In case you couldn't make it to DC last night to catch Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Håkon Kornstad live at The Kennedy Center, the duo's performance is now online for on-demand streaming: http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=56807&source_type=B (scroll down)
Ex-Esbjörn Svensson Trio bassist Dan Berglund has moved past the tragedy of his bandleader's untimely death last year and has started a new combo called Tonbruket featuring Johan Lindström (Per Texas Johansson Band) on guitar, Martin Hederos (The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Hederos & Hellberg) on keys and Andreas Werliin (Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Fire!) on drums. The band has recorded a self-titled album for release on January 20 via and the sound is said to be a mix of E.S.T., Pink Floyd, Röyksopp and Arvo Part. See them on tour:
01/30 - Stockholm, Hornstull Strand (SWE)
02/02 - Malmö, Babel (SWE)
02/03 - Helsingborg, Dunkers Kulturhus (SWE)
02/04 - Göteborg, Nefertiti (SWE)
03/13 - Edinburgh, Queen's Hall (SCO)
03/15 - London, QEH Southbank Centre (UK)
03/20 - Dublin, The Button Factory (IRE)
03/25 - Manchester, Band on the Wall (UK)
03/26 - Nottingham, Lakeside (UK)
03/27 - Gateshead, Sage (UK)
03/29 - Milton Keynes, The Stables (UK)
03/30 - Birmingham, CBSO Centre (UK)
03/31 - Barnstaple, The Queens Theatre (UK)
04/01 - Bristol, St. Georges (UK)
04/16 - München, Muffathalle (GER)
04/18 - Koblenz, Café Hahn (GER)
04/20 - Oldenburg, Kulturetage (GER)
04/23 - Mannheim, Alte Feuerwache (GER)
04/26 - Nürnberg, Hirsch (GER)
04/27 - Berlin, Postbahnhof (GER)
04/28 - Hamburg, Fabrik (GER)
04/29 - Basel, Casino (CH)
04/30 - Stuttgart, Theaterhaus (GER)
05/02 - Halle, Opernhaus (GER)
05/22 - Gleisdorf, Forum Kloster (AUS)
05/27 - Visby, Munkkällaren (SWE)
The blog has good things to say about the "Undergången" C120 comp: http://terrible-music.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-undergangen-audio-companion-to.html
As they say, highly recommended for anyone into dark adventurous music! I've got a scant few copies for sale left if anyone wants one: [click here]
Bad Hands, the solo project of Per Nordmark, has a new track posted for free download: http://www.badhands.se/
I'm not all that into Christmas and I'm definitely not into Christmas music, but I do like Champagne Riot so I'm giving them a pass. Their Xmas single "Xmas safari" isn't as, well, anthemic as "The champagne anthem", but it's not as if that's a big surprise. Instead, we get loping bassline and a tale of holiday woe, so thank goodness for that because I cannot handle the usual forced cheer. So here you go, just in time for Channukah (begins tomorrow, hope yr gifts to me are already on their way), a present from them to me to you.
Champagne Riot - Xmas safari
The Silent Ballet reviews the Ólafur Arnalds album "Dyad 1909": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2950/Default.aspx
Gaffa has posted details on the upcoming Q1 release schedule for Danish label/distributor : http://www.gaffa.dk/nyhed/36122 (in Danish)
Artists with records on the way include Ghost Society, Under Byen, RebekkaMaria, Sterling and more.
Aftonbladet has the new Movits! video for "Ta på dig dansskorna": http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/noje/musikvideor/article6264864.ab
Download a new song from Swedish artist Richard Reagh: http://www.reagh.net/I%27m_Younger_Than_That_Now/I_Don%27t_Cry.mp3
Look for his new album "I'm younger than that now" to be released on February 24 via .
Montt Mardié made it on Chromewaves' top albums list for 2009: http://www.chromewaves.net/2009/12/chromewaves-favourite-albums-of-2009/
Various ArtistsSarcastic punk zine iconoclasts "Skitliv!" pay tribute to themselves with a double-disc collection of cuts from (almost) every artist they ever interviewed and that adds up to ten issues and 48 tracks of uncompromising Swedish d-beat/käng/råpunk. Most of the big names are represented, from old-timers such as Anti Cimex, Moderat Likvidation and Mob 47 to Wolfbrigade, Disfear, Skitsystem and Victims, as well as up-and-comers like Tortyr, Kvoteringen, Giftgasattack and truckloads more. Of course the quality here runs the gamut, be it related to songwriting or recording, but it kind of doesn't matter in end because it all starts to blend together after 20 minutes or so. On the other hand, as a genre-dabbler, it's a great resource to have because the song selection is so all-encompassing and overwhelming; I'm sure I'll be going back to revisit in smaller doses to pick out new favorites. For everyone else, especially if your only knowledge of Swedish punk is limited to the mediocre "Svenska Punkklassiker" discs, the uncompromising, unrelenting hardcore noise attack of "Skitliv!" is a great overview of a much-heralded underground scene well worth investigating, even it does veer towards overkill.
- Avi Roig
I'm From Barcelona will release a new album on January 27 called "27 songs from Barcelona" featuring one song from each of the pop-choir's 27 members and it will be available both as 3xLP set or as a free download from the band's website. Get a preview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8djknFetQa4
It's no big surprise, but Norwegian crust/thrash/hardcore act Okkultokrati have signed with Fysisk Format making them labelmates with like-minded artists such as Haust and Obliteration. Look for their full-length debut "No light for mass" in February.
Jaga Jazzist will hitting the road in Europe to support the release of their new album "One armed bandit", due out January 25:
02/24 - Train, Århus (DK)
02/25 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
02/26 - Kamp, Bielefield (GER)
02/27 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
02/28 - Doornroosje, Nijmegen (NL)
03/01 - Les Trinitaries, Metz (FRA)
03/02 - AB Club, Brussels (BEL)
03/03 - Islington Academy, London (UK)
03/04 - Cafe de la Danse, Paris (FRA)
03/05 - Moods, Zurich (CH)
03/07 - Volksbuhne, Berlin (GER)
