Röyksopp - Happy up here (video)
Pitchfork has the premiere of the new Röyksopp video "Happy up here": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/149297-pitchforktv-ryksopp-happy-up-here-video-premiere
Scraps of Tape package preview
Check out a clip showing off the assembly of the new Scraps of Tape album "Grand letdown": http://www.vimeo.com/3276027
Florence Valentin album finally on the way
Startracks will finally release the new Florence Valentin album on March 25 - been looking forward to this one for awhile. The first single will be the title track "Spring Ricco".
José González to play Asia, Spain and Germany
New José González tourdates:
02/19 - The Glamour Bar, Shanghai (CN)
02/22 - Grappas, Hong Kong (HK)
03/09 - Mousonturm, Frankfurt (GER)
03/10 - Festival Del Millenni, Barcelona (ESP)
03/11 - Cervante Theatre, Malaga (ESP)
03/12 - Joy Eslava, Madrid (ESP)
03/13 - Konzerthaus, Dortmund (GER)
03/14 - Konsert & Kongress (sal D), Uppsala (SWE)
Deportees confirm single, new album
The new Deportees single "Under the pavement, the beach", the title track of their forthcoming album, is confirmed for released on March 11. Said album will be out on May 6. Listen at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deporteesmusic
New Helldorado album in April
Helldorado's new album "Sinful soul", their first as a trio, will be out in late April via CCAP.
Frida Hyvönen interview at Clash Music
Clash Music talks to Frida Hyvönen: http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/frida-hyv%C3%B6nen-interview
Ane Brun Zoo Session at Absolute Radio
Check out three live tracks from Ane Brun at Absolute Radio, including a Beatles cover: http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/music/artists/ane_brun/article/3608.html
Viola to give away entire discography for free
Finnish act Viola, a longtime favorite of mine - they have a track on "Reader's companion volume two", has decided that from now on all their music will be free and posted for download right here: http://www.violamusicclub.com/
Not only that, the band also says that starting in April, they'll be posting a new song on the first of every month. There still might be some limited edition physical objects in the distant future, but the music will always be available to everyone. Says the band: "There are plenty of reasons for our new approach, but the one main thing is that releasing records hasn't been economically speaking very reasonable for us. And since we can create and record music practically without expenses we have decided to get rid of all intermediary agents like pressing factories and record shops so that people have a chance to get our music free of charge. This new method also creates a new spontaneity since there are no more waiting periods before getting our music to reach the ears of our listeners."
New Jong Pang album in April
Danish artist Jong Pang will release his sophomore album "Love" on April 4. Hear samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jongpang
PopMatters reviews 'Kaleidoscopic'
PopMatters reviews Lars Horntveth's solo album "Kaleidoscopic": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/70597-lars-horntveth-kaleidoscopic
A Camp to tour Europe
A Camp will tour Europe starting in April:
04/11 - Motel Mozaique Festival, Rottadam (NL)
04/12 - Trix, Antwerp (BEL)
04/13 - Luxor, Cologne (GER)
04/15 - Ubel & Gefahrlich, Hamburg (GER)
04/16 - Lido, Berlin (GER)
04/17 - Fabryka Trzciny, Warsaw (POL)
04/19 - Flex, Vienna (AUS)
04/20 - Magnolia, Milan (ITA)
04/21 - Backstage, Munich (GER)
04/23 - Abart, Zurich (CH)
04/24 - Docks, Lasaunne (CH)
04/26 - Femmes s'en mellent festival @ Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA)
04/28 - Glee Club, Birmingham (UK)
04/29 - Academy, Dublin (IRL)
04/30 - Spring & Airbrake, Belfast (IRL)
05/02 - ABC2, Glasgow (UK)
05/03 - Cockpit, Leeds (UK)
05/04 - Academy 3, Manchester (UK)
05/06 - Kings College, London (UK)
Aversionline loves Victims
Aversionline on the US release of Victims' latest record "Killer": http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2009/02/19/victims-killer-cd/
MP3: Ironville - Roses
Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby decree that Ironville's forthcoming album "Welcome to Ironville" to be 2009's second exceptional release, the first being Livaventura's "...And they slept with their eyes open" (see here). Keep in mind that order here is unimportant as that Livaventura record won't be out until April and Ironville's debut has no official release date yet (spring?), but I've heard them both and am confident in my appraisal. Hopefully you already saw the video for "Roses" as created by band member Henrik Öhberg (aka Tvärvägen) -- if not, please remedy that straightaway. And download the song, of course! The lyrics are full of neediness, but the delivery keeps the desperation at bay by being quirky, not cloying. It's a discussion, not an ultimatum, at least not yet. And the string-heavy arrangement is a welcome respite from all the generic guitar-based crap I sift through on a daily basis. Actually, that's one of Ironville's finest qualities -- it's not just a matter of having an armada of instruments at your disposal (which they do), it's about using them judiciously. I can't say for sure that it's the band's own doing or the invisible hand of producer Markus Krunegård (Laakso), but I don't really care because the result sounds so fantastic. Keep an eye on these guys for sure.
Ironville - Roses
Marvins Revolt Japan tour diary
Danish noiserock act Marvins Revolt have posted a diary from their trip to Japan: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=36067944&blogID=471729829