Icelandic artist Ólöf Arnalds will finally see her debut album "Við og Við" released in North America on November 17 via One Little Indian. She's also reportedly finished with her follow-up record "Ókídókí" which will be out next spring.
Annie is doing a couple London gigs this week:
10/16 - Shepherds Bush Empire
10/17 - The Social
Jonas Pertersen aka Hymns from Nineveh is currently recording his full-length debut (and additional Christmas EP) together with Aske Bode from Bodebrixen and is keeping a blog as he goes: http://hymnsfromnineveh.wordpress.com/
It appears that Jakob Brixen from excellent fellow Danish act Mechanical Bird stopped by the other day to lay down some banjo and saw -- sounds good to me!
All hail the new indie rock'n'roll! I'm fine with their excursions into glitchy electronica, I really am, but Mixtapes & Cellmates sure sound best when they crank up their instruments and play as a band, complete with live drums and all the trimmings. "Soon" isn't exactly 90s Swindie revival, but it's got that spirit and takes me to that same place, the same same way bands like Starmarket and KVLR used to. Man, do I love those raucous drum fills and squeals of feedback! Haven't heard the full album yet (preview here), but if it's all like this, it's gonna be brilliant.
Mixtapes & Cellmates - Soon
Brothers of End have a new website: http://www.brothersofend.se/
Kitty & the K's brand new single "So much for fashion" is out now and available as a free download along with two b-side remixes from Zeigeist and Cat5. Go here to download and to see the video: http://www.kittyandthek.com/
The Ark are currently in the studio recording their 5th album and will be keeping a blog as they go: http://blog.thearkworld.com/
Uhhhh: Swedish popstar Peter Jöback covers Travis with help from Kate Pierson of The B52s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4t6MgdXqWo
Peter's new album "East side stories" comes out October 28 via Roxy Recordings.
Norwegian singer/songwriter Thomas Dybdahl will play the Viper Room in LA on November 5.
Almedal's forthcoming album on Luxury (due out November/December) now has a name: "Till kyrkogården"
Tomas Andersson Wij will release a new album early next year called "Spår" that he recorded over the summer with fellow Swedish singer/songwriter Tobias Fröberg producing. Tobias' wife Sandra Fröberg filmed the proceedings and has editem them together into a series of clips that will be posted online throughout the fall and winter as the release date approaches. See the first one now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSDK7Ae5LSs
Following up on the news that Despotz Records signed Pintandwefall, the label has confirmed they will be releasing the "Hero sounds" EP as a digital release in Sweden, Denmark and France in November with the full-length "Hong Kong, baby" to follow in March 2010. In other label news, Despotz will be working with Minty Fresh Records in America and Aporia Records in Canada to release Swedish lounge-rockers Hellsongs and their album "Hymns in the key of 666". Expect that one to come out in February 2010.
Black Star Foundation has signed Swedish noiserockers Affordable Hybrid and will be releasing their new album "No area, no criminals" on December 8, the same day they are putting out Pg.lost's new record "In never out".
The Soundtrack of Our Lives have a new video for the short track "Pineal gland hotel": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtRQA9vZmH8
Jonathan Johansson has a new video for his latest single "Aldrig ensam": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbWH5929cic