Harmönia streaming new tracks from Rigas and Yöt
Renown skweee label Harmönia has new releases on the way from Rigas den Andre and Yöt and you can now preview a track from each at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/harmoenia
MP3: Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco
Spring can't come soon and although I can't be sure that the "spring" in title of the new Florence Valentin single refers to the season, the sound is spring-like enough for me. C'mon! It's March already. Enough with the snow! I want to get started on my garden, I want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. This can be my soundtrack -- I've been looking forward to hearing this ever since I saw them at Way Out West two years ago. Hard to believe it's been that long already, but here we are and here you go! I'm more than happy to share the love.
Also be sure to peep the video for said track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq3CAs06C1U
Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco
The Rasmus to tour Spain, Germany, UK, Russia
New tourdates for Finnish act The Rasmus:
03/25 - Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona (ESP)
03/26 - Greenspace, Valencia (ESP)
03/27 - Joy Eslava, Madrid (ESP)
03/28 - Santana 27, Bilbao (ESP)
04/01 - Zeche, Bochum (GER)
04/02 - Batschkapp, Frankfurt a. Main (GER)
04/03 - Arena Vienna, Vienne (AUS)
04/04 - Talstation Gondelbahn Hauser Kaibling, Haus im Ennstal (AUS)
04/06 - Concorde 2, Brighton (UK)
04/07 - The Cockpit, Leeds (UK)
04/08 - Club Academy, Manchester (UK)
04/09 - Heaven, London (UK)
04/10 - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton (UK)
04/11 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (UK)
06/14 - SCC Peterburzhskiy Arena, Sankt Petersburg (RUS)
06/16 - Stadium, Rostov-On-Don (RUS)
06/18 - Sport Palace, Ekaterinburg (RUS)
06/20 - Hippodrom, Novosibirsk (RUS)
06/22 - Platinum Arena, Khabarovsk (RUS)
06/22 - Stadium, Krasnoyarsk (RUS)
06/26 - Hippodrome, Ufa (RUS)
06/28 - Sportcomplex Olympisky, Moscow (RUS)
Stream the new Shogun Kunitoki album
The new Shogun Kunitoki album "Vinonaamakasio" is currently streaming in its entirety at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/shogunkunitoki
New Unanimated album in April
Reunited Swedish death metal act Unanimated will be releasing their new album "In the light of darkness (The covenant of death)" in April via Regain Records.
Höstlöven - Fast jag saknade allt då
Swedish act Höstlöven is offering up a new EP for free download, as recommended by Parker Lewis: http://hostloven.blogg.se/2009/march/ny-ep-fast-jag-saknade-allt-da.html
New Violators album coming on vinyl
The New Violators self-titled debut album will finally be released on vinyl on March 9 via Playground Music. As for those of who want CDs or files, there's no release date announced yet.
Jonathan Johansson
En hand i himlen
Hybris
Beginning with the dancetastic title track, Jonathan Johansson's debut albumshowcases the talent of someone who will surely be one of the biggest popstars to emerge from Sweden this year. Stylistically, I see him as the perfect successor to Kent (in particular their "Vapen & ammunition" album), but his sound is honed further down into slick. Catchy numbers of the uptempo set ("Sent för oss", "Högsta taket, högsta våningen") and the leaning-on-mournfulness of "Psalm noll noll" and "Du sa" all provide for a rather complete listen, especially considering it is a debut. "Innan vi faller" will obviously get many a U2 comparison, but one should not let that be a detraction from how great of a song it is. The only thing I find to be out of place on the album is his cover of "Everybody wants to rule the world" (here as "Alla vill ha hela världen"), as his originals are so strong it provides the albums weak point (also, I fear him becoming a "one-cover-hit wonder"). With a sweet falsetto caressing the melodies, Jonathan Johansson is a name to look out for.
- Matt Giordano
Sigh & Explode streaming three new tracks
Norwegian noiserockers Sigh & Explode are now streaming three tracks at myspace off their new album "These seem like tarantulas": http://www.myspace.com/sighexplode
The official release date is March 16 via Mas-Kina Recordings.
New Bob Hund single has its own site
Full details for the new ultra-limited Bob Hund single "Fantastiskt": http://www.bobhundfantastiskt.com/
Psyched Up Janis (pre-Raveonettes) reunion
Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes is getting his old band Psyched Up Janis back together for some shows in April.
PopMatters reviews Burning Hearts
PopMatters reviews Finnish indiepop act Burning Hearts: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/71068-burning-hearts-aboa-sleeping
MIC Norway profiles the label Strømland
MIC Norway talks to Smalltown Supersound labelhead Joakim Haugland about his new label Strømland that he formed with Lindstrøm: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009030509260015934081
Masshysteri US tour dates
Masshysteri is touring the US, but I'll be damned if I can find a full tour itinerary. Here's what I've been able to glean:
03/06 - America, New Brunswick, NJ
03/07 - ABC No Rio (matinee)/538 Johnson, NYC, NY
03/08 - Barbary, Philadelphia, PA
03/10 - Midway Cafe, Boston, MA
03/18 - Celebrated Summer, Towson, MD
03/27 - 1808, Austin, TX
04/01 - Jackpot, Lawrence, KS
04/02 - Subterranean, Chicago, IL
New Hanne Hukkelberg album gets confirmed release date
The new Hanne Hukkelberg album "Blood from a stone" will get a North American release on May 12 via Nettwerk. Keep an eye out for US tourdates in June.