Pfork Guest List: Kings of Convenience
Kings of Convenience do the guest-list thing for Pitchfork: http://pitchfork.com/features/guest-lists/7722-kings-of-convenience/
Spirits of the Dead working on new record
Norwegian rockers Spirits of the Dead have started mixing their second album "The great god Pan" which, assuming all goes well, will be released in early 2010.
Blood Mortized
s/t
Vrykoblast Productions
Blood Mortized are a solid B-grade, 2nd-wave Swedish death metal act, comparable to Dismember's more mediocre moments. Never too exceptionally raw or brutal, fast or ferocious- just good ol' middle-of-the-road groovy death (fucking) metal. I was actually pretty stoked on them at first listen, but digging deeper yielded diminishing returns as too many songs either sound the same, go on too long, or both. On the other hand, they do boast one of the cleanest metal recordings I've heard in recent memory, and that's at least worth some points. It's especially apparent on the drums which are warm, clear, punchy and very natural sounding -- an oddity in this age of trigger abuse and overproduction. Shame the material isn't slightly more interesting to match.
- Avi Roig
MP3: Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
I eat seasonal food, I drink seasonal beer, I listen to seasonal music. Oriel Joans' new single "Knuckles whiten" is perfect autumnal melancholy, especially with that achingly sad melody tapped out on the glockenspiel in standard Swedish indie fashion. Cliché or not, it fits just right. Great vocal harmonies too; sure to appeal to everyone who bought into the Fleet Foxes hype (I remain ignorant, more or less). Or insert your favorite 60s folk-rock act, if you feel like it. I feel like I like this a lot.
Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
First Aid Kit debut album to come in January
First Aid Kit have confirmed that their full-length debut "The big black and the blue" will be released on January 25 via Wichita Recordings.
Musik med Nutid
Live music with instrumental duo Nutid (aka Alf Håkan Åkesson + Åsa Jacobsson) at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/11/02/musik-med-nutid/
Marit Bergman live in NYC
Marit Bergman has lined up a few new NYC shows before she moves back to Sweden in January:
11/03 - Monkey Town
11/15 - Googie's Lounge (Upstairs at the Living Room)
11/25 - Pianos
Jomi Massage - Animal of Eden
The new Jomi Massage soundtrack album "Animal of Eden" is now streaming online either as audio or video.
Best of 2010?
All Scandinavian highlights a few upcoming releases of note from Finland: http://allscandinavian.com/2454/flash-forward-the-best-of-2010/
Ghost Society confirm debut album
Danish act Ghost Society, featuring memebers from People Press Play, Blue Foundation and Choir of Young Believers, will release their full-length debut "The Back of his hands, then the palms" on January 25. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ghostsocietyofficialsite
This week's Last.fm chart
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Kent
02. Jens Lekman
03. Håkan Hellström
04. Markus Krunegård
05. Hello Saferide
06. Loney, Dear
07. Kings of Convenience
08. Lake Heartbeat
09. The Bear Quartet
10. Bon Iver
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Carola + Hank von Helvete (really)
Aftonbladet reports that Carola performs a duet of "Silent night" with Hank von Helvete of Turbonegro on her upcoming Christmas album, due out November 11: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article6062338.ab
Krister Dahlström live in the US
Gotländsk classical guitarist (and samurai master) Krister Dahlström is coming to the US for a few performances next week, including one at the prestigious JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC:
11/12 - JFK Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC
11/14 - The Norwegian Church, New York, NY
11/15 - The Swedish Church, New York, NY
Piroth interview at Komakino
Italian webzine Komakino interviews Piroth: http://www.inkoma.com/read.asp?id=2491
Musique Machine reviews Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words
Musique Machine reviews Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words' excellent "Lost in reflections" album: http://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=2378
I'm not sure why IAT! is getting label credit, but I do still have copies for sale.