New Aleksi Eeben EP on Kahvi
Finnish IDM artist Aleksi Eeben has a new release on the Kahvi netlabel: http://www.kahvi.org/releases.php?release_number=266
MP3: Sahara Hotnights - Quite a feeling
Hard to believe this came out 10 years ago already. Sahara Hotnights have come a long way as a band, but they'll never recapture the vibe that made their debut so special. There's a freshness and an energy to it that's impossible to fake, impossible to resurrect. In many ways they're a better band nowadays - better musicians, better pop craftsmen and so on -- but here, at their rawest, more premature stage, you knew they had something and that's why they blew up almost immediately. Of course, being a band of attractive females didn't hurt either though I'd argue it was hardly crucial to their success. They're a great band; always have been and still are.
Sahara Hotnights - Quite a feeling
Holmes to tour Europe
Swedish alt-country act Holmes is heading out on the road next week:
03/25 - Objekt 5, Halle (GER)
03/26 - Paris Syndrom, Leipzig (GER)
03/27 - Kult 41, Bonn (GER)
03/28 - Elfer, Frankfurt (GER)
03/29 - Kohi, Karlsruhe (GER)
03/30 - Fatal, Landau (GER)
03/31 - Channel Zero, Ljubljana (SI)
04/01 - The Office, Graz (AUS)
04/02 - Vorstadt, Wien (AUS)
04/03 - Herbert, Baden (CH)
04/05 - Dimensione, Winterthur (CH)
04/08 - Bar Sartea, Vicenza (IT)
04/09 - Locomotiv, Bologna (IT)
04/10 - Arci Valverde, Forlì (IT)
04/12 - Südstadt, München (GER)
04/13 - Yacht, Brno (CZ)
04/14 - Societätstheater, Dresden (GER)
04/15 - Haus 73, Hamburg (GER)
04/16 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)
04/17 - Limes, Köln (GER)
04/18 - tbc, Bielefeld (GER)
04/19 - Loppen, Köpenhamn (DK)
New Lindstrøm/Prins Thomas collaboration in May
It's taken them three years, but Scandinavian electronic artists Hans-Peter Lindstrøm and Prins Thomas will finally follow up with a new collaborative album entitled "II" on May 26. Read more at Resident Advisor: http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=10386
MIC Norway profiles Kristin Asbjørnsen
MIC Norway talks to multi-genre vocal talent Kristin Asbjørnsen: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009032013220881995880
Updated tourdates for Sad Day for Puppets
Swedish shoegazers Sad Day for Puppets are heading back to England in May, as well as hitting Spain in April:
04/02 - Moby Dick Club, Madrid (ESP)
04/03 - South Pop Festival, Sevilla (ESP)
04/18 - Pet Sounds (acoustic), Stockholm (SWE)
05/16 - The Great Escape, Brighton (UK)
05/19 - Bardens Boudoir, London (UK)
05/22 - Crewe Festival, Crewe (UK)
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. BigBang - Edendale
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2009
03. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham County Line - Brother Of Song
04. CC Cowboys - Morgen & kveld
05. Marius Müllers Funhouse - Plugged 2 - Rett og slett
06. Sie Gubba - Hemafrå
07. Elisabeth Andreassen - Spellemann
08. Kari Bremnes - Ly
09. Silje Nergaard - A Thousand True Stories
10. The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules
11. Vestlandsfanden - Tipping & Trygd
12. Backstreet Girls - Just When You Thought..
13. Kristin Asbjørnsen - The Night Shines Like the Day
14. Leif Ove Andsnes - Shadows of Silence
15. deLillos - Huskeglemme
16. Frøya - Jenta fra landet
17. Black Debbath - Black Debbaths beste. 10 år
18. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
19. DDR - Das War Das
20. William Hut - Silent Hum
Updated A Camp dates
Updated US dates for A Camp:
05/26 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
05/27 - Middle East, Cambridge, MA
05/28 - 9:30 Club, Washington, Washington DC
05/30 - Johnny Brenda, Philadelphia, PA
05/31 - Les Saints, Montreal, Quebec
06/01 - Mod Club, Toronto, Ontario
06/03 - Double Door, Chicago, IL
06/04 - Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
06/05 - Record Bar, Kansas City, MI
06/06 - Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO
06/08 - Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, UT
06/10 - Richard's on Richards, Vancouver BC
06/11 - The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
06/12 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
06/14 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
06/15 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
02. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
03. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
04. Kevin Borg - The beginning
05. Alcazar - Disco defenders
06. Zillah & Totte - Det låter apa
07. Olle Ljungström - Sju
08. Hammerfall - No sacrifice, no victory
09. H.E.A.T - Heat (bonus spår)
10. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
11. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
12. Mikael Wiehe - Sånger från en inställd skilsmässa
13. A Camp - Colonia
14. Takida - Bury the lies
15. Mando Diao - Give me fire!
16. Laleh - Me and Simon
17. Bengt Hennings - Låt kärleken slå till
18. Perssons Pack - Öster om heden
19. Sahara Hotnights - Sparks
20. Jenny Wilson - Hardships!
Sincerely Yours #101
The latest release from Sincerely Yours is a new video/remix by Air France: http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0101.php
Pfork on Fever Ray
Pitchfork reviews Fever Ray and declares it "Best New Music": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12845-fever-ray/
MP3: The Fine Arts Showcase - London, my town
More talk about shows It's a Trap is involved with but I won't be attending: this Saturday at Debaser Malmö is the It's a Trap! Clubnight featuring The Fine Arts Showcase. I'm not sure if we can truly bill this gig is as a record release party, but it's oh so close -- "Dolophine smile" will finally be out on April 8 and that's just around the corner. As I mentioned on my return from Sweden last summer, I got to hear a few rough mixes while I was over there and I am really really looking forward to finally getting the finished product in my hands. Until then, here's the latest single "London, my town", a classic TFAS tune by all accounts. One of mainman Gustaf Kjellvander's strongest qualities as a songwriter is his candidness and that's something that's sorely lacking in a lot of music. Inspired in part by Amy Winehouse, he tells you in no uncertain terms how the drugs and desires of London screwed up his life and relationship and sent him packing back to Malmö. Fuck mincing words, he names names! That's some serious harsh reality to be sure, but I think everyone is the better for it -- both Gustaf and Hanna and us, the listeners. If there's one thing Gustaf does for sure, it's live straight from the heart. No pretense, no bullshit, scars and carnage on display for all to see. This is where pop music becomes art.
The Fine Arts Showcase - London, my town
New music from The Genuine Fakes
Swedish powerpop act The Genuine Fakes have completely revamped their myspace playlist with five new tracks: http://www.myspace.com/thegenuinefakes
CRI to compile old tracks from The Heartburns
Combat Rock Industry will be releasing a CD of old 7" and comp tracks from The Heartburns on May 28.
New Rigas 7" on Flora and Fauna in April, will include Sound of Arrows cover
Flora and Fauna will be releasing a new 4-track 7" from Rigas on April 22 featuring the single "It's a shame" plus the previously unreleased track "Simple" b/w a cover of "Your friends" by Labrador act The Sound of Arrows and a skweee remix of "Stench of you" by Pavan.