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.

The new Park Hotell album is finished and mastered, they just need a label to put it out. Samples soon?

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

I don't normally post about small tours in Sweden, but this one is a bit unusual: Mattias Alkberg (MABD, The Bear Quartet) and Ulf Stureson are teaming up for a half-acoustic Advent tour kicking off in Umeå on Thursday:

11/29 - Scharinska, Umeå
11/30 - Pinkerton, Skellefteå
12/01 - Norrbottensteatern, Luleå
12/02 - Debaser, Stockholm
12/04 - Debaser, Malmö
12/05 - Styrbord Babord, Göteborg

Jonas Teglund (Park Hotell) will accompany Matti on every date except the first (MABD will play) and Ulf will be joined by Johan Andersson (Björn Olsson).

Park Hotell will be releasing the title track of their "The guest who stayed forever" EP as a single on October 8. Listen at myspace and buy said EP here

Park Hotell CDs are now in-stock: [click here]
Restocks of Maia Hirasawa are in as well.

Park Hotell
The guest who stayed forever
BD Pop

For a debut double-EP, "The guest who stayed forever" is a damned fine collection of songs. Echoing the sounds of New Order with a few subtle Smiths-esque touches, and yet still rather at home with their Norrland neighbors, Park Hotell have finally delivered on all the promise and hype that's built around the band. I'm often left wanting for more when presented with an EP, but they quality of the six songs here leaves nothing to be desired. With everyone and their sister starting up an 80s throwback band and the market quickly becoming over-saturated, Park Hotell approach this nostalgic genre with class, skill, and confidence that shines through even the less produced songs on the first disc. The two songs on the second record, "Low on resistance" and "Sentimental endings", seem to point in the direction the band will head when the time comes for a full-length and are a fine culmination of all that's built up throughout. That being said, there isn't a bad track anywhere on this EP; the future looks wide open for Park Hotell.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

The playlist for my radio show on Sirius this week:

01. Beyond Dawn - Far from showbiz
02. TALK 1
03. Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night
04. The Fine Arts Showcase - Dance with your shadow
05. Pan Sonic - Hinaaja / Tugboat
06. TALK 2
07. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Hold
08. The Bear Quartet - I don't wanna
09. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - When she's GONE
10. TALK 3
11. Laakso - High drama
12. Park Hotell - The guest who stayed forever
13. Fun - Hold it close
14. TALK 4
15. The Book of Daniel - Rabbit boy
16. Watain - Storm of the Antichrist
17. Viktor Sjöberg - w/Nothing
18. Kristofer Åström - Fallen
19. TALK 5
20. Mainliners - Olivia
21. Oddjob - Kings are walking out
22. Lemonator - Heart burns
23. TALK 6
24. Tobias Hellkvist - Slowly but surely
25. Attrap - Just a word away
26. Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna
27. TALK 7
28. The Leather Nun - No rule
29. Alog - Son of king
30. Thunder Express - Vegas
31. TALK 8
32. Closer - Sensing the wake

MP3: Park Hotell - Born a thief

Luleå-based indierockers Park Hotell managed to score a nice bit of publicity thanks to Mattias Alkberg's flattering one-sheet writeup. That's fine and good, but how about the music? Well, surprise surprise: they sound like a Norrland indierock band. Naturally, I think that's great - I'm a huge fan of that style and besides the mighty Bear Quartet, count many other peers as my favorites such as KVLR, Him Kerosene and Isolation Years. Park Hotell emphasizes the lighter, airier side of things though that looming presence of northern darkess always remains in the background. Otherwise, expect tons of twisted guitars and plenty of the sort of unique melodies that are a given for the genre. "Born a thief" is one of the more driving tracks on "The guest who stayed forever", the bands new double-EP (two short CDs packaged in a nice gatefold sleeve). It's probably the one song that reminds me the most of HK which is maybe why I like it so much. My only complaint: it's a shame we had to wait so long for this to finally come out.

Park Hotell - Born a thief

At long last, new material from Park Hotell: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2007/04/promo.html
Looks like the long-awaited album "The guest who stayed forever" is finally coming out. Head to myspace for more: http://www.myspace.com/parkhotell

Thanks to everyone who hooked me up with Park Hotell contact info. Much appreciated! The wonders of the Interweb never cease.

If you know Park Hotell or have any of their contact info, can you please pass it on to me? Or at least tell them to get in touch. I'd appreciate it.

Top 10s for 2004: Niklas Åström (And the Sound)

Top 10s for 2004: Thomas Kågström (Planekonomi)

Chalksounds has confirmed the signing of hyped indie band Convoj and will be releasing the group's debut five-song EP early next year. The band consists of members from Cult of Luna and Park Hotell and is said to sound like a "unique mix or impossible marriage of pop in the vein of Bear Quartet and Interpol."