Tactic Records signs Stolenwatch
(Decorate. Decorate., Death To Frank Ziyanak) have signed the band Stolenwatch and will be releasing their debut album "The singles" on April 16. Hear some samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stolenwatch
Makabert Fynd recording a new LP in April
Swedish hardcore act Makabert Fynd will be going into the studio on April 16 to record a new album. Expect a July release.
Donkeyboy - Ambitions (new video)
Norwegian pop hopefuls Donkeyboy have created a new video for their song "Ambitions": http://www.warnerwall.no/?p=2238
Were any of those kids even alive in the era those 80s references are from?
Kiki Pau - An old song
Finnish indie act Kiki Pau have posted the new song "An old song" for free download: http://www.glue.fi/mp3/Kiki_Pau_An_Old_Song_Finland.mp3
The band's new album "White mountain" comes out March 3.
Kings of Convenience tour postponed
Kings of Convenience's upcoming US tour has been postponed due to sickness. Look for reschuduled dates in June.
Sirius playlist week #7
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Champagne Riot - The champagne anthem
02. TALK 1
03. The Late Parade - We will walk straight through this wall
04. Bolywool - Save my soul
05. Darkthrone - Eyes burst at dawn
06. Boy Omega - Follow the herd
07. TALK 2
08. Isobel & November - She came down the mountain
09. Dream Evil - Kill, burn, be evil
10. TALK 3
11. Martin Senter - Ingenting förlorat
12. Pascal - Tyst här i mörkret
13. Hello Saferide - Anna
14. Brothers of End - Big bird
15. TALK 4
16. Voices Break the Silence - Lost
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.
MP3: Turbonegro - Get it on
Listen to Norway, part 3. I deeply regret not going to see Turbonegro back when they were touring the US in support of "Ass cobra", playing warehouse shows and dingy punk dives. Their name is kinda lame, so I figured I'd pass. Had I known I was missing out on a band of denim-clad dudes shooting bottle rockets out their ass while playing kick-ass Scandinavian garage rock revival, you bet I would've been there, but no, it was not meant to be. I sure did hear about it after the fact though, they caught on quick. I don't even remember if they made it back to support "Apocalypse dudes" before the first breakup, but I was over it by then and didn't really want to see them playing large venues surrounded by ridiculous hordes of "Turbojugend" anyway. I did however give the 2007 remaster of "Apocalypse dudes" a spin the other day and was sorely disappointed to hear how flat and weak it sounds. The beginning of the end, even before the reunion! However, take a track or two at a time and you're still rockin'; the album just lacks the monmentum to carry through from start to finish. Had they trimmed the fat, it probably would be fine -- 45 minutes of "deathpunk" is 15-20 too many. Anyhow, like I said, cherry-picking tunes from the record is still perfectly fine as there's more than a few A-listers to choose from. Mine: "Get it on". Sure, it's one of the band's more inoculous songs (compare it to "Prince of the rodeo" or "Don't say motherfucker, motherfucker" for instance), but that main riff totally stomps. Oh, and as for "Ass cobra", that album totally holds up fine.
Turbonegro - Get it on
Robert Svensson recording in May
Robert Svensson (Mixtapes & Cellmates) will be going back into the studio in May to record a new solo album. He will be working at Tambourine Studios in Malmö where many classic Swindie records were made and will have Ludwig Böss (Band of Horses, Ray Wonder, etc.) behind the board. Expect a fall release via .
New Dundertåget single confirmed
The new Dundertåget single "Bara till besvär" will be released on March 16.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. WigWam - Non Stop Rock'N'Roll
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2010
03. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
04. Frøya - My American Dream
05. Uncle Deadly - Monkey Do
06. Motorpsycho - Heavy Metal Fruit
07. Bjørn Eidsvåg - De Beste
08. Jaga Jazzist - One-Armed Bandit
09. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
10. Stage Dolls - Always
11. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ild & Vatten
12. N'Jie Haddy - World of the free
13. Claudia Scott/Casino Steel/Ottar Big Hand Johansen - Honky Tonk Night - The Best
14. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
15. Jahn Teigen - Teigen - 40 Største Hits
16. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
17. Rita Eriksen - Frelsesarmeens Juleplate 2009
18. Ila Auto - Ila Auto
19. d'sound - Starts and Ends
20. Shining - Blackjazz
House of Tomidas
Dark times!
Brus & Knaster
It's funny, sometimes, how one look at an album cover will conjure up all sorts of references as to the genre a band will fit into or what other bands they'll sound like. Upon seeing the "Dark times!" cover grunge old-timers Mudhoney spring to mind, mainly due to a loose visual connection with some of their album art. When the music kicks in, though, the comparison couldn't be any more detached. The first thing that's noticeable on this album is Britta Persson's vocal performance, which is altogether more eclectic and burlesque than demonstrated on her solo releases. No straightforward indiepop here; rather a gathering of musicians capable of holding their own at any '30s cabaret, yet easily translatable to the present day. The unique combination of quirky song arrangements coupled with Persson's evocative, haunting voice pours forth images of a vaudevillian French setting and that's a very enjoyable aspect of this album. On the other hand, songs like "Daytime drunk" and "From hand to mouth" offer a more contemporary take on things and it's proof of the genius in the band's composition skills that these sit perfectly with their more eccentric, old-time tunes. "The letter" is the biggest surprise on here, a dark creeper that sits right in the middle of a generally upbeat album and that offers a brooding, heartfelt exuberance that belies the rest of the music. A wonderful debut that will undoubtedly please Persson's mainstream fans while simultaneously drawing in the jazz club hangabouts.
- John Norby
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. The Playtones - Rock'n roll dance party
02. Björn Skifs - Da capo
03. Torgny Melin - Dansbandsnatt
04. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
05. Zekes - En sån natt
06. Erik Grönwall - Erik Grönwall
07. Nordman - Korsväg
08. Calle Kristiansson - Calle Kristiansson
09. Freda' - Ett mysterium
10. Kent - Röd
11. Date - Här och nu!
12. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
13. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
14. Babian - Hälften dör av fetma
15. Thåström - Be-bop-a-lula hela jävla dan (1989-2009)
16. Louise Hoffsten - På andra sidan vättern
17. Boppin' Steve & The Playtones - Mr Big
18. Dan Berglund - Tonbruket
19. Anne Sofie von Otter - ombre de mon amant - french baroque arias
20. Irya's Playground - Irya's Playground
Rising in Ireland
In addition to the European dates announced earlier this week, heavy Danish act Rising will be heading to Ireland in April:
04/07 - tba, Cork
04/08 - Sally Longs, Galway
04/09 - tba, Dublin
04/10 - Limelight, Belfast w/The Ocean
MP3: Martin Senter - Ingenting förlorat
Martin Senter is a veteran of many bands - Seven Feet Four, EL-SD, Talking to Drake, maybe more -- but now he's decided to break out on his own and work on a solo EP. "Ingenting förlorat" is the first, fully realized sample of what he's done so far and it's pretty decent. Definitely in the vein of quirky guitar + electronics indie ala early Samuraj Cities (or maybe Niels Nielsen) with the added benefit of strong energy and a decent ear for clever vocal arrangements. The track does go on a little long however, but whatever, it's a demo. Gotta hear it back before you can work the quirks out. Hear some more stuff at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/martinsenter
Martin Senter - Ingenting förlorat