Tvärvägen's video for their new single "September" is now online: http://vimeo.com/1897577
The Local on the new Sweden-based music streaming service Spotify: http://www.thelocal.se/14816/20081007/
Swedish metal act Scar Symmetry has decided to replace departed vocalist Christian Alvestam with two new singers, one to handle "clean" vocals and one to do growls: http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=11572
Marybell Katastrophy's new single "Delirious" with Martin Hall is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/marybellkatastrophy
New tourdates for Lykke Li:
11/24 - Button Factory, Dublin (IRL)
11/25 - Arches, Glasgow (SCO)
11/27 - Academy 3, Manchester (UK)
11/28 - Koko, London (UK)
11/29 - Gloria, Cologne (GER)
12/01 - Maria, Berlin (GER)
12/02 - Ubel und Gefaehrlich, Hamburg (GER)
12/05 - Doornrosjie, Nijmegen (HOL)
12/06 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (HOL)
12/09 - Le Trabendo, Paris (FRA)
12/10 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
12/11 - John Dee, Oslo (NOR)
12/12 - Kägelbanan, Stockholm (SWE)
We Are Soldiers We Have Guns will be doing some dates around Northern Europe next February:
02/12 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
02/13 - D:qliq, Luxembourg (LUX)
02/17 - Cafe Glocksee, Hannover (GER)
02/19 - Spinnerei, Traun (AUS)
02/20 - Herbert, Baden (CH)
02/22 - NBI, Berlin (GER)
Division of Laura Lee's show at Spaceland in LA tonight (10/7) is being filmed. For what, I'm not sure, but I'll let you know when I do.
Hello Saferide has confirmed a couple shows in NYC!
10/22 - Bowery Electric, NYC w/Juvelen, Firefox AK (FREE!)
10/25 - The Bellhouse, Brooklyn w/Blackstrap, The Seabellies
Hear a couple tracks from the new album "More modern short stories..." at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/saferide
MP3: I'm From Barcelona - Paper planes
I'm From Barcelona mainman Emmanuel Lundgren's greatest skill is his ability to turn the smallest everyday occurrence into a grand musical gesture. Whether it's an inside joke about "Fawty Towers" (see the band's moniker and semi-eponymous single), collecting stamps, making a treehouse or even doing the laundry late at night (see "When stars come out" by pre-IFB band Valley Days), it's those little things that make a difference. Distill those thoughts to their essence and set it to a lushly orchestrated backdrop and you've got perfect pop, accessible to everyone. Though the new IFB album "Who killed Harry Houdini?" does find the time and energy to be more contemplative (see "Music killed me" for instance), it's still those simple ideas that carry the day. Who hasn't spent idle time folding paper planes? Or at least doing something comparable - it's universally appealing, so of course Lundgren nails it.
As with the band's first album, "Who killed Harry Houdini?" struggles to remain consistent through it's entire runtime and could have been reduced to a near-perfect EP, but it's still quite good as-is. I also appreciate that it's not all euphoric pop all the time, a nod back to Lundgren's time with Valley Days. To all the people who doubted whether or not they could remain relevant, you might be surprised.
I'm From Barcelona - Paper planes
Norwegian industrial/metal act V:28 is heading out on one last tour this fall:
10/10 - Mukkes, Leeuwarden (NL)
10/11 - De Azijnfabriek, Roermond (NL)
10/12 - The Little Devil, Tilburg (NL)
10/14 - Le Klub, Paris (FRA)
10/15 - La Rumeur, Lille (FRA)
10/16 - Negasonic, Aalst (BEL)
10/17 - Aurora Infernalis Festival, Arnheim (NL)
10/18 - Black Paradise, Wismar (GER)
12/18 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR) w/Enslaved
12/19 - Hydranten, Hamar (NOR) w/Enslaved
12/20 - Arendal Kulturhus (last gig ever), Arendal (NOR)
Lordi's new video for "Bite it like a bulldog" is now online: http://www.theendrecords.com/label/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1267&Itemid=1
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Suis La Lune - Förmögenhet
02. TALK 1
03. Dmitry Fyodorov - Leisure
04. M:40 - Konfrontation
05. Cola Freaks - Ingenting set
06. TALK 2
07. Sort Sol - Boy/Girl
08. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
09. Fy Fan - Arbetslos inte dum i huvdet
10. TALK 3
11. Those Dancing Days - Home sweet home
12. Viktor Sjöberg - Bostadsrätt
13. Frivolvol - And the youth of a nation sang
14. Jesper Norda - Tomorrow you'll be forgiven but tonight you will have your teeth knocked out
15. TALK 4
16. Norma - Waste
17. Häkan Lidbo - Mental hardcore
18. Celestial - Crystal heights
19. TALK 5
20. Mattias Alkberg BD - Här är ditt liv
21. Smalltown - The music
22. Audionom - Han gar och fiskar
23. Nitad - Rädslan
24. TALK 6
25. Broder Daniel - Underground
My show on Sirius Left of Center (channel 26) airs Sundays at 11pm ET with repeats on Monday at the same time, but is pre-empted next week (10/12) by a Beck special.
Danish indie/DIY label Sounds of Perpetual Astonishment (SOPA) has a brand new comp out called "Sopa curiosa", their sequel to the massive "Sopa deliciosa" from late last year. Check it: http://www.sopa.dk/releases/008.htm
The release of the new Sebastian Karlsson album "The most beautiful lie" has been pushed back to January 21.
Danish indie act Ruined By Martin has a new demo track posted on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ruinedbymartin