Markus + Jari = Fear of Love

PSL is reporting that Markus Krunegård (Laakso) has started a new band with Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet) called Fear of Love. Expect an album this summer?

Frida Hyvönen
Silence is wild
Licking Fingers

"I write your short name on my wrist in China. Ink so black, the night you're renamed." Poet Frida Hyvönen is back. And I'm wondering about her interest in horses, which you'll find from the album design to a pony song. It sounds dorky right, but she's making a blend between art, nature and her specific music. Together with producer Jari Haapalainen, guitarist in The Bear Quartet, Hyvönen has succeeded to make her classical piano; movie soundtrack verses theatrical music fingers, strike the world, again, with its perfect timing season-wise album. With a cup of tea, woollen socks and the snow outside, I cannot escape Hyvönen's third release, "Silence is wild", which maintains all 13 tracks with that filmic touch I mentioned above. It's not a secret that this singer songwriter is a classical performer with beautiful and frail songs, exemplified in "Why do you love me so much; could it be my awesome looks? I'm afraid that is out of the question, my beauty is fleeting." This is an album with personal memories, a parallel to Hello Saferide's latest, and it's almost as if you are as close to the grand piano as the artist. It can be a bit dreary at times, but when she's letting loose to "Scandinavian blonde" and with the highlights "Dirty Dancing, London and oh Shanghai," it's an appealing album, not edgy but soft. Another thing to keep your attention is that our beloved Markus Krunegård's vocal can be found on this collection here and there, among other talented musicians. I truly recommend this for those of you out there who like music that is deep and classical.
- Therese Buxfäldt

Eldkvarn
Hunger Hotell
EMI

What first comes to mind listening to Eldkvarn's new record "Hunger Hotell" is how their watermark, the lyrics, are still there; how nostalgia still dominates the music. Listening through the album, I soon realize most of Eldkvarn is left, nothing has really changed; they are still playing their blues-ish sound, just like before. They have added some extra edge that that does at times remind of the old Eldkvarn from the 80s; a guitar riff here and there, but the basics are the same. Just like with "Atlantis" and "Svart blogg", Eldkvarn has been cooperating with The Bear Quartet's Jari Haapalainen and the two have again produced a great and exciting album, one of the most energetic and aggressive records Eldkvarn has ever released and quite possibly the best. It's not hard to notice that Eldkvarn continues to be more and more productive over the years and it is very nice to see that after 30 years, they are still on the right track.
- Morten Frisch

A West Side Fabrication has confirmed that September 24 will be the release date of the new Jari Haapalainen-produced album "Morning light" from pop act Little Red Snapper. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/littleredsnapper

The new Frida Hyvönen album "Silence is wild" is confirmed for release in Scandinavia on October 29 via Licking Fingers and November 4 in North America via Secretly Canadian. Once again, the record is produced by The Bear Quartet's Jari Haapalainen. Download the first single "Enemy within": http://www.lickingfingers.com/songs/02%20Enemy%20Within.mp3

MP3: Bad Cash Quartet - Put me back together

Worlds collide! Besides Broder Daniel and maybe Håkan Hellström, Bad Cash Quartet is the preeminent band that defines the classic Göteborg sound with their slightly shambolic yet anthemic pop music and snotty, out-of-key vocals. They became a bit more polished (and boring) towards the end, but I'll always hold their sophomore album "Outcast" as a classic. I strongly considered posting from that album, but in the end decided to say screw it and went with this, their cover of The Bear Quartet's "Put me back together". Besides, I've already talked about "Too bored to die" more than once. Anyhow, this song is from BCQ's later, more lackluster period and it really doesn't stand a chance at competing with the original, but at least they try to put their own spin on it. I just don't think that sucking all the energy out of it was the best way to go about it. Mattias Alkberg's vocals on the original get more and more manic as the calamities pile on, Martin Elisson plays it closer to the chest. And no one can compete with Jari Haapalainen's explosive leads. Still, it remains a great song. There's not much shame in admitting defeat before the mighty BQ.

Semi-related to this whole weekly Gbg nonsense: who's going to Way Out West? What bands are you looking forward to seeing?

