Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi has confirmed that his new solo album "Go" will receive an international release on April 5. Look for international tourdates to be announced on February 1 with shows starting in North America in April.
The Silent Ballet gives high marks to Icelandic composer Daníel Bjarnason: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/3065/Default.aspx
Mimmi Skog of Pascal calls out Aftonbladet writer Per Magnusson for sexism: http://rogertsblogg.blogspot.com/2010/01/att-recensera-en-recensent.html (in Swedish)
I don't really pay much attention to new-school metal, but it makes sense that Scarred By Beauty won best upcoming talent at the most recent Danish Metal Awards because they really are one the best examples of where the genre is at nowadays. All the elements are in good balance: the heaviness, the melodies, the syncopation and technicality, the breakdowns. I hear similarities to bands such as Meshuggah, In Flames and The Psyke Project, but they also throw in a few curveballs like the Deftones, an influence they actually manage to incorporate much better than you might expect. Had I read it before I heard it, I would not have believed it, but these youngsters nail it. Still, not the sort of stuff I really care for, but there's no denying that they are damn good at it.
"We swim" is the title track of their self-released 3-song debut EP. Download the entire thing at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/scarredbybeauty
Scarred By Beauty - We swim
Under Byen have now confirmed that their new album "Allt er tabt", their fourth overall, will be released in North America on April 6 via . Domestic Danish label still has it confirmed for February 8.
I suppose this is one of those "climb the mountain because it's there" deals, but I've added Twitter functionality to our artist pages. See Brothers of End's page for example: http://www.itsatrap.com/artist/Brothers+of+End
Unfortunately I only have a mere handful of twitter ids entered into the database right now so please leave a comment with your suggestions of other artists I should add.
PopMatters gives positive marks to the US release of Oh No Ono's "Eggs": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/119572-oh-no-ono-eggs/
The Movements"How long is too long" is the name of the first track of The Movements latest album and, in many ways, that one song summarizes the rest of the album. I'm not saying that it all sounds the same, quite the opposite, but all the tracks leaves me with the same feeling, the feeling of being incomplete. Or rather, having elements not completely belonging. Taking that first track as an example; the first minute blows me away every single time, but after that the mismatched vocals kill the buzz. There is something in each song, putting the lid on and it never really reaches its climax.
- Morten Frisch
Hello Saferide will be playing the Matt Groening-curated All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK this May: http://www.atpfestival.com/events/mattgroening/lineup.php
Årabrot's album "The brotherseed" will receive a proper UK release on March 15 via .
Piroth made a documentary of their recent tour-by-train: http://vimeo.com/9029297
New US tourdates for Serena-Maneesh:
3/17-20 - SXSW, Austin, TX
03/22 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
03/23 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
03/25 - Berbati's Pan, Portland, OR
03/26 - Triple Door, Seattle, WA
03/27 - Media Club, Vancouver, BC
03/30 - 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
03/31 - Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
04/01 - Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI
04/02 - Great Hall, Toronto, ON
04/03 - Il Motore, Montreal, QC
04/04 - TT THe Bears, Cambridge, MA
04/05 - Daniel Street, Milford, CT
04/06 - Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA
04/07 - DC9, Washington, DC
04/08 - Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY
Swedish indiepop act Liechtenstein will be doing a 3-song 7" on this spring featuring the songs "I've got a passion for water", "Spending time with you" and "On the tram".
Somewhat OT, but not entirely: Top Shelf Comix is translating and publishing seven new books of Swedish comics (4 graphic novels + 2 anthologies) for release in the US this spring. Of the titles they are handling, the most relevant to itsatrap readers is probably "Hey princess" by Mats Jonsson which is, of course, named after the Popsicle song and is about indie-minded young folks in the mid 90s. Read more: http://www.topshelfcomix.com/swedish-invasion
Also worth noting that they'll be bringing Mats and many of the other authors over in April for appearances + meet'n'greets in both NYC and Chicago.
Danish music mag Gaffa will be launching in Sweden in March: http://www.gaffa.se/
The website officially opens on March 1 and the first print edition will be out March 31. Go to the website above for more details, including the full press release.
