Hallelujah 2
Norwegian all-star singer/songwriters Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes and Askil Holm are reuniting for another album and tour. See their new myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/lindnilsenfuentesholm
St. Hood signs to Combat Rock, preps new album
Finnish hardcore act St. Hood has parted ways with Fullhouse Records to join the roster of Combat Rock Industry. Look for their new album "For the dead" in late April/early May.
Musik med Skansros
Live music with Skansros at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/01/19/skansros-varsol/
Aqua back, playing festivals
The recently reunited Danish pop sensation Aqua have started to line up festival dates: http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/30669
Mediea in the UK
Finnish metalcore act Medeia is coming to the UK in March:
03/11 - Academy 2, London
03/12 - Corporation, Sheffield
New album from Regulations soon?
Regulations recorded 12 new tracks for their next LP this past week with Fredrik Lyxzén at home in Umeå. No release date yet or anything, but I'll keep you posted.
Jeniferever license 'Spring tides' to Japan, more
Japanese label Thomason Sounds has licensed the forthcoming Jeneferever album "Spring tides" for release in Japan, Honk Kong and Taiwan in April.
Napoleon - I love my baby (video)
Watch the video for "I love my baby (but if anyone touches her I'll kill them)" from Swedish pop act Napoleon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjQechwXd2w&fmt=18
RIYL Deportees, Fibes, Oh Fibes!, yacht-rock.
Gustaf Spetz on tour in Japan
Gustaf Spetz will tour Japan in May:
05/04 - O-Nest, Tokyo
05/05 - UrBANGUILD, Kyoto
05/06 - 2nd Line, Osaka
05/08 - O-Nest, Tokyo
Hjertestop US tour in April
Danish punks Hjertestop will be coming to the US in April. Not all dates are 100% confirmed, but check myspace for details: http://www.myspace.com/hjertestop
The Late Parade - We will walk straight through this wall (video)
Check out The Late Parade's new, highly suggestive, possibly not-worksafe video for "We will walk straight through this wall": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50583023
Rumraket to release new albums from Slaraffenland, Taxi Taxi!
Danish label Rumraket reports that they'll be releasing Slaraffenland's 3rd album in April and will also be putting out Taxi Taxi!'s much-anticipated full-length debut (produced by Johan Berthling of Tape/Häpna) later on in 2009, as well as a live album/DVD from labelheads Efterklang.
RMP3: Orchestra Senza Testa - L'elefante rosso
Orchestra Senza Testa is a huge change of pace for Jonas Rosén considering his early work with noise terrorists Asterisk* and The Female Anchor of Sade. The darkness remains, but the violence? All but gone. "L'elefante rosso" is the second track from his new album "Fabula", but you might as well start anywhere since each fragment is an equal piece of the whole. Strings and other organic elements come and go, though the crackle and buzz remain constant. Melodies exist, but they are transient. Like labelmates Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words, the focus is on atmosphere and feeling and the music's ability to suck you in, to capture your full attention. While it would appear that this could work effectively as ambient background music, it can be deceiving in its allure and ability to startle. As with all of my favorite drone, this is uneasy listening.
Orchestra Senza Testa - L'elefante rosso
New Cut City EP now streaming
Swedish postpunks Cut City are streaming their new EP "Narcissus can wait" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/cutcity
The physical vinyl edition of said EP will be available soon via Deleted Art.
Dead Birds to unearth Java (ex-Ashram) rehearsal recording
Before there was Trapdoor Fucking Exit, there was Ashram. After Ashram parted ways with their vocalist in '96, the band continued on as an instrumental act under the name Java. That band never officially released anything, but the new label Dead Birds will be putting out an old 5-song rehearsal tape as their first release. More details and samples soon?