The Amazing - Dragon (live video)
Watch The Amazing perform "Dragon" live for East Village Radio at CMJ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2KVEWLseSw
Annie track review at Pitchfork
Pitchfork has the new Annie song "Songs remind me of you" in their track review section: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11588-songs-remind-me-of-you/
The Crystal Caravan to play Germany in February
Umeå rockers The Crystal Caravan are heading to Germany in February:
02/04 - Schaubude, Kiel (GER)
02/05 - Rock A Go Go Club @ JAZ, Rostock (GER)
02/06 - Ilvers, Erfurt (GER)
02/07 - Struwwelpeters, Kronach (GER)
02/08 - Subway To Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
02/10 - Grüner Jäger, Hamburg (GER)
02/12 - Belle Epoque, Siegen (GER)
02/13 - JuKuz, Aschaffenburg (GER)
02/20 - White Trash, Berlin (GER)
Musik med This is Head
Live music with Swedish Kraut-rockers This is Head at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/10/23/musik-med-this-is-head/
Thåström turns 20 as a solo artist
Thåström will commemorate 20 years as a solo artist with a new compilation box entitled "Be-bop-a-lula hela jävla dan!" featuring song selections from his vast career, a DVD with 6 songs recorded live at Olympen in Lund back in 2006, a bonus disc of recordings called "Kompost" featuring covers of Dan Andersson's "En spelmans jordafär" and early Swedish punk act Garbochock, plus a new interview with DN writer Georg Cederskog which will also be appearing in an upcoming book about the artist. The official release date is November 25.
Maia Hirasawa - Because of you (Ne-Yo cover)
It's more slideshow than video, but Maia Hirasawa's acoustic cover of Ne-Yo's "Because of you" is up on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwwfovi_0OA
Said track appears on the new Razzia label comp "There's a Razzia going on vol 2".
New Sonic Ritual 12" EP in November
Sonic Ritual's new 12" "Mother Hearse", originally slated for release last March via US label Tankcrimes before they went broke, will now be released by German label High-Roller Records in November, the same people that handled their recent split Sanctuary in Blasphemy. Artwork and more details here: http://canthateenough.blogspot.com/2009/10/sonic-ritual-mother-hearse-12.html
New Stefan Sundström album confirmed for late November
Stefan Sundström will release his new album "Ingenting har hänt" on November 25 via National Records.
Hello Saferide live in Spain
Hello Saferide will be heading to Spain in November perform as a duo together with Andrea Kellerman aka Firefox AK as part of the Fikasound Voces Femininas festival tour. Dates:
11/18 - Fotomatón Bar, Madrid
11/19 - Teatro Principal, Orense
11/21 - Auditorio Caixanova, Vigo
Wears the Trousers to release comp feat. Ane Brun
UK-based female-centric mag Wears the Trousers is launching a record label imprint whose first release will be a comp entitled "Beautiful star: The songs of Odetta", an tribute to American folk legend Odetta Holmes aka the "Queen of American folk music". The relevance to It's a Trap!: Norwegian artist Ane Brun contributes with an exclusive cover of "If I had a ribbon bow". Go here for more info, otherwise wait until November 30 for the release.
I Was A King to release new 7" in January
Norwegian indie act I Was A King recorded three new songs with Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor) which will be appearing on a new 7" due out in January.
Axe, EL-SD & Karpis
Live @ Snövit, Stockholm, 10/24/09
There's a nice noise-hardcore-scene vibe going around Stockholm with some amazing bands gigging in basements and bars and such, under the radar of -- or underestimated by -- the established clubs; these bands are getting their gigs by themselves and getting together a group of friends in a hole in the ground serving beer. Anyone paying attention will recognize that most members tonite are the usual suspects and this one featured, among others, members of Traktor, Emerson Fittipaldi, Seven Feet Four and Bruce Banner, on stage and in the audience.
Axe kicked off the night with some ferocious hardcore-noise-punk in the vein of Brick and that old hardcore band from Sigtuna that I can't remember the name of right now. They were really cool. They've got hooks! Check out their myspace and you'll see what I mean (the song "Firmafest" is an amazing stand-out!). They also are not afraid to go mid-tempo for some noise-intensity. The live-experience was great, yet lacking some volume and conviction, but hopefully they'll iron this out. If they do, this band will be a force to be reckoned with.
EL-SD were a bit more heady, recalling early Unwound, Sonic Youth, even early Quagmire (!) as well as sporting "Yank crime"-era Drive Like Jehu song lengths. I was blissing out ofc, with the amazing gzzz-ing and no-wave picking guitars of David Fried right in front of me and bumping into Frippe going crazy wielding the bass. Good shit, this.
Karpis went metal on me, taking noise-rock down drop-tuning with growling even. They were bringing it, but I was kind of done unfortunately, trying to flirt, drink beer and stuff instead. I'll catch more of your set next time guys, promise!
So, fellow travelers, when in Stockholm, I humbly suggest you forgo established venues, constantly applying the one-size-fits-all-indie-dancefloor after every damn concert, for the basement jovial hardcore-scene-experience. Get your promille up and cheer for your new-found favourite underground band! You can even pogo a bit if u'd like.
- Mathias Rask-Andersen
Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
Finnish/Swedish indie act Oriel Joans (feat. singer/songwriter Pekka Pörtfors) have a new single called "Knuckles whiten" and are streaming both it and the b-side "I only wish to lay" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/orieljoans
RIYL Isolation Years, Anna Leong, melancholy pop.
Under the Rader reviews Choir of Young Believers live
Under the Radar reviews Danish act Choir of Young Believers live in LA: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/choir_of_young_believers_at_the_spaceland_los_angeles_ca_october_21st_2009/
Johan Angergård interview at Warmer Climes
Wamer Climes interviews Johan Angergård of The Legends/Club 8/Labrador Records: http://warmer-climes.blogspot.com/2009/10/facts-figures-with-johan-angergard-of.html