Gbg-based label Release the Bats (see our recent interview) has finally released the long-awaited Cure tribute "The shameless kiss of vanity III" on limited edition cassette (250 copies). Said comp featuring 8 bands such as Cut City and The Je Ne Sais Quoi covering the entirety of The Cure's classic "Pornography" album from start to finish. Unfortunately, the cassette dub came out a bit noisy, so the label is throwing in CDR copies with all orders which will include a few tracks from parts I and II. More info and tracklist: http://releasethebats.com/rtb30.html
In other news, RTB has signed the excellent Swedish pop-punk act Hanna Hirsch and will be releasing their debut full-length "Tala svart" as a split with label Diskret Förlag. Hear samples: http://www.myspace.com/hannahirsch

Cut City has been forced to cancel their upcoming European tour due to their drummer coming down with a lung infection. Read more: http://www.cut-city.com/news.asp?ID=43

MP3: White Knives - Welcome transplants

Resale copies of the new Great Northern Recordings comp arrived yesterday and holy shit is it good! I mean, I knew it would be at least kinda good if only because it has two new NEI tracks plus new stuff from ex-Seven Feet Four act Giant Boar, but it exceeds expectations in every way. The biggest surprise: White Knives. Consisting of Cut City's rhythm section (that's David Hagberg on drums and Max J Hansson on bass/vox) plus Joachim Nordwall from Kid Commando/Skull Defekts/The Idealist on guitar/vox, they churn out an evil, dubbed-out postpunk dirge that's absolutely killer. "Welcome transplants" takes the sinister cyclical power of Lungfish, but replaces their poeticism and mechanical precision with something far more despondent, more broken. It really gets me excited to hear more, but for now, I'm stoked on the two songs on this comp.

White Knives - Welcome transplants

"Great Northern Recordings compilation nr. 3", the latest edition of the short-run comp series focusing on some of Sweden's best experimental indie acts, is confirmed for release on March 1. This new one features eight previously unreleased tracks from the bands Nei (members from Breach, Fireside, Brick, The End Will Be Kicks), Giant Boar (members from Seven Feet Four), White Knives (members from Skull Defekts, Cut City) and Happiness (members from Tar... Feathers, Fuglesang) and will be amazing, no doubt. Hand-numbered, 167 copies and yes, I'll definitely be getting a few for resale. Celebrate the release with Nei's debut show at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm on March 1.

Keeping up with our daily top 10s? New lists from Aerial, Max J Hansson (Cut City) and Henric Claesson (Housewife Lovers) are up now and ready for your perusal.

Top 10s for 2007: Max J Hansson (Cut City)

Cut City has a new demo track up on myspace to give you a taste of what to expect from their forthcoming EP: http://www.myspace.com/cutcity

Swedish postpunks Cut City are planning to start work on a new album soon, to be released in time for a European tour next year. CORRECTION/UPDATE: the new recording will be a 5-song EP, not an album. Expect a March/April release via Some Industries in physical form, digitally through GSL.

Listen to GBG-based postpunks Cut City covering "The hanging garden" by The Cure: http://www.myspace.com/cutcity
Said song will eventually be released on a Cure tribute being put together by Release the Bats!

MP3: The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Nevermore

Back home, safe and sound. I hope to have a full festival report with pics and more in the next couple days, but until then, let me just say a huge thank-you to Björn Kleinhenz and everyone at Norrländska Generalkonsulatet for putting me up (and putting up with me), Chris Magnussen for helping me with phone issues and everyone else I had a chance to meet and hang out with - the list is long, but I'm gonna try and make sure I thank each and every one of you personally. I'm just sorry I didn't have more time! Well, except for Max from Cut City - fuck that guy! Doesn't he realize that my beer consumption and band-watching skills took years of specialized training? People, it's easier said than done - leave it to the pros.
Oh, and here's one last GBG song for you - "Nevermore" by The Soundtrack of Our Lives, probably my favorite TSOOL track. Regular updates to resume... soon? Today is all about clearing out the inbox.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Nevermore

PopMatters reviews Swedish new-wave/post-punk revivalists Cut City: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/9427/cut-city-exit-decades/

Paper Thin Walls reviews a new Cut City track: http://www.paperthinwalls.com/singlefile/item?id=403

Cut City's new website is finally open and you can stream their entire new album "Exit decades" there: http://www.cut-city.com/
The CD comes out February 6 via GSL, the LP on Some Industries/Deleted Art. Highly recommended for fans of 1999 or The Kid.

Swedish post-punk/dance act Cut City will finally release their long-awaited debut full-length "Exit decades" early next year. GSL and Deleted Art will collaborate on the CD and the new label Some Industries will do the vinyl.

Swedish post-punks Cut City will enter the studio in October to record their debut full-length for release on GSL sometime early next year.