eyes, 7feet4
11/15 - tba, Västervik w/Black Eyes, 7feet4