NPR profiles I Was A King
NPR on Norwegian act I Was A King: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100919263
Dieter Schöön - Mary Jane (video)
Dieter Schöön's new video for "Mary Jane" can now be viewed at their label's website: http://www.headspinrecordings.com/video.php
Fibes, Oh Fibes! - Love child
Myspace is sucking for me at this very moment, but I do believe that Fibes, Oh Fibes! are supposedly streaming their new single "Love child" over there now: http://www.myspace.com/fibesohfibes
Stream the new Lampshade record
Lampshade's new and possibly final album "Stop pause play" is now streaming in its entirety at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lmpshd
MP3: Jesper Norda - We have the guts
In case you missed the news that Jesper Norda has a new EP for free download, here's a chance to make up for it. As with his previous EP, the sound is pure piano and voice, soaked in darkness and hung out to dry. Actually, the minor key gloom and doom is just a red herring, "We have the guts" is a love ballad, a devotional epic. In a way. So much of the lyrics pertain to the dull mundane realities of dead-end day-to-day life, but the delivery is what gives it power and the conclusion is pure beauty. Jesper's voice is deep and strong, but it also aches when it strives for the higher notes and I don't doubt for a second that every word is true. And the dynamics? Intense. There's no need to sing out the title, it's implied with the final breath.
Download the rest of the EP here.
Jesper Norda - We have the guts
WaPo Express talks to Frost (Satyricon)
The Washington Post Express talks to Satyricon drummer Frost: http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/02/thawing_the_frost_qa_satyricon.php
Check the link at the top of the piece for a preview of their show together with UK act Cradle of Filth.
David Åhlén - We sprout in thy soil
The album-version of the title track from David Åhlén's forthcoming album "We sprout in thy soil" is up at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/compunctio
Very, very recommended.
Eight different aritists to remix new Fever Ray single
Fever Ray has selected eight different artists to tackle remixes of her new single "When I grow up" including Dan Lissvik (Studio), Van Rivers and Håkan Lidbo. Keep an eye out for them to be released week-by-week starting tomorrow.
Hello Saferide, live from Finland
The program "Svenska Talande Klubben" from Finnish radio station Radio X3M will be streaming a live video interview and performance from Hello Saferide and special guest Giant Fly on March 4 starting at 1800 CET. Mark your calendars and go here to check it out: http://x3m.yle.fi/ (click 'Lyssna direkt')
Oh, and the interview will be conducted in Swedish, in case you were wondering.
Winter Took His Life has a new tour EP, live video
Winter Took His Life has a new 4-song EP she recorded at home called "Your face was home" that she'll be taking with her when she tours Italy next week with Hajen. Dates and details at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wintertookhislife
Also, watch her play a gorgeous song on the Swedish TV program "Garage": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN3Q9efjClM&fmt=18
The Giant's Dream present 'Canto II'
IAT.MP3 ambient/electronica artist The Giant's Dream are now streaming a bunch of tracks from their new "Canto II" record at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thegiantsdream
Bootleg Booze introduces new single series with Dee Rangers
Swedish garage-rockers Dee Rangers will be putting out the inaugral 7" in Bootleg Booze's new Jukebox Series. The a-side is called "Upside down" and the flip is a cover of "Down and out" by 4PK. 500 copies, black vinyl, due out March 13. Listen to the band here: http://www.myspace.com/deerangers
High Hats
The Montpellier sessions
Alleycat Records
My first though when I listened to The High Hats' new EP "The Montpellier sessions" was: Wow, this must be how Broder Daniel would sound without their depression. Even though they do sound like BD at times, there is no way to describe The High Hats sound without mentioning The Ramones, the teen/pop vocals in combination with a strong drum and bass just screams Ramones. And just like The Ramones, The High Hats' music is energetic and frantic and leaves no room for anything else. The EP just keeps on growing and it keeps the listener interested for as long as a 5 track EP possibly can. At times it's hard to sit still and not sing-along, hard to not to get influenced by the energy the music creates. The release grabs you straight from the start and when it ends, it leaves you craving for more and it's no wonder with its strong lyrics and punk-pop sound. Yes, The High Hats new EP is truly hard to forget.
- Morten Frisch
José from Abhinanda forms new hardcore supergroup?
If you were once, are you always? Apparently ex-Abhinanda vocalist/Desperate Fight labelhead José Saxlund has a new band called Soundtrack for Violence featuring members from Better Than a Thousand and Shelter: http://xstuckinthepastx.blogspot.com/2009/02/jose-saxlund-abhinanda-starts-new-band.html
Still edge? Hah!