Arvid is way too hi-fi to ride the wave of hype surrounding similar synthpop revival acts such as Cold Cave or whatever (and not nearly prolific enough either), but musically speaking, they're in similar territory. I'm sure some underground purists will scoff at that notion, but come on now -- let's be honest folks. They're all mining the same sounds Depeche Mode perfected ages ago, though yes, I concede that Arvid is firmly on the poppier side of things. Regardless, it's not quite as driving/pounding/industrial as I normally like this style to be, but whatever. It's succeeds at doing what it intends. I suppose that if you ever wondered what a melodramatic act like Kent would sound like minus guitars, Arvid might fill in the blanks.
Arvid - Kom och ta
Long-running Swedish death metal act Unleashed has signed with Nuclear Blast.
Mew has confirmed a small batch of headliner dates in the Americas:
08/22 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
08/24 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
09/01 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
09/04 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
09/10 - Vive Cuervo Salón, Mexico City
09/11 - Teatro Estudio Cavaret, Guadalajara, Jalisco
It's taken them 4 years, but Swedish female electronic/experimental act Midaircondo is back with the new album "Curtain call", due out September 16 via their own newly-established label Twin Seed Recordings. Hear the title track at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/midaircondo
The Independent reports on the latest batch of Swedish artists to make inroads onto the international music scene: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sweden--statesponsored-rock-valhalla-1758704.html
Nomethod fall release schedule:
09/07 - Aerial - All refrain mp3 single
09/18 - Mixtapes & Cellmates - Soon mp3 single
09/23 - Anoraak (FRA) - Nightdrive with you CDEP
10/07 - Aerial - Put it this way in headlines CD/DVD
10/28 - Mixtapes & Cellmates - Rox CD/LP/DVD/CS
Erik de Vahl has self-released a new album entitled "Scattered vacations/As I am beating", a double-CDr collection which consists of various recordings he has made from 2007 until now including his Service Coop single "Got it all" and two cuts which Friendly Noise previously released as free downloads. Go here for more info, samples and ordering info: http://www.erikdevahl.com/
Stockholm-based Kraut/art-rockers Norma report that they have just finished mixing their new record. Expect an autumn release.
The new Katatonia album will be called "Night is the new day" and will be released in Europe on October 19 via Peacevill Records. The North American release date will be October 27.
Finnish noiserockers Echo Is Your Love say that they are done with their new album. Release date and details are still tba.
The next Skull Defekts album will be released via Malmö-based label Deleted Art. Expect an early 2010 release.
Check out a short trailer for Swedish hardcore act Jesaiah's upcoming debut album "Et tu, hope", due out this fall via Black Star Foundation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjB_2MBFjqE&fmt=18
The esteemed Mr. Björn Kleinhenz reports that his (superb!) new album "B.U.R.M.A." will be released on September via Devil Duck Records in Germany, Tomt Recordings in Sweden and SellOut! Music in Norway. Also, Spanish label American Typewriter will be teaming up with Tomt for a vinyl release around the same time. Björn also says he'll be putting together a limited-edition booklet of drawings and notes to accompany said album and pre-order details for that will be available soon. In other news, Björn's recent mp3 album "Head held high on fearsome pride" will be released on CD via Rotopol Press in a limited screen-printed version. And that's not all! Björn also says he is working on a translation of the Sture Dahlström novel "Tango För Enbenta" which he hopes to also have finished by September in time for tour. Wow, busy guy! Look for exact tourdates and ordering details soon.
Mikkel and Ivan from Oliver North Boy Choir have started a new band called The Boombox Hearts which they describe as "sort of 60ies pop meeting lo-fi meeting country meeting indie." Check out their blog for download links and more details: http://boomboxhearts.blogspot.com/
Apparently Mikkel and Ivan also started another band, but that one doesn't have a name yet, nor does it have any recordings. Keep an eye out for details to come later...
Hedningarna, possibly my favorite modern Swedish folk group, will be playing a bunch of dates soon after a long period of inactivity:
07/30 - Parapanda Folk, Illora (ESP)
07/31 - Intercéltico de Sendim, Sendim (POR)
08/01 - Pardiñas Festival, Lugo (ESP)
08/04 - Fashing, Stockholm (SWE)
08/05 - Warfsholmen, Klintehamn (SWE)
08/07 - Kulturbrottet, Hide (SWE)
08/15 - RonnebyFolk, Ronneby (SWE)
The likewise excellent Hurdy Gurdy will be joining them on all Swedish dates.