Blackstrap - Pass this by

The first taste of anything new from Blackstrap in a loooong time. Sounds very baggy, ie not appealing to me at all, but don't let that stop you from enjoying it.

I Break Horses - Hearts (video)

The debut video from I Break Horses, the new Swedish band featuring Maria Lindén of Blackstrap as first reported about here. Look for their debut album "Hearts" to be released later this year via Bella Union. Direct link: http://vimeo.com/23403268

I Break Horses - Wired

Swedish indie/shoegazers I Break Horses are streaming a new track at myspace, the first fully mixed sample off their forthcoming debut on Bella Union: http://www.myspace.com/ibreakhorsesandhearts
I Break Horses features Maria Lindén from the similarly-minded act Blackstrap who will reportedly have a new single of their own sometime around October.

Sound Opinions says Blackstrap is buried treasure

The NPR program Sound Opinions has selected Swedish act Blackstrap as one of their buried treasures of 2008: http://www.soundopinions.org/shownotes/2009/010909/shownotes.html

Saturday night! Hello Saferide @ The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY with Blackstrap and The Seabellies! Doors @ 8pm, $10 cover. Be there!

Speaking of HS in the US, anyone got any pics from either the House of Sweden show on Monday or last night's performance at Bowery Electric to share?

Hello Saferide has confirmed a couple shows in NYC!

10/22 - Bowery Electric, NYC w/Juvelen, Firefox AK (FREE!)
10/25 - The Bellhouse, Brooklyn w/Blackstrap, The Seabellies

Hear a couple tracks from the new album "More modern short stories..." at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/saferide

Swedish shoegazers Blackstrap will finally be coming to the US for a few dates in October:

10/16 - Mercury Lounge, New York, NY w/Little Ones
10/17 - DC9/Liberation Party, Washington DC
10/19 - Garfield Artworks, Pittsburgh, PA
10/21 - Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH w/Asobi Seksu
10/22 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL w/Asobi Seksu
10/23 - Frankies, Toledo, OH
10/24 - WOXY Session, Cincinnati, OH
10/25 - Bell House/CMJ, Brooklyn, NY
10/26 - Bar, New Haven, CT
10/27 - TT The Bears, Cambridge, MA

Pitchfork finally gets around to reviewing the latest Vapnet record "Döda fallet": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51505-vapnet-dda-fallet
Also covered, the new Blackstrap album "Steal my horses and run": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/51498-blackstrap-steal-my-horses-and-run

Paper Thin Walls on Swedish shoegazers Blackstrap: http://www.paperthinwalls.com/singlefile/item?id=1593

Swedish shoegazers Blackstrap will finally get a US release for their album "Steal my horses and run" on May 20 via Tee Pee Records on both vinyl and CD. Look for US dates to be confirmed soon.

Buddyhead likes Swedish act Blackstrap: http://www.buddyhead.com/2008/03/07/blackstrap-steal-my-horse-and-run/

Blackstrap gigs at CMJ:

10/18 - Club Midway (4pm)
10/19 - Galapagos (Crashin' In What's CMJ Party, 3pm)
10/19 - Luna Lounge (10:30pm)

I'm not so stoked on the band's most recent record "Steal my horses and run", but perhaps they'll be better live.

Blackstrap will play a trio of shows in NYC during CMJ:

10/18 - Club Midway (Tee Pee Records Party), NYC
10/19 - Galapagos (Crashin In/Kanine Records Party), Brooklyn
10/19 - Luna Lounge (Tee Pee Records Showcase), Brooklyn

So does this mean they're now signed to Tee Pee?

MP3: Blackstrap - To far gone

Blackstrap are a band I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot about in the future as the powers-that-be are pushing them hard. They've got that fresh nü-gaze sound - not too dissimilar from Norwegian acts 120 Days or Serena Maneesh, but will less of the Krautrock drone and more melody. They've also got a much more pronounced rock'n'roll flair ala BRMC, but their Swedish flavor probably leans 'em more towards The Soundtrack of Our Lives. I like it, but there's a distinct lack of personality. It's hard not to listen to everything they do without comparing it to some other band, just as I've done. And I still think Silverbullit is the best band of this style - something that is all too apparent considering that this album starts out exactly the same as Silverbullit's "Arclight". Go find yourself an mp3 of "Run" and compare it to "Winning speech" on Blackstrap's myspace profile. It's ridiculous.

Blackstrap - To far gone

Absolut Noise talks to Blackstrap sideproject Du Pacque: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2006/12/interview-du-pacque.html