I'm leaving for a 2-week jaunt to Sweden this coming weekend and am utterly and completely overwhelmed with work I need to finish before I depart, so please forgive me while I concentrate on the things that need doing. Not that there's a whole lot going on right now to report anyway, but expect little-to-no updates before August and enjoy a nice little classic tune from Umeå favorites Isolation Years in the meantime.
Isolation Years - Say-nothing day
"Only place I know" is the first single off Svedberg & The Hillside Stranglers' upcoming album "City serenade", due out March 28 via . The vocals don't do much for me, but I dig the band and the arrangement. RIYL Boy Omega, Isolation Years.
I haven't been posting any new editorial content lately for the simple reason that I've just been way too busy doing other things, mostly work. Daily news updates... those are mindless and need to be tended to lest I get way too far behind. New things are in the works though, should I get on top of my massive task list. Anyhow, I do have a new track for you today -- I hinted awhile back about a few choice albums on regular rotation and hopefully you had no trouble guessing, but just in case, I happily admit that one of them is Säkert!'s latest work "Facit". I love Hello Saferide and I love Isolation Years and the combination continues to succeed on album #2 to no surprise whatsoever. I just wish I knew more Swedish because, unlike those bands' other records, I know I'm missing out on quite a lot. For example, artists such as Håkan Hellström are able to communicate without translation, but when Annika Norlin sings in her native tongue, the result is far more nuanced and delicate. I'm to the point where I can pick out bits and pieces, but I know I'll be needing to spend a lot more time with this one before I feel like I really truly "get it". Still, songs do stick out and "Köttet är svagt" ("Flesh is weak") is one. Very recommended!
Säkert! - Köttet är svagt
Does anyone buy records anymore? I sure do, in fact I just got a few copies of Isolation Years' 12" EP "Snoose Boulevard" on /. Five songs on one side, an etching on the other, more info here: http://www.burnttoastvinyl.com/new/releases/btv075.html
Want one? Burnt Toast is selling 'em for $7 so I'll one-up and mark it down to $6 (plus s/h). Get in touch!
Folkvang are an unsigned act from Umeå, Sweden who play folksy instrumental music, not too far off from the sounds of Björn Olsson, but with a distinct Norrland touch. In fact, I'd say that "Folkvangs första" could be an Isolation Years song sans vocals; it's got that same sort of loping, easy-going melancholy sound I associate with the quieter acts of the region. Anyhow, the band has an album in the can, recorded by Christian Gabel (Bob Hund, Thåström, Hello Saferide, etc.) and mastered by Oskar Sasndlund (David Sandström Overdrive), but no label to release it... perhaps you might be interested?
Folkvang - Folkvangs första
Winter is here, but yes, the days are indeed getting longer. It's a bittersweet feeling, just like this song.
Isolation Years - Melting minds
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Marit Bergman - Höstvisa
03. Viola - No connection
04. Brothers of End - Why
05. TALK 2
06. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
07. The Bear Quartet - Carry your weight
08. Kornstad - Oslo
09. TALK 3
10. The Amazing - Is it likely
11. Erik Enocksson - Non lupi
12. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
13. TALK 4
14. Sivert Høyem - Empty house
15. Rickard Jäverling - May & Lee
16. Isolation Years - Let's step aside
17. TALK 5
18. Elmo - Young love
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Finnish/Swedish indie act Oriel Joans (feat. singer/songwriter Pekka Pörtfors) have a new single called "Knuckles whiten" and are streaming both it and the b-side "I only wish to lay" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/orieljoans
RIYL Isolation Years, Anna Leong, melancholy pop.
Hard to believe, but It's a Trap! turns seven years old today, an age that could be considered near-ancient in the context of this whole interweb doo-hickey. Yep, I've been slogging away at this thing all those years, slowly improving my foreign language skills, refining my tastes, fighting burnout and maybe even becoming a better writer along the way (not really). I've sent out over 300 weekly newsletters, posted nearly 32,000 news items, visited Sweden three times (with a short sidetrip to CPH once), listened to countless albums and have also had the great pleasure of meeting a ton of lovely people along the way. So a huge thanks to you, my readers and also to all of the great artists who inspire me to keep this thing going -- without you, I am nothing.
Breach's final album "Kollapse" came out in 2001 towards the end of a period when I was intensely seeking out Norrland indie/hardcore. I don't remember my first connection, but that's how I got into KVLR, Fireside, Him Kerosene, Starmarket, Carpet People, Isolation Years and many other neighboring acts. Many of those bands remain favorites today and Breach is definitely near the top of the list, with their swansong record being an absolute classic. Nothing sounds like it, not even any of the band's other records. As for posting it today, it's mere luck they happen to have a song with a title fit for the occasion.
Breach - Seven
Two White Horses, the brother/sister duo of Jakob and Lovisa Nyström (Isolation Years, Säkert!), will be going to NYC in the near future. Details soon?
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. The Late Call - Put your lights on
02. TALK 1
03. Fever Ray - When I grow up (Håkan Lidbo remix)
04. Maskinen - Alla som inte dansar
05. Isolation Years - Albino child
06. TALK 2
07. Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out
08. Unleashed - Dead forever
09. Lack - Soot, smoke & ash
10. TALK 3
11. Small - Comic girl
12. Peter Bjorn and John - It don't move me
13. Masquer - I think I'll lose my mind
14. Ironville - Roses
15. TALK 4
16. Parasite - Nightwinds
17. Aerial - Kallisti
18. The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes
19. TALK 5
20. Hello Saferide - Arjeplog
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Hello Saferide
02. A Camp
03. Frida Hyvönen
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Sahara Hotnights
06. Montt Mardié
07. Tiger Lou
08. The Soundtrack of Our Lives
09. Loney, Dear
10. Isolation Years
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. TALK 1
02. Promoe - New day
03. High Hats - The end
04. Björn Kleinhenz - Light of love
05. TALK 2
06. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Transpole
07. Ondo - Sunlight
08. Pugh Rogefeldt - Colinda
09. TALK 3
10. The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow grave
11. The Fine Arts Showcase - Modern love
12. Pan Sonic - Johto 5
13. TALK 4
14. The Bear Quartet - All your life
15. Hanna Hirsch - Ingen kommer sakna oss
16. Mattias Hellberg & The White Moose - Black cat fever
17. TALK 5
18. Isolation Years - Let's step aside
19. Tomas Halberstad - Much better off without it
20. Grande - Rhythms of sin
21. TALK 6
22. Wolfbrigade - In adrenaline
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:
01. Frida Hyvönen
02. Hello Saferide
03. Anna Ternheim
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Kristofer Åström
06. The Radio Dept.
07. Moto Boy
08. Montt Mardié
09. Isolation Years
10. Irene
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/
Stand By Your Band, Sahara Hotnight's self-run label, has signed Umeå duo Two White Horses and will be releasing their debut album in March 2009. Hopefully you'll remember that I've told you about them before- it's siblings Jakob and Lovisa Nyström from Säkert!/Isolation Years. Listen at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/2whitehorses