Magnet's new album "The simple life" has been confirmed for a Norwegian release on March 26. Listen to two tracks at myspace: http://myspace.com/magnet

Look for a new album from Norwegian singer/songwriter Magnet around March.

Norway's Magnet will support Imogen Heap on tour in the US this fall. Dates are here: http://homeofmagnet.com/tour/

LullaByes posts live tracks from Magnet's SXSW performance: http://www.lullabyes.net/blog/2006/03/magnet-031606.html

Perfect Porridge interviews Magnet: http://www.perfectporridge.com/2006/03/magnet_speaks.html

Pitchfork reviews the new Magnet album: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/m/magnet/tourniquet.shtml

Reviews, pics and even video from Magnet's recently started US tour: http://www.homeofmagnet.com/2006/03/tour-reviews-photos-and-video.html

New Nordic music reviews in the latest High Bias update:

Backyard Babies - Live live in Paris
José González - Stay in the shade
Magnet - The tourniquet
Truckfighters - Gravity X

New Scandinavian music reviews at PopMatters today including both Magnet and Burst.

Magnet is Spin.com's artist of the day: http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2006/02/060213_magnet/index.html

Chromewaves on Jens Lekman with a few tidbits about Radio Dept., The Cardigans and Magnet thrown in for good measure: http://www.chromewaves.net/index.php?itemid=2120

Updated US dates for Magnet:

02/22 - Paradise, Boston, MA w/Stars
02/23 - Beyond, Philadelphia, PA w/Stars
02/24 - Black Cat, Washington DC w/Stars
02/25 - Webster Hall, New York, NY w/Stars
03/07 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA w/Isobel Campbell
03/08 - Café Du Nord, San Francisco, CA w/Isobel Campbell
03/09 - Triple Door, Seattle, WA w/Isobel Campbell
03/14 - Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA

Magnus Eliassen
Second grace
Monomegamy Music

Lovers of the world, listen up. Norway's romantic troubadour, Magnus Eliassen, has just made a singer/songwriter opus that's about as filled with sweet, melodic, achingly lovely odes to matters of the heart as any record you've ever heard. And I'm not gonna suddenly get cynical or poke fun at it, either. The 11 tracks on this debut CD comprise a truly poignant, haunting song cycle that should connect emotionally with anyone who has ever been in love (or fearful of losing it). With a gentle voice that recalls Sondre Lerche (and occasionally Even Johansen/Magnet, minus the latter's weariness) and a singularly romantic aesthetic, Eliassen offers warm, folksy guitar strumming and touches of poppy electronics here and there over which he delivers one sparkling tribute/confession of love after another. "I wanna fight for you/But I don't wanna win/If I'm not the right for you/And if I am I always spin/I can't lose you," goes a verse in the largely acoustic "Grace." Eliassen's falsetto on "Falling in love" is exquisite, and sentiments like "You're so beautiful, I go crazy" that would come across as cliched or sappy in the hands of a lesser artist resonate with emotional purity here. "Write back," the paradoxically bouncy "Weakness," the closing "Until we meet again" with its intimate half-whispered vocal: they're all beautiful songs. In the melodic, jaunty number "Follow me," Eliassen repeatedly sings "Are you with me?/Will you come follow me?" You bet we will, Magnus, my friend--as long as you keep making exceptionally pretty, heartfelt recordings like this.
- Kevin Renick

Magnet will do a couple West Coast dates with Isobel Campbell (ex-Belle and Sebastian) in March:

03/07 – Troubadour, Los Angeles
03/08 – Café DuNord, San Francisco
03/09 – Triple Door, Seattle

Updated Magnet live dates:

01/24 - ULU, London (UK) w/Dios (Malos)
02/22 - Paradise, Boston, MA
02/23 - Beyond, Philadelpia, PA
02/24 - Black Cat, Washington DC
02/25 - Webster Hall, NYC
03/16 - SXSW, Austin, TX