Check out Pretty in Panic, the new musical project of Jenny Kellerman: http://www.myspace.com/prettyinpanic
Jenny (sister of Rasmus from Tiger Lou and sister-in-law to Andrea of Firefox AK) used to front the excellent low-key country act Dexter's Moon, but since that band is on hiatus, she decided to do something new. Mikael Bengtsson aka Juni Järvi produces and sings harmony on one of the songs posted. Rasmus Sandsten also contributes guest vocals as well.

All of the various Kellerman-family related acts, Statemachine, Tiger Lou and Dexter's Moon, will be teaming up for a special EP where they each cover "Run to love" by sister-in-law Firefox AK aka Andrea Kellerman. It'll be out on Razzia in May. And speaking of the Kellermans, Dexter's Moon has a new website: http://www.dextersmoon.com/

Speaking of new stuff in the webstore, I finally got CDs from the good people at Combat Disc in stock. Not only are the Kellermans some of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, but they're also amazing musicians. I'm sure a lot of you are already familiar with Rasmus and Tiger Lou (if not: shame on you), but there's more. I've posted tracks from Jenny Kellerman and her melancholy folksy act Dexter's Moon and also Las Puertas which features Rasmus with his wife Andrea, but now it's time for a song from Firefox AK - Andrea's solo act. Like a lot of her contemporaries such as El Perro Del Mar, Andrea plays alone with programmed backing tracks, but I find her sound to be a lot more driving and beat-heavy. No too much so, mind you, but there's definitely more of a techno influence going on. I dig it. And it seems I'm not the only one - her debut EP "What's that sound" got picked up by Razzia Records for wider release, so she's gotta be doing something right. Check out the title track whydoncha?

MP3: Firefox AK - What's that sound

Speaking of new stuff in the webstore, I finally got CDs from the good people at Combat Disc in stock. Not only are the Kellermans some of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, but they're also amazing musicians. I'm sure a lot of you are already familiar with Rasmus and Tiger Lou (if not: shame on you), but there's more. I've posted tracks from Jenny Kellerman and her melancholy folksy act Dexter's Moon and also Las Puertas which features Rasmus with his wife Andrea, but now it's time for a song from Firefox AK - Andrea's solo act. Like a lot of her contemporaries such as El Perro Del Mar, Andrea plays alone with programmed backing tracks, but I find her sound to be a lot more driving and beat-heavy. No too much so, mind you, but there's definitely more of a techno influence going on. I dig it. And it seems I'm not the only one - her debut EP "What's that sound" got picked up by Razzia Records for wider release, so she's gotta be doing something right. Check out the title track whydoncha?

Firefox AK - What's that sound

Download "The stars above Indian Lake" from Juni Järvi (ex-Juniper aka Mikael Bengtsson): http://www.juniper.scorpionshops.com/juni%20jarvi-the%20stars%20above%20indian%20lake.mp3
Mikael is working on duet with Jenny Kellerman from Dexter's Moon called "You-turn". I'm not sure when and where this song will be released, but I'll let you know as soon as I find out.

Dexter's Moon
Come rain
Combat Disc

Yet another female-fronted band from the wilds of Sweden, Dexter's Moon is a septet led by vocalist Jenny Maria Kellerman, along with Emilie Lindkvist, brothers Martin and Bjorn Insulander, Jennifer Pope and Simon Stalenhag. The 8 songs that make up their debut, "Come rain", create an admirably sustained mood of quiet introspection and acoustic guitar-based melancholy. Jenny sings in a very shy manner, as though she's a bit hesitant to reveal such personal things in a recording but can't help herself. This is closer to old-style folk than anything else; only a few songs have minimal percussion. "Every cloud has its silver lining/Now I'm about to cloud up and rain all over you," sings Jenny somberly in the title cut. The forecast definitely calls for overcast skies here. Although some evocative sax lends interest to "In the end" and piano adorns "Voodoo girl" and "Rock and roll lullabye", most of the music here is simple acoustic guitar and that sad little voice. The best song is "(Fucked up) Love story", which has already gotten the band a fair amount of attention; it offers a subtle waltz beat and real lyrical bite in its portrayal of a clearly less-than-inspiring relationship. "This kind of love we're making is like a spider's web/We're two flies caught in it until we're dead." Yessir, makes you wanna dive right into the ol' dating pool, doesn't it? Although the music here is pretty and I found it sometimes poignant, it doesn't really provide much in the way of cathartic release. It's kind of repetitious; in other words, and you can tell the group's still finding their way. But they have the talent to do so, and with a little more energy and diversity next time out, they should be quite capable of increasing the emotional reach and impact of their sound.
- Kevin Renick

New mp3 from Dexter's Moon, the low-key folk act fronted by Jenny Kellerman, older sister to Rasmus of Tiger Lou/Las Puertas and Mårten of Statemachine. Musical talent obviously runs in the family. This track is the closing tune from the group's new album "Come rain", out now on the clan's own Combat Disc Records. Good stuff, of course. How could you expect less? Hopefully I'll also be getting some copies of the record into my own mailorder soon.

Podcast: Summer bummer

Today's new mp3 comes from Las Puertas, the band of husband/wife duo Rasmus and Andrea Kellerman. You might know them better from their solo projects Tiger Lou and Firefox, but they sound totally different when playing together. I don't know if they'd agree with my assessment, but I can't help but think "pop-punk" when listening to them. The song I've posted today is bay far the catchiest tune from their self-titled debut album. It's got great energy and I just love the responsive vocal parts on the chorus. There's a few darker, more driving tunes as well, but the prevailing mood is much more upbeat. I like it. Oh, and be sure to check out the whole Kellerman clan when they play together at Landet in Stockholm on May 13. That includes brother Mårten and Statemachine as well as sister Jenny with her group Dexter's Moon. Should be good time I bet. I wonder if they'll do any Carter Family-style singalongs?

