Check out Alphabeat's brand new video for the single "What is happening": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_7hxmcUvh0&fmt=18
The official release date is November 24.
Time Out NY likes Danish electronic music duo Rather Sound Than Safe: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/clubs/68294/rather-sound-than-safe
Danish label Rust Music has a new digitial EP comp out called "Jokers #1" featuring the four up-and-coming acts Music for Modern Man, Small, Forest & Crispian and Are We Brothers?. More info and links to samples here: http://rustmusic.dk/udgivelser/rust002/
Recently reactivated/reunited Swedish act Hearts of Black Science has a new collaboration with NYC-based artist Cybo posted on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/heartsofblackscience
Swedish art-rock group Baron Bane has their new single "Love.Cure.All" posted as a free download: http://www.baronbane.com/download.php?id=5
Head to myspace to stream the b-side remixes and to see the video: http://www.myspace.com/baronbane
The new Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words LP+7" "Lost in reflections", easily my most anticipated release this fall, will finally be officially released on November 23. Hear samples: http://virb.com/dread
Hybris has the new Biker Boy single for November posted as a limited free download: http://www.hybrism.com/
MP3: Auton - El Dorado
Still hung up on crust and jazz. Yep, crust and jazz. Last night: went and saw Corrupted, Asunder, Thrones and Samothrace here in Oly and while none of those bands fit into IAT's geographical coverage area, the wardrobe of choice was black with dreadlocks. Maybe not as ripe as those upcoming Amebix reunions will be, but there were definitely some folks there in need of a shower. Anyhow, back to the jazz. Malmö threesome Auton isn't a traditional jazz combo playing on the standard set of acoustic instruments, but their music is most certainly in the jazz tradition. Like label-head Viktor Sjöberg's own New Jazz Ensemble, the sounds are slow and drifting and the track "El Dorado" captures the group at their best. Melodies come and go, interweave and shift across voices, trade back and forth. It's a gorgeous piece of music; incredibly moody, yet also warm and lush, gentle and floating. It's the rare that I find a song ends too soon, but Auton never ever overstays their welcome, never overplays their hand. Viktor said that touring with them this past month was "special" and I can't think of another word that describes them better. It's rare to hear new groups in jazz with a fresh, distinct sound, but Auton pulls it off.
Auton - El Dorado
M:40
Industrilandskap 7"
Halvfabrikat/HoboRec
The band's follow-up to their solid "Historiens svarta vingslag" full-length tones down the metal for a more streamlined, raging d-beat hardcore attack, though they manage to retain the dark melodies that elevate them above also-ran status. On this particular EP they seem to do best when they turn down the tempo and compensate by amping up the intensity. Closer "En av dom" ("One of them") doesn't quite reach Breach-like levels of bleak desolation, nor does it match up with "My war" in terms of pure vitriolic rage ("'82 demos" FTW), but it does exemplify the approach, especially when the band gives the music proper breathing room and embraces the far reaches of their dynamic range. Unfortunately, no matter how good the songs are, it's completely ruined by the shrill audio quality. I've heard mixed things about Pirates Press/CZ in the past, but this is the first record I've heard pressed through them that lives up to the bad hype. Without any low-end, the M:40's capacity for heaviness is essentially neutered, thus capping their potential at an unfairly low level. It's hard not to be disappointed.
- Avi Roig
Vipe Out's debut album "Dig your way out" has been pushed back to January 29 due to "problems with finding a drummer," they say.
Finnish folk act Värttinä is going through some lineup changes: http://www.varttina.com/main.site?action=news/view&id=115&ngid=1
Music Export Norway reports that the "Born to be Wide" clubnight in Edinburgh, Scotland is devoting the evening of November 6 to the music of Norway with DJs and a seminar: http://www.musicexportnorway.no/norwegian-focus-in-scotland.4523612-32166.html