TSB reviews 'Grand letdown'
The Silent Ballet reviews the new Scraps of Tape album "Grand letdown", doesn't recognize the Minor Threat cover: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2355/Default.aspx
Tabu signs Company
Danish electro act Company has been picked up by Tabu Recordings and will soon be recording their debut album with producer Rune Rask (L.O.C., Suspekt, etc.). Hear a sample tune at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/companysound
Deportees - Will you talk (if I listen)
Check out the video for the new Deportees track "Will you talk (if I listen)": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KafMk0xwiYA&fmt=18
Callisto forced to cancel tour
Callisto has had a few health concerns recently which led to substitute members and cancelled dates, but now it appears that vocalist Jani Ala-Hukkala has undergone surgery and is being forced to chill out for the next 3 weeks. That means no European tour whatsoever. Read the full statement: http://www.callistochaos.com/news.html
Stream the new Murmansk album
Murmansk's excellent new record "Eleven eyes to shade" is currently streaming in its entirety at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/murmansktheband
Kongh out to conquer Europe
Swedish doom act Kongh is heading out on a European tour this weekend:
05/02 - Hacienda Sonic, Sierre (CH)
05/08 - Martha, Kiel (GER)
05/09 - Willemeen, Arnhem (NL)
05/10 - De Rots, Antwerpen (BEL)
05/11 - La Mécanique Ondulatoire, Paris (FRA)
05/13 - Edaska Rock Club, Barakalda, Bilbao (ESP)
05/14 - La Caverna de medussa, León (ESP)
05/15 - Bola 8, Gijón (ESP)
05/16 - Fabrica de som, Porto (POR)
05/17 - Ritmo y Compás, Madrid (ESP)
05/18 - Centro Civico la Fonteta, Barcelona (ESP)
05/19 - Baloard, Montpellier (FRA)
05/20 - Vicolo Stretto Pub, Colorno (Parma) (IT)
05/21 - Sinister Noise Club, Rome (IT)
05/22 - Tubecult Fest @ Orange Café, Pescara (IT)
05/23 - Scalo San Donato, Bologna (IT)
05/25 - Haus Mainusch, Mainz (GER)
05/26 - MTC, Cologne (GER)
New Tsukimono material now online, lots more to come
Tsukimono, aka Johan Gustavsson (Scraps of Tape, Thee Gutted String, etc.), has posted tracks from his latest release "Heart attack money" up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tsukimonoswe
Said album is out now via Kalligrammofon. In other related news, Johan tells me that he's working on a split with Dwayne Sodahberk that's just about done and will be released via Stuporsonika later this year. Naturally, I'll give you a heads-up when it's ready. But that's not all! Restless soul that he is, Johan is also working on a new project together with Jasper TX as well as the dark drone act Crowned With Horns, featuring members from Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words and Dead Vows. Definitely looking forward to hearing both of those...
MP3: Dear Euphoria - That you would
This is something that would've actually fit in perfectly with last week's quiet music theme, but I simply didn't have the time to put the figurative words to paper. In fact, featured artist David Åhlén shares production and engineering credits on a few tracks, including this one. Similarly, Dear Euphoria (aka Elina Johansson) is dark and mysterious, not too unlike Stina Nordenstam in some regards, but warmer and approachable, more analog and more intimate. 'Ghostlike' is the word my wife used to describe her voice just a few minutes ago when she walked by my office and was wondering who I listening to. Certainly can't argue with that, especially when Elina lets loose those huge harrowing swoops, way up towards the ether. It sounds so eerie and other-worldly and, of course, quite beautiful. So yeah, definitely not boo! scary! ghostlike, but still absolutely haunting. Very recommended!
Dear Euphoria - That you would
Pfork weighs in on 'Colonia'
Pitchfork reviews the new A Camp record "Colonia": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12973-colonia/
New Ondo in May
Look for a new limited edition CDr release from IAT.MP3 artist Pacta doom alias Ondo in May entitled "Regression".
Pato Pooh - Warrior (video)
The video for Swedish rapper Pato Pooh's new single "Warrior" is now up on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwENLlxmPyc&fmt=18
Melody Club
Goodbye to romance
Epic
For acts like Robyn and Lykke Li, straddling the genres of pop and indie has been the key to critical acclaim and popularity abroad rarely seen by Swedish artists. However, the same balancing act has not worked so well for Melody Club. They're a big name act at home, but are otherwise largely unknown. There are too many guitars for them to catch on with the foreign fans of September or Alcazar, yet they're just not cool enough to attract the indie bloggerati. Sweden may be the go-to place for all your cheesy pop or quirky indie needs, but the focus on those particular genres by most Scandophiles means that some of Sweden's best bands escape their attention.
If you have, by some miracle, heard a Melody Club album before, you'll know exactly what to expect from "Goodbye to romance". Disregarding the current trend to do the opposite, Melody Club have moved away from their original electropop sound and added more guitars and a stronger 1960s influence, but are still unmistakeably Melody Club. The infectious choruses and entertaining lyrics the band are known for are present on every track. After just a few listens, I feel attached to all of them individually and find it difficult to choose a standout. "Oh Candy call me"'s brilliantly catchy riff made it an early favourite, while anthemic recent single "Girls don't always wanna have fun" has been the biggest grower. However, the track that never seems to leave my head is "Where do I belong", a song that would have fit perfectly on my favourite Melody Club album, "Face the music".
While "Goodbye to romance" doesn't quite match up to "Face the music", it's one of my favourite albums of 2009 so far and thoroughly recommended to anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge of the Swedish music scene.
- Jessica Popper
Cilihili - Kitchen circus (video)
Check out Cilihili's new video for the song "Kitchen circus": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56499887
Three Dark Tranquillity reissues on the way, plus EP collection
Dark Tranquillity's mid-period album "Projector", "Haven" and "Damage done" will all be getting the reissue treatment in late May via Century Media with new slipcase artwork and various bonus tracks. The label is also putting out a collection of older material entitled "Yesterworlds" featuring the 1991 demo "Trail of life decayed" plus the "A moonclad reflection" 7" EP from 1992. Full tracklist details here: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=118900
The Bones across Europe
Swedish rockers The Bones have lined up some summer dates around Europe, mostly with Social Distortion:
06/08 - Bataclan, Paris (FRA)
06/19 - Zitedelle, Berlin (GER)
06/28 - Devil Side, Duisburg (GER)
06/30 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
07/06 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
07/08 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London (UK)