The Radio Dept. offer live NYC bootleg for download
The Radio Dept. are offering a recent NYC live show as a free download: http://theradiodept.com/Discography/Misc/New_York.php
The Incredible Steel Erectors now Narcisco
Chicago-style Swedish noiserockers The Incredible Steel Erectors have rechristened themselves Narcisco. More here: http://www.narcisco.se/
Massproduktion 30th bday party
Swedish label Massproduktion will be celebrating their 30th anniversary on June 6 at the Sundsvall Stadshus. Details here: http://www.massproduktion.com/
Iconcrash signs to Dynasty Records
Finnish dark rock act Iconcrash has officially signed with Dynasty Records. See the video for their latest single "Strange, strange dark star" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxqdcz8QwNs
Avent-garde Metal interviews Code
Avant-garde Metal talks to Aort from international black-metal act Code: http://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=103
Asha Ali update
Asha Ali says that she is planning to release her new album in August. Also, Pontus Levahn from Tiger Lou/Torpedo has been enlisted as her new drummer.
Listen to 'Beg for it'
Swedish glamrockers Hardcore Superstar are streaming their new album "Beg for it" at their website: http://www.hardcoresuperstar.com/media.shtml
The Silent Ballet reviews The Gentleman Losers
The Silent Ballet reviews the new album "Dustland" from Finnish shoegazers The Gentleman Losers: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2413/Default.aspx
Mew - Introduce palace players
There's a new song from Mew available for streaming: http://www.imeem.com/people/x-1GWzp/music/voaXy8Gu/mew-introducing-palace-players/
Pixie Carnation
Fresh poems
self-released
"Fresh poems" exists very much in the shadow of Arcade Fire's "Neon bible", an influence that pervades every track on this spectacular EP, though, in Pixie Carnation's defense, the Springsteen-styled, Wall of Sound indierock overdrive of "Neon bible" in many ways resembles what Scandinavian artists have been bringing to the table for years. Still... there's no way to not immediately think of Arcade Fire when "Fresh poems" blisters alive with "When did the lights go out?", but, honestly, I can't see anyone really caring too much. There's a huge difference between an overwhelming influence on a talented group of musicians and that same influence on a less gifted bunch -- and Pixie Carnation fall very much into the first category, allowing this EP to feel more part of a movement started by Arcade Fire and less like a band trying to be them. Besides, a band should ultimately be judged on the quality of their songwriting and "Fresh poems" is brilliant from start to finish. The dense layers of instrumentation have a deft agility that keeps them flooding ever-forward in driving, anthemic waves instead of being rendered cumbersome constructs of noise, and this kinetic energy permeates every song, from the discord that "When did the lights go out?" emerges from to the brilliant ending of the title-track -- a gorgeous explosion that solidifies Pixie Carnation as a fantastic new voice from the Swedish south.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Magtens Korridorer working on new album in Malmö
Gaffa reports that Magtens Korridorer are at Tambourine Studios in Malmö working on their 3rd album together with Per Sunding (Eggstone): http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/32852
Expect a single in late summer with the album to follow in fall.
Ep's Trailer Park - Black heart
The recently reactivated Ep's Trailer Park finally have new music to share and have posted the song "Black heart" for streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/epstrailerpark
Fellow Swedes Christian Kjellvander and Frida Öhrn (Oh Laura) guest on backing vocals.
MP3: Didium and the Black Bonnie Picture - You wanna stay
Didium and The Black Bonnie Picture fare reasonably well as far as listenable alt-rock goes, but I can only get about halfway through their album "Whimsical beauty" before mind-numbing ennui sets in. No amount of sweetly layered female vocals, strings nor saxophone is going to change that. It's not that they're devoid of charm either, they've got a cute retro look and have apparently pleased enough people in high places to secure substantial financial backing and international distribution outside Denmark, but I remain unmoved. Listen to the superfluous scream at the start of their latest single "You wanna stay" -- are you excited? Do you feel the, uh, electricity? Forced enthusiasm is the worst and these guys have it in spades. Listen as Didium bites the I's and Un's just before the 2-minute mark; is that really necessary? Please, just give it a rest. You're a nice guy and you can't escape it. No doubt there's plenty of people out there who will think this is just edgy enough thankyouverymuch, but I am not one of those.
Didium and the Black Bonnie Picture - You wanna stay
The Swede Beat #4
The latest issue of email newsletter The Swede Beat just went out: http://campaign-archive.com/?u=80b566c77cc8873e0857b5dea&id=4ffdad2e4d
Featured artists include Adiam Dymott, Andreas Tilliander, Fever Ray and Titiyo.
Nordic Jazz Week comes to Washington DC in June
The Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish embassies are teaming up for Nordic Jazz Week in mid-June in Washington DC. Here's the schedule:
06/14 - Embassy of Finland w/Karikko (FIN), Bjørn Solli Quartet (NOR)
06/16 - House of Sweden Rooftop w/Jonas Kullhammar Quartet (SWE), Karikko (FIN), Søren Kjærgaard Trio (DK)
06/17 - House of Sweden Rooftop w/The Sunna Gunnlaugs Quartet (ICE), Nils Petter Molvær & Arve Henriksen (NOR), Jonas Kullhammar Quartet (SWE)
Jonas Kullhammar will also perform at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center on June 19.