It's a Trap! Scandinavian music journal

Apparatjik - 4 can keep a secret if 3 of them are dead

Apparatjik sent a mailout for some new downloads this past weekend. Sign up at their eyesore website and maybe you can get them too: http://eyeoncommittee.com/

Hellberg/Areskog - Black cloud man

Listen to Mattias Hellberg (Hederos & Hellberg, The Hellacopters, etc.) and Mattias Areskog (Brothers of End, Consequences, Friska Viljor, etc.) perform the song "Black cloud man" together: http://soundcloud.com/hellberg-areskog/black-cloud-man
Apparently the duo of Mattiases will be releasing an album together and this is the first rough mix sample.

Little Children - I'll be here to guide you (live video)

Check out up-and-coming Swedish artist Little Children performing the song "I'll be here to guide you" live in Hägersten, Stockholm. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TrZpPEaUws

Pg.lost post EP for free download

Swedish postrockers Pg.lost are giving away their EP "Yes I am" as a free download: http://pglost.bandcamp.com/album/yes-i-am

Alibi Tom - Lines (live acoustic video)

Watch Alibi Tom perform an acoustic version of their new song "Lines" live for LEON music art fashion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQzKi0Z8EgU

Penny Century wrapping up new album, touring the UK

Penny Century, one of my favorite Swedish indiepop acts, reports that their new album is almost done and is tentatively set for a late summer release with a single on the way shortly. As with the band's "Valencia EP", it was recorded at Studio Cobra with Konie. The band is also heading back to the UK next month:

06/05 - The Hope, Brighton
06/06 - The Dublin Castle, London
06/07 - The Magnet, Liverpool
06/08 - The Keys, Middlesbrough
06/09 - Trillians, Newcastle

Tower of Foil release album, post new song for download

Swedish indiepop act Tower of Foil just released their new album "Driving north" and are offering the song "Shaping the sky" as a free download: http://www.toweroffoil.com/

Socket Science - Ephedra

The Astor Bell netlabel has a new 3-track release from Swedish electronic act Socket Science available for free download: http://astorbell.com/?release=ephedra

Progress to release debut album from Kopfer Kat

Swedish EBM/industrial label Progress Productions has announced that they will be releasing Kopfer Kat's debut full-length album "Skrammelpop" in Scandinavia on May 26, everywhere else on May 28. Check out a few samples at the duo's website: http://www.kopferkat.se/
Sounds like a more club-friendly Pan Sonic, so be sure to check it out if you're into that kind of thing (I am).

Zweizz & Joey Hopkins album to be released via Jester

Norwegian noisenik Zweizz had been working on a musical collaboration with American artist Joey Hopkins up until the latter's tragic untimely death in late 2008 and now, at long last, the project has been completed and will be released via Jester Records. Says Zweizz: "I have tried to make an album that both his mother and the rest of his family can remember him by -- as well as being a statement that lives up to my somewhat idiosyncratic artistic standards. And of course, I can just assume that Joey would have approved of the songs in their respective final states. It can be difficult to kill the darlings of a friend who has already went onwards. I hope I have succeeded in this, and I want to share this music with as many people as possible to celebrate the memory of the immense talent of Joey Hopkins. It has been an honour to work with you." The album will simply be called "Zweizz & Joey Hopkins" and here is the final tracklist:

01. Eternal Puberty (feat. Ingrid Berge)
02. dWill to dPower / Tomorrow
03. Black Strobes (feat. Torgny Knutson Amdam)
04. Bimbo Rimjob
05. Porcelain Dolls in the Bath
06. The Goat (feat. Kristoffer Rygg)
07. Armies of General Nonsense
08. Smash, Politics, Gag
09. How We Ate The Flesh (feat. Ingrid Berge)
10. No Clue (feat. Czral)
11. Compulsar Massive (feat. Kim Sølve)

The official release date is set for November 1. More here: http://www.jester-records.com/

Sirius playlist week #21

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Elephant9 - Fugl fønix
02. TALK 1
03. Håkan Lidbo - X-Bot-DXC vs MC-Monstrux - EuroAsian Warzone Cronicle
04. Disco Ensemble - Protector
05. Kausal - Evac
06. TALK 2
07. Smoke Mohawk - Murder attempt
08. Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höre musiken
09. MF/MB/ - The big machine
10. Chicagojazzen - VI
11. TALK 3
12. Monty - Seglaren
13. Sweatmaster - Turnover
14. The Aches - Count slowly to ten
15. Dismember - Misanthropic
16. TALK 4
17. Camouflage - Syster sol
18. EL-SD - SÖSJÖ
19. Darkthrone - Those treasures will never befall you
20. TALK 5
21. Deathbed - Black sky

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Festival report: SPOT Festival, Århus, days two and three

MP3: Baby Alice - Piña colada boy

Granted, I don't willingly expose myself to too much mainstream Swedish pop, but I know a sure-fire sommarplåga contender when I hear it.

Baby Alice - Piña colada boy

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
02. Keep Of Kalessin - Reptilian
03. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
04. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
05. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
06. Thomas Dybdahl - Waiting for that one clear moment
07. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
08. Venke Knutson - Smiles - The Very Best Of
09. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
10. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2010
11. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
12. Leif Ove Andsnes - Grieg Lyric Pieces
13. Thom Hell - All Good Things
14. Finn Kalvik & Erik Fosnes Hansen - Neste Stasjon Grorud
15. Raga Rockers - Shit Happens
16. Knut Magne Myrland - Sjelespor
17. Aleksander With - Still Awake
18. Navigators - The Straight And Narrow
19. Jenny & Arne - From Our Hearts
20. Chand Torsvik - Kongeriket Norge

Selective Notes adds Insense to their roster

Selective Notes (Khoma, Britta Persson) has taken on Norwegian metal act Insense as a management client: http://selectivenotes.com/?p=253