New album from Imperial Leather in September
Swedish hardcore act Imperial Leather reports that they have completed work on their 3rd album "Unconditional conditions". Expect a September release.
All Scandinavian top 10 YTD
All Scandinavian presents their top 10 albums of the year thus far:
Tingsek partners with BAM
MI reports that Swedish artist Tingsek and his label World Of Its Own Recordings will be working with Bonnier Amigo for his next album: http://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/878/Tingsek.html (in Swedish)
Beyond Dawn retrospective finally getting released
Beyond Dawn's long-awaited retrospective collection "Bygones", containing the group's early doom-heavy EPs "Longing for scarlet days" and "Up through the linear shades" plus various demo tracks, is finally on the way back from the printer and is available for preorder. Full details: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=394452287&blogId=493918373
WaPo Express interviews Jonas Kullhammar
The Washington Post Express talks to Swedish jazz heavy Jonas Kullhammar in anticipation of his performances at Nordic Music Week: http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/06/jonas_kullhammar.php
'The snake' to get North American release
Wildbirds & Peacedrums' album "The snake" will finally get a North American release on August 25 via The Control Group.
The Raveonettes to release demos via Twitter
The Raveonettes are letting fans keep up with them in the studio by posting demo tracks via Twitter: http://twitter.com/theraveonettes
MP3: Turboweekend - Sweet Jezebel
As I hinted at in my review, one of Turboweekend's strongest assets is their ability to take their songs into strange, unreal dimensions. On tracks like "Sweet Jezebel" it's subtle, but it's there: "I saw the rush hour stop for you / It didn't seem like it was new to you / My eyes touched your skin like dust and grime" I can see it play out in my mind; time stops when their eyes meet, but only for a moment. The sort of experience that later causes you to question if it was real. Furthermore: "In my dream I heard the word from you / Telling me exactly what to do / For you to turn back the clockworks of your mind" The spell is more than mere symbolism. The music is similarly evocative -- slow and languid, with a steady pulse and keening synths. As with everything they do, the sound is surprisingly minimal as well. Instrumentation is sparse, but thick with atmosphere which fills the gaps between the synth/bass/drums/vocals arrangement. Listen to how they twist the melody towards the end, too. The vocals soar with the final, climatic chorus, but the harmonies moves in unexpected ways. It's a thing of subtle beauty.
Turboweekend - Sweet Jezebel
You Know, For Kids! preps two powerpop reissues
You Know, For Kids!, the classic Swedish punk reissue imprint run by the folks at Imperial Recordings, have two new albums on the way. First up is the 1981 self-titled full-length from Kommissarie Roy, a band that the Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk files under "Peripheral Bands" and labels as powerpop. Second is the album "Små röda, lätta regndroppar" from Noise, yet another Klippan-based powerpop act that released their sole full-length in '81. June 17 is the release date for both and this will be the first time either are available on CD.
New Adjagas album in October
Trust Me Records reports that the new Adjagas is being mastered this week and is scheduled for an October release.
Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band - We got it!
Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band teamed up with the Copenhagen library system for a little co-promotion entitled "We got it!" Go get it: http://www.we-got-it.dk/
Hell On Wheels live at Nudie and on the web
Swedish indierockers Hell On Wheels will be performing live at Nudie Jeans in Stockholm tomorrow June 10 at 7:30pm local time where they will be premiering new material. Even better, you can watch it live online: http://hybrism.blogspot.com/2009/06/world-premiere-for-three-new-songs-by.html
No idea why the countdown lacks a day(s) column, but there you go.
Cloudberry Cake Proselytism uncovers the mystery of Boys Like Charlotte
Cloudberry Cake Proselytism uncovers the mystery of Swedish indiepop act Boys Like Charlotte: http://cloudberryrecords.com/blog/?p=1096
Milberg - It was the end
Fluxblog has a track from Lisa Milberg (The Concretes) today: http://www.fluxblog.org/2009/06/cant-think-about-too-much-too-hard
Antifilm album preview
Statler & Waldorf is currently streaming the new album "IO" from Danish electronic artist Antifilm: http://www.statler-waldorf.dk/releases/io.php