Amandine - Beneath the birches

Swedish downer alt-country rockers Amandine have a new song at myspace called "Beneath the birches": http://www.myspace.com/amandinemusic

MP3: Holmes - The arms of someone else

At their best Holmes sound like the dour Swedish Americana of Amandine crossed with the poetic melancholy of The Book of Daniel. At their worst, well... that sound can be pretty damn boring and it does get that way after a few songs. But one at a time? All good.
Living like I do in the cold, wet Pacific Northwest, I feel a kinship with the people of Göteborg and their similar grey existence and likewise, I can appreciate the temptation to subsist on music that befits the climate. Art is supposed to reflect your surroundings, is it not? This is the sound of walking down by the water at night in a light drizzle. Of sitting by yourself with a beer in hand, trying to clear your head. True, quiet melancholy; reflective and regretful, but resolved. Honestly, I think it's a beautiful thing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Though to be sure: moderation is key. A little goes a long, long way.

Holmes - The arms of someone else

Swedish melancholy country act Amandine will release the new digital single "Silence of a falling star" b/w "Let the morning ignite" on March 24. Catch the band on tour later this month:

03/21 - Lades, Copenhagen (DK)
03/22 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)
03/23 - Cafe Panam, Leipzig (GER)
03/24 - Washerei P Hall, Innsbruck (AUS)
03/25 - Mariaberg, Rorscach (CH)
03/26 - La Limonaia, Fucecchio (Firenze) (ITA)
03/27 - Arci Kroen, Villafranca (Verona) (ITA)
03/28 - Morya, Cellatica (Brescia) (ITA)
03/29 - D:qliq, Luxemburg (LUX)

Swedish melancholy folk act Amandine will be releasing a new two-track digital single in March to coincide with a new batch of European tourdates. Both songs are from the sessions for their most recent album "Solace in sore hands".

Amandine's European tour schedule for this coming spring is almost complete: http://www.amandinemusic.com/shows.php

The playlist for this week's radio show, an all-winter theme:

01. Ricochets - Cold outside
02. TALK 1
03. Shining - Winterreise
04. Britta Persson - Winter tour
05. Svenson - In the snow
06. Weeping Willows - Christmas in prison
07. TALK 2
08. The Tiny - No money (for X-mas)
09. Kompjotr Eplektrika - Blikktztunddonner
10. The Knife - Reindeer
11. TALK 3
12. Hello Saferide - iPod X-mas
13. January Jaunt - Stuck in glaziers
14. Darkthrone - Too old, too cold
15. TALK 4
16. Sällskapet - Nordlicht
17. E.S.T. - Strange place for snow
18. Sort Mel - Det grønne flesket
19. Notre Dame - A scrooge tale
20. TALK 5
21. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - Winter moment
22. Syster Lycklig - Bilden till snöstorm
23. The Book of Daniel - 3rd of December
24. TALK 6
25. Samuraj Cities - Cold feet
26. Amandine - Silver bells
27. Logcabin - View of frost
28. Silverbullit - Winter coat
29. TALK 7
30. In Flames - December flower
31. Viktor Sjöberg - On a winters day
32. The Bear Quartet - Blizzard
33. TALK 8
34. Brick - Gray day
35. Laakso - Merry Christmas
36. Strayfolk - Another year before the mast
37. TALK 9

Don't forget to vote for Sirius Blog Radio at the Plug Awards! Vote here: http://www.plugawards.com/general_vote.php
We are nominated under the category "Media (Obsessive) > Specialty Show Of The Year (Commercial Radio)".

Amandine live dates for next March:

03/21 - Lades, Copenhagen (DK)
03/22 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)
03/23 - Cafe Panam, Leipzig (GER)
03/24 - tba, Innsbruck (AUS)
03/25 - Mariaberg, Rorschach (CH)

PopMatters reviews the latest from Amandine: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/41681/amandine-solace-in-sore-hands/

