Norwegian-literate readers can keep up with Draumir as they blog the recording of their new album: http://blog.myspace.com/draumir
As mentioned before, they have enlisted the talents of legendary producer/engineer Phill Brown (Talk Talk, Robert Plant, etc.) and no longer playing with frontwoman Alexandra Bråten. Expect a fall release.

Norwegian act Draumir has secured the talents of legendary producer Phill Brown (Talk Talk, Robert Plant, etc.) to record their next album.

Norwegian newspaper Adressa's top albums of the year:

01. The Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy kiss
02. My Midnight Creeps - Histamin
03. Moving Oos - Peace & love
04. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne sundfør
05. Superfamily - Warszawa
06. Shining - Grindstone
07. John Heitman/Mark Gregory - Chronicles
08. Kim Hiorthøy - My last day
09. Trulz And The Trees - Ailanthus
10. Texum - Different strokes for different folks
11. The Grand - The grand
12. Erlend Ropstad - Bright late nights
13. Hellbillies - Spissrotgang
14. Samvirkelaget - Musikk
15. Heroes & Zeroes - Strange constellations
16. Draumir - The island

Read more: http://www.adressa.no/kultur/musikk/article993269.ece

Norwegian melancholy rock act Draumir has parted ways with vocalist Alexandra Bråten. The group is currently working on a new album tentatively titled "The hawk sings", due out next fall.

Draumir
The island
Universal

Opener "The white lady", even in the title of the track, reminded me of Nick Cave. This darkly melancholic, semi-theatrical (and sometimes kitschy) approach is reflected throughout "The island". Draumir's ability to build their songs from intensifying layers of instrumentation and along the tangents of the lyrical storytelling is compelling and fascinating, and is an effort that very few artists can pull off in such an accomplished fashion. The last album I remember enjoying the conceptual approach as much as the musical delivery was Murder By Death's "Who will survive, and what will be left of them?", a wonderfully dark, gothic tale about the Devil, the old West, and zombies. While Draumir's record is not quite on the same level as Murder By Death's, they do share a number of similarities musically, and "The island" is a fine collection that compels listeners with its multifaceted compositions from its inception until the wonderful ending provided by "Dead porn star". Don't be put off by the absolutely dreadful cover art, this really is a good record.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

The Eardrums music blog has a nice feature on the various music videos nominated for the 30th Norwegian Short Film Festival: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2007/06/11/music-on-film-norwegian-music-videos-nominated-for-the-30th-norwegian-short-film-festival/
Featured artists include Lionheart Brothers, 120 Days, Hanne Hukkelberg, Thomas Dybdahl, Draumir, Superfamily and more.

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. BigBang - Too Much Yang
02. Tord Gustavsen Trio - Being There
03. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
04. D.D.E. - No går det så det suse
05. Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao
06. Magnet - The Simple Life
07. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham C. - Amerikabesøk
08. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
09. Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of blue
10. Steinar Albrigtsen - Moments of Peace
11. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
12. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
13. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
14. My Midnight Creeps - Histamin
15. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
16. Madrugada - Live At Tralfamadore
17. Åge Aleksandersen - Original
18. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
19. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
20. Draumir - The Island

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. BigBang - Too Much Yang
02. Magnet - The Simple Life
03. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
04. Steinar Albrigtsen - Moments of Peace
05. D.D.E. - No går det så det suse
06. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham C. - Amerikabesøk
07. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
08. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
09. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
10. Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of blue
11. Röyksopp - Back to mine
12. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
13. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
14. Rune Rudberg - Rett fra sofaen
15. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
16. Draumir - The Island
17. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
18. Susperia - Cut From Stone
19. William Hut - Nightfall
20. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Magnet - The Simple Life
02. BigBang - Too Much Yang
03. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
04. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham C. - Amerikabesøk
05. D.D.E. - No går det så det suse
06. Steinar Albrigtsen - Moments of Peace
07. Draumir - The Island
08. Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of blue
09. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
10. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
11. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
12. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
13. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
14. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
15. William Hut - Nightfall
16. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
17. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
18. My Midnight Creeps - Histamin
19. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
20. El Caco - From Dirt

The nominees for this year's Spellemann (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:

Female artist:
Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive (Det Er Mine/V2)
Lene Marlin - Lost In A Moment (EMI)
Marthe Valle - It's A Bag Of Candy (Grammar Records)
Maria Mena - Apparently Unaffected (Sony BMG)
Simone - Last Days And Nights (Daworks)

Male artist
Alejandro Fuentes - Diamonds Or Pearls (Sony BMG)
Magnet - The Tourniquet (Atlantic)
Robert Post - Robert Post (Universal)
Sofian - This Is Sofian (C+C Records)

Pop group:
Jim Stärk - Jim Stärk (Sweet Recordings)
Ravi & Dj Løv - Den Nye Arbæidsdagn (Sony BMG)
Röyksopp - The Understanding (EMI)

Electronica:
Alog - Miniatures (Rune Grammofon)
Datarock - Datarock Datarock (Yap/VME)
Toy - Toy (Smalltown Supersound)

Rock:
Bigbang - Poetic Terrorism (Gransport Records)
JR Ewing - Maelstrom (Sony BMG)
Madrugada - The Deep End (EMI)
My Midnight Creeps - My Midnight Creeps (MMC Records)
Serena-Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh (Honeymilk)

Metal:
Audrey Horne - No Hay Banda (Dog Job/Tuba Records)
El Caco - The Search (Black Balloon Records)
Extol - Blueprint (Century Media)
Stonegard - Arrows (Bonnier)

Hip-hop/Rnb:
Cast - Problembarn (Pass It Records)
Paperboys - When Worlds Collide (Bonnier)
Tommy Tee - Tommy Tycker Om Mej (Tee Productions/C+C Records)

Jazz:
Hans Mathisen - Quiet Songs (Curling Legs AS)
Jimmy Rosenberg/Stian Carstensen - Rose Room (Hot Club Records)
Karin Krog/Bergen Big Band - Seagull (Grappa Musikkforlag AS)
Sigurd Køhn Quartet - This Place (Heidi Køhn)
Solveig Slettahjell - Pixiedust (Curling Legs AS)

Open class:
Arild Andersen Group - Electra (ECM/Grappa)
Beady Belle - Closer (Jazzland)
Jaga Jazzist - What We Must (Smalltown Supersound)
Nils Petter Molvær - Er (Universal)
Shining - In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster (Rune Grammofon)

Best newcomer:
Animal Alpha - Pheromones (Racing Junior)
Audrey Horne - No Hay Banda (Dog Job/Tuba Records)
Draumir - Draumir (Playground/Little Hill)
Marthe Valle - It's A Bag Of Candy (Grammar Records)
Sofian - This Is Sofian (C+C Records)

Best song:
Alejandro Fuentes - Stars (Sony BMG)
Kurt Nilsen - Never Easy (Sony BMG)
Madrugada w/Ane Brun - Lift Me (Det Er Mine/V2/EMI)
Maria Mena - Miss You Love (Sony BMG)
Ravi & Dj Løv - Tsjeriåu Me De Månråus (Sony BMG)

Music video:
Maria Mena - Miss You Love (Sony BMG)
Animal Alpha - Bundy (Racing Junior)
Ravi & Dj Løv - E-Ore (Sony BMG)
Robert Post - Got None (Universal)
Röyksopp - What Else Is There (EMI)

For all categories, go here: http://www.ifpi.no/spellemann/nomlst.html
Winners will be announced on January 28.