MP3: Mata de Leon - He's alright

Lo-fi is all the rage and I'm cool with that, but I'm also heartened to hear that there's still some decent bands doing hi-fi pop and aiming for the stars. [ingenting] is one; hopefully you already know how great their latest album is. Mata de Leon seems to be another, though it's still too soon to tell how high they'll go. They're taking their sweet time, releasing one track at a time, a rare example of moderation in this culture of more/faster/more/more/more. Of the two that I've heard so far, "He's alright" is the winner -- a fine example of elegant Swedish pop melancholy. Once upon a time, this was the hot sound, back in the waning years of Britpop and the rise of Kent. Nowadays... not so much, but I think it's better that way. Scarcity makes it more special.

Mata de Leon - He's alright

Sirius playlist week #45

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Marit Bergman - Höstvisa
03. Viola - No connection
04. Brothers of End - Why
05. TALK 2
06. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
07. The Bear Quartet - Carry your weight
08. Kornstad - Oslo
09. TALK 3
10. The Amazing - Is it likely
11. Erik Enocksson - Non lupi
12. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
13. TALK 4
14. Sivert Høyem - Empty house
15. Rickard Jäverling - May & Lee
16. Isolation Years - Let's step aside
17. TALK 5
18. Elmo - Young love

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Festival report: CMJ 2009

[ingenting] to release new double a-side single

[ingenting] will release two new singles from their great new record "Tomhet, idel tomhet" on October 28, "Dina händer är fulla av blommor" and "Ge tillbaka det", both of which are duets. Sibille Attar is the guest vocalist on the first, while the latter is a cover tune of "Give it back to you" by Heikki and features Heikki vocalist Maria Eriksson. In addition to the now-typical digital release, there will also be a limited vinyl edition with each song taking up a side.

Sirius playlist week #42

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Paper - Out of it into it
02. TALK 1
03. David Åhlén - Spirit fall
04. Rickard Jäverling - The wedding ring
05. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - This room seems empty without you
06. Erik Enocksson - Non strigis
07. TALK 2
08. Pistol Disco - Organ and drum
09. Dear Euphoria - Pop pills
10. The Skull Defekts - Waving
11. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Radius
12. TALK 3
13. Björn Kleinhenz - HAZ 920
14. [ingenting] - Medan vi sov
15. Agent Side Grinder - Black vein
16. Johan Heltne - Hjärte. Instinkt. Principer.
17. TALK 4
18. Jesper Norda - We have the guts

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
02. Takida - The darker instinct
03. Europe - Last look at Eden
04. Eva Eastwood - The beat goes on
05. Sarah Dawn Finer - Moving on
06. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
07. Ebba Forsberg - Ta min vals: ebba forsberg sjunger Leonard Cohen
08. Jerry Williams - Dynamite - live
09. The Real Group - The real album
10. Malena Ernman - La voix du nord
11. Drifters - Ljudet av ditt hjärta
12. Mats Bergmans - Premiär
13. Erik Hassle - Hassle
14. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
15. Fibes, Oh Fibes! - 1987
16. Alcazar - Disco defenders
17. Lasse Stefanz - Truck stop
18. [ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet
19. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
20. Scotts - Längtan

[ingenting] track review at Pitchfork

There's an [ingenting] track review at Pitchfork for their excellent single "Halleluja!": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11525-halleluja/

Sirius playlist week #39

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Joensuu 1685 - I'm on fire
02. TALK 1
03. Boy Omega - Dinosaur drugs
04. Katatonia - Forsaker
05. Moloken - Die fear will
06. TALK 2
07. Rising - Dead kings
08. The Cardigans - Erase/rewind
09. The Amazing - Dragon
10. TALK 3
11. The First Miles - Black heart
12. [ingenting] - Medan vi sov
13. Skriet - Kärlekens land
14. TALK 4
15. Abandon - It's all gone

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Moloken - Die fear will

Along with The Amazing's self-titled debut (discussed briefly here), my pick for September's album(s) of the month would have to go to Moloken's "Our astral circle". Yes, [ingenting]'s new record is also brilliant and well-deserving of praise and Abandon's "The dead end" is likewise incredibly powerful, but I've listened to Moloken a heckuva lot more often that anything else. Now if you remember, I wasn't that impressed with the band's epic debut EP, but it did show promise and on this new effort they have delivered in full. Once again, the band sound is rooted in heavy, dark hardcore ala "Souls at zero"-era Neurosis, especially considering the prominent bass presence, but they're also not afraid to go full-on metal when necessary. They're also unafraid to show off their chops either, as you'll hear on the song I've posted today. Some of their flair is subtle, but any musician should recognize that this rhythm section is a monster and that those long instrumental passages kick serious ass. Kinda like Tool minus the pretentious restraint, I'd say. And with better songs too, though that's not saying much considering Tool has always been way more about craft and mood than catchy riffs. Anyhow, this is a great release with broad appeal to all fans of heavy music, whether it be crust, doom or whatever. I hope other metal fans take note.

