Norwegian act Djerv (ex-Animal Alpha) have announced that their debut release will be the 3-track "Headstone EP", due out August 3 via their own label . The material was originally recorded as a demo, but is being released now to tide over fans until the eventual full-length which will be released in February/March 2011.
Icelandic act Seabear is coming to the US for a short tour this fall:
10/16 - Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
10/18 - Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
10/19 - Kilby Court , Salt Lake City, UT
10/22 - Showbox, Seattle, WA
10/23 - Mississippi Studios , Portland, OR
10/25 - Independent, San Francisco. CA
10/26 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
10/27 - Casbah, San Diego, CA
It's been three long years since we've heard anything new from the great Finnish powerpop act Lemonator, but finally there's a new single streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lemonatortheband
Expect a new full-length album in September.
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Jens Lekman
02. Kent
03. The Bear Quartet
04. The Radio Dept.
05. Håkan Hellström
06. Familjen
07. The Concretes
08. Robyn
09. Anna Ternheim
10. Tiger Lou
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
LiechtensteinLiechtenstein are a neat little twee band from Göteborg who have been going for a few years and they just released this 3 track EP. Their lyrics deal with typical twee subjects and have no-nonsense song titles ("Passion for water", "Spending time with you" and "On the tram"). The music is a mix of shoegaze meets twee with a pinch of punk, resulting in a sound like a less-tattooed version of Vivian Girls. It's not exactly game changing, but definitely better than other similar artists out there. It gets a bit repetitive now and then though, as Liechtenstein are really hammering their choruses into the listener's brain. I guess that is part of their musical heritage, but annoying nevertheless. However, all in all, it's a sweet EP that showcases a band that has progressed nicely from their debut ("Survival strategies in the modern world", released last year) and I'm quite keen to hear their forthcoming album.
- Stefan Nilsson
Swedish electro duo Kite have confirmed that they will be following up their previous two EPs with... yet another EP. And with the extremely imaginative title of "III". Regardless, I'm excited to hear it -- they're a great act.
Finnish act Pintandwefall are keeping a studio diary as they record their 3rd album: http://www.pintandwefall.com/
Sweden-focused experimental label is relaunching as with a series of white label 12"s focusing on "interesting and exploratory sounds from Sweden and somehow-related lands from this fair planet." First up: a split pairing the excellent Ljudbilden & Piloten alongside Vidderna, another Malmö-based act. More details and preview samples here: http://www.nosordo.com/
has confirmed that Finnish death-thrashers Deathchain will release their new album "Death gods" on September 29. Said album will be available on CD and mp3, as well as in a 2LP edition with a bonus track. Full details: http://cobrarecords.fi/?n=21
Hear a new sample tune at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deathchainofficial
PopMatters reviews the reissue of Danish 70s rockers Moses and their album "Changes": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/126897-moses-changes/
Viola's free song for August is a cover of friends and countrymates Red Carpet and their song "Traitor on the inside": http://www.violamusicclub.com/2010-08-traitor-on-the-inside
The Silent Ballet reviews the blackened nature metal of Finnish act October Falls: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/3528/Default.aspx
Night Minutes is the new project of the always-charming Max J Hansson of the soon-to-be-departed Cut City in which he collaborates with Ms. Anna Knutsson of the likewise-great/still-going-strong We Live in Trenches (who still need to send me mp3s of the album btw). While it is surely a shame that CC is going under, the prospect of Max playing in a far more actively active band is far more exciting. You see, Max lives in Göteborg and the rest of those dudes live down in Malmö... it's not that far, but far enough to cause complications. With Night Minutes there are no such issues, just quality JAMC-inspired jangle noise. The Raveonettes are an obvious point of comparison too, though Night Minutes' fuzzy sheen is more trve lo-fi in comparison to the Dane's well-manicured gloss. Anyhow, "Sweetheart of the funeral" is my favorite of the three songs off their forthcoming self-titled debut EP, due out soon via offshoot -- heavy on the girl group vibe, but not overselling it. The female/male vocal tradeoffs in combination with the cheap and raw organ tones make for quality noisepop, that's really all there is to it. It's easy to like and I'm immediately smitten.
Night Minutes - Sweetheart of the funeral
Danish/Swedish indie/psychrock act Black Light White Light have a new video for the song "Higher than low": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smxU7Nv7eGY
Efterklang multi-instrumentalist Frederik Teige is releasing a solo album to be called "Body god". Check out the first single for free download via : http://badpandarecords.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/badpanda041/
