Marit Bergman - Dream with me tonight
Marit Bergman has a new song posted for free download: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=32829527&blogId=518024880
New music from Children (ex-Idiot Kid)
Swedish artist Children, aka the solo project of Linus Lutti from Idiot Kid, has a couple new tracks posted on myspace including a Tom Waits cover performed with Andreas Söderström (ASS) and another song featuring Magnus Granberg (Skogen) and Per Eklund (Taken By Trees, El Perro Del Mar): http://www.myspace.com/boevell
Pitchfork reviews The Mary Onettes
Pitchfork reviews the new Mary Onettes album "Islands": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13657-islands/
New Warmer Climes mixtapes x3
The latest Warmer Climes mixtapes: David Kyhlberg (The Morning Paper/Sail A Whale), Leonard Kaage (Leonard Kaage and The Kin) and Maja Milner (Makthaverskan).
Moloken
Our astral circle
Discouraged Records
While Moloken's wonderful debut release "We all face the dark alone" showcased a band with the potential to deliver high-quality, sludgy metal, it only hinted at the abundant genius held within the ranks of this Swedish quartet. Only a year later this ingenuity has been fully realized in "Our astral circle" as we find an outfit that has honed their songwriting skills to as damn near perfect as is humanly possible. Moloken have demonstrated that post-metal doesn't have to be a one-dimensional entity, and they've done it with such style that they have created a versatile body of work that defies genre convention. There's everything on offer here, from the ethereal uneasiness of "Untitled II" to the metal savagery of "My enemy" to the doomed despair of closer "11"12". There's also a certain looseness about this album, as if the band have felt their way in the studio rather than laboring over every minor detail, but that's not to say that this is a sloppy recording. Far from it, in fact. To have this music any tighter or, indeed, cleaner would render it simply good rather than great. Integral to this characteristic is a superior production, which allows the nuances of each instrument to shine through and affords "Our astral circle" a genuine, warts-and-all, quality. In the realm of Moloken diversity is king; delicate passages punctuate abrasive walls of sound and everything comes together to produce an album that is central to this band's ethos: semper heavius maximus!
- John Norby
MP3: Rickard Jäverling - The wedding ring
Kning Disk grows as a label and so do its artists. Maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention, but prior to "The valleys" I had never considered Rickard Jäverling to be a folk artist. After all, my first introduction to his work was through his split 7" with Oskar Schönning & Co. on Jezebel Recordings, a recording that I guess could be considered postrock, though I suppose the barebones label of "instrumental" would be sufficient. Beyond that, I see his name in the credits on many records I love (David Åhlén and Johan Heltne, to name two artists he has worked with), but who knows how that reflects on the man's own work? And now, on his new record? His music still drifts with gradual crescendos, but now there are vocals and, yes, even a few small nods to pop convention. On some of the tracks at least; the folk tag is less troubadour than historian. Anyhow, he's still at his best in pure composer mode and this particular track I've got for you today is an absolutely gorgeous collaboration with fellow musical traveller Andreas Söderström (ASS). The mood is crucial, it's what ties him to the other artists I mentioned above and what sets them apart from their peers. Pastoral like labelmate Erik Enocksson can be, but hazy as if filtered through the memory of a dream. It's in the way the notes quiver and, even before the waves and seagulls come in, I see an ocean.
Rickard Jäverling - The wedding ring
JJ - Baby (video)
Gorilla vs Bear has uncovered that the new JJ video posted by Sincerely Yours earlier today is a cover of "Baby" by Lorentz and M. Sakarias: http://gorillavsbear.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-jj-baby.html
New music from Champagne Riot
Danish indiepop act Champagne Riot is back, reinvigorated as a two-piece, and are streaming three new tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/champagneriot
If you were into their EP on Shelflife or are interested in anything Labrador-related, you should definitely check these guys out.
Presenting: Skrammel Records
Makabert Fynd vocalist Mattis Ruwe has started a new label called Skrammel and his first release with the new endeavor will be an LP from female-fronted Skåne hardcore act Slöa Knivar. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/skrammelrecords
Also check the band's own myspace page for more tracks and a few European tourdates: http://www.myspace.com/sloaknivar
Lazee - Better than the best
Discobelle has a new track from Swedish rapper Lazee: http://www.discobelle.net/2009/11/10/lazee-better-than-the-best/
Serena-Maneesh adds member, books NYC shows
Serena-Maneesh has added Ådne Meisfjord from 120 Days to their lineup. They've also booked a couple NYC shows next year:
01/22 - Mercury Lounge 01/23 - Littlefield
The Kissaway Trail on tour
Danish indie act The Kissaway Trail will support Passion Pit on tour in Europe and then will be playing a number of UK shows with White Lies:
11/11 - Ninkasi Kao, Lyon (FRA)
11/12 - Alte Bose, Zurich (CH)
11/13 - 59:1, Munich (GER)
11/14 - Werkstatt, Cologne (GER)
11/16 - Lido, Berlin (GER)
11/17 - Gruenspan, Hamburg (GER)
11/18 - Rotonde-botanique, Brussels (BEL)
12/05 - Lexington, London (UK)
12/07 - Mandela Hall, Belfast (UK)
12/08 - Academy, Dublin (UK)
12/09 - Opera House, Cork (UK)
The band's forthcoming album "Sleep mountain" is being mixed by Peter Katis (TIger Lou, Interpol) and will be out next March.
The Silent Ballet reviews Hearts No Static
Hearts No Static's free EP download "The monthly noise" got a nice write-up at The Silent Ballet: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2866/Default.aspx
As I've said before and as the review suggests, it really is the warm-up precursor to the album "Motif" which is indeed far more fully fleshed-out than this first release. Download "The monthly noise" for free right here.
New Afenginn album on November 13
Danish Balkan/klezmer-inspired act Afenginn will release their new album "Bastard etno" on November 13. Samples and European tourdates at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/afenginn
Presenting: Starving Artist Kokebok
A group of Oslo-based artist expats (2 Australians, 1 Canadian) have put together something called the "Starving Artist Kokebok", or "cookbook" for the Norwegian-impaired, a book and CD package featuring artwork, stories and of course recipes from 37 fellow Oslo-based bands, artists and journalists. Also included is a 19-track CD:
01. Simon Says No! - Sleeping Heart
02. Death is Not Glamorous - Clear Lines
03. Lionheart Brothers - Bring it Down (Kokebok Edit)
04. Maribel - Soothe
05. Pica Pica - The Man with the Magic Hands
06. CCTV - We Belong (Radio Edit)
07. Einar Stray - Arrows
08. Pilemil - Ghost
09. Hiawata! - Valley Boys
10. Happy Dagger - 2012
11. Manhattan Skyline - The Below
12. Spirits of the Dead - White Lady Black Rave
13. Årabrot - The Minute
14. The Bee's Niece - Stolen Bike
15. Norma Sass - Japan
16. The Loch Ness Mouse feat. Stella Mwangi - New Graffiti (Single Edit)
17. Center of the Universe - Sing it Again
18. Rosix Noir - Binden Sie Meine Hnde (Remix)
19. The White Tiger Prepade - Powerful fast forward knowledge pushing scared inprinted gem stones levitating by seemingly apathic sound movement reactions
Other contributors include Benea Reach, Haust, Je Suis Animal, Lydia Laska, My Little Pony, Silver and lots more. There will be a release party on November 18 at Rubber Soul featuring an exhibition of the original artworks followed by a show at Revolver later in the evening. More info: http://starvingartistkokebok.blogspot.com/