Moloken - Die fear will

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Europe - Last look at Eden
02. Takida - The darker instinct
03. Sarah Dawn Finer - Moving on
04. Drifters - Ljudet av ditt hjärta
05. Scotts - Längtan
06. Malena Ernman - La voix du nord
07. [ingenting] - Tomhet, idel tomhet
08. Raised Fist - Veil of ignorance
09. Fibes, Oh Fibes! - 1987
10. Erik Hassle - Hassle
11. Sten & Stanley - Allsånger på vårt sätt
12. The Bear Quartet - 89
13. Hans Edler with String Orchestra - Remember the sixties
14. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
15. Taken By Trees - East of Eden
16. Magnus Carlson - Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet
17. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
18. Cajsastina Åkerström - Sånger om dej och mej
19. Elisabeth Andreassen - Spellemann
20. Lasse Stefanz - Truck stop

Sirius playlist week #37

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. [ingenting] - Halleluja!
02. TALK 1
03. Lama - Beginning
04. Hearts of Black Science - Gold and dust
05. Fare You Well - Come closer now
06. TALK 2
07. Hearts No Static - Part 3
08. No Balls - No
09. Brothers of End - Why
10. TALK 3
11. Loud Pipes - Clean your head
12. Astrid Swan - 2000-2010 (I'm not even 30)
13. David Åhlén - Spirit fall
14. Kornstad - Noir
15. TALK 4
16. C.Aarmé - Abyss song
17. Interlace - Nemesis
18. Toture Division - Traumatic inhuman severance
19. Strip Music - 24 hrs
20. TALK 5
21. Culkin - Twin lakes annual

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers. Also: he doesn't know it yet, but Mathias from Culkin will be my guesthost on next week's show. I'll be letting/forcing him to pick the playlist...

[ingenting] live at The Tram Sessions

Watch [ingenting] perform the song "Medan vi sov" live at The Tram Sessions: http://thetramsession.blogspot.com/2009/09/ingenting.html
I was actually just listening to this track when I stumbled across the link.

Sirius playlist week #34

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Jong Pang - Liar liar
02. TALK 1
03. The Bear Quartet - Least loved (of the unloved)
04. Tortyr - Jag faller
05. Pistol Disco - Evergreen
06. TALK 2
07. Magnus Carlson and The Moon Ray Quintet - Sea lion woman
08. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
09. Okkultokrati - Hand of glory
10. Syster Lycklig - Djuret
11. TALK 3
12. Tredje Mannen - Cul-de-sac
13. The Psyke Project - Winter
14. Titiyo - Longing for lullabies
15. TALK 4
16. The Silent Section - Loss of consciousness
17. Firefox AK - Winter rose
18. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
19. TALK 5
20. Marvins Revolt - New Year's in Warsaw

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #32

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Elias and the Wizzkids - Mr. Right Guy
03. Marit Bergman - Thoughts grow darker in the night
04. Jomi Massage - I see those who died
05. The End Will Be Kicks - Luleå Los Angeles La Paz
06. TALK 1
07. Viola - Shimmery summary (sha-la-la-love)
08. The Bear Quartet - Sailors
09. [ingenting] - Halleluja!
10. TALK 2
11. Erik de Vahl - Got it all
12. The Scrags - Twist at the graveyard
13. Trapdoor Fucking Exit - DOA
14. Iisole - The words
15. TALK 4
16. Death By Kite - Scared of heights
17. Sonic Ritual - Take the edge off
18. Mainliners - Olivia
19. Ted Gärdestad - Räcker jag till
20. TALK 5
21. Darkthrone - Hiking metal punks

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #30

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. I Are Droid - Sevenfold
02. TALK 1
03. [ingenting] - Halleluja!
04. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
05. Turboweekend - Something or nothing
06. José González - How low
07. TALK 2
08. Ison & Fille - Ikväll vi är kungar
09. Arcana - Invisible motions
10. Eskju Divine - Darkness all around
11. TALK 3
12. Murmansk - Silver heel
13. Björn Kleinhenz - HAZ 920
14. David Sandström Overdrive - Songs that maybe won't be forgotten
15. Randy - Evil
16. TALK 4
17. The Bombettes - Oh boy
18. We Are the Storm - Where we used to be heroes
19. Elmo - Young love
20. The Bear Quartet - Volksblues (ft. Karin Dreijer Andersson)
21. TALK 5
22. Mattias Alkberg - Jag bara tänkte, liksom, att

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.