The lineup for Spain's prestigious Sonar Electronic Music Festival has been announced and of course there's a bunch of Scandinavian artists set to appear such as Pan Sonic and a Rune Grammofon showcase with Susanna & the Magical Orchestra, Deathprod and Maja Ratkje. Full details: http://djmartian.blogspot.com/2004_03_01_djmartian_archive.html#108022016492182960

Finland's acclaimed minimalist electronic artists Pan Sonic will be releasing an all-new 4-CD box set on May 18 entitled "Kesto". The title means "strength" or "duration" which of course is entirely appropriate as the recording spans over four hours. It will be the duo's first official release since "Aaltopiiri" back in 2001.

Some of the performers appearing at the Elektroniklubi portion of the Tampere Biennale on March 31 to April 4 in Tampere, Finland: Suomen Teatteriorkesteri, Pink Twins, The Charm of Sound, Pan Sonic, Jori Hulkkonen, Es and tons more. Details: http://www.tampere.fi/festival/music/biennale04/bieeng.htm

Germany's Chicks on Speed are enlisting the help of Finnish electronic artist Mika Vainio (Pan Sonic) for the new "Flame On" 10" which they are billing as their "scariest track to date." Apparently it was previously released as hidden track on a CD?

Dagensskiva has posted the lineup and schedule for the Ideal Festival which focuses on electronic music and takes place March 11-13 at Nefertiti in Göteborg: http://www.dagensskiva.com/news.asp?id=2540
Some of the acts performing include Pan Sonic, Kill (ft. members of Jaga Jazzist), The Bug and Pole.

Acts confirmed for the Ideal Festival at Nefertiti in Göteborg, Sweden on March 11-13: Pan Sonic, The Bug, Fennesz, DJ/Rupture, Hazard , Mikkel Metal, Kevin Blechdom, Old Time Relijun, C.P.U., Armbachi/Berthling and Hawnay Troof. More info: http://www.idealrecordings.com/

Thank goodness for filesharing:
Pan Sonic live bootlegs
Somehow the subtleties and excellence of Pan Sonic's minimalist music is transformed into something far greater when amplified and distorted. There's some great recordings floating around out there.

Top ten: 2003

Norweigan all-star group KILL will play the Ideal fest in Göteborg on March 12 next year. The band consists of Martin Horntveth (Jaga Jazzist), Erlend Mokkelbost (JR Ewing), Are Mokkelbost (Single Unit, Arm) and Espen Hangård (NoPlaceToHide) and was originally formed to Digimetal two years ago. That's quite a line-up! Other Scandinavian artists confirmed for the same fest include Pan Sonic, Mikkel Metal, Hazard, Contemporary Punk Unit, Peaux and DJ Jean-Louis Huhta.

The new Sähko Recordings website is now online. Not only can you listen to samples from various releases on the Pan Sonic-associated label, but you can also download exclusive mixes, too.

Artists appearing at the GAS Festival in Göteborg, Sweden on October 11-19: Magnetic North Orchestra, Jaap Blonk, Fe:mail Lotta Melin, Jonny Axelsson, Ensemble MA, Mats Gustavsson, Duo Gelland, Pan Sonic, Magnus Andersson and more. Details: www.gas-festival.com

Pan Sonic is also appearing at the Argos festival in Brussels on October 25 along with Massimo, Nurse, and Lucifera.

The documentary film "Future Is Not What It Used To Be" on Finnish electronic music pioneer Erkki Kurenniemi is about to get screened in the UK in October. Director Mika Taanila will be on-hand for some of the screenings and the short found-footage film "Physical Ring" by Mika Vainio of Pan Sonic will also be shown. Dates:

10/15 - The Showroom, Sheffield (International Documentary Film Festival)
10/16 - The Other Cinema, London
10/18 - CCA, Glasgow
10/19 - Brighton Cinematheque
10/23 - Meeting House Square, Dublin
10/28 - The Herbert Read Gallery, Maidstone

Sähkö Recordings, the label co-founded by Pan Sonic member Mika Vainio, will be releasing the new Nicole Willis single "Say It" soon. The record is described as "Lush, soulful melodies and experimentations in jazzy sounds without ever becoming pretentious or self-indulgent" and will be followed later on by a full-length of the same name. More info available soon when the brand new Sähkö website gets finalized.

Go here to listen to samples from the new "Bip Hop Generation" compilation, featuring contributions from Ilpo Vaisänen (half of Pan Sonic) and Angel, a collaboration between Ilpo and German artist Dirk Dresselhaus aka Schneider TM.