When We Fall's final tour is just about 100% confirmed:
05/15 - GBG Rocks (Henriksberg), Gothenburg (SWE)
05/16 - T-stube, Rendsburg (GER)
05/17 - Rote flora, Hamburg (GER)
05/18 - tba
05/19 - tba
05/20 - Tba, Leauven (BEL)
05/21 - AK44, Gießen (GER)
05/22 - Elfer music club, Frankfurt (GER)
05/23 - Kastanienkeller, Berlin (GER)
05/24 - Imbir club, Krakow (POL)
05/25 - Subway to Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
05/26 - Az conni, Dresden (GER)
I can't say for sure if The Crystal Caravan always have sounded the way they do, but it seems to me that Dennis Lyxzén's production fingerprints are all over their debut full-length. Chicken or the egg, either way it's got some serious The (International) Noise Conspiracy boogie vibes, but instead of channeling The Nation of Ulysses, The Crystal Caravan draws more from The Allman Brothers or Eric Burdon and other Southern soul-inspired rock'n'roll. Same sweet keyboard tones, same shambly groove, different retro vibe. Aiming for the revival tent, not the garage. And mercifully, no tired sloganeering. I know Dennis' heart is in the right place, but so much of that stuff feels like climbing a mountain of sand. "Tombstone eyes" is easily the most driving tune off the album; it's a bit too well-oiled for my tastes, but I do dig those organ breaks and I'm sure it goes down much rougher live. Or at least that's what I've been led to believe; apparently vocalist Niklas "RG" Gustafsson has quite the reputation...?
The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes
Sonic Ritual and Sanctuary in Blasphemy just finished up a quick Scandinavian tour together, but it looks like their collaboration will continue: expect a split LP from the bands on High Roller Records in the near future. And if you're looking for a copy of Sonic Ritual's debut 7", I should be getting copies really soon.
JJ, the latest single from label Sincerely Yours, makes it into the Pitchfork track reviews: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11180-my-life-my-swag/
Champagne RiotSomewhere between the melodic realms of The Radio Dept. and Sambassadeur's "Migration" exists Champagne Riot's contribution to the Scandinavian electropop scene. The production is fantastic, the voice resting perfectly amongst the swells of synthesizers and the hammering of programmed drums, and the songwriting is usually quite solid, producing interesting twists and turns down alleys and avenues not necessarily expected, all without sacrificing the melodic core of the music... Unfortunately, "Paris and I" treads very little new ground. "Before we wave goodbye" wouldn't feel too out of place on "Lesser matters", opener "Scandinavian warfare" echoes the driving, orchestral pop of Sambassadeur's latest effort; in fact there's very little to be found on "Paris and I" that one can confidently label unique. This said, Champagne Riot do not come off as mere imitators and have actually produced a rather entertaining collection of songs. The band's main failing is that they try to burrow into the exact same part of your heart that other acts have already established residence within.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Someone told me that Obscure is a supergroup of sorts featuring members from various fine Norwegian metal acts, but I'm not going to bother substantiating that because it really doesn't matter. I just know that I like it when they ditch their usual Pentagram/Candlemass-inspired doom metal plod to kick out some NWOBHM-style jams. "Conversensation" treads the middle ground more than I'd prefer, but the vocalist has got his Diano-isms down pat and those slower riffs are "Mob rules" enough to make me happy. Besides, it's Good Friday, a perfect day for metal. Don't forget to pour a bit of ale out on the curb for your dead homie Jesus.
Obscure - Conversensation
Oscillatone Records (Majessic Dreams, Kompjotr Eplektrika) has just released a new cassette from Swedish experimental artist Luva (aka Gustav M Karlsson) entitled "The invisible colours of Do Re Mi". Samples and more details: http://www.myspace.com/luvan1
Sugarplum Fairy will be doing a 7-day German tour in mid-May:
05/14 - Maiwoche Open Air, Osnabrück
05/15 - FZW, Dortmund
05/16 - Pop Up Messe, Leipzig
05/17 - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden
05/18 - Luxor, Cologne
05/19 - Grünspan, Hamburg
05/20 - Magnet, Berlin
Existensminimum's new video for "1993" is now streaming at his website: http://www.existensminimum.com/
That might just be my favorite song on the record.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. BigBang - Edendale
02. Lene Marlin - Twist the Truth
03. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
04. Röyksopp - Junior
05. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2009
06. Sigvart Dagsland - Hymns
07. Steff Nevers - Closest to My Heart
08. Eriksen - De aller beste
09. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham County Line - Brother Of Song
10. CC Cowboys - Morgen & kveld
11. Silje Nergaard - A Thousand True Stories
12. Kari Bremnes - Ly
13. deLillos - Huskeglemme
14. Marius Müllers Funhouse - Plugged 2 - Rett og slett
15. Noora Noor - Soul Deep
16. Sie Gubba - Hemafrå
17. Kristin Asbjørnsen - The Night Shines Like the Day
18. Elisabeth Andreassen - Spellemann
19. Pegasus - Min første natt
20. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
02. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
03. E.M.D. - A state of mind - deluxe
04. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
05. Måns Zelmerlöw - MZW
06. Miss Li - Dancing the whole way home
07. BWO - Big science
08. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
09. Alcazar - Disco defenders
10. Maia Hirasawa - GBGvsSTHLM
11. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
12. Caj Karlsson - Tillsammans med mig
13. Bob Hund - Folkmusik för folk som inte kan bete sig som folk
14. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
15. Shirley Clamp - För den som älskar...en samling
16. A Camp - Colonia
17. Hammerfall - No sacrifice, no victory
18. Jill Johnson - Baby blue papery
19. Takida - Bury the lies - platinum edition
20. Kevin Borg - The beginning
Fluxblog on Swedish duo Hammarin & Robin: http://www.fluxblog.org/2009/04/heaven-is-where-she-is
Antenna talks to Hardcore Superstar frontman Jocke Berg: http://www.antenna.nu/?p=1002
Pitchfork has a track review of "Anchor made of gold" by Jenny Wilson: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11176-anchors-made-of-sand/
Swedish pysch legends Träd Gräs och Stenar will be celebrating their 40th (!!!) anniversary with a new album on Subliminal Sounds entitled "Hemlösa katter". Available on both CD and 2LP (naturally), the record will be released on May 6. Full details: http://www.subliminalsounds.se/DOK/hemlosakatter.html
