MP3: The First Miles - In town

I'm about to head out for a three-day jaunt into eastern Oregon to watch some of the world's smartest dogs compete, but before I go, let me cover a few things:

1. Tomorrow night It's a Trap! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö celebrates it's 2-year anniversary (!!!) with a show featuring the excellent acts Pixie Carnation and Rolf Fabian & the Industry of Cool. Download a sample from the former here. I'm sure it's going to be a great time, so head on down! DJs will be playing tunes and hanging out 'till 3.

2. The new CD from "Reader's companion" alums The First Miles is here and ready for purchase. I've also posted the opening number for download below to further entice you.

3. There's a bunch of new feature content worth reading -- new reviews (finally!) of Hello Saferide (live) and Golden Kanine plus an interview with Múm.

4. And don't forget to check out our new netrelease from Hearts No Static! Five tracks of quality ambient rock for free download!

See you next week!

The First Miles - In town

It's a Trap! Clubnights fall/winter 2009

Lots of great site news today! In addition to the awesome new netrelease from Hearts No Static (see here and here), I've also just received our confirmed schedule for the rest of 2009's It's a Trap! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö! And OMG, it's gonna be great because we've got some amazing bands coming -- check it:

09/26 - Pixie Carnation, Rolf Fabian & the Industry of Cool
10/17 - Per Egland, Industri Royal
11/14 - Kristofer Åström
12/19 - Sator

Expect local support acts to be announced for the November and December dates soon. Otherwise, mark your calendars and make sure to be there!

Sirius playlist week #31

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

01. Existensminimum - Mirrors
02. TALK 1
03. Solander - Prayer to God
04. Volcanic Places - Goo
05. Zacke - Spela mig på radion (feat. Movits!)
06. TALK 2
07. Hello Saferide - Arjeplog
08. Kristofer Åström - When her eyes turn blue
09. Superfamily - Let's go dancing
10. Barra Head - Undermine
11. TALK 3
12. Pixie Carnation - Little sister
13. The Bear Quartet - I was a weapon
14. Mangrove - Pieces of our yesterday
15. TALK 4
16. Emmon - Lips on fire
17. Eric Ramsey - Enlightened neurotics
18. Håkan Hellström - För en lång tid
19. 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.

New Clubnights now confirmed

New dates for It's a Trap! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö are finally confirmed! First up, we have Norwegian act Sigh & Explode playing on August 8 and then we've got Pixie Carnation plus Rolf Fabian & the Industry of Cool on September 26! Both should be great shows, so you know where to be if you're in the area! Also, my friends Pixie Carnation will be heading down to Germany for a one-off gig at the BootBooHook Festival in Hannover on August 22. Mark your calendars!

Sirius playlist week #25

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

01. Samuraj Cities - 2 close 2 yr hrt
02. TALK 1
03. Pirate Love - Laughing gas
04. Fare You Well - Overload
05. Kap Kap - Steel wheels
06. TALK 2
07. Elmo - Two becomes one
08. Johndoe - Hardt som faen
09. The Black - On the descent to hell
10. The Amazing - Dragon
11. TALK 3
12. The Bear Quartet - I was a weapon
13. Aerial - All refrain
14. Mögel - Håll mig hårt
15. TALK 4
16. Je Suis Animal - Painted in my face
17. Katatonia - Deadhouