Copenhagen Records to sell 24-bit files

Gaffa reports that Copenhagen Records (Carpark North, Nephew) has seized the honor of being the first Danish label to offer lossless-quality music files for sale: http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/33351 (in Danish)

New Euro dates for Björn Kleinhenz

Björn Kleinhenz will be touring extensively this fall:

09/24 - Hasenschaukel "About Songs / Reeperbahnfestival", Hamburg (GER)
09/25 - tba, Hannover (GER)
09/26 - Amp, Münster (GER)
09/27 - Kamp, Bielefeld (GER)
09/28 - Rotopol Gallery, Kassel (GER)
09/30 - tba, Cologne (GER)
10/01 - Cobra, Solingen (GER)
10/03 - tba, Frankfurt (GER)
10/04 - Cafe Video, Gent (BEL)
10/06 - Pop In, Paris (FRA)
10/08 - Mariaberg, Rorschach (CH)
10/09 - Kulturwerk 118, Sursee (CH)
10/10 - tba, Zurich (CH)
10/12 - Tikis Pub, Geneve (CH)
10/14 - La Salumeria del Rock, Reggio Emilia (ITA)
10/16 - Bar Sartea, Vicenza (ITA)
10/20 - Stille Post, Görlitz (GER)
10/22 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)
10/24 - House Show, Erlangen (GER)
10/29 - tba, Copenhagen (DK)

Keep an eye out for his new record "Burma" -- it's excellent.

Sincerely Yours presents JJ full-length CD

Sincerely Yours' latest release is a new full-length album from JJ entitled "No. 2": http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0115.php

Viola - Shimmery summery (sha-la-la love)

Viola has a new summery pop track for free download as part of their monthly single series: http://www.violamusicclub.com/

MP3: The Skull Defekts - Knives, birds, stones & pyramids

There are two version of The Skull Defekts' new album "The temple". First we have the CD version, an continuation of the "rock" direction exhibited by the band on "Blood spirits & drums are singing". Drums, guitar, vocals and more drums playing riff-oriented jams -- they may not usually concede to typical pop idioms such as verses, chorus and so-on, but it most definitely rocks in solid head-nodding fashion. We also have the 2xLP version of "The temple" which takes all of the the same songs as the CD and augments them with extra interludes, as recently heard on the more electronic/experimental/drone oriented "The drone drug" album. Personally, I prefer the former for it's more concise execution; as much as can appreciate the band's droning tendencies in all guises and forms, it's the rhythm-and-drum heavy sound that gets me going. "Knives, birds, stones & pyramids" is the opening salutation of "The temple" and it lays out everything you need to know: this is pure cult ritual set to a pounding beat and illustrated with cryptic symbols and pagan imagery. Sex and violence, man and beast -- it all comes together. In lesser hands, such other-worldly tourism might come across as preposterous, but they never over-sell it. Even without the message intact, as on the album's instrumentals, it's still all quality head-jammers.

The Skull Defekts - Knives, birds, stones & pyramids

Raised First unveil new album details, free track download

Swedish hardcore act Raised Fist will release their new album "Veil of ignorance" on September 7 via Burning Heart Records. Go here to download a free track ("Friends & traitors") in exchange for an email address: http://www.burningheart.com/raisedfist/

Göteborg passes law to limit street musicians

A new ordinance goes into effect on July 1 in Göteborg prohibiting street musicians from performing without a permit: http://www.thelocal.se/20362/20090630/
Jerry Bowman of Musik enligt Jerry/The Tram Sessions/TV4 responds: http://musikenligtjerry.blogspot.com/2009/06/lat-inget-tysta-er.html (in Swedish)

The Pirate Bay sells out

Swedish company Global Gaming Factory X has announced that they will be purchasing The Pirate Bay for 60 million SEK, half up front and in cash. They plan on relaunching the site as a legal service. Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/global-gaming-factory-x-acquisitions-of-the-pirate-bay-and-new-file-sharing-technology-p2p-20

Amir Chamdin unveils new project: Mean Streets

Amir Chamdin of Infinite Mass has a new solo project called Mean Streets which will be releasing his Nicke Andersson-produced (The Hellacopters, Death Breath, etc.) album on September 30 via Sheriff Records. Hear a track at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/amirchamdin

Grand Avenue confirm new album, single

Danish act Grand Avenue will release their fourth album on September 28. Hear the first single "Almost gone" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/grdavenue

Indie Rock Reviews loves Kristofer Åström

Kristofer Åström is Indie Rock Reviews' band of the week: [click here]
Read their gushing review of his most recent album "Sinkadus" right here.

Pfork on the new Love Is All EP

Pitchfork reviews Love Is All's new "Last choice" EP: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13093-last-choice-ep/

Mr. Halberstad introduces the band

Göteborg-based artist Tomas Halberstad has got himself a new backing band: http://tomashalberstad.com/2009/06/28/proper-introductions/

Tingsek - Coming back to you

Tingsek has a new song called "Coming back to you" streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tingsek
The new album of the same title comes out September 30.

Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat radio

Stereogum has the premiere of the new Sondre Lerche single "Heartbeat radio": http://stereogum.com/archives/new-sondre-lerche-heartbeat-radio-stereogum-premie_075022.html