New Nerverna album finished

Mattias Alkberg reports that Neverna has finished a new album. No details as to when/how it will be released, but he does confirm that it will be rockabilly-free.

Mattias Alkberg + Pascal?

Gaffa reports that rumors are circulating regarding a Mattias Alkberg/Pascal collaboration of sorts: http://gaffa.se/nyhet/43730
As to whether that means a tour, split or actually playing together remains to be seen.

Teg Publishing, open for business

The Teg Publishing label website/webshop, home of new band The Bells, is now open: http://www.tegpublishing.se/
Lots of related stuff for sale, including releases from Park Hotell, Convoj, Mattias Alkberg, Cult of Luna, etc.

Mother of the Forest - Ryka i ro

Swedish bedroom electro/goth act Mother of the Forest has a new EP posted for free download: http://motheroftheforest.blogspot.com/2010/09/ep03ryka-i-ro.html
Fellow Luleå residents Magnus Ekelund (Elmo) and Mattias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet/Neverna) both guest. Very recommended!

New Neverna album coming soon

Mattias Alkberg will record a new album with Neverna next month: http://www.mabd.se/?p=644

The Bear Quartet/The Skull Defekts
Millions 7"
Deleted Art/Adrian Recordings

The one track missing from the vinyl release of "89" gets a platter all its own, paired with a cover of the same by Göteborg noiseniks The Skull Defekts and released on the imprint of Malmö-based Deleted Art. Though The Bear Quartet has toned down the antagonistic experimentalism that peaked with 2006's "Eternity now", the lyrical sentiment remains pure contempt, as is most often the case with latter-day BQ tracks featuring words penned by Mr. Mattias Alkberg. Needless to say, I love it, especially when they pair their anger with a refined, stripped-down postpunk approach as is on display here. As for the flip, The Skull Defekts don't remake the track as much as you might expect, though they do amplify the noise and aggression quotient, taking the sublime and turning it darkly sinister. Less subtle, to be sure, but no less effective. Not sure about the pressing numbers, but the glued jacket and heavy black dustsleeve make it a package worth possessing.
- Avi Roig

Sirius playlist week #19

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Sweatmaster - Turnover
02. TALK 1
03. Viola - Leave it all again (feat. Bääbs)
04. Regulations - Down the street
05. The Bear Quartet - Sweet beef
06. TALK 2
07. Mattias Alkberg - Lys upp mig en stjärna
08. Susanne Sundfør - Turkish delight
09. The Skull Defekts - Remain in cruxus (dub)
10. TALK 3
11. Obliteration - Ingesting death
12. Zombiekrig - Håll käften ge mig dina pengar
13. Grande Roses - The astronaut
14. Brutus - Solution
15. TALK 4
16. Ikons - Guns
17. Rising - Grail of bone
18. The Aches - Dancing syllables
19. TALK 5
20. Eskatol - Fane av løgner

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.

Mattias Alkberg - Lys upp mig som en stjärna

Mattias Alkberg gives up on chords, posts a new song: http://www.mabd.se/?p=595
Also, note that recording for the next Bear Quartet album will soon be underway.

Sirius playlist week #18

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Kråkesølv - Skredder
02. TALK 1
03. Lama - Curses and broken glass
04. Underachiever - No rain (arson)
05. Originalljudet - The oral solution (with pear)
06. Lögnhalsmottagningen - Lumpettrick
07. TALK 2
08. Masshysteri - Låt dom hata oss
09. Den Svenska Tystnaden - Reaktor
10. Simian Ghost - Star receiver
11. Kobert - Recipe
12. TALK 3
13. Traktor - Where water goes
14. Disco Ensemble - Protector
15. Hooded Menace - Night of the deathcult
16. TALK 4
17. Menfolk - From the horse's mouth
18. Mattias Alkberg - Nerverna
19. Khoma - Osiris
20. TALK 5
21. Baby Alice - Piña colada boy

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.

Sirius playlist week #3

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Monty - En till himmel
02. TALK 1
03. Gösta Berlings Saga - Kontrast
04. Yamon Yamon - The darker place
05. Next Life - Paladin warrior
06. Haust - Skate rock
07. TALK 2
08. Okkultokrati - On mouth of hells
09. Blood Command - Party all the way to the hospital
10. Karin Ström - Hon som älskade dig
11. Kommun - The open relationship
12. TALK 3
13. Mattias Alkberg - Nya nya testamentet
14. Boy Omega - Follow the herd
15. No Hope for the Kids - Century of warfare
16. Labbet feat. Russell Morgan - Heart and soul of a lion
17. TALK 4
18. Champagne Riot - The champagne anthem
19. Movits! & Zacke - Först tar vi Manhattan
20. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Soon
21. TALK 5
22. No Balls - Suffering contest

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.

New album from The Bear Quartet in the fall

Mattias Alkberg says there will be both a new Bear Quartet album and a new solo album this coming fall, along with a new solo single "så fort som möjligt/as soon as possible": http://www.mabd.se/?p=536
I also think that Mattias and I share a birthday, but that's far less newsworthy. Anyhow: grattis!

Sirius playlist week #52

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Mattias Alkberg - Andra känner
03. Darkthrone - Launchpad to nothingness
04. Mikkel Meyer - Kokostosca
05. TALK 2
06. First Band from Outer Space - Turn left to the Mexican barbeque
07. Kråkesølv - Privat regn
08. TALK 3
09. Galaxy Safari - Save me
10. Witchcraft - Samaritan burden
11. Bad Hands - Sonnenrad
12. TALK 4
13. Lapko - I shot the sheriff
14. Siena Root - Into the woods
15. Marvins Revolt - Siberia
16. TALK 5

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.

Top 10s for 2009: Absolut Noise

Top 10s for 2009: Mattias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet)

Top 10s for 2009: Henrik von Euler (Rigas/Flora and Fauna)