jj interview at Drumming on Tabletops
Music blog Drumming on Tabletops interviews jj: http://drummingontabletops.blogspot.com/2010/02/jj-interview.html
RebekkaMaria - Corollaceous (video)
RebekkaMaria has a video for her latest single "Corollaceous": http://www.dr.dk/pirattv/klip/rebekkamaria-corollaceous/
Advance Patrol - Padroname (video)
Swedish hip-hop act Advance Patrol have a new video for the track "Perdoname": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ns3dnMQDlA
Darkthrone - Eyes burst at dawn
Download a new track from Darkthrone in exchange for an email address: http://www.burningshed.com/store/peaceville/freedownload/24/
The Crypt to reissue more Swedish death metal classics
, the reissue imprint of metal label , has secured the rights to reissue classic releases from old-school Swedish death metal acts Grotesque, Liers in Wait, Furbowl and tons more. Even better, it looks like most of em will contain tons of demo material and other bonus tracks, some even adding up to 3xLP sets. See the full list: http://www.darksymphonies.com/thecrypt/shop.html
C.Aarmé bringing "World music" to the world
C.Aarmé's excellent "World music" album will get a GAS release on February 26 via . Expect tourdates to be announced for May/June in those territories.
Nordic By Nature in Berlin
The club SO36 in Berlin will be hosting a new Scandinavian-themed showcase every third Thursday under the name "Nordic By Nature". The premiere is February 18 and will feature Exploding Heart and Gry plus DJs and upcoming events are already booked with artists such as Bye Bye Bicycle and Band Ane. Full details: http://www.myspace.com/nordicbynatureberlin
Flower Clans
Voodoo Café
Fifth Week Records
Playing like deep cuts off the "Juno" soundtrack, Flower Clans' newest offering "Voodoo Café" certainly has its moments. However, the Swedish band often mistakes youthful giddiness for audio sugar rush -- landing their work directly in 3-year-old birthday party territory.
It's not that "Voodoo Café" isn't a charming offering -- not admiring its homespun charm would be somewhat akin to kicking a puppy -- however, their everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach quickly wears. Somewhere under it all lays strong, guitar driven folk. When it works on cuts like "Mountain low lay" and "Call me with a smile" it works. However, more often than not, it's frosted over with bizarre Kimya Dawson vocal ticks and errant woodwinds, making songs such as "Tina the reader" a breathtaking study in "almost". Then there are the more flagrant offenders. The best one can say about "Laj la la la laj la la la laj" is at least the band believes in proof in advertising. If only they had taken the perfect flute-driven fluff of closing track "Sunshine" and spread the wealth. Now that would have been something to make us giddy.
- Laura Studarus
The Silent Ballet reviews BJ Nilsen
The Silent Ballet reviews BJ Nilsen's "The invisible city": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/3090/Default.aspx
New Vit Päls in March
The new album "Nu var det i alla fall så" from Swedish lo-fi indie act Vit Päls will be released on March 4 via . Hear some samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/vitpals
Lo-Fi-Fnk in the Forkcast
Lo-Fi-Fnk in the Pitchfork Forkcast: http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13843-marchin-in/
Torpedo - Accelerate
Torpedo has a new website where you can download their latest single "Accelerate": http://www.torpedo.se/
MP3: Boy Omega - Follow the herd
"Follow the herd" is the 2nd single from Boy Omega's album "The ghost that broke in half", his fifth album overall and one that took a full two years to come to fruition. For all the pieces that were assembled to make that work possible, there were many left behind, hence this EP. Some have appeared in other locations in past and some never before, but now they all come together for you in this 6-song EP. A pair of instrumentals, a pair of covers, a Christmas carol that remains evocative even when the season has passed, and the title track, an orchestral pop tune with dizzying twists and an aching melody.
Tell me about "Follow the herd" -- what's the song about?
It touches upon a few different subjects, but mainly it's about being true to yourself. It's also about the too-early and unexpected death of my uncle.
The track almost feels schizophrenic with the way it splits between the fuzz/Arp-heavy part and the quieter bits with the horns (and strings?)... what's the thought process behind that? How did you end up at that arrangement?
When I'm working on a song in the studio, I basically just try different things until I feel happy with the result. I like surprises and I like when unexpected things happen, so that might have been what I was aiming for.
So how much of that was done at home and how much necessitated the involvement of other musicians/studios? Did you have it all mapped out in your head before you decide it to the next level?
Most of it was done at home. On the songs "Follow the herd" and "Dinosaur drugs", me and Calle Fredrikson (from Alarma Man) ended up finishing the songs in his home studio. We rearranged and rerecorded some parts. Calle also recorded the live drums on "Follow the herd" with Alarma Man drummer Andreas Litfeldt at the La Blaza studio in Göteborg. I usually have a pretty good idea of how I want the song to end up, but as I said before, I like surprises, so it's also nice when you end up with something you didn't expect to end up with.
And how do you know when it's done?
I guess you never know.
What's next for you then? Tour and then fatherhood and then what? Do you have any goals or expectations?
Yes, a tour in a couple of weeks from now. I'm really looking forward to that. I'm also really looking forward to being a dad. I think it will be amazing.
When it comes to music, I've already started recording songs for the next Boy Omega album. I've chosen about 50 songs to work with, and I guess 10-15 will end up on the album. I'll be recording in both my home studio and in the Kepner Treg studio with my good friend (and part-time Boy Omega live member) Per-Ola Eriksson. We'll see when we can finish that one. I'm in no real hurry at the moment, and I think "The ghost that broke in half" deserves some more time in the spotlight before I give birth to yet another album. There are also plans to release three more singles from the ghost album ("Black metal fairies", "Roll the dice" and "No light in the lantern"). All of which will have exclusive b-sides.
What else... I'll be doing a UK radio session in April with exclusive recordings. I'm also working on a new instrumental solo project (www.myspace.com/mountgolden) and a brand new project with my best friend Martin Bergström. Me and Martin B will also try to finish and release our second album as Kubot.
When it comes to touring, I just got an offer to do some Boy Omega shows in France next year, so I might say yes to that.
Last, but not least, I plan to spend as much time as possible with my girlfriend and the baby, make some more music videos, take long walks with the dog and bake lots of bread.
Download the full 6-song EP here. You can also go here to download previous single "Dinosaur drugs" along with the exclusive b-side "Our secret".
Boy Omega - Follow the herd
New Alcoholic Faith Mission album in March
has confirmed that Danish act Alcoholic Faith Mission will release their new record "Let this be the last night we care" on March 5. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/alcoholicfaithmission
Pintandwefall interview at Bloginity
Bloginity interviews Pintandwefall: http://www.bloginity.com/categories/daniel-haim/pintandwefall-exclusive-interview/11650/