Indieworkshop rightfully gives props to Logh: http://indieworkshop.com/reviews/943/

Top ten: First half 2004

Logh has forced to cancel the last five dates of their current German tour due to personal reasons, but they promise to return soon. I'll keep you informed.

Kristofer Åström - There For / Loupita (Startracks)
Two new acoustic-based releases from the Fireside frontman. The "There For" EP is a mostly bare-bones affair with just a bit of string augmentation and not much more. Good stuff, but probably just for people who are already fans. Now "Loupita" is a different story. It's all acoustic as well, but it's much more fleshed out and features plenty of guest vocals from Britta Persson (see her demo review below) and beautiful slide guitar work from producer Mattias Friberg of Logh. The obvious point of reference is Iron & Wine for the style and instrumentation, but the recording quality is not nearly as quaint. Well, except for the one home-recorded instrumental track "Loupita #2". At first I was thinking this was going to end up more as a teaser for the upcoming full band album due out later this year, but it is more than capable of standing on its own. As always, the songs are great. There's no question about that, but it's the vibe that takes it to the next level. The atmosphere is so relaxed and comfortable that Kristofer breaks a string on the song "Devil" and they left it on the final CD version. That sort of touch brings an extra sense of humanity and intimacy to the music which is something that can't be manufactured with rack units, mixing consoles or the like. And unlike a lot of stuff I've been hearing lately, the CD gets better the deeper you get into it. The second half (including the Friberg-penned track "I collect knives") is absolutely sublime, right through the end with the closer "Just another lovesong". Highly recommended.

Kristofer Åström
There for / Loupita
Startracks

Two new acoustic-based releases from the Fireside frontman. The "There For" EP is a mostly bare-bones affair with just a bit of string augmentation and not much more. Good stuff, but probably just for people who are already fans. Now "Loupita" is a different story. It's all acoustic as well, but it's much more fleshed out and features plenty of guest vocals from Britta Persson and beautiful slide guitar work from Mattias Friberg of Logh. The obvious point of reference is Iron & Wine for the style and instrumentation, but the recording quality is not nearly as quaint. Well, except for the one home-recorded instrumental track "Loupita #2". At first I was thinking this was going to end up more as a teaser for the upcoming full band album due out later this year, but it is more than capable of standing on its own. As always, the songs are great. There's no question about that, but it's the vibe that takes it to the next level. The atmosphere is so relaxed and comfortable that Kristofer breaks a string on the song "Devil" and they left it on the final CD version. That sort of touch brings an extra sense of humanity and intimacy to the music which is something that can't be manufactured with rack units, mixing consoles or the like. And unlike a lot of stuff I've been hearing lately, the CD gets better the deeper you get into it. The second half (including the Friberg-penned track "I collect knives") is absolutely sublime, right through the end with the closer "Just another lovesong". Highly recommended.
- Avi Roig

The most recent releases from Logh and Last Days of April are now available in the mailorder department. Sure, Bad Taste will get US distro at the end of the summer, but why wait? And why pay import prices? Buy now!

Upcoming German tourdates for Logh:

05/23 - Ms Stubnitz, Rostock (GER)
05/26 - Rosenkeller, Jena (GER)
05/27 - Atomino, Chemnitz (GER)
05/28 - Volkspark, Halle (GER)
05/29 - Gladhouse, Cottbus (GER)
05/30 - Bleck Fleck, Potsdam (GER)
06/01 - Schlachthof, Bremen (GER)
06/02 - Clubkeller, Frankfurt (GER)
06/03 - Hellga, Saarbrücken (GER)
06/04 - Stellwerk , Donauwörth (GER)
06/05 - Garage Pankow, Berlin (GER)
06/06 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
06/07 - Nato, Leipzig (GER)
06/08 - Kunstverein Graz, Regensburg (GER)
06/09 - Zentrum Altenberg, Oberhausen (GER)
06/10 - Zentrale, Illmenau (GER)
06/11 - Alte Feuerwache, Magdeburg (GER)
06/12 - Scheune, Dresden (GER)

Starting in late June, Sweden's Bad Taste Records will finally be distributed in North America through Nail. About time! But if you can't hold out, I'll be getting a number of titles in the mailorder department from Logh and Last Days of April very shortly. I'm not taking official preorders or anything like that, just keep checking back or shoot me an email if you want titles set aside for you. Otherwise, LDOA's most recent album "If you lose it" will eventually see a proper US release around September, but I don't have any more details than that.

The last four tracks from that Logh show are now posted. As for what's gonna come next, I haven't decided yet. Requests?

Switchblade will be heading into Mission Hall Studios in July to record two songs for a new 7". One track will feature Mattias Friberg of Logh on vocals and the whole thing will be engineered by Mathias Oldén, also in Logh. It should be ready for release by the time of the band's short European tour in late August based around their appearance at Ieper Fest on 08/27.

My boys KVLR are now confirmed for the Kaktusfestivalen in Arboga, Sweden on July 23. Other bands playing include Charta 77, Coca Carola, Amino, Ticking Bombs, Odd Perspective, Praetorian Platoon, Bring Me The Fucking Riot... Man, Voice of a Generation, Logh, Nine, Dozer and Square. Full details: http://www.kaktusfestivalen.com/

Also - four more live tracks from Logh have been added to the playlist.

Logh's drummer Fredrik has decided to step down and only play with the band as a touring guitarist. New old drummer Marco Hildén (Cult of Luna) will once again take over the throne of honor. The band is currently hard at work on their third album and has plans to do a European tour in May/June as well as some more shows around Scandinavia in April/May.

Also - four more live tracks from Logh added today. They're one of my absolute favorite bands, so be sure to check them out if you haven't already.

Tracklist for Kristofer Åstrõm's new all-acoustic album "Loupita":

01. Loupita #3
02. Devil
03. Idiot talk
04. The wild
05. I am not the case
06. Loupita #2
07. Spinning
08. Well go on
09. I collect knives
10. Walpurgis night
11. Better with the night
12. Loupita #1
13. Just another lovesong

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Britta Persson guests on two songs and track #9 was written by the talented Mattias Friberg of Logh. Can't wait to hear it.