PopMatters reviews 'Living thing'
PopMatters reviews Peter Bjorn and John's new record "Living thing": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/72089-peter-bjorn-and-john-living-thing/
The Tarantula Waltz splits with National
The Tarantula Waltz has parted ways with National Records: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=23921703&blogId=480527727
Expect a new label announcement shortly.
Nomethod gets new distro, preps new Aerial
Nomethod has signed a new distribution deal with Border music so that means that their latest release, "Young punks are on the never-never" by Robert Svensson, will be getting a mid-priced rerelease with bonus tracks in the near future. The label also reports that Aerial's next album is mixed and ready to be mastered -- no release date on that one yet either, but I heard a rough cut and my mind was blown. Seriously, they aren't kidding when they say it sounds like Him Kerosene taken to the next level.
Stream 'Dolophine smile'
The Fine Arts Showcase's new album "Dolophine smile" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thefineartsshowcase
MP3: Entombed - Masters of death
It took me way too long, but I finally finished Daniel Ekeroth's masterful book not too long ago, the self-explanatory "Swedish Death Metal". Entertaining, informative and inspirational -- it's amazing that a handful of Swedish teenagers managed to create their own internationally-recognized genre. It was a unique time, to be sure -- the underground scene still lives on today, but it will never be like it was back in the days of fanzines and tape trading. I was a few years late to the party myself, so I missed out on the first wave, but I definitely dug deep starting around 1994/95 when the whole Gothenburg melodic metal thing started (before it turned to shit). Swedish Death Metal is, after all, the early impetus for this site's creation and my appreciation of Scandinavian music in general, and now, with this book as my guide, I get to dig even deeper, tracking down old demos and connecting the dots for all the great bands I missed. Of course, there's no better starting point than Entombed and this track from 2007's "Serpent saints" offers a lyrical primer for further research. Know your history! Hail!
Entombed - Masters of death
New album , website for Miss Li
Miss Li has a new website to coincide with the release of her new record "Dancing all the way home": http://www.missli.se/
Pfork reviews Sissy Wish
Pitchfork reviews Sissy Wish's latest album "Beauties never die" which is apparently getting a US release this spring: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12841-beauties-never-die/
CMI to release Die Weisse Rose debut in May
Cold Meat Industry will be releasing the debut album "A martyrium of white roses" from Danish darkwave/neofolk act Die Weisse Rose this coming May. Preview a few tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dieweisserose
Hybris announces the signing of Alias
Hybris has announced the signing of "Russian teenage runaway" Alias. Listen to his first single "Crazy time" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/babyalias
Read more: http://hybrism.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-act-at-hybris-alias.html
Sounds like April Fools to me...
Updated Benni Hemm Hemm Euro tourdates
New European dates for Benni Hemm Hemm:
04/12 - The Bowery, Edinburgh (UK)
05/05 - Bevrijdingsfestival, Groningen (NL)
05/05 - Prinsenhof, Groningen (NL)
05/07 - Passionfruit Theatre, Athlone (IR)
05/08 - Whelans, Dublin (IR)
05/17 - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh (UK) w/Hjaltalín
05/21 - The Bowery, Edinburgh (UK)
06/12 - Le Nouveau Monde, Fribourg (CH)
06/13 - B-Sides Festival, Lucerne (CH)
06/14 - Salzhaus, Winterthur, Zurich (CH)
06/16 - Chelsea, Vienna (AUS)
06/17 - KFZ, Marburg (GER)
06/19 - Reilfestival, Halle (GER)
06/21 - Umsonst und Draussen, Würzburg (GER)
06/22 - Club Strahov 007, Prague (CZ)
06/24 - Badeschiff, Berlin (GER)
06/25 - Fusion Festival, Lärz (GER)
06/26 - Beatpol, Dresden (GER)
06/27 - Hafen 2 Open Air Festival, Offenbach (GER)
Markus Krunegård + Mauro Scocco = ???
PSL says that Markus Krunegård is now also working with Mauro Scocco on his forthcoming solo album, due out sometime around August/September: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/03/31/extra-extra-mauro-scocco-gor-markus-krunegards-nya-album/
Viola - Cute destroyer
As promised, Viola's grand experiment with giving away their music begins with a new track called "Cute destroyer" which they say represents maybe a slight step back to our more guitar-oriented material." Head to their site to download: http://www.violamusicclub.com/
New Lisa Ekdahl album on April 8, int'l release to follow
Lisa Ekdahl's new album "Give me that slow knowing smile", her first English-language release in nine years, will be released on April 8 in Sweden and also in 14 other countries as we get further into spring. Expect European tour dates to be announced soon, otherwise check out the title track streaming at myspace.
Sirius playlist week #13
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. The Late Call - Put your lights on
02. TALK 1
03. Fever Ray - When I grow up (Håkan Lidbo remix)
04. Maskinen - Alla som inte dansar
05. Isolation Years - Albino child
06. TALK 2
07. Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out
08. Unleashed - Dead forever
09. Lack - Soot, smoke & ash
10. TALK 3
11. Small - Comic girl
12. Peter Bjorn and John - It don't move me
13. Masquer - I think I'll lose my mind
14. Ironville - Roses
15. TALK 4
16. Parasite - Nightwinds
17. Aerial - Kallisti
18. The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes
19. TALK 5
20. Hello Saferide - Arjeplog
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Hardcore Superstar release new single in two weeks
The title track of the forthcoming Hardcore Superstar album "Beg for it" (due out in June via Nuclear Blast) will be released as a single on April 15.