Gaffa predictions for 2009
Danish mag Gaffa's predictions for bands that will blow up in 2009: http://www.gaffa.dk/artikel/30497
I'm ashamed to say that the only name I'm really familiar with is The Late Parade.
Private - Killer on the dancefloor (video)
Check out Private's new video for "Killer on the dancefloor": http://www.vimeo.com/2552748
Samtidigt Som - Vid min sida
Luxury is giving away the new Samtidigt Som single "Vid min sida": http://www.luxxury.se/mp3/Samtidigt%20Som%20-%20Vid%20min%20sida.mp3
The official release date for said single is January 14 and the CDS will include the exclusive b-side "Ändra dig". The debut full-length "Flykt, kärlek & broderskap" follows on January 28.
Wolfbrigade - Ride for a fall (video)
Check out the video for the new Wolfbrigade track "Ride for a fall": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=49953723
I didn't expect too much from the new album "Comalive", but holy shit is it raging. If you're one of the many people who got into Disfear this past year, but still haven't explored the rest of the Swedish d-beat scene, it's gonna floor you.
Montys Loco in Germany, Switzerland
IAT favorites Montys Loco are coming to Germany and Switzerland:
01/28 - Ikuwo, Greifswald (GER)
01/29 - K 19, Kassel (GER)
01/31 - Normal record store (16:00), Köln (GER)
02/01 - Underground, Köln (GER)
02/02 - Vortex, Siegen (GER)
02/03 - Zwölfzehn, Stuttgart (GER)
02/05 - ISC, Bern (CH)
02/07 - Nordklang Festival, St. Gallen (CH)
The Koo Koo's debut album due in February
Umeå-based all-girl powerpop act The Koo-Koo's will release their self-titled debut album on February 7 and will be celebrating with a show at Scharinska. Hear a few sample tunes: http://www.myspace.com/thekookoos
New band alert: Head Disco
Green Carnation frontman Kjetil Nordhus has a new band called Head Disco: http://www.myspace.com/headdisco
Kleerup + Krunegård = ?
Kleerup is reportedly working together on a new project with Markus Krunegård of Laakso: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article4144423.ab (in Swedish)
I suspect it will fit the exact same formula as the rest of his vocal-based work, but who knows? Maybe he'll actually forgo the usual stringlines for once.
T!T!T! breakdown not so amiable
Looks like the Tack!Tack!Tack! split is far more acrimonious than I was aware - let it be known that the statement posted before is only from the Jason Christie half of the T!T!T! team, not Nick Levine.
MP3: Champagne Riot - Scandinavian warfare
Champagne Riot's "Scandinavian warfare" is so gloriously melodramatic, so beautifully despondent. Even without following the lyrics, it's communicated in the melody of the vocal line and the half-resigned way it's sung. Like Sambassadeur's brilliant "Subtle changes", it also has a soaring quality that makes it oh so satisfying and yes, even a little bit epic. The only thing missing: a wordless refrain to go with the strings. Still, one of the best songs of 2008 and totally irresistible.
Champagne Riot - Scandinavian warfare
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Scotts - På vårt sätt
02. ABBA - The albums (9CD box set)
03. Per Gessle - Party crasher
04. Sanna, Shirley, Sonja - Our Christmas
05. Magnus Carlsson - Re:collection 93-08
06. Kent - Kent box 1991-2008
07. Lena + Orup - Dubbel
08. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
09. Takida - Bury the lies
10. Ulf Lundell - Omaha
11. Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a mayday
12. Vikingarna - Den sista dansen - Live från Arvika
13. Petter - X - Greatest hits
14. Titiyo - Hidden
15. Danny - Set your body free
16. Zillah & Totte - Det låter apa
17. Sonja Aldén - Under mitt tak
18. Frida Hyvönen - Silence is wild
19. Bo Kaspers Orkester - 8
20. ABBA - ABBA gold - Greatest hits
Pitchfork reviews 'The lilac time'
Pitchfork reviews Pelle Carlberg's most recent album "The lilac time": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/148169-pelle-carlberg-the-lilac-time
Timbuktu
En high 5 & 1 falafel
JuJu Records
Timbuktu is back with his new record "En high 5 & 1 falafel" and it starts off with a few words from the new President Barack Obama before continuing with no surprise, in its political ways. That is also the theme for this new creation of Timbuktu's, no surprise. There are a few differences when compared to previous releases though and one is that Timbuktu has incorporated a lot more different genres and has created a modified sound, but it isn't enough to get the listener interested. Timbuktu became one of Sweden's most loved artists and with both "W.D.M.D" and "The botten is nåd" in his back pocket for good reason, but when "Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö" was released you could sense that Timbuktu's steam was running out and with this new album there wasn't any left. Still though, Timbuktu is a good musician and even though this isn't his best release it still has some reasonable level of quality.
- Morten Frisch
NORCD 2009
Norwegian folk/jazz/avant label NORCD has announced their release schedule for 2009: http://www.norcd.no/
The biggest name that I recognize from the list would have to be trumpeter Arve Henriksen (Supersilent) who will be collaborating with poet Elling Vanberg on an as-yet-untitled album.
HoneyMilk no more
Norwegian label HoneyMilk Records (Home Groan, Serena Maneesh) has officially closed down.