Bad Cash Quartet - Put me back together

MP3: Park Hotell - Dead ringers

Fridays are typically reserved for old music, but I was handed a brand new mp3 from Park Hotell yesterday afternoon and it's too good not to share. The band has a new album on the way and "Dead ringers" is the first taste of what's to come and I have to say that it's got me excited. No more synths, no more shoegazer vibes, just organic indie rock'n'roll. I definitely get a Manchester/Britpop vibe on this too and while that's not something that normally appeals to me, I fully back Park Hotell's take on it because they make it their own. Maybe it's the influence of producer Jari Haapalainen, but I'd say this has more in common with Laakso than The Smiths, though the latter is certainly a good reference point. I also hear echoes of peak-era Swedish indie such as Eggstone or The Wannadies, the sort of stuff that defined the scene back in the 90s and is rarely emulated today.

"Dead ringers" features aforementioned producer extraordinaire Jari Haapalainen on drums and fellow Swedes/sister duo Taxi, Taxi! on backup vocals. Look for the new (as yet unnamed?) album to be released this fall via BD Pop/Ultra Radio Records.

Park Hotell - Dead ringers

MP3: Anna Maria Espinosa - Everyday

Who doesn't love a kazoo refrain? You've got to be one cold, heartless bastard to resist. Anna Maria Espinosa has been kicking around the Stockholm scene for a long time now, performing with bands such as Morder Jords Massiva, Club Killers and tons more, as well as popping up as a guest vocalist on numerous releases from a vast variety of artists. And this fall she's breaking free with her very own solo release (due out October 8, I believe) and here now is her debut single "Everyday", a great little upbeat pop number that has me super excited for what's to come. It's produced by the always-reliable Jari Haapalainen and written with Theodor Jensen (The Plan), but it's her voice that carries the day, along with that lovely, buzzing refrain I referred to back in sentence #1. Pure joyful exuberance, pure summer bliss! I'm glad Anna Maria is finally stepping out to do her own thing, it's time she had a chance for the spotlight. Not that she's going at alone though, she does have a lot of help: besides Jari and Theodor, she's also recruited Ellekari Larsson (The Tiny), Mattias Hellberg, Andreas Mattson, The Concretes, Nicolai Dunger and others to help out. I guess it was time to call in some favors, eh? Like I said, 'bout time.

Anna Maria Espinosa - Everyday

A West Side Fabrication has signed Little Red Snapper. Look for a new full-length album in September (produced by Jari Haapalainen) with a single to precede it this summer. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/littleredsnapper

Slightly, but not entirely OT: Scottish indie favorites Camera Obscura will once again be working with producer Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) on their next album with Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) handling the string arrangements.

You can now hear new tracks that Park Hotell recorded with Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/parkhotell
The band still remains unsigned and is actively seeking a label to work with.

Speedmarket Avenue's new Jari Haapalainen-produced album "Way better now" has been confirmed for release on April 23 via Elefant Records. The title track will be the first single and it will come on white vinyl with an exclusive b-side. Look for that on April 9. Hear a song at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/speedmarketavenue

Bonnier Amigo Music has signed Anna Maria Espinosa (Moder Jords Massiva, Club Killers) and will be sending her into the studio with producer Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) to record her debut album. As for the actual songs she'll be doing, she's lined up an illustrious cast including Ellekari Larsson (The Tiny), The Concretes, The Plan, Mattias Hellberg, Andreas Mattsson, Moder Jords Massiva, Nicolai Dunger and of course, the aforementioned Jari Haapalainen. Expect a fall release.

Park Hotell is in Stockholm this week recording an album with fellow Luleå native Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.).

