Symfoniorkestern offers new EP for free
Swedish (mostly) instrumental folk/pop act Symfoniorkestern has a new five-song EP for free download and preview via myspace: http://www.myspace.com/symfoniorkestern
Eboi - Panic
Discobelle has the new Eboi single + video: http://www.discobelle.net/2009/11/24/eboi-panic/
My Sunrise - Pictures
Swedish indie act My Sunrise have a new, very lo-fi/DIY video for their song "Pictures": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqJ8CCpAERY
MP3: Piroth - When the night is over
Piroth's new album "Safe haven" eschews their Early Music charms in favor of better production and expanded instrumentation, a step backwards in my opinion. Now they're not much more than yet another Swedish sister duo. All is not lost though, there are still moments that shine through and the song "When the night is over" is one. Way more Woven Hand than sweet sibling folk, hence it is also way more interesting than the status quo peers. It's also quite sparse vocally speaking, a road far less travelled for the sisters Piroth and one that shows a bit of daring. Risk is good, it shows ambition; clean recordings are not risky unless they reveal a lack of talent and Piroth's technical abilities were never called into question. More like this please (but not necessarily exactly like this).
Piroth - When the night is over
First list of SXSW 2010 acts confirmed
Scandinavian acts confirmed for SXSW 2010: Ólöf Arnalds, Julian Berntzen, Adiam Dymott, Francis, The Kissaway Trail, Unni Lovlid, Lowood, Mixtapes & Cellmates, Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks), Movits! and Surrounded.
Kissaway Trail - SDP
There's a new track from Kissaway Trail up at Pitchfork: http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13620-sdp/
Sad Day For Puppets - When you tell me that you love me
Swedish shoegazers Sad Day for Puppets are now streaming the new 7" version of "When you tell me that you love me" at myspace, out now on Sonic Cathedral: http://www.myspace.com/saddayforpuppets
Too Cool to Die reviews The Amazing
Too Cool To Die reviews Swedish psych-rockers The Amazing: http://www.toocooltodie.com/index.php?/tctd/aotw/the_amazing/
Ofag
Session one: Oslo
Sonet
Hard to get around it: Ofag is a pure ego. Five friends convene in a recording studio to hang out, play a little improv music; someone hits record and then they release it on their own label. It's not as if the end result is unlistenable (it's not), it's more a question of why. Why waste the plastic? I'm sure it was tremendous fun for everyone involved and there's no reason they shouldn't be proud of their work, but why not make it digital-only? Or better yet, offer it as a free download? Do they honestly think that fans of their other bands (Heroes & Zeros, Superfamily, Balkansemblet) will be stoked on it? Or that they'll cross over into the already over-saturated experiment/freejazz scene? Doubtful. This is for friends and family, perhaps even the curious superfan, but most of all, it's for themselves. That's fine, but I can't recommend it for anyone else.
- Avi Roig
Musik med Mattias Alkberg
Live music with the one and only Mattias Alkberg at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/11/23/musik-med-mattias-alkberg/
Solander December tour
Tenderversion Recordings act Solander is heading out on tour again in December:
12/07 - Pony Bar, Hamburg (GER)
12/08 - Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig (GER)
12/09 - Ost-Pol , Dresden (GER)
12/10 - secret show, Vienna (AUS)
12/11 - SC - Teatar & TD, Zagreb (CRO)
12/12 - Zoe Café, Santarcangelo di Romagna (ITA)
12/13 - Locomotiva, Vimercate (ITA)
12/16 - Supernova, Berlin (GER)
12/17 - Stadtgarten, Erfurt (GER)
12/18 - Yellow Stage, Frankfurt (GER)
12/19 - Rathaushalle, Haßfurt (GER)
Oslo Grammofon signs Rosix-Noir
Oslo Grammofon has signed Rosix-Noir and will be releasing a 2-track 7" from them in early 2010.
Latest Bigbang to get US release in January
MIC Norway reports that Bigbang's latest album "Edendale" will be getting a US release in January: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009112412233617369192
Under the Rader reviews Anna Ternheim
Under the Radar reviews Anna Ternheim's "Leaving on a mayday": http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/anna_ternheim_leaving_on_a_mayday/
Matinée Recordings announces new releases for 2010
Indiepop label Matinée Recordings has announced new albums from Northern Portrait and The Electric Pop Group as well as a new comp featuring cuts from both bands as well as Cats on Fire and lots more. Head to their website for full details, samples and preorder info: http://www.indiepages.com/matinee/news.html