Amandine
Solace in sore hands
Fat Cat

I'm not overly wild about Scandinavian groups doing Americana music, however, the Swedish group Amandine is easily one of the best in the field. On their new disc, "Solace in sore hands" the aesthetic is pure and the music so well-arranged and performed that I found myself surrendering to the charms of the album. Lead vocals by Olof Gidlöf are in a high register for the most part and they have an aching vulnerability that suits the music. Although this is primarily a slow, contemplative outing, the melodies are strong and you can't ignore the delicate beauty of songs like "Iron wings". "Shadow of grief" is a good example of Gidlöf's heartfelt vocals, and the way they stand out amidst sparkling piano and simple guitar parts is distinctly Scandinavian. "Silver bells" is the best of the uptempo songs, with a dash of horns providing nice flavor. Overall this is solid, melancholic, folksy pop that sounds great driving on the open road.
- Kevin Renick

The playlist for my radio show this week:

01. At the Gates - Suicide nation
02. TALK 1
03. Moving Oos - Stronger
04. Eskju Divine - Hold on
05. Mechanical Bird - Sunday
06. TALK 2
07. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet
08. DS13 - Thrash lifestyle
09. Montt Mardié - Metropolis
10. Junior Senior - Can I get get get
11. TALK 3
12. Niccokick - Love & neon lights
13. Kristofer Åström - I collect knives
14. Death Breath - His protoplasmic worship
15. TALK 4
16. Mob - Ghost track
17. MZ412 - Unhealing wounds
18. Ugress - Manhattan sapphire
19. TALK 5
20. Shining - Låt oss ta allt från darandra
21. No Hope for the Kids - Rainy day
22. Moneybrother - Det blir ingen dans
23. Amandine - For all the marbles
24. TALK 6
25. Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle
26. Last Days of April - Aspirins and alcohol
27. M:40 - När bomberna faller
28. TALK 7
29. Espen Jørgensen - The immaculate conception
30. Motorpsycho - For free
31. The Carny - Man under the sun
32. TALK 8
33. Karin Ström - Klaustrofobi
34. Badun - Pulsen
35. Meshuggah - Future breed machine
36. Värttinä - Mero
37. TALK 9
38. Randy - Better than art
39. Closer - Open casket
40. Alog - Buffalo demon
41. TALK 10
42. On Trial - Speaking of witch

Amandine has announced that violinist Kristina Lundin is now an official full-time member. She has both appeared on-stage with the band some 60-odd times and also appears on the band's most recent album "Solace in sore hands".

This week's playlist for my show on Sirius:

01. Kristofer Åström - The dark
02. TALK 1
03. Amandine - Better soil
04. Christel Alsos - What you gotta do
05. Tarantula - Two arrows
06. TALK 2
07. Kristin Asbjørnsen - I'm on my way
08. Thomas Denver Jonsson - Dreams at the film club
09. Tenderloud - Texas down
10. TALK 3
11. Hyacinth House - Ghost town
12. Strayfolk - I'll be a-goin'
13. The First Miles - Bottle, don't let me down
14. TALK 4
15. Hello Saferide - I was definitely made for these times
16. Hederos & Hellberg - I can't hold myself in line
17. Two Times the Trauma - I fell in love with an ocean
18. David Sandström Overdrive - The Fatville Treaty
19. HGH - Stupid song
20. TALK 5
21. Gorgoroth - Procreating Satan
22. Enslaved - The voices
23. Invocator - Breed of sin
24. TALK 6
25. Seance - Post mortem
26. Watain - Underneath the cenotaph
27. Dark Tranquility - Icipher
28. TALK 7
29. Eucharist - The Eucharist
30. At the Gates - Slaughter of the soul
31. Wolfbrigade - EU (European Union)
32. TALK 8
33. Katatonia - Had to (leave)
34. Bloodbath - Soul evisceration
35. Cult of Luna - The revelation embodied
36. TALK 9
37. Finntroll - Slaget vid blodsälv

Amandine's website has been revamped a bit to match the artwork of their new record: http://www.amandinemusic.com/

The new Mixtapes & Cellmates video for the single "Quiet" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elxBmfeVDYM
Also check out the band on tour in Germany:

04/08 - Juz, Leer (GER)
04/10 - Astrastube, Hamburg (GER) w/The Green Apple Sea
04/11 - Kulturbunker, Köln (GER)
04/12 - Magnet Club, Berlin (GER) w/Amandine
04/13 - Komma, Recklinghausen (GER)
04/14 - Anorak 21, Kassel (GER)

Amandine has posted even more new tracks on myspace: http://myspace.com/amandinemusic