It's a Trap!

Beta Satan - 666 (video)

Danish indie act Beta Satan has unveiled their new video for the song "666": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50690090

Tue, Jan 20th, 2009 11:45:55

Optic Nest 'Plays the Buchla 200' now available

The new Optic Nest cassette on Moptaco Dics is finally available. Says the label: "So folks, finally this release get a proper treatment! The new release by Optic Nest is somewhat of historical nature. Recorded entirely on the old Buchla 200 system at Ems, the swedish Elektric Muzic Ztudio. Well quite. For you nerds it's partially controlled by Serge Sequencer, with a single Serge Oscillator and through the Serge Analog Delay." Two tracks, 20 minutes each and limited to 50 numbered copies. Read more: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=159277093&blogID=465180631

Tue, Jan 20th, 2009 11:31:30

Digfi Session: Cocoanut Groove

Check out a Digfi session with Swedish act Cocoanut Groove featuring, as always, a live performance and interview: http://www.digfi.com/default.aspx?id=11745

Tue, Jan 20th, 2009 11:31:27

Gravel Control - Day of pain (video)

Norwegian psychrock band Gravel Control has a new video on YouTube for the song "Day of pain": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh90csYjxiA&fmt=18

Tue, Jan 20th, 2009 11:25:02

Aversionline on Third Man Down

Aversionline on Finnish metallic hardcore act Third Man Down: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2009/01/20/third-man-down-rude-awakening-cd/

Tue, Jan 20th, 2009 11:19:04

Antennas
Feeling feline tonight
Novoton

Antennas do not lend themselves easily to comparisons -- there are elements of the pop structures of Shout Out Louds, of the angular nature of Laakso's approach, among other such attempts to define their sound, but very few of these associations hold up as you move through the tracklist. "The collector" is kitschy-chic, like a Weeping Willows ballad hijacked by CDOASS; "Lies" has far more soul and funk in its composition than three Swedes should be able to manifest in song; "Youngbloods" channels a bit of Brit-rock suave before throwing itself recklessly down dance-punk avenues; "Upwardly mobile" could almost be a Hot Chip track... and yet "Feeling feline tonight" feels like a unified work, each track flowing easily into the next, despite the differences in tone and method. Novoton Records apparently can do absolutely no wrong: "Book of Norma" was my first 10 out of 10, postpunkers Paper and Pixies-style rockers Pascal both put out fantastic efforts in 2008, and "Feeling feline tonight", with its ability to combine 80s pop craftsmanship and angular indie rock with the interesting, reactionary elements of some 90s music (think Stone Roses and Pulp), only strengthens Novoton's position as one of the very best labels in Sweden. "Feeling feline tonight" is my first great surprise of the year.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

Tue, Jan 20th, 2009 11:03:53

10,000 nights, deconstructed

Elisabeth Vincentelli deconstructs the lyrics of Alphabeat's pop hit "10,000 nights": http://determineddilettante.blogspot.com/2009/01/wit-and-wisdom-of-alphabeat.html

Mon, Jan 19th, 2009 19:56:53

Service signs Lake Heartbeat

Lake Heartbeat is Service Coop's latest signing. Dan Lissvik from Studio produced their new release which will be out this week.

Mon, Jan 19th, 2009 19:44:56

Hiawata! to release new single + cover treatments

The new Hiawata! single "Valley boys" will be given away as a free download along with b-side covers from fellow Norwegians Monzano, My Little Pony and Harrys Gym. The exact release date is still tba however.

Mon, Jan 19th, 2009 19:39:35

Hello Saferide + Detektivbyrån - Anna

Watch Hello Saferide perform the oh-so-excellent track "Anna" at the P3 Guld Awards with backing from the equally amazing Detektivbyrån: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOM3KuF0R1s
And here's Markus Krunegård doing the same with his song "Jag är en vampyr": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVJBgWgaHrI
Note Annika and Firefox AK on backing vocals.

Mon, Jan 19th, 2009 19:29:30

PonyRec 2009

Danish indie label PonyRec's upcoming release schedule:

04/03 - Halph - The world is as you are
04/03 - Alcoholic Faith Mission - 421 Wythe Avenue
04/10 - Green Pitch - La Jolla
04/17 - Lily Electric - You're in the picture you saw
05/08 - Livaventura - ...And they slept with their eyes open

I'm fortunate enough to have given these a cursory listen and can say this: that Livaventura album is definitely worth waiting for.

Mon, Jan 19th, 2009 19:19:15