Skull Defekts Euro tour in 2010
The Skull Defekts will be touring Europe in late February/early March. Dates soon.
New Björn Kleinhenz tracks now streaming
Björn Kleinhenz has posted a couple new tracks from the album "B.U.R.M.A." for streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bjornkleinhenz
Avner track review at Pitchfork
Pitchfork reviews Swedish artist Avner's Daniel Johnston cover: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11473-kanslor/
PB&J to take EPDM on the road
Swedes Peter Bjorn and John and El Perro Del Mar will be doing a number of US dates together:
11/07 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
11/08 - Theater of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
11/10 - Terminal 5, New York, NY
11/11 - Phoenix Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
11/12 - Metro, Chicago, IL
11/13 - Gargoyle Club, St. Louis, MO
11/14 - House of Blues, Dallas, TX
11/15 - La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX
11/17 - Rialto Theater, Tucson, AZ
11/18 - House of Blues, San Diego, CA
11/19 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
11/20 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
11/21 - Club Nokia, Los Angeles, CA
Efterklang to 4AD
4AD has signed Efterklang to their illustrious roster and will be releasing the band's third studio album sometime in early 2010.
MP3: Titiyo - Longing for lullabies
The Kleerup version was already a hit and was easily one of his album's highlights, but as far as I'm concerned, that's not saying too much. A decent tune among a bunch of mediocre formulaic pop songs and even-weaker instrumentals is still a decent tune, but it's not necessarily anything all that special. Good thing Titiyo includes "Longing for lullabies" again on her new record "Hidden" because once again it's a standout among other lesser works. However, I'd actually say her solo version is all that special. The lowkey approach and darker mood seems far more fitting than Kleerup's electro version, especially when you compare the two vocal takes. If you want to hear actual longing sung in a lullaby fashion, this is the one.
Titiyo - Longing for lullabies
Kornstad's 'Dwell time' up for preview
Norwegian sax player Håkon Kornstad has posted his entire new album "Dwell time" for streaming preview: http://www.kornstad.com/
I've been fortunate enough to get a digital promo and can confirm that it's a stunner, possibly a year-end contender; subdued and gorgeous.
September Malevolence RIP
Swedish postrock act September Malevolence is no more: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=38220343&blogId=508440746
Mew
No more stories/are told today/I'm sorry/they washed away//no more stories/the world is grey/I'm tired/let's wash away
Sony/BMG
It is finally here. It took Danish masters of experimental, ethereal pop a whole four years to release a follow-up to the internationally well-received "And the glass handed kites". In the meantime Mew have become a trio. Bassist Johan Wohlert left the band in 2006 in order to become a father. This new album, which bears a poem for a title, finds Mew working again with Rich Costey, who produced their 2003 album "Frengers" and has worked with bands such as Muse, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand and Glasvegas.
Jonas Bjerre's unusually high-pitched voice remains emblematic of the band's sound, though "No more stories..." is, on the surface, slower-paced, more approachable and less complex than its predecessor. On the other hand, it is also dreamy, at times pompous, with countless mood changes and a complete absence of obvious hooks. "Repeater beater" and the single "Introducing palace players" (which, by the way, has a spectacular and very enigmatic video clip) are the two best tracks, while the epic "Cartoons and macreme wounds" is an undisputed highlight. The album's reverberated, multilayered arrangements are compelling, and although "No more stories..." tries to be brighter than "And the glass handed kites", it miserably fails in the end. On top of that, I still haven't got the slightest clue what Mew are trying to communicate with their lyrics. All in all, with their newest effort Mew seem darker, more distant and incomprehensible than ever before. And precisely that's their beauty.
- Vasilis Panagiotopoulos
Wildbirds & Peacedrums confirm 7" single
Wildbirds & Peacedrums will be releasing "My heart" on a 7" single with a "bluesy guitar-driven" remix by Deerhoof on the flip. The digital version of said single will also include a remix by Hortlax Cobra aka John Eriksson of Peter Bjorn and John and another from Portland, OR-based artists AU. Official release date is September 7. Check out the video for the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvsR_vVJXSM
Dusted reviews Kiila
Dusted on the new album "Tuota tuota" from Fonal Records act Kiila: http://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5219
Hanne Hukkelberg tourdates
Norwegian artist Hanne Hukkelberg is back in the US this month for a few select shows:
09/10 - The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
09/11 - The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY
09/13 - Black Cat, Washington DC
09/14 - The Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
09/15 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
09/16 - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
09/18 - Hotel Café, Los Angeles, CA
The Elephants at Fluxblog
Fluxblog on Danish act The Elephants: http://www.fluxblog.org/2009/09/moving-like-a-snake-when-it-is-christmas
PopMatters reviews Mew, Datarock and Anna Ternheim
Lots of Scandinavian reviews at PopMatters today including the latest from Mew, Datarock and Anna Ternheim.
A Perfect Friend - Picture
A Perfect Friend are currently streaming a new track at myspace called "Picture": http://www.myspace.com/aperfectfriend
Very possibly the best material I've heard from them so far.