Top 10s for 2007: Absolut Noise

Convoj recently recorded their debut full-length at Tonteknik in Umeå, but unfortunately they are without a label to release it. All the bigger labels that have expressed interest think it's too unaccessable and the small indies can't afford to pay for it - Tonteknik is a great studio, but it's definitely not cheap. So yeah, the band is currently weighing their options and are open to suggestions. For now, I suggest you head over to myspace to listen to them 'cuz they're a great band: http://www.myspace.com/convoj
Hopefully this will get resolved soon.

The playlist for this week's all-GBG radio show:

01. Maia Hirasawa - Gothenburg
02. TALK 1
03. Hemstad - Sommar i Göteborg
04. Division of Laura Lee - We are numbers
05. Håkan Hellström - Kom igen Lena!
06. TALK 2
07. In Flames - Everything counts
08. Pistol Disco - Walking with Jesus
09. Viktor Sjöberg - W/nothing
10. TALK 3
11. Kristofer Åström - Just a little insane
12. The Knife - Listen now
13. Broder Daniel - Dark heart
14. TALK 4
15. Samuraj Cities - All along the shoreline
16. MPTP - Jim Morrison
17. At the Gates - Cold
18. TALK 5
19. The Book of Daniel - The camels parade
20. Silverbullit - Magnetic city
21. The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Nevermore
22. TALK 6
23. Nicolai Dunger - What tomorrow
24. The Kid - Portion control (Fatsuit haze/Zlatan wins the World Cup remix)
25. The Idealist - The knives are my eyes
26. C.Aarmé - Visions
27. TALK 7
28. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - I could have sworn I heard them SING
29. Junip - Official
30. Diabolique - Catholic
31. TALK 8
32. Convoj - My timekeeping heart
33. Tsukimono - Dear sister
34. Eric Beyond - Step off
35. TALK 9
36. Björn Kleinhenz - Out of style
37. Detektivbyrån - E18
38. TALK 10
39. Bad Cash Quartet - Too bored to die

The playlist for my radio show this week:

01. Pistol Disco - Walking with Jesus
02. TALK 1
03. Heroes & Zeros - Into the light
04. Vijaya - Your gun will never set you free
05. Convoj - My timekeeping heart
06. TALK 2
07. Darkthrone - Too old, too cold
08. A Perfect Friend - Rush hour
09. Death By Kite - Hiroshima
10. TALK 3
11. Fun - I've got a truck
12. Moonbabies - Walking on my feet
13. The Perishers - When I fall
14. TALK 4
15. Regulations - Police siren
16. Viola - Ordinary teenage sensation
17. Björn Kleinhenz - Starlit queen
18. TALK 5
19. Gravy - Glory to our brilliant name
20. Hero Dishonest - Stalin vs Hank Hardy
21. Sophie Zelmani - To know you
22. Ulver - Capitel III: Graablick blev hun vaer
23. TALK 6
24. Håkan Hellström - Ramlar
25. Abhinanda - Highway tonight
26. Single Unit - Passion, pirates & parasites
27. TALK 7
28. Kompjotr Eplektrika - Skulldrummantra
29. The Tiny - Just like you
30. Death Breath - Death breath
31. TALK 8
32. Entombed - Serpent speech
33. The Cardigans - Marvel hill
34. Soviac - I got the ribbah
35. TALK 9
36. The Bear Quartet - Put me back together
37. You Is Stupid - I am history
38. Paris - 60 minutes
39. The Process - Mot Sverige i tiden
40. TALK 10
41. Weeping Willows - I give you the morning

Via Absolut Noise comes word that the very excellent (still unsigned) Swedish act Convoj has new tracks on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/convoj

Absolut Noise talks to Convoj: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2007/01/interview-convoj.html

HUGE mailorder update today! Just got two big packages from Nomethod and Carcrash Records including restocks of Convoj (at last!), Svenson and Dialog Cet as well as new stuff from C.Aarmé, Aerial, Mixtapes & Cellmates, The Bear Quartet and more! Get shopping!

MP3: The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy

One of the big things that got me deeper into Swedish/Scandinavian rock way back when was explosive, guitar-heavy indierock. Fireside, Starmarket, Him Kerosene, KVLR - these are the bands that caught my interest and had me pouring through liner notes looking for more names to track down. Sadly, that scene is nowhere near as strong these days though there are a few who keep the fire burning: The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four, Aerial Convoj plus young upstarts like Traktor and today's post subjects The Sound O.E. The band has been lurking in the shadows for a couple years now, but it wasn't until very recently that they seemed to rise above and the new three-song EP "Me and Laureline" proves it. The screechy sprechstimme delivery of the verses might be a bit much for some, but remember that what they're doing is essentially sloganeering - the words are meant to be heard loud and clear. It's call & response; a call to action. When the harmonies of the chorus come in, the intentions are indisputable. The Sound O.E know exactly what they're doing. I think the arrangement could still be tightened up a bit, but I like what they're doing and definitely look forward to hearing more.

The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy

MP3: Voices Break the Silence - The way

This week's hot tip: Voices Break the Silence. If you're at all into Convoj, The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four or any other "angular" rock acts, these guys will be right up your alley. In fact, it was Ola from Seven Feet Four who first told me about them - a day before Magnus from Chalksounds/Nomethod (the former being the label of both Convoj and TEWBK) sent me an excited IM with the same recommendation. The band remains unsigned for now, but I doubt it will take long for someone to pick them up. I know this sort of rock doesn't usually get people fired up like whatever flavor-of-the-week twee act is going 'round, but I live for this kind of stuff. It's got just the right balance of heaviness and melodicism: huge churning bass and slicing guitars. Also: I tried to interview them for this week's profile piece, but they never replied to my email. What gives? Get back to me!

Voices Break the Silence - The way

This week's profile piece? It's a spotlight on Convoj - check it: [click here]

Profile: Convoj

Convoj has posted two brand new songs on myspace for listening and download: http://www.myspace.com/convoj
The fact that these guys are currently unsigned is a damn shame.

Photo: Henrik is updated with newish pics from Convoj and Randy.

Convoj's debut self-titled EP made a decent impact this past year and I think they are perfectly poised for when it comes time to release their full-length. You hear Norrland post-hardcore roots in the discordant melodies, but it's those dance-heavy beats that make 'em special. You like it? You should buy it.

MP3: Convoj - My timekeeping heart

Convoj's debut self-titled EP made a decent impact this past year and I think they are perfectly poised for when it comes time to release their full-length. You hear Norrland post-hardcore roots in the discordant melodies, but it's those dance-heavy beats that make 'em special. You like it? You should buy it.

Convoj - My timekeeping heart