Swedish indiepop artist Friday Bridge has a new website: http://www.fridaybridge.net/
Her new album "Bite my tongue" will be out February 11 via But is it Art? with the first single "Shanghai shipping" being released as a free download soon.
The Washington Post Express talks to Love Is All: http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/12/love_is_all.php
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Pust
02. Vamp - St. Mandag
03. Erlend Bratland - True Colors
04. Solveig Slettahjell/Gustavsen - Natt i Betlehem
05. D.D.E. - Frelsesarmeens juleplate
06. Åge Aleksandersen & Mikael Wiehe - To stemmer - 14 akustiske sanger
07. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
08. Ole Ivars - Platina
09. Marit Larsen - The Chase
10. Diverse artister - Mgp Jr 2008
11. Grethe Kausland - Jazz My Way
12. Radka Toneff - Butterfly
13. Odd Børretzen/Lars Martin Myhre - Syv sørgelige sanger og tre triste
14. Herborg Kråkevik - Annleis enn i går
15. Odd Nordstoga - Pilegrim
16. Oslo Gospel Choir - En stjerne skinner i natt
17. Ingemars - I Finnskogens rike
18. Benedicte Adrian - Desember
19. Rita Eriksen - Hjerteslag
20. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
Göteborg-based indiepop-punk act Samtidigt Som will be releasing their debut LP "Flykt, kärlek och broderskap" on January 28 via Luxury Recordings. Said album was produced by Kalle von Hall of Bad Cash Quartet and they say it will sound similar to the EP (remember?), 'cept more dynamic. Keep an eye out for the first single "Vid min sida" to be released on January 14.
Air France, Björk, Efterklang, Lykke Li, Sigur Rós and The Tough Alliance all made Pitchfork's top 40 videos of 2008 list: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/147701-top-40-music-videos-of-2008
Samples are now posted from the new Hanna Hirsch album "Tala svart", out now on Diskret Förlag/Release the Bats: http://www.diskretforlag.com/hannahirsch.html
The self-described "awkward Buzzcocks" help bridge the gap between twee and (pop-)punk -- very recommended!
MP3: Boris och the Jeltsins - Begär
December is the season of sharing, so with that in mind, I'm letting Simon Tagestam handle today's mp3 post:
About 10 years ago, the first 45 seconds of "Begär" would have had me going through the roof with excitement, but now it mostly makes me a bit confused - how can someone in 2008 from Sweden make a song with that intro (combined with the rest of the song)? Obviously they've heard Bruce Springsteen, Moneybrother and Håkan Hellström, but is there any chance that they somehow missed all the watered down version of aforementioned artists that were doing the rounds about 4-5 years ago? It's not a bad song as such, it's quite catchy and it's sweet and short, but it is so extremely clichéd that it almost comes across as an ironic statement from someone taking the piss out of this particular genre. I bet a few of the kids will go crazy for this, especially if Boris och the Jeltsins can back it up with a great live show. It should also be noted that I'm not a guy who looks for originality when it comes to music. I'm a fan of lot of artists who sound like someone who sound like someone else, but whereas certain songs wear their influences on their sleeves "Begär" cuts off my ears with them (thus making me feel alienated and sad).
Boris och the Jeltsins - Begär
Pitchfork reviews the two latest digital EPs from The Raveonettes: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/147824-the-raveonettes-beauty-dies-ep-wishing-you-a-rave-christmas-ep
Anna Ternheim
Leaving on a mayday
Universal
Anna Ternheim's "Leaving on a mayday" is not a mayday, but more of a rainy fall-afternoon with yellow leaves covering the ground. This might sound like just another typical Swedish release that reminds you of a black silhouette of a man trudging through the snow in the dark and the cold, however this is not the case. Producer Björn Yttling from Peter Bjorn and John has added percussion that make this 10 track record really stick out. In many ways, this is a much more varied release compared to previous creations and, even though some of the old Anna is left, seems somehow much further away from Anna's previous, more Kent-ish releases. She still plays in minor keys and has possibly sunk even further down into the Swedish snow, but there is still some sort of warmth at the core of every song. With a strong and distinguished beat, Anna keeps the flame alive. She dropped some jazz, added some pop, and taken a further step towards alternative. The cooperation Anna and Björn is nothing but successful and necessary. There are 10 songs and almost just as many shades of Anna Ternheim. With all this in mind, she continues her way of getting better and better with every release.
- Morten Frisch
Novoton won't release the new Existensminimum album "Ok boys" until February 25, but you can already hear the first single "Fuglesang" now at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/novoton
Morningside Records is offering up a free download from Won't Lovers Revolt Now: http://morningsiderecords.dk/?p=195
The band's self-titled debut album will be out January 19.
Finnish indiepop act Cats on Fire report that the have completed their sophomore album and say it will be released on March 14 via Johanna Kustannus.
Listen to the demo version of Hello Saferide's new single "X telling me about the loss of something dear, at age 16" from 2007: http://www.myspace.com/saferide
Norwegian hip-hop act Gatas Parlament is offering up the cut "Asylhotell Ritz" as a free download: http://www.gatasp.no/asylhotell-ritz-arets-lat/
Apparently the newspaper Bergens Tidene considers it one of the year's best tracks.