Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (not just Susanna) will release the new album "3" on August 24 via Rune Grammofon. Preview the track "Palpatine's dream" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/susannamagical
Jonna Lee's next single "Lake Chermain" will be released in May via Razzia Records and will include a b-side remix by Håkan Lidbo. In other Razzia single news, Adiam Dymott's new single "Pizza" will be officially released on May 13.
Norway's Like Rats from a Sinking Ship are leaving on a short European tour this week:
04/17 - Fängelset, Göteborg (SWE)
04/18 - Huset i Magestræde, København (DK)
04/22 - Exit, Rotterdam (NL)
04/24 - Vort'n Vis, Ieper (BEL)
04/25 - L'Entract, Tournai (BEL)
04/28 - Le Pixi, Paris (FRA)
04/30 - Elfer, Frankfurt (GER)
05/01 - Lokal, Berlin (GER)
Listen to two new songs from Norwegian jazz trio In the Country at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/inthecountrytrio
The group's new album "Whiteout" will be released on May 25.
Norwegian indie act I Was A King will tour the US in late May:
05/26 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
05/27 - Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, OH
05/28 - M Room, Philadelphia, PA
05/29 - Harper’s Ferry, Allston, MA
05/30 - Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
05/31 - Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY
06/01 - Black Cat, Washington DC
06/05 - Hailey's, Denton, TX
06/08 - Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ
06/09 - Casbah, San Diego, CA
06/10 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
06/11 - Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA
06/13 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
06/14 - Neumos, Seattle, WA
Check out Le Corbeau's new video for "L'innocence revient encore/Rêve d'ivresse": http://vimeo.com/4147184
As mentioned before, Le Corbeau is the solo project of Øystein Sandsdalen from Angora Static/Serena Maneesh/Infidels Forever. His debut album "Evening chill/Montréal of the mind" will be out May 25 via Fysisk Format.
Disco Ensemble's new EP "Back on MF Street" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/discoensemble
Hammerfall got themselves in a bit of trouble for trashing a hotel room in Austria: http://www.thelocal.se/18868/20090415/
Let's Say We Did, the new band of Sebastian Fors from Sebastian Fors & The Ones That Got Away, has a new track posted at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/letssaywedidmusic
Peace In Our TimeThe other day, while walking down the street, I caught myself with one of the songs from Peace In Our Time's debut album "A glimpse of happiness" in my head. Given all the background noise of everyday life here in Berlin, that's quite a compliment to give. Still, I've had a hard time to "connect" with the album's 15 songs. Aesthetically, the acoustic strumming, the vintage drum-computer beats, and the effortless singing by one-man bandleader Johan Regner easily appeal to anyone who likes a modern take on "classic" indiepop. It's the content that made the difference for me, though: While Johan obviously has quite a talent for producing catchy melodies (and seemingly is a very productive songwriter as well), the lyrics are a bit too direct and unimaginative at times. I might sound harsh to criticize someone's lyrics like this but, as always in pop-music, this can only be a matter of personal taste. For me, the record's lyrical deficiencies make it shift from potential hit to background music, which is a shame given all the melodic potential it contains. I'm left hoping that maybe Peace In Our Time's next record will lyrically be on par with this promising tunefullness. But then again, maybe Johan's lyrical style just isn't mine, who knows.
- Arnulf Köhncke
Norwegian indie act The New Wine is offering up a few tracks for free download: http://newwinemusic.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/free-downloads/
The band is currently touring Europe as support for The Whitest Boy Alive.
Norwegian shoegazer/postpunk act The Murder Mystery is back with four new tracks streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/themurdermyst
Apparently a new album is on the way, but no details are available yet.
In case you missed my comment the other day, the new Sonic Ritual 7" is now in-stock and ready for order: [click here]
Swedish melodic hardcore act Atlas Losing Grip will be heading to Greece in May:
05/14 - Eightball Club, Thessaloniki
05/15 - Stage Club, Larisa
05/16 - AN Club, Athens
Swedish rockers Norma Bates are now streaming the new track "Dirty dog" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/normabates
