MP3: September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?

Another week, another chapter in our ongoing 2008 Göteborg music spotlight. This week's guest: Martin Lundmark from September Malevolence/A TenderVersion Recording.

So what's up with the Gbg postrock scene anyway? Does September Malevolence consider themselves a part of that? Does it even exist?

Well no, I don't really think there's a specific scene for postrock here, the city is too small. There are some bands though, and I guess we all more or less know each other, but scene? Nah.

How would you say the music scene in Gbg compare to other cities in Sweden? What makes Gbg better (or worse) in comparison?

I think it's pretty good, there are loads of bands here. It's also far more diverse than people in general believe. The underground is so much better than the mostly boring bands that get media attention...

As far as TenderVersion goes, do you consider yourself a regional label, dedicated to documenting the local scene? I know you have those shitheads Scraps of Tape from Malmö on your label, but let's forget about them for now, especially that Johan guy. How important do you think it is that there are labels around to do that?

Haha... everybody knows Johan's a dick! I haven't really thought of TenderVersion as being a regional label, and now that Audrey is spread around the country and I've signed Yamon Yamon from Sthlm, I guess it's not the case. It kind of was in the beginning when Once We Were, Audrey and September Malevolence all lived in Göteborg though. The main focus for TenderVersion has always been to get outside of Sweden, that's where the action is.

Jerry Bowman seems to resent me calling him a scenester in an earlier entry of this Gbg spotlight series (see here and here). Was I off-base? What's his deal anyway? Pen Expers are not a good band.

Well, I've only read his blog a few times. And scanning through it now to be able to answer this question, I think you are right. And we don't share the same musical taste for sure. File under: Yawn...

What do you see as the future of the Gbg music scene? Any upcoming trends to keep an eye on?

Hm, that's a tricky one. I hope to see more experimental stuff coming out of Gbg soon. That would be awesome! And that they get some attention mediawise! The 40-year olds at GP write about Håkan Hellström and Kent, the 30-year olds write about Hästpojken... not my cup of tea. What we need now are some passionate kids with a taste for the new and eclectic! Rise above the mainstream, anyone?

And as for September Malevolence, what are your upcoming plans? Care to share a new song?

Well, the new album is released May 30th in Europe and a bit later in Japan. We are hitting the road for three weeks in May/June doing our 5th European tour and are hoping to go to Japan later this year. Basically we want to tour as much as possible... why don't you hook us up in the US dude? ;)

I've attached "Who watches the watchmen?", the first track from the upcoming CD/LP "After this darkness, there's a next". It's a killer!

Indeed it is...

September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?

Audrey has a nice new website design to go along with the release of their new album "The fierce and the longing", due out April 17 in Sweden, May 22 in Europe: http://www.audrey.se/

Stereo Test Kit has a new 10-track label sampler posted for free download: http://www.stereotestkit.com/
Artists featured include Band in Box, We Are Soldiers We Have Guns, Dear Euphoria, Audrey, Logh and more. And speaking of both Band in Box and We Are Soldiers We Have Guns, STK will be releasing new albums from both of them later this year. First up is Band in Box's debut "This fiction" in May with "Get up, get out" from We Are Soldiers We Have Guns following in June. Keep checking the STK website for new preview tracks from them in weeks to come.

Audrey's new album "The fierce and the longing" is now confirmed for release on April 17. Head to their website for updated tourdates: http://www.audrey.se/

The long-anticipated Yamon Yamon debut EP "Days like television" (remember?) is finally out via Tenderversion Records can be ordered here. I'll see what I can do about getting a few copies as well. Otherwise, look for the new September Malevolence record "After this darkness, there's a next" and Audrey's new one "The fierce and longing" to be released by the label in April.

Swedish postrockers Audrey will be touring extensively this coming spring. Here's what's confirmed so far:

05/22 - Knust, Hamburg (GER)
05/23 - Magnet, Berlin (GER)
05/24 - Moritzbastei, Leipzig (GER)
05/26 - Chelsea, Wien (AUS)
05/27 - SC - Teatar & TD, Zagreb (CRO)
06/02 - Sonic, Lyon (FRA)
06/04 - Orangehouse (Feierwerk), München (GER)
06/05 - Brotfabrik, Frankfurt (GER)
06/06 - Blue Shell, Köln (GER)
06/07 - Mains d'Oeuvres, Paris (FRA)
06/11 - KFZ, Marburg (GER)
06/12 - D:Qliq, Luxembourg (LUX)
06/13 - Amp, Münster (GER)
06/14 - Lagerhaus, Bremen (GER)
06/15 - Umsonst & Draussen, Würzburg (GER)

Audrey's next album is finished and mixed. Details about its release are forthcoming.

Audrey will be begin recording their next album at Mission Hall in Skåne, Sweden on December 27. Mathias Oldén (Logh) will produce/engineer.

Some new dates for Audrey in Germany:

10/31 - Grüner Jäger, Hamburg
11/01 - Café Zapata, Berlin
11/02 - Amp, Münster
11/03 - KFZ, Marburg

Look for Audrey to tour again in late October. Here's what they have so far:

10/24 - Industry, London (UK)
10/25 - The Adelphi, Hull (UK)
10/26 - Holy Trinity Church, Leeds (UK)
10/27 - Taylor John's House, Coventry (UK) w/Gravenhurst

UK-based label Stereo Test Kit (Logh, Boy Omega, Audrey, etc.) has signed Band in Box and will be releasing their debut album early next year along with a split 7" in November. Listen to demo tracks: http://www.myspace.com/bandinbox

In addition to recording a new album this winter, Swedish postrockers Audrey will be doing a bunch of international touring this year including dates around Europe and the UK. Check their website for details: http://www.audrey.se/

Last night's Sirius Blog Radio playlist:

01. Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night
02. TALK 1
03. Asha Ali - These months
04. Boys of Scandinavia - Why do you love me? (radio edit)
05. Promoe - Headache
06. TALK 2
07. Closer - Sensing the wake
08. The Bear Quartet - Mom and dad
09. TALK 3
10. Kristofer Åström - Just a little insane
11. Familjen - Kom säger dom
12. Pavan - The bird
13. TALK 4
14. Kazakstan - Song to the past
15. Universal Poplab - Vampire in you
16. TALK 5
17. Scraps of Tape - Death as it should be
18. ARM - Drving by accident
19. The Idealist - The knives are my eyes
20. TALK 6
21. Tsukimono - Gathering heavy breathing
22. Pimentola - Wish upon a fallen star
23. Plain Fade - Uliaan leski
24. TALK 7
25. The Skull Defekts - Six six for eyes
26. Logh - Into the night
27. TALK 8
28. Aerial - You will all die, all things will
29. Tobias Hellkvist - Moment at ven
30. Audrey - Views
31. TALK 9
32. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Ashen like the sky

Tenderversion Recordings will be releasing limited 3" CDs from both Audrey and Scraps of Tape in the near future. The Audrey disc will feature two previously unreleased tracks and Scraps will feature a 15-minute epic that was too much to tack onto their most recent album "This is a copy this is a copy". I'm not sure of the release date, but I'll definitely try to track down more than a few copies for resale.

The Silent Ballet has selected Scraps of Tape as their band of the week and the album "This is a copy is this a copy" as the album of the month: http://thesilentballet.com/
The band will be playing a release party at Inkonst in Malmö on Wednesday with friends Audrey and Hojfen Balagan and will actually be their first show in 10 months. Buy the album here: CD / MP3