Division of Laura Lee are keeping a tour blog as they travel around the US: http://dolltour.tumblr.com/
If you're heading to CMJ you should check out the Swedish Music Seminar on October 23 at Scandinavia House. This year's event is subtitled "Trends in the Business of Music: Snapshots and Outlooks" and, as always, is sponsored by the Consulate General of Sweden and Export Music Sweden in collaboration with Sirius Satellite Radio, the NYU Stern School of Business and CMJ. I can't be there myself as that weekend overlaps with my 5th wedding anniversary, but I'm sure it will be a good time. More info and register information: http://www.swedenny.com/musicseminar
Cut City has a new 5-song 12" EP on the way via Deleted Art in cooperation with German labels Altin Village and Monoton Records. No release date yet, but they are tentatively saying November.
MP3: The Early Days - Make you smile
Hey, alright! 2nd rate psychrock ala The Soundtrack of Our Lives and Primal Scream. This is the kind of stuff that's best experienced at extreme volume so you can get properly lost in the reverb because otherwise, there's a whole lot of nothing going on. That's drug music for you -- let yourself space out and get down and it's all good; listen at low volume for pop hooks and be bummed. I can handle the glacial pacing when I'm in the right mood, but loudness is key. Don't bother looking if you aren't willing to get lost.
The Early Days - Make you smile
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Hello Saferide
02. Glasvegas
03. Laakso
04. The Radio Dept.
05. Those Dancing Days
06. Familjen
07. Håkan Hellström
08. The Embassy
09. Kent
10. Tiger Lou
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Detektivbyrån
Wermland
Danarkia
Detektivbyrån began making waves as soon as they released their first songs last year. This was more than a little surprising given how very niche it sounds to play all-instrumental music heavily influenced by Nordic and Eastern European folk based primarily on accordion, vibes, and keyboards. Yet the sheer fun of their sound has won them an enthusiastic following.
"Wermland", their first full-length release, is fun. But it also reveals them to be far more than quirky entertainment. The songs here are beautiful, and woven together into a whole that is evocative, whimsical, ageless and timeless. At points it's got the simplicity of children's music, at others, sophistication that would be at home in classical music. Throughout, it demonstrates impeccable melodic pop sensibility. Their ability to synthesize diverse traditions into immediately accessible riffs and rhythms that are simultaneously deeply familiar and altogether fresh is exceptional. This serious contender for album of the year will sound just as good decades from now.
- Nancy Baym
MP3: Fantasikrig - Lovisa och David
We're not the only ones commemorating a birthday this week; Göteborg-based booker/show promoter Parapluie turned 3 and celebrated by throwing themselves a party and Jonas Lyckander also took the time to answer a few questions as part of our ongoing Gbg Spotlight Series.
So it was your birthday this week - how was the celebration?
We had a great night at Pusterviksbaren in Gothenburg! The Deer Tracks, Jonathan Johansson (just signed for Hybris) and We Are Soldiers We Have Guns gave us the best of pop!
So you've been booking indie/pop shows for 3 years now - how healthy do you think the scene is in Gbg? How do you think it compare to the way it was 3 years ago?
I think the indiescene in Gothenburg is pretty good right now. We have lots of nice venues and a bunch of dedicated club/promoters that bring nice bands/DJs to town.
Three years ago the scene for indiebands was smaller. Now there are shows almost every night where you can go and hear new music. That's good.
Likewise, how do you think the Gbg scene compares to other cities in Sweden or elsewhere? Is there anything in particular that makes Gbg special? Is there anything it is lacking?
I like Malmö. Malmö is the Swedish Berlin! Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö have tehri own scenes and they are pretty different from eachother.
The scene in Gothenburg is open and friendly for new acts. Not too much attitude.
Who's your favorite local act right now?
My friends in Fantasikrig are great! They will do a show at Klubb Populär @ Storan in Gothenburg next saturday. It will be nice.
Do you have a song from them you'd like to share?
Check them out at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fantasikrigThe new myspace music is a total shitsystem, but I did manage to grab a track for reposting. Check it out below.
Fantasikrig - Lovisa och David
Frequent Timbuktu collaborators Damn! will be releasing an album of their own. Entitled "Let's zoon in", it comes out November 12 via Pope Records, just in time for the two to tour Scandinavia together.
Hear Susanna perform a duet with Bonnie "Prince" Billy on "Jailbreak" by Thin Lizzy: http://cargorecords.blogspot.com/2008/09/incoming-susanna-flowers-of-evil.html
(see the player in the side-column)
Ida Maria is supporting Courteeners in the UK for the next two weeks:
10/03 - Carling Academy, Newcastle
10/04 - Carling Academy, Sheffield
10/06 - Fat Sams, Dundee
10/07 - Barrowlands, Glasgow
10/09 - Apollo, Manchester
10/10 - Apollo, Manchester
10/11 - University, Liverpool
10/13 - University, Hull
10/14 - Rock City, Nottingham
10/15 - UEA, Norwich
10/17 - Academy, Leeds
The new Zeigeist single "Cuffs" will be released as a digital download on October 29 via Imperial Recordings.
Finnish act Damn Seagulls are currently in the studio working on their third album which is due out sometime around February via Fullsteam Records. Jussi Jaakonaho will mix and Miikka Koivisto (Disco Ensemble) will help with vocal production. Expect the first single to surface later this month.
Nö Music reports that a new book about the Quart Festival reveals a hidden drug conspiracy: http://www.nomusicmedia.com/2008/10/03/quart-festival-surrounded-by-drugs-controversy/
Live music with Anna Ternheim at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/10/03/musik-med-anna-ternheim/
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Bo Kaspers Orkester - 8
02. Hello Saferide - More modern short stories from Hello Saferide
03. Christer Sjögren - Mitt sköna sextiotal
04. Steve Dobrogosz & Anna Christoffersson - Rivertime
05. Sophie Zelmani - The ocean and me
06. The Fantastic Four - The Fantastic Four
07. Takida - Bury the lies
08. Smurfarna - Smurfparty
09. Eva Eastwood - Well well well
10. Fatboy - In my bones
11. E.M.D. - A state of mind
12. Roland Cedermark - Pärleporten
13. Flamingokvintetten - Bästa!
14. Christer Sjögren - Jubileum 40 år med Christer Sjögren
15. E.S.T. - Leucocyte
16. Drifters - Tycker om dig - Svängiga låtar från förr
17. Europe - Almost unplugged
18. Patrik Isaksson - 10 år en snäll mans bekännelser
19. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
20. ABBA - ABBA gold - Greatest hits