Helsinki scene report via Rubik

Rubik contribute a Helsinki scene report for CMJ: http://www.cmj.com/homepage/2011/04/scene-report-rubik-on-helsinki-finland/

Yet another Skull DFX LP in the works

The Skull Defekts are back home after their US tour and report that they took a day off to record at Machines with Magnets in Pawtucket, RI as a six-piece with Asa Osborne of Zomes contributing on synth. Expect a one-sided LP release later in 2011.

Sexpistoltanten & Mockfjärdsvapnet in the MRR top 10s

The new Sexpistolstanten & Mockfjärdsvapnet LP, out now on Skrammel Records, made a bunch of MRR top-10 lists this month: http://maximumrocknroll.com/2011/04/20/top-tens-336/
I got a copy of it too, but I've yet to spend too much time with it. First impressions are quite good though.

Wolf - Vicious companion

Swedish speed-metallers Wolf have a new track up at Facebook from their new record "Legion of bastards": http://www.facebook.com/officialwolf?sk=app_178091127385

Ström does "Chinese whispers"

Swedish Radio's electronic music program Ström's new compilation project for 2011 will consist of "Chinese whispers" -- something like a musical version of the game telephone -- whereupon 14 Swedish producers will create a track according to the following formula: the first artist creates a piece of music and sends 2 "typical" sounds plus the final 12 seconds to the 2nd artist who then creates his/her own piece based on the provided fragments then does the same on down the line with the final result airing on July 8. Read more: http://hakanlidbo.com/archives/1947

Jennie Abrahamson - Wolf hour

Jennie Abrahamson's new single "Wolf hour", available now as a free download. Link: http://soundcloud.com/hstsound/wolf-hour-single-mix-edit

Late Night Venture - Birmingham

Been awhile since we've heard anything new from Danish act Late Night Venture, but they're back now with a new post-rockish tune called "Birmingham": http://soundcloud.com/latenightventure/birmingham
Expect a new album later this year.

Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet to release UK 7"

UK label Acid Jazz Records, in collaboration with Tri-Sound -- the label run by renown DJ/East End Mod Eddie Piller and Chess/Cosmos Records vet Fred Ekander, will be putting out a new 7" from Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet in July featuring their English-language soul cover of the Oskar Linnros single "Från och med du" henceforth retitled as "From now on". Check it out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MagnusCarlsonMRQ
Compare with the original at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJaFgeLTYgY

Torpedo - Islands in eternity

Torpedo's newest single "Islands in eternity", now streaming in full. Direct link: http://soundcloud.com/flagstone/sets/torpedo-islands-in-eternity

Mandorla - Victim of the sun

Swedish psych act Mandorla has confirmed that "Victim of the sun" is their new single, the second off the still-forthcoming album "...based upon an idea by Mandorla" which is due out May 23 via Playground Music. Listen here: http://blogs.playgroundmusic.com/intlpub/mandorlas-new-single-is-definitely-a-victim-of-the-sun

Bellman in the UK

Norwegian artist Bellman will be making his UK live debut next week:

04/27 - Silver Bullet Par, Finsbury Park, London
04/28 - The Regal Rooms, Hammersmith, London

In the Country prep live album, US tour

Norwegian jazz act In the Country will be releasing a new live album/full length concert video/artfilm/film noir this June featuring content from three separate mixed in with additional footage. As to what that will look like, I guess we'll have to wait and see, but us folks in North America will also get a chance to see the band live too:

06/17 - Rochester Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY
06/18 - Rochester Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY
06/19 - Nordic Jazz Festival - House of Sweden, Washington DC
06/20 - Nordic Jazz Festival - Twins Jazz Club, Washington DC
06/21 - Yoshi, Oakland, CA
06/23 - The Missions Theater, Portland, OR
06/24 - Tula's, Seattle, WA
06/30 - Scandinavia House, New York, NY
07/02 - Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, QC

Hybris signs Big Fox, Azure Blue

Hybris has announced the signing of the new artist Big Fox, aka Malmö-based artist Charlotta Perers, and will be releasing her debut single "Saturday" b/w "Cut you out" on May 25. More about her here, including a stream of said single: http://bigfox.se/
In other news, Hybris has also signed Azure Blue, the solo project of Tobias Isaksson of Labrador Records vets Irene and Laurel Music. His debut single "The catcher in the rye" is out today and can be previewed here, while his forthcoming album "Rule of thirds" will be out in September.

Aversionline on Morethanthis

Aversionline covers the new 7" from Norwegian hardcore act Morethanthis, a new-ish band featuring two ex-members of Lash Out: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2011/04/20/morethanthis-st-7/

New Fagget Fairys now streaming

The new "Black hole" EP from Danish techno act Fagget Fairys is out now via Palms Out Sounds and is also currently streaming in its entirety at SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/palmsout/sets/pos026-fagget-fairys-black-hole