The full line-up and schedule for the En ljummen i gräset Festival at Vintervikens trädgård has been announced:

07/24: Differnet, Loney, Dear, K (Krister Linder/Dive), The Fine Arts Showcase, EF, The Sorayas, Deltahead, Cirera, Walter Sound System
07/28: Jens Lekman, Britta Persson, Natasha Lea Jones (UK)
07/31: Popundret, richard reagh&wwnb2, QOPH, Namur, I Love You Baby, The Bright And Shiny, Thomas Denver Jonsson, Tony Clifton, Walter Sound System
08/07: The Deportees, Paatos, Montys Loco, Empire Dogs, The Tiny, Plod, Dexter's Moon, Walter Sound System
08/11: Heikki, Hip Whips
08/14: First Floor Power, Ane Brun, Rundfunk, Tobias Fröberg, Fire fox, The Sunshine, Le Muhr, Un Rodo Cora

More info: http://www.ljummen.com/

Glad Påsk! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Hope you enjoy your holiday weekend!

Watch the video for "Long Beach" from Laakso: high / low

Startracks has announced a new signing - their first since picking up the Loosegoats in '96. And the lucky band is Tiger Lou aka Rasmus Kellerman. He used to be in EM/Music By EM, but has now gone solo. His first show ever with a backing band is at Popaganda fest in Stockholm on May 30, but he's also hitting the road by himself:

4/21 - Lübeck D Cafe Brasil
4/22 - Oldenburg D Alhambra w/Karate, One Man and His Droid
4/23 - Hamburg D Molotow w/Me Without You
4/24 - Köln D Underground w/Karate
4/25 - Wolfenbüttel D Juz Harztorwall w/Karate
4/26 - Konzert Geschlossene Veranstaltung
4/27 - Freiburg D KTS w/NRA, Oil
4/28 - TRIER D Ex-Haus
4/29 - Aflenz A Sublime
4/30 - Wien A Shelter w/Karate
5/01 - München D Kafe Kult w/Karate
5/02 - Leverkusen D Pentagon
5/07 - Stockholm S Lava w/Lova and Dexter's Moon

Look for a 4-song EP in May/June. More info here.

For a limited time you can view the new Fireside video for the song "All You Had". Manne Lindvall filmed it and Leif Andree stars. Very entertaining.

Nicolai Dunger has booked himself a couple new gigs around the UK:

5/27 - Nottingham Rescue Rooms w/Matt Elliott (solo)
5/28 - Brighton Albert Inn (solo)
5/29 - London Union Chapel w/The Frames (band)

NorthSide Records has posted mp3s for two new albums that are coming out June 3. First is "Vettoi" (excerpt) from Hedningarna and their new CD "1989-2003", a best-of collection that includes a couple new tracks. Next is "Mikkel Per / Kus Erik" from Frifot's new album "Sluring". If you're curious about tracing the roots of Nordic music, I strongly encourage you the check this stuff out.

Uppsala Hio-hop duo Allied Forces have their debut 12" coming out soon. It'll be called "Ögon I Nacken" and will feature a guest appearance from Highwon and production from Masse.

The Sounds are now booked to play the outdoor stage at Gröna Lund in Stockholm on June 18. The rest of the acts confirmed so far for the venue this summer are:

4/30 - The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Ark, Mando Diao (view poster)
5/9 - Melody Club
5/23 - Dilba vs. Stephen Simmond

In case you weren't already aware, the pop group Alcazar worked together with the Pet Shop Boys to write some new songs. Here's an short interview/article from Expressen on the subject. (in Swedish) Oh, and feel free to catch 'em on tour too:

4/18 - Ö-vik, Parken (S)
4/19 - Höör, Jägersbo (S)
4/23 - Stockholm, Company Party (S)
4/25 - Sälen, HC (S)
5/03 - Sölden, Snowmove (Austria)
5/10 - Amsterdam (NL)
5/15 - Nurnberg (Germany)
5/24 - Jönköping, Rix FM (S)
5/27 - Stockholm, Company Party (S)
5/30 - Umeå, Festen (S)
5/31 - Gislaved, Sigges Loge (S)
6/06 - Stockholm, Gröna Lund (S)
6/07 - Eringsboda Brunn (S)
6/08 - Sätela (S)
6/18 - Neubrandenburg, NDR (Germany)
6/19 - Bad Arolsen, Festival (Germany)
6/26 - Ludvika, City Festival (S)
6/27 - Enköping, City Festival, (S)
6/28 - Klagenfurt, Cityfestival (S)
7/02 - Sundsvall, Gatufesten (S)
7/12 - Tidan, Olstorp (S)
7/18 - Sölvesborg, Hanöhus (S)
7/19 - Bergen, NDR (Germany)
7/25 - Borlänge, Rommehed (S)
7/26 - Sunne, Fryksdalsdansen (S)
7/27 - Eskilstuna, Parken (S)
7/28 - Zurich, Pride (Switzerland)
7/30 - Ellös, Parken (S)
7/31 - Bromölla, Dagarna (S)
8/02 - Stockholm, Pride (S)
8/15 - Paris, NRJ (France)
8/16 - Gothenburg, Liseberg (S)
8/17 - Berlin, NRJ (Germany)
8/30 - Östervåla, Parken (S)
9/06 - Pasewalk, NDR (Germany)
11/01 - Bryssels, Company Party (Begium)