Liechtenstein has a new website
Swedish indiepoppers Liechtenstein have a nice and simple new website: http://www.fractiondiscs.se/liechtenstein
Pitchfork reviews I Was A King
Pitchfork reviews Norwegian act I Was A King: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13229-i-was-a-king/
Ping confirm new album
Swedish act Ping will release the new album "Discotheque of darkness" on August 1 via Luftwaffel Records in both gatefold vinyl and CD format. Full details here: http://www.thepingpage.com/2009/06/discotheque-of-darkness-to-be-released-august-1st/
Says the band: "The music may be described as manure for your spiritual growth."
GeneralKnas to release new album + free download
Swedish reggae artist GeneralKnas (Svenska Akadamien) will release the new album "Charmörerna presenterar GeneralKnas med vänner" on June 24 and you can download the first track "Delelelelelelelikat" (feat. Kapten Röd) right here: http://www.betraktaren.com/svenska_akademien/default.asp?sida=nyheter&undersida=1
Release the Bats! to release Utmarken comp
Release the Bats! is working on a 10" compilation of Utmarken-related/Göteborg-based underground acts which should be available in July. Artists featured include Ättestupa, White, Källarbarnen and Street Drinkers.
Darkthrone album reviews
Word on the street has it that Darkthrone's next album this fall will be called "Black mountain totem".
Loney Dear to tour US with Asobi Seksu
Loney Dear is coming back to North America to tour with Asobi Seksu in late September:
09/30 - Casbah, San Diego, CA
10/01 - Troubador, Los Angeles, CA
10/02 - Slims, San Francisco, CA
10/03 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
10/04 - Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
10/06 - Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, BC
10/09 - 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
10/10 - Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
10/11 - Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
10/12 - Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON
10/13 - Il Motore, Montreal, Quebec
10/14 - Great Scott, Boston, MA
10/15 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
10/16 - Maxwells, Hoboken, NJ
10/17 - Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia, PA
Eläkeläiset goes punk
Why didn't I know that Eläkeläiset released an EP of them doing humppa versions of various Finnish punk classics? See here: http://www.humppa.com/jokisenvalinta/cddvde.html
Sheesh, if only Finnish wasn't such an impenetrable language. Anyhow: I want it!
Infinite Mass - Area turns red 09
Swedish dance act Infinite Mass have released a brand new version of their single "Area turns red", now with guestspots from Adam Tensta and Eboi -- get it via DJ Silence: http://djsilenceblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/infinite-mass-feat-adam-tensta-eboi_4697.html
Disco Ensemble - Back on the MF street (video)
Check out the new Disco Ensemble video for "Back on the MF street": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVk_Uwg9J_U&fmt=18
The Legends - You won
Labrador is giving away yet another song from The Legends as a free download: http://www.labrador.se/YouWon/TheLegends-You_won.mp3
Television Keeps Us Apart touring France
Swedish indiepop duo Television Keeps Us Apart are touring France later this month:
06/23 - Le Cri de la Mouette, Toulouse
06/24 - Le Truskel, Paris
06/25 - Pop In, Paris
06/26 - Rigoletto, Paris
The band's album "A slight change of light" will be released on June 30 via Series Two.
MP3: Kap Kap - Saigon
The a-side of Kap Kap's self-titled debut EP is actually the weakest link; "Fullmooner" (along with the better/expanded Bangkok Impact remix of the same) offers up a proggy funk instrumental that devolves into a disco jam, something that I imagine is about a thousand times more fun to play than it is to listen to. It's not entirely without its charms as much as it is forgettable, but holy moly, the three cuts on the flip more than make up for it. The meandering psychrock gets shelved in favor of a side-long Krautrock workout full of endlessly building riffs and the kind of sweet repetition repetition repetition that very few bands can successfully pull off. "Saigon" takes things nice and slow, starting with the bass. It's a full sound, with a deep tone and a rough edge. The rest of the band comes on slowly doing call-and-response, while the rhythm section pushes onward. A mid-section build-up gives way to strings and surprises and again, the rhythm section keeps slogging forward. It's the flipside to Paper's high-anxiety postpunk; the same circular style, but stretched out and worn down. The other two b-side cuts are similarly great, but this one is definitely the high-water mark.
Kap Kap - Saigon
PopMatters recommends Opsvik & Jennings
PopMatters reviews half-Norwegian duo Opsvik & Jennings and their new album "A dream I used to remember": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/94619-opsvik-jennings-a-dream-i-used-to-remember/
New Andreas Bertilsson album this fall?
Swedish avant/experimental label Komplott says that the new Andreas Bertilsson album "Själens Ö" is currently in production and is scheduled to wrap up around mid-summer.