Episode #21 of Listen to Norway's excellent podcast program "99 Minutes" is now online: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2012030809342039053788
No unifying theme this time out, just a diverse batch of interesting Norwegian music from all genres.
Not that I really need an excuse to post a track from the very-excellent Vånna Inget, but considering that today is International Woman's Day (and Purim, but let's not get distracted), I'll take it. Sweden has long excelled in the realm of female-fronted melodic punk with early acts such as Tant Strul, Mögel and Pink Champagne leading the way and modern bands like Knugen Faller and Masshysteri carrying the torch. Vånna Inget keep it burning. Go see them next week at our It's a Trap! Clubnight at Debaser Malmö!
Vånna Inget - Allvar
Listen at Pitchfork as Finnish act Circle of Ouroborus transitions from semi-inept black metal/gothrock to semi-inept synth/post-punk: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13287-toivosta-syntynyt/
The Bombhappies have posted their entire new album "A good fire" for streaming in full via Soundcloud -- highly recommended for fans of jangly pop ala REM. Likewise, fans of such sounds are encouraged to check out Anchorless' latest record "Every nook and cranny" as well.
Vädret, the solo alias of Scraps of Tape guitarist Marcus Nilsson, has just released his debut EP via and the whole thing is streamable via Bandcamp and/or Spotify.
The final print edition of Sweden's premiere hip-hop mag Kingsize will roll off the presses in April. The mag will continue online-only thereafter.
"Fingers crossed" is the first official full-length sample tune from the upcoming Out of Vogue EP "The welfare year", 's first new release in over 10 years. Official release date: March 9.
Solander is confirming their SXSW and US tour plans and here's the latest:
03/14 - SXSW / Official showcase @ St David's Bethell Hall (9:30 pm), Austin, TX
03/15 - SXSW / Riot Act Media party @ Diving Swan (2:20 pm), Austin, TX
03/16 - SXSW / NXNA @ Weirdos (3 pm), Austin, TX
03/16 - SXSW / Hyde Park Bar & Grill South (6 pm), Austin, TX
03/17 - SXSW / SXSNackbar (12 noon), Austin, TX
03/21 - Sail Inn, Tempe, AZ
03/23 - Trunk Space, Phoenix, AZ
03/24 - Tin Can Alehouse, San Diego, CA
03/25 - tba, Los Angeles, CA
03/26 - The Knockout, San Francisco, CA
03/27 - Luigi's, Davis, CA
03/29 - Kelly's Olympian, Portland, OR
Look for the band's album "Passing Mt. Satu" to be released over here on March 20 via . Also, check them out playing live on TV4 Nyhetsmorgon right here.
, the label run by the dude who puts on Chaos in Tejas, will be releasing a new 7" from Norwegian act Razika. Details forthcoming.
Soso (nee Sophia Somajo) covers Cody ChesnuTT in her bedroom with a bit of help from instrumental trio Kriget (sort of).
Norwegian indie act mylittlepony (nee My Little Pony) has changed names once again and shall henceforth be known as Making Marks, the title of their sophomore album. They'll break in the new name with a few dates in Italy:
04/18 - Black Market, Roma
04/19 - Spazzio Mavv, Vittorio Veneto
04/20 - Carmen Town, Brescia
04/21 - La Mela di Newton, Padova
04/22 - odelay!, Bologna
Just signed to : Tampere/Helsinki indiepop act Paperfangs. The band's debut EP "AAVVAV" is up on Bandcamp now and will be followed by a cassette release on March 26.
More often than not I could usually care less about remix tracks, but watching a video of the actual production underway makes it far more interesting. The cribbed Kate Bush melody still kinda irks me though.
Can't deny that I count various members of Culkin as my personal friends, but that doesn't mean I don't sincerely believe they are a good band. Wait, scratch that: great band! I know I'm predisposed to enjoy guitar-based indierock -- that much is obvious -- but that also doesn't mean that Culkin automatically qualify on that front either because there's a shit-ton of bands with dudes playing guitars who are straight-up garbage. Along with Tennis Bafra and a few others, Culkin herald the arrival of what I hope to be a new age of Swedish indierawk, with one foot in the past (see song titles such as "Tim Kerosene" and if you don't get it, do your homework) and eyes toward the future. The vital ingredients: strong hooks, a muscular rhythm section and dense melodies. Culkin has it all, along with triumphant guitar solos as a bonus.
"Glow" is the slow-burn epic opener of the band's new album "Several Sundays" and I hope they don't get mad at me for sharing it with you, but I'm doing it anyway. Act first, apologize later y'know. Buy the CD here or listen at Spotify.
Culkin - Glow