Wardruna is a near-perfect combination of nearly every one of my musical obsessions. Scandinavian, obviously. Dark and foreboding? Most definitely. Strong elements of traditional folk? Oh hell yes. And how about a well-defined and pronounced spiritual component? Yup. The only quality I think it might be lacking from my shortlist would be a certain level of emotional purity and singlemindedness, but that often doesn't meld well with the spiritual, so I let it slide. Otherwise, this is definitely one of my favorite new releases of 2009 by a longshot. Listeners expecting the peppy polka-folk of groups like Detektivbyrån or Katzenjammer might be put off at first by the overwhelmingly dark and primitive atmosphere, but trust me - it's well worth it. Reach further back, connect with your ancient heathen roots!
For more on Wardruna and their concept, read this: [click here]
Wardruna - Algir - Togntale
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Franke - Exil riktas inåt
02. TALK
03. Cut City - Ulyssian widow
04. Montt Mardié - Names not forgotten
05. Strayfolk - I thought I had it down
06. TALK
07. Halph - New money
08. Kaizers Orchestra - Kontroll på kontinentet
09. Wardruna - Kauna
10. TALK
11. Dieter Schöön - Mary Jane
12. Holiday For Strings - Two of you
13. Menfolk - One is all
14. Lama - Raha
15. TALK
16. Bitch Boys - Sighsten H.
17. Regina - Saanko jäädä yöksi
18. Entombed - Parasight
19. Gåte - Snåle mi jente
20. TALK
21. Dyno - Emotional
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. A Camp
02. Frida Hyvönen
03. Fever Ray
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Jens Lekman
06. Anna Ternheim
07. Hello Saferide
08. Loney, Dear
09. Kent
10. Gustaf Spetz
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/
Charming Swedish artist Maia Hirasawa will make her US debut on February 12 with a show at Hotel Cafe in LA.
The excellent indiepop mp3 blog Skatterbrain has a new comp out with tracks from The Garlands, Signed Papercuts and others: http://www.skatterbrain.org/2009/01/if-you-like-everything-theres-nothing.html
Swedish singer/songwriter Lars Bygdén will release his new album "Family feelings" on April 29.
Upcoming tourdates for Lampshade:
02/28 - Visions Party, Darmstadt (GER)
03/01 - Ekko, Utrecht (NL)
03/02 - Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin (GER)
03/03 - Knust, Hamburg (GER)
03/04 - Schlachthof, Kassel (GER)
03/05 - Jubez, Karlsruhe (GER)
03/06 - Forum, Bielefeld (GER)
03/07 - Loppen, Copenhagen (DK)
There will be a new Bob Hund album on March 25. Expect a single soon.
Soundvenue says that there will be a new El Perro Del Mar album (title tba) in late March: http://www.soundvenue.com/nyheder/2009/02/06/nyt-el-perro-del-maralbum-til-marts
Hardcore Superstar will support In Flames on their upcoming European tour between the dates of April 15 and May 2.
PopMatters on the new Loney Dear album "Dear John": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/69571-loney-dear-dear-john/
Also covered, Swedish psych/folk act Barr and their latest "Skogsbo is the place": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/69547-barr-skogsbo-is-the-place