Micke from Sweden (aka Micke Lohse of Atomic Swing) has confirmed that his new album "Waiting for the end" will be released on September 26 via Nordic Notes. As mentioned before, the album was produced by Janove Ottesen of Kaizers Orchestra and features guest contributions from artists such as Børge Fjordheim (Cloroform), Sjur Miljeteig (The Leather Fashion), John Lilja (Jackman, Thomas Dybdahl) and Morten Abel.

The initial lineup for the second annual Nordklang Festival in St. Gallen, Switzerland has been announced for February 15-17 and will include Speaker Bite Me, Harald Haugaard & Morten Alfred Høirup, Efterklang and Our Broken Garden (Denmark), Amiina and Pétur Ben (Iceland), Rasmus Lyberth (Greenland), Dánjal and The Ghost (Faroe Islands), Frigg (Finland), Jackman (Norway) and Taxi Taxi (Sweden). The festival won't just promote Scandinavian music either, side-events include a focus on Nordic cinema as well as focus on Nordic books at historical monastery library Stiftsbibliothek. For more info, go here: http://www.nordklang.ch/

Micke from Sweden (aka Micke Lohse of Atomic Swing) will be going into the studio on June 10 to record a new album, once again working with Janove Ottesen of Kaizers Orchestra as producer. Other musical contributors will include Børge Fjordheim (Cloroform), Sjur Miljeteig (The Leather Fashion), John Lilja (Jackman, Thomas Dybdahl) and Morten Abel. The working title is "No exception to the rule".

MP3: Jackman - Leave you where you lie

Jackman is the solo project of Wunderkammer guitarist/frontman Pål Jackman along with brother Morten, who also plays drums with Helldorado and The Colors Turned Red. The trio is rounded out by bassist John Lilja, whose playing can be heard on albums from artists like Thomas Dybdahl and Rub a Dubs. The band has toured with fellow Norwegians Kaizers Orchestra, pairing that will seem obvious once you hear the song I've posted today. Yes, both bands play a form of Gypsyfied rock, though Kaizers tends to be far more grandiose and bombastic while Jackman seems much more suited for a dark and smokey barroom. Pål croons and strums while the band lays down a heavy shuffling beat. The little diminished chord guitar licks enhance the atmosphere, but the thing I love most about Jackman is the recording. This is the sound of three guys playing music together, nothing more. No excessive overdubs, no gratuitous production. There's not even any distortion on the guitar - any dirt you hear is just the sound of the amp being pushed hard. The upright bass thumps and clicks just like it should. The drums sound clean and natural. It's so simple, it's stupid. Why can't more bands record like this? Oh yeah, most bands just aren't that good.

Jackman - Leave you where you lie

Norwegian label Checkpoint Charlie Audio Productions is offering up four new mp3s every month with the current selection featuring cuts from Thomas Dybdahl, Popface, The Colors Turned Red and Jackman. Read more: http://blog.myspace.com/61441543

Upcoming releases on the way in 2006 from Norwegian label Checkpoint Charlie:

Popface - Eleven Pieces Of A Broken Heart - 02/20
Jackman - tba - 03/06
The Colors Turned RedTHE COLORS TURNED RED - All The Way Up - 03/13
Thomas Dybdahl - tba - fall 2006
Mayflies - tba - fall 2006

More details: http://www.checkpoint.no/