This year's Swedish Grammi (Grammy) Award nominees have been announced:

Best album:
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Moneybrother - Mount Pleasure
Sahara Hotnights - What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Säkert! - Säkert!
The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend
The Hives - The Black And White Album
Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande

Best dance/hip-hop/soul:
Adam Tensta - It's A Tensta Thing
Dogge Doggelito - Superclasico
Familjen - Det Snurrar I Min Skalle
Fjärde Världen - Världens Ände
Ken - Äntligen Hemma
Mange Schmidt - Känslan Kommer Tillbaks
Million Stylez - From A Far
Petter - God Damn It
September - Dancing Shoes
Vincent - Lucky Thirteen

Best group:
Eldkvarn - Svart Blogg
Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Mando Diao - Never Seen The Light Of Day
Sahara Hotnights - What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills
The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend
The Hives - The Black And White Album
Oh Laura - A Song Inside My Head, A Demon In My Bed
Peter Bjorn And John - Writer's Block
Weeping Willows - Fear & Love

Best hard-rock/metal:
Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant
Candlemass - King Of The Grey Island
Clawfinger - Life Will Kill You
Crashdiet - The Unattractive Revolution
Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
Entombed - Serpent Saints
Hardcore Superstar - Dreamin' In A Casket
Lillasyster - Hjärndöd Musik För En Hjärndöd Generation
Mustasch - Latest Version Of The Truth
Takida - Bury The Lies

Best songwriter:
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Annika Norlin - Säkert!
Benny Andersson - Bao 3
Christian Kjellvander - I Saw Her From Here/I Saw Here From Her
Joakim Berg & Martin Sköld - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
José González - In Our Nature
Moneybrother - Mount Pleasure
Ola Salo - Prayer For The Weekend
Peter Bjorn And John - Writer's Block
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am

Best female artist:
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Eva Dahlgren - Petroleum Och Tång
Jaqee - Nouvelle D'amour
Laleh - Prinsessor
Louise Hoffsten - Så Speciell
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Miss Li - God Put A Rainbow In The Sky
Sonja Aldén - Till Dig
Sophie Zelmani - Memory Loves You
Säkert! - Säkert!

Best live act:
Benny Anderssons Orkester
Jens Lekman
Lars Winnerbäck
Lena Ph & Orup
Parksommar
Per Gessle
Peter Jöback
Takida
The Hives
Timbuktu

Best song:
Lars Winnerbäck - I Duett Med Miss Li Om Du Lämnade Mig Nu
Mange Schmidt Feat. Petter - Giftig
Markoolio - Ingen Sommar Utan Reggae
Martin Stenmarck - 100 År Från Nu (Blundar)
Måns Zelmerlöw - Cara Mia
Sahara Hotnights - Cheek To Cheek
Salem Al Fakir - Good Song
Sonja Aldén - För Att Du Finns
The Ark - The Worrying Kind
Ola - Natalie

Best male artist:
Christian Kjellvander - I Saw Her From Here / I Saw Here From Her
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
José González - In Our Nature
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Moneybrother - Mount Pleasure
Måns Zelmerlöw - Stand By For...
Peter Lemarc - Kärlek I Tystnadens Tid
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkallande
Timo Räisänen - Love Will Turn You Around

Best newcomer:
Abalone Dots - From A Safe Distance
Adam Tensta - It's A Tensta Thing
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Måns Zelmerlöw - Stand By For...
Oh Laura - A Song Inside My Head, A Demon In My Bed
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Sonja Aldén - Till Dig
Säkert! - Säkert!
Vincent - Lucky Thirteen

Best producer:
Benny Andersson - Bao 3
Björn Olsson - Never Seen The Light Of Day
Björn Yttling - Writer's Block & What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
Jari Haapalainen - Svart Blogg
Jon Joshua Schuman & Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
José González - In Our Nature
Laleh - Prinsessor
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am
Vincent Pontare - Lucky Thirteen

Best lyrics:
Anna Järvinen - Jag Fick Feeling
Annika Norlin - Säkert!
Eva Dahlgren - Petroleum Och Tång
Jason Diakité - Oberoendeframkallande
Joakim Berg - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
Ola Salo - Prayer For The Weekend
Peter Lemarc - Kärlek I Tystnadens Tid
Plura Jonsson - Svart Blogg
Salem Al Fakir - This Is Who I Am

Go here for the full list: http://www.musikindustrin.nu/mi/smpage.fwx?page=198&NYHETER=8646