Physical album sales are down all over, but that doesn't seem to be stopping Warner from launching ADA Nordic: http://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/335/Warner_Music_lanserar_distributoren_ADA_i_Norden.html (in Swedish)
Global Domination talks to two of the dudes from Totalt Jävla Mörker: http://www.globaldomination.se/interviews/totalt-jaevla-moerker-sylen-and-victor
Hey, look! A brand new video from Peter Bjorn and John: http://www.1000apor.se/tv/vaerldspremiaer-pa-1000apor
Gustaf Spetz (ex-Eskju Divine) has a couple new tracks up at myspace, including a guitar-based number: http://www.myspace.com/gustafspetz
Wonderland Records is offering up the new single "Magical machines" from Swedish For Beginners as a free download: http://www.wonderlandrecords.com/sfbpress/
MP3: Love Is All - New beginnings
How did I sleep on this? Love Is All is a perfect continuation of classic Swedish postpunk, keeping it vital and alive. Less the darkness of, say, Cut City or other artists taking the darker path, but more the frenetic pop of Kitchen & the Plastic Spoons or other more new-wavey acts who toe the line without straying into new romance. More punk than post-, y'know? And here I was thinking they were yet another boring indie act. I should really pay better attention.
Love Is All - New beginnings
Pitchfork reviews Ane Brun's latest album "Changing of the seasons": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/147817-ane-brun-changing-of-the-seasons
Also watch her singing "Wonderful Christmastime" with fellow Norwegians Thom Hell and Lindstrøm in the Forkcast: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/148147-video-lindstrm-ane-brun-and-thom-hell-wonderful-christmastime-paul-mccartney-cover
Blistering Records has signed Danish thrash act Submission and will be releasing their sophomore album "Code of conspiracy" in early 2009. Samples: http://www.myspace.com/submissionragecage
Panic & Action, the new label of Peter Ahlqvist from Burning Heart, has confirmed a date of February 4 for the release of Adept's debut album "Another year of disaster". Preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theadept
It looks like the label is also putting out a new comp of 20 more Swedish modern hardcore acts called "Burn all the small towns". Artists confirmed include the aforementioned Adept plus Neverstore, Chemical Vocation, Kid Down, Marissa Burns Trey, Hero in Action, Social Siberia, Future Idiots, Bursting Veins, A Vain Attempt, Oldschool, Herbrightskies, Walking With Strangers, Against The Day, Early To Bed, Operation Nothing, Far Above, Go Drowsy, Fakie For Nothing, Newdrive and Atta. Expect a late February release.
Swedish goth/metal act Diabolique (ex-Liars in Wait, Grotesque, The Great Deceiver) report that a new album will finally be coming in 2009.
The Silent Ballet on Lisa Nordström's solo debut "7 states of passion": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2013/Default.aspx
The final list of nominees for the Swedish Grammis have been announced: http://www.grammis.se/?page=132
MIC Norway profiles Tommy Tokyo, an artist who made many Norwegian year-end lists: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2008121114303446480659