New Teitur album in October
The new Teitur album "Let the dog drive home" will be released on October 4.
Ballade now hiring
MIC Norway's online news service Ballade is hiring an editor: http://www.mic.no/nmi.nsf/micdoc/art2010091413032248974593
MP3: Lapko - A new Bohemia
Lapko's latest didn't leave me with a very strong first impression, but after setting it aside for a few months, I find myself really enjoying it. While far less direct/obvious than previous release "Young desire" (opener "This is aggressive melancholy" said it all in title alone), "A new Bohemia" benefits from a far more developed sense of craftsmanship and confidence. The album title track has so many hanging gaps and odd twisting contrasts that I would consider highly ill-advised, yet never does the song digress into a jumble of aimless riffing. Lapko had shown complex leanings in the past, but never so boldly; deeper listens lead to deeper appreciation.
Lapko - A new Bohemia
Musikförläggarnas prisgala nominees
SMFF, aka Svenska Musikförläggarna aka the Swedish Music Publishers Association, have announced their nominees for their annual awards show:
Composer:
Salem Al Fakir (Pompadore Publishing/EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia)
Nadir "RedOne" Khayat (Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia)
Martin "Max Martin" Sandberg/Johan "Shellback" Schuster (Maratone/Kobalt Music Scandinavia)
Oskar Linnros (Universal Music Publishing)
Lyrics:
Johan "Familjen" Karlsson (Hybris/Air Chrysalis Scandinavia)
Markus Krunegård (Peermusic)
Melissa Horn (Manus)
Oskar Linnros (Universal Music Publishing)
Song:
"What's the point?" - John Engelbert (Johnossi) (Manus)
"Keep on walking" - Salem Al Fakir (Pompadore Publishing/EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia)
"Bad romance" - Nadir "RedOne" Khayat/Stefani "Lady Gaga" Germanotta (Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia)
"Från och med du" - Oskar Linnros/Christian Olsson (Universal Music Publishing)
Newcomer:
Johan Moraeus (Air Chrysalis Scandinavia)
Johanna Söderberg/Klara Söderberg (First Aid Kit) (Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia)
Anna von Hausswolff (Manus)
Andreas "Grega" Östeman (Astmabeat Publishing/EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia)
Full details and all categories: http://www.smff.se/?id=8&cid=3197
2010 Norwegian Folk Music Award winners
I don't keep up with folk music as much as I could/should, but I imagine that all of the winners of this past weekend's Norwegian Folk Music Awards are all well worth checking out: http://www.folkmusic.no/winners-of-the-norwegian-folk-music-awards.4818256.html
Peter Morén and Jens Lekman perform poolside
Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John) and Jens Lekman will be doing poolside performances at the Mondrian Hotel in LA this fall: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mondrian-Sessions/153718254657992?v=info&ref=ts
Both shows are free, but require RSVP in advance -- see the Facebook link for details.
Our Broken Garden confirm new album, post single for preview
Danish artist Our Broken Garden will release her sophomore album "Golden sea" on October 18 via in the UK and at home. Hear the first single "Garden grow" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ourbrokengarden
We Live in Trenches minus one
Don't know why I didn't mention it last week when I first found out: bassist Anna Knutsson has parted ways with We Live in Trenches citing lack of time. There's no permanent replacement yet AFAIK, but Johan Meiton of Snakestorm has been filling in live.
Switchblade, down to two
Switchblade made their first live appearance as a duo last night at Kafé 44 in Stockholm and PSL was there to film it: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/9/15/switchblade-ar-tillbaka-som-en-duo/
Nancy Baym's five albums you should be listening to right now
Online Fandom writer and sometime IAT contributor Nancy Baym lists "Five albums you should be listening to right now" for Nerve.com, four of which are from Scandinavia: http://nerve.com/entertainment/2010/09/15/five-albums-you-should-be-listening-to-right-now
Principe Valiente - The night (video)
The video is a mess and the song doesn't really get interesting until minute 3, but even still, mediocre goth rock is better than no goth rock at all. Principe Valiente has potential. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69EZnRKe0s
Rasmus Kellerman - The 24th (video)
Rasmus Kellerman's "The 24th" is the cure-all for all creeping negativism, reminding us to mindful of all we have to be thankful for. How beautiful life can be, indeed. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1A-pNs7ywM
Blood Command - Alert all assassins (video)
Check out Blood Command's brand new video "Alarm all assassins": http://vimeo.com/14940098
I'd be into it if it didn't have that terrible heavy, screechy part. Animal Alpha could sort of pull off that sort of thing, but even then, it's still grating.
The Concretes return to the UK
The Concretes return to the UK in December:
12/01 - The Lexington, London
12/02 - The Fleece, Bristol
12/03 - The Deaf Institue, Manchester
12/04 - The Arches, Glasgow
12/05 - Brighton Ballroom, Brighton
Friendly Noise #8
Issue #8 of Friendly Noise -- nothing directly music-related, but if you understand how much government can drive the culture (and are of voting age in Sweden), it's worth looking at: http://www.friendlynoise.se/fzn/8