Danish hardcore act Love Potion will be taking Encroached (JPN) on a European tour:
07/28 - Lades, Copenhagen (DK)
07/29 - SO36, Berlin (GER)
07/30 - Play Fast or Don't Festival, Hradec Kralove (CZ)
07/31 - Nuovo Lazzaretto, Bologna (ITA)
08/01 - GGS31, Winthertur (CH)
08/02 - Villa Rosenau, Basel (CH)
08/03 - JUZ, Mannheim (GER)
08/04 - The Winston, Amsterdam (HOL)
08/05 - Lobusch, Hamburg (GER)
08/06 - Utkanten, Malmö (SWE)
The new Britta Persson single "Meet a bear" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/brittapersson
Efterklang has done yet another remix swap, this time with Oh No Ono: http://efterklang.net/home/2010/06/10/efterklang-oh-no-ono-remix-swap-and-summer-greeting-video/
Pitchfork reviews the new Junip EP "Rope and summit": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14341-rope-and-summit-ep/
Also covered: Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds' "...And they have escaped the weight of darkness": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14278-and-they-have-escaped-the-weight-of-darkness/
Moderaterna, Sweden's (dreaded) right-wing conservative party, has enlisted the artists Wille Crafoord, Mange Schmidt and Sofia Talvik as the "new" face of the party and the three have created a new party anthem together. Read more: http://www.moderat.se/web/Om_det_funkar_lat_det_funka.aspx (in Swedish)
The Fine Arts Showcase are streaming a brand new demo track at ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/thefineartsshowcase
The recent news that Montys Loco are packing it in isn't all that surprising, but it is a disappointment. The sad truth is that their dark clatter and direct, angry feminist posturing remains a difficult pill to swallow for many, leaving them forever damned to the fringes. Running up against that wall of adversity is exhausting and they gave their best. So here's to their legacy and let's hope that they both resurface with new music soon.
Montys Loco - Heavy
Music Export Norway celebrated their 10th birthday by unveiling a new website, now completely in English: http://www.musicexportnorway.no/
Listen to Norway profiles Katzenjammer ahead of a busy summer which will see them touring internationally and releasing their album "Le pop" in the US (on June 29 via ): http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010060910043788814373
I plan to attend the upcoming show in Seattle later this month.
Swedish artist Pianomaskinen has posted a new album's worth of material for streaming and/or download: http://pianomaskinen.bandcamp.com/album/havet-och-dr-mmen
Reminds me a lot of Ljudbilden och Piloten, which is to say that I like it.
Icelandic artist Ólöf Arnalds has confirmed that her new album "Innundir skinni" will be released on September 14 via . Hear a sample tune at Pitchfork featuring guest vocals from Björk: http://pitchfork.com/news/39081-listen-bjork-sings-on-new-olof-arnalds-track-surrender/
Swedish act Balroynigress is streaming a couple new tracks off their forthcoming album "Dress the ship in black", due out in October via : http://www.myspace.com/balroynigress
Mixtapes & CellmatesReturning late last year with their proper second record, Mixtapes & Cellmates have improved in every aspect. Whilst their debut and prior EPs were restrained in their reflective qualities, "Rox" sees them invert that. Could it all be the addition of a drummer? Or could it be the leaps and bounds frontman Robert Svensson has made as a songwriter (as evident on his solo debut)? I believe it's that, and the band coming together as a whole. Theor love of early 90s noisy shoegaze is exemplified on songs such as"Soon", "Rain, letters, memories" and "The lesser half of cynical boys", as is the influence of 80s British guitar pop on "Sunday", "All of the above" and "Soft eyes". What set this apart from their comtemporaries whose output may be similar is that Mixtapes take it all a bit further, adding that bit more screeching guitar notes and maxing out their phase pedals. Everything on this has a bit more emphasis, and it all melds together into blissful music.
- Matt Giordano
I don't care much for Satan Takes a Holiday as a band, but this new video of theirs is kinda fun. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHgtv0wvfKg
Masquer made a tour video from their recent trip to Finland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSLr0ZQn51Q
Worth checking out, if only for the soundtrack.
