The first volume of the long-awaited Eardrums blog spring music comp "Birdsongs, beesongs" is now up and available for free download: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2009/03/29/here-it-is-the-new-eardrums-compilation-birdsongs-beesongs-vola/
Also scroll down to grab that new Mary Onettes single that I'm sure is making the rounds (I don't care enough to rehost/post it myself).
The opening track for Accidents Never Happen's forthcoming album is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/accidentsneverhappen
Peacedogman interviews Finnish death/thrash act Rite: http://www.peacedogman.com/msrite
A Camp is keeping a video tour diary: http://www.youtube.com/acamptv
Callisto's latest album "Providence" will get an official US/North American release on May 26 via Fullsteam Records/Redeye Distribution.
450 of the hand-screened covers for Kranium Records' Makabert Fynd/Nice Idiot split 7" got irreparably messed up during trimming, but new ones are on the way and the record will finally be officially released on April 14. If you were one of the lucky folks to snag an early copy at the Makabert Fynd gig last week, you got yourself a collector's item - those are the only 50 in existence. The new ones won't be hand-screened.
Pitchfork interviews Karin Dreijer Andersson of Fever Ray: http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7631-fever-ray/
Jens Lekman is touring the West Coast with comedian Tig Notaro:
05/26 - The Loft, UCSD (Viktor Sjöberg Series), San Diego, CA
05/27 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
05/28 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
05/29 - Velvet Jones, Santa Barbara, CA
05/30 - SLO Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA
06/01 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
06/02 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
06/03 - WOW Hall, Eugene, OR
06/04 - Crocodile Café, Seattle, WA
06/05 - Crocodile Café, Seattle, WA
06/06 - Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR
06/07 - tba, Vancouver, BC
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Anna Järvinen
02. Bob Hund
03. Fever Ray
04. Loney, Dear
05. Hello Saferide
06. Florence Valentin
07. A Camp
08. Håkan Hellström
09. Jenny Wilson
10. Frida Hyvönen
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Danish indie act Oh No Ono have added a few new songs to their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/ohnoono
The mighty Bear Quartet will (finally!) be recording a new album in May after they play Pop Revo in Århus, Denmark, but it appears that long-standing label A West Side Fabrication will not be handling. Instead, that honor will apparently go to Adrian Recordings. Read: http://www.mabd.se/?p=103
Phono Suecia, the label run by the Swedish Music Information Centre, has a new CD out from Johan Berke Upstairs Five, and a brass quintet featuring renown jazz artists Johan Berke and Fredrik Nordström. Details and samples: http://www.mic.se/avd/mic/prod/micv5eng.nsf/AllDocuments/D853AFCF0BE223A7C1257268003469E7
Fronda is streaming a couple new tracks at his website from his new project Hypernova together with artist/producer Jimmy Ledrac: http://www.fronda.se/
As they call it: "Vinylvibb, 16 bars och rakt på sak hookar." I dig it.
Scandinavian artists Springfactory, Northern Portrait, Champagne Riot, Pelle Carlberg and Suburban Kids with Biblical Names are all confirmed for the SF Popfest in mid-May: http://www.myspace.com/sanfranciscopopfest
Heroes & Zeros video for the new track "Cipramillion" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rWJQwL-pkY&fmt=18