This week's profile piece is on Andreas Mattsson, a man who I'm sure a lot of you know from his work with legendary Swedish pop act Popsicle, but who is now reinventing himself as a solo artist. Check it: [click here]

Profile: Andreas Mattsson

Swedish ambient artists Tape on tour, including a number of gigs as Andreas Mattson's backing band:

04/15 - Konserthuset/Stenhammarsalen, Gothenburg (SWE) (backing Andreas Mattsson)
04/19 - KB, Malmö (SWE) (backing Andreas Mattsson)
04/20 - Södra Teatern, Stockholm (SWE) w/The Tiny
04/26 - Triptych Festival, Mono, Glasgow (UK) w/Tarwater
04/29 - Triptych Festival, The Venue, Edinburgh, w/The Concretes
04/30 - Triptych Festival, The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (UK) w/Arab Strap, etc
04/23 - Södra Teatern, Stockholm (SWE) (backing Andreas Mattsson)
05/20 - "Made in Umeå festival", Umeå (SWE)
05/30 - Luminaire, London (UK) w/Volcano!, Greg Davis, Sebastien Roux
06/03 - Venn festival, Bristol (UK)
06/10 - Teatro i, Milano (ITA)

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Sebastian - Sebastian
02. Linda Bengtzing - Ingenting att förlora
03. Petter - P
04. Christer Sjögren - King creole
05. The Sounds - Dying to say this to you
06. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
07. Rigmore Gustafsson - On my way to you
08. The Knife - Silent shout
09. Ulf Lundell - När jag kysser havet - det bästa 75-84
10. Laleh - Laleh
11. Da Buzz - Last goodbye
12. In Flames - Come clarity
13. Ulf Lundell - Venus & jupiter - det bästa 94-05
14. Magnus Uggla - Ett bedårande barn av sin tid
15. Ulf Lundell - Danielas hus - det bästa 84-93
16. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber
17. Thåström - Skebokvarnsv 209
18. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
19. The Concretes - In colour
20. Andreas Mattsson - The lawlessnes of the ruling classes

PopMatters gives high praise to the Envelopes: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/envelopes_demon/

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Petter - P
02. Sebastian - Sebastian
03. Christer Sjögren - King creole
04. The Knife - Silent shout
05. Rigmore Gustafsson - On my way to you
06. Laleh - Laleh
07. Magnus Uggla - Ett bedårande barn av sin tid
08. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
09. Andreas Mattsson - The lawlessnes of the ruling classes
10. Thåström - Skebokvarnsv 209
11. Sanna Nielsen - Nära mej - nära dej
12. Cue - Guide in blue
13. The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
14. Lisa Ekdahl - Pärlor av glas
15. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
16. In Flames - Come clarity
17. Agnes - Agnes
18. Thåström - Solo vol 1
19. Darin - Darin
20. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber

The Village Voice covers the special Opeth show "Chronology MCMXCIV-MMV" in which they played rarely heard songs from the entire band's career: http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0611,bosler,72487,22.html

Andreas Mattsson
The lawlessness of the ruling classes
Hybris

There's been a lot of talk about how former Popsicle front man Andreas Mattsson, who after Popsicle's demise has spent some of his time writing songs for dodgy pop acts, now is going on tour with critically acclaimed 'noise artists' Tape, and how his first solo album starts with a five-minute instrumental piece (how innovative!). Me, I've been a Popsicle fan as long as I can remember (thanks to my sisters), and with last year's compilation "The good side of Popsicle" my interest in them was suddenly rekindled. "The lawlessness..." is obviously a blessing then, especially since it almost sounds like a straightforward follow up to Popsicle's last album (and their masterpiece) "Stand up and testify". Mattsson's voice, (sad) lyrics, and (gorgeous) melodies haven't changed that much at all – and thank god for that!
- Simon Tagestam

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Sebastian - Sebastian
02. Christer Sjögren - King creole
03. The Knife - Silent shout
04. Magnus Uggla - Ett bedårande barn av sin tid
05. Laleh - Laleh
06. Sanna Nielsen - Nära mej - nära dej
07. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
08. Andreas Mattsson - The lawlessnes of the ruling classes
09. Lisa Ekdahl - Pärlor av glas
10. In Flames - Come clarity
11. Thåström - Solo vol 1
12. Agnes - Agnes
13. Thåström - Skebokvarnsv 209
14. The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
15. Darin - Darin
16. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
17. Mia Marianna & Per Filip - Våra mest älskade sånger
18. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber
19. Anna + Idde - Vägar hem
20. Robyn - Robyn

The Alligator Films website has Elvira Nikolaisen's video for "Love I can't defend" for streaming: http://www.alligatorfilm.no/ (under films->music videos, via)

Hybris has posted an mp3 of the brand new single "You're never lonely when the band plays" from Andreas Mattsson (ex-Popsicle, Vanessa and the O's): http://www.hybrism.com/files/andreasmattsson-youreneverlonely.mp3
Andreas' new album "The lawlessness of the ruling classes" comes out March 1.

In other Hybris news, here's some their updated release schedule:

Siberia - "Omtagning" single
Hell on Wheels - "Alexandr" single and video
Vapnet - "Thoméegränd" EP and video
Andreas Mattsson (ex-Popsicle, Vanessa and the O's) - "The lawlessness of the ruling classes" album

Hybris has announced the signing of both Hell on Wheels and ex-Popsicle member Andreas Mattsson. Check out the label's updated release schedule:

The Kid - CD Album (late January)
Andreas Mattsson - CD Album (February)
Hell on Wheels - CD Album (early March)
Vapnet - CD EP (February)
Vapnet - CD Album (late March)