Jaa9 & OnklP sign to Sony
Norwegian rap duo Jaa9 & OnklP have been picked up by Sony Music and will be releasing the new single "Glir forbi" this summer.
Mata de Leon - Headlights (video)
Unsigned Swedish indierock/pop act Mata de Leon have a new video for the song "Headlights" and have it posted for streaming at their website: http://www.matadeleon.com/
Mats Grönmark - Clam without a shell
Check out the video for "Clam without a shell" from Swedish artist Mats Grönmark (Burek V): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQBK7YRXq-s&fmt=18
Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson - We may be remembered by what we did when we sat down (video)
Norwegian postrock act Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson have a brand new video for the track "We may be remembered by what we did when we sat down": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLJvUR15rYs&fmt=18
Cloudberry to release split CDr feat. Boa Constrictor
Cloudberry Records' next split 3" CDR, due out June 15, will feature Swedish act Boa Constrictor paired with The Cavalcade from the UK. Samples at the label's site: http://www.cloudberryrecords.com/
Pirate Love in North America
In case you were wondering where Pirate Love is actually playing in the North America later this month, here is their tour itinerary:
06/18 - El Mocambo (NXNE), Toronto
06/19 - Supernova Party @ The Poor Alex (NXNE), Toronto
06/19 - VICE Magazine BBQ Party (NXNE), Toronto
06/20 - Neutral Lounge (NXNE), Toronto
06/23 - Glasslands, Brooklyn, NY
06/25 - Piano's, NYC, NY
Shiloh working on new EP
Swedish indie act Shiloh just started to record a new EP way out in (fucking) Åmål and will be blogging as they go: http://theshilohband.blogspot.com/
The Open Up and Bleeds line up new releases
The Open Up and Bleeds will be releasing the single "Stiv Bators in all of us" b/w "It takes a band"/"Friedrichshain by night" via netlabel Sounds of Zilence. No exact date yet, just "soon." There will also be a physical CD version and a video in the future, as well as a full-length album in the fall.
The Carny - Mama will come home
Listen to The Carny's new single "Mama will come home" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thecarnyband
June 10 is the official release date.
Pistol Disco 'Evergreen' now streaming
Pistol Disco's forthcoming album "Evergreen" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pistoldisco
Head to Celebrity Lifestyle Records' website to preorder: http://www.celebritylifestylerecords.com/
Mimas on tour
Danish postrockers Mimas are leaving on tour today:
06/08 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
06/09 - Live At Dot, Berlin (GER)
06/10 - Studio 672, Köln (GER)
06/11 - The Grand Wazoo, Amiens (FRA)
06/12 - L’escalier, Liège (BEL)
06/13 - Mécanique ondulatoire, Paris (FRA)
06/14 - Radio Planet Claire Session, Paris (FRA)
06/15 - The Boschbar, Zurich (CH)
06/17 - D:Qliq (LUX)
06/18 - The Captain Tavern, Rouen (FRA)
06/19 - Cafe Du Clain, Poitiers (FRA)
06/20 - Le Sambre, Rennes (FRA)
06/21 - Fête De La Musique, Nantes (FRA)
06/23 - Le Cri De La Mouette, Toulouse (FRA)
06/24 - Localypso II, Pau- Lons (FRA)
06/25 - Fotomaton, Madrid (ESP)
06/26 - Sala El Vermell, Barcelona, Manrese (ESP)
06/27 - Sala InCivíc Zone, Barcelona (ESP)
06/28 - The Sonic, Lyon (FRA)
MP3: Black Sheep - We're gonna die
Regarding this: to give you an idea of how backlogged I am, I received Black Sheep's demo way back in mid-November last year and it's been on my to-do list ever since, but only now did I finally find the time to write it up. A lot of stuff ends up falling by the wayside along the way, but I really do honestly try to cover as many acts as I can, it just takes me awhile sometimes. Anyhow, as I said in the review, Black Sheep play a shambly sort of thick-headed punk/hardcore that takes me back to my formative teen years, when such single-minded nihilism was all I wanted to hear. "We're gonna die" is their strongest anthem and it perfectly compasses everything they're about. It's gruff without being too overtly macho. The lyrics are pure negativity and pessimism. It's also a solid head-nodding tempo without descending into the two-chord dirge that seems popular as of late. One-and-a-half minutes and done, that's all you need. In other words, the best of both pre- and post-Rollins era Black Flag. I wouldn't say they're ready for the international stage just yet, but I like it a lot and am curious where they're at now, seven months down the road.
Black Sheep - We're gonna die
Ef to spend June in Euroland
Swedish postrock act Ef is heading out this week on their 10th European tour:
06/09 - Bahnhof Langendreer, Bochum (GER)
06/10 - Special Show w/Halo Of Pendor @ Club Keller, Frankfurt (GER)
06/11 - Peter Pan, Bellinzona (CH)
06/12 - B-Sides Festival, Luzern (CH)
06/13 - Zwölf zehn, Stuttgart (GER)
06/14 - B72, Wien (AUS)
06/15 - VK, Brussel (BEL)
06/16 - Karlstorbanhof, Heidelberg (GER)
06/17 - Bierstindl, Innsbruck (AUS)
06/18 - Cafe Del Cristallo, Bolzano (ITA)
06/19 - Forum Stadtpark, Graz (AUS)
06/20 - Engelsburg - Krämenbruckenfest, Erfurt (GER)
06/21 - Special Show w/Michailov @ Hans Wurst, Berlin (GER)
06/22 - Dot Club (LiveAtDot), Berlin (GER)
06/23 - Pod Jaszczurami, Krakow (POL)
06/24 - UT Connewitz, Leipzig (GER)
06/25 - Fusion Festival, Lärz (GER)
06/26 - Beatpol, Dresden (GER)
06/27 - Hafen 2 Open Air Festival, Offenbach (GER)
06/28 - Hafenklang, Hamburg (GER)
Pitchfork reviews Liechtenstein
Pitchfork reviews the new Liechtenstein album "Survival strategies in a modern world": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13144-survival-strategies-in-a-modern-world/
Due diligence is lacking
I may act like a know-it-all sometimes, but I am far from infallible -- many thanks to Svein Egil Hatlevik (Zweizz) for pointing out regarding this and this that Rune Grammofon previously released Archetti/Wiget's debut "Low tide digitals" in 2001, which was officially the label's first non-Norwegian release. And let us not forget Danes Skyphone either, which makes me feel extra dumb because I even have one of their albums and like it.