Under the Radar reviews Those Dancing Days
Under the Radar is only moderately impressed by Those Dancing Days: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/in_our_space_hero_suits/
Chromewaves reports on The Radio Dept. in NYC
Chromewaves gives decent marks to The Radio Dept.'s recent NYC performances: http://www.chromewaves.net/2009/05/nyc-popfest-with-the-radio-dept-pants-yell-the-secret-history-eux-autres-and-computer-perfection-at-the-bell-house-in-brooklyn/
Oh Land signs with Epic
Danish artist Oh Land has signed an international deal with Epic Records and will be travelling to the US later this month to begin work on her next album.
Burning Hearts
Aboa sleeping
Shelflife Records
Everything about Burning Hearts just seems to fit - from the beautifully conceived cover art (that reminds me of the early dust jackets of Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's cradle") to the whirling swells of pop instrumentation that provide the landscape for Jessika Rapo's voice (one that wonderfully channels Nico at times) to glide along. There is a twee playfulness reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura, but Burning Hearts are very much a collaboration that could only have come together in Scandinavia. Opener "I lost my colour vision" exists somewhere between Club 8 and Moonbabies, and "Aboa sleeping" continues to transverse this Nordic territory throughout with a dexterity that only echoes certain bands, Granada and The Chrysler among them, without feeling weighed down by their influence. "Aboa sleeping" is a lavishly imagined pop album, one where my favorite tracks has shifted almost every listen. There is one stumble on the record, however - the strangely conceived "The galloping horse" was removed from my iTunes quite quickly (I can only listen to the sound of heart arrhythmia and a narrator from a 1950s-style medical instructional film played over an arpeggiated synthline so many times). Stumbles and arrhythmia aside, "Aboa sleeping" is one of the best albums Shelflife has put out, and Burning Hearts have proven themselves one of the strongest members of a very strong label roster.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Revised release dates for Mew
The release date for Mew's new album "No more stories..." has been revised to August 17 with the new "No more stories EP" preceding it on June 29. Tracklist for both at Gaffa: http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/32699
Björn & Benny musical coming to the US
The Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus-penned musical "Kristina från Duvemåla" will get an English translation and the new version will premiere at Carnegie Hall in NYC this coming September.
Swedish for Beginners album now streaming
Indie act Swedish for Beginners are currently streaming their entire new album "Facts & fabrications" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/swedishforbeginners
It comes out on May 27 via Wonderland Records and a release party will be held on May 30 at Sticky Fingers in Göteborg with labelmates Quarterhorse.
Arvid - Hur kunde jag låta det ske (video)
Swedish electronic pop act Arvid has a new video for the song "Hur kunde jag låta det ske": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4dh9B7aX7Q&fmt=18
The Legends - Always the same
Labrador is giving away The Legends' new single "Always the same" as a free download: http://www.labrador.se/mp3/TheLegends_AlwaysTheSame.mp3
Stockholm Pride selects Marit Bergman for anthem
Aftonbladet reports that Marit Bergman will have the honor of composing this year's theme for Stockholm Pride: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article5184739.ab (in Swedish)
Esbjörn Hazelius to release solo debut in June
Bonnier Amigo will release Swedish folk artist Esbjörn Hazelius' debut solo album "Blunda och du ska få se" on June 3. Hear a couple tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/esbjornhazelius
Esbjörn is probably best known for being a member of Sofia Karlsson's backing band. If you like her music (as you should), you'll probably like this too.
Samuraj Cities - Spoonful of talk (video)
Samuraj Cities have a new video for the track "Spoonful of talk": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4UB-BKPyHk&fmt=18
More Bear Quartet studio reports
Day 7 in the studio with The Bear Quartet: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=42904576&blogId=490083933
Stream 'Lit de parade'
Norwegian drone artist Sten Ove Toft is currently streaming his entire "Lit de parade" album at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stenovetoft
Assid remixes Kristofer Åström
Check out the Assid remix of Kristofer Åström's song "Conjure me": http://kristoferontour.tumblr.com/post/110412147/conjure-me-assid-remix