Grammis 2010 nominees are out
The nominees for the Swedish Grammis have been announced: http://www.grammis.se/
I'd copy and paste the list for you, but the website is one of the worst flash disasters I've seen in years.
The Bombhappies to record new album at Silence
The Bombhappies will be heading off to the legendary Silence Studios in Koppom, Sweden next week to begin work on their next album, which of course is way out in the boonies of Värmland. Expect a summer 2010 release, assuming all goes according to plan.
Jens Lekman New Zealand tour
Jens Lekman is playing New Zealand in late January:
01/25 - Secret show, lower North Island
01/31 - Wunderbar, Lyttelton
01/30 - The Harbourlight, Lyttelton w/Joanna Newsom
01/28 - Toto's Montecristo Room, Auckland
Gaffa favorites for 2009
Danish mag Gaffa has announced their year-end best-of lists -- here are their top 10 favorite Danish albums:
01. Mew - No More Stories...
02. Nephew - DanmarkDenmark
03. Jens Unmack - Dagene Løber Som Heste
04. Troels Abrahamsen - WHT
05. Balstyrko - Jagten På Noget
06. Nikolaj Nørlund - Tid Og Sted
07. Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control
08. Selvmord - Selvmord
09. Cody - Songs
10. Mikael Simpson - Slaar Skaar
And the single list:
01. Nephew - Va Fangool!
02. Mew - Introducing Palace Players
03. Mikael Simpson - Inden Du Falder I Søvn
04. Raveonettes - Last Dance
05. Cody - Down In The Dark
06. Medina - Kun For Mig
07. The Rumour Said Fire - The Balcony
08. Mew - Repeaterbeater
09. Balstyrko - Intet Stopper Helt
10. Medina - Velkommen Til Medina
International picks and the full top 20 single list is here: http://www.gaffa.dk/nyhed/36018
VUF to release female electro comp as Danner benefit
VUF Records has put together a comp of Danish female electronic musicians such as RebekkaMmaria, CALLmeKAT and Fagget Fairys as a benefit for Danner, a violence against women support organization. Read more at Gaffa: http://www.gaffa.dk/nyhed/36029 (in Danish)
The collection will be called "Nadia – Støt Danner" and it comes out December 7.
Two final NYC shows for Marit Bergman
Marit Bergman will play two final NYC shows before departing back to Sweden:
12/17 - 1st Unitarian Church, Brooklyn (as part of the Sirens of Brooklyn Choir)
12/19 - Sycamore, Brooklyn
Jónsi Birgisson solo album on the way
Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi Birgisson has a new website for his upcoming solo endeavor where you can hear the new song "Boy lilikoi": http://jonsi.com/
His new album "Go", composed with help from Nico Muhly (Grizzly Bear, Antony and the Johnsons) and produced by Peter Katis (Interpol, Tiger Lou, The Kissaway Trail, etc.), will be out sometime next year.
Avant-garde Metal talks to Espen Ingierd of Beyond Dawn/Two Trains
The Avant-garde Metal webzine has published yet another exhaustive interview, this time featuring Espen Ingierd of Beyond Dawn, one of Norway['s most criminally underrated acts and also one of my longtime favorite bands: http://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=134
There's also a previously unreleased track hidden therein, so go check it out.
Tom Karlsson
Pojknacke
Lystring
The label that brought us the most recent Brainbombs album ("Fucking mess") blesses us yet another lesson in uneasy listening, Tom Karlsson's "Pojknacke". However, this time the bummer vibes come not from harsh repetitive riffs and questionable lyrical content, but from minimalist industrial sound collage layered with the sort of overcooked narration you expect to hear at a puppet show. Can't say I'm all that into it though, especially without the proper Swedish comprehension skills to follow the narrative, but what it comes down to is that the music simply isn't all that compelling. Songs start and stop without much in the way of drama or dynamics and after a while I'm left thinking "is this it?" Thankfully no, Mr. Karlsson did see fit to provide us with a spectacularly gruesome gatefold cover image, so at least it's got that going for it.
- Avi Roig
New Backlash EP on the way
Swedish electro/EBM act Backlash will release the 2nd of their planned 4-part EP series on December 18, this one containing the single "Divine", a remix, 2 b-sides and a cover of "Wishing" by A Flock of Seagulls. Sample at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mementomateria
Marvins Revolt interview at Fünf
Fünf interviews the guys in Danish act Marvins Revolt: http://funfunfunf.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/waiting-room-1/
MP3: Tobias Hellkvist - Arms
When pondering Tobias Hellkvist's new record "Evolutions", keep the title in mind and remember that evolution takes place over huge periods of time. It is not revolution and though this new album does show progression, it does not reflect monumental change. The readily identifiable guitars are gone, replaced by tones and drone, all drifting towards monolithic ambience. "Arms" is a track built on echoing chimes and overtones, sounding something like an underwater clockshop. Or maybe it's your head that's underwater, as the cacophony eventually reveals a deep the groan of a sinking ship that in turn shifts into a light roar of rushing currents and cracking ice. Of course, this being Tobias and his music being the way it is, it's far more dreamy than dreadful. The term "Dronepop" has been floated before, but Tobias is the one artist who I think personifies it best.
Tobias Hellkvist - Arms
Kasper Bjørke album gets release date, new single confirmed
Kasper Bjørke's forthcoming record "Standing on top of utopia" now has an official release date: February 15. The 2nd single "Alcatraz" will be out in mid-January.
Opeth is turning 20
Opeth will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next spring with an international series of special concerts that will feature them performing the album "Blackwater park" in its entirert along with an additional set of material spanning the band's entire career. Read more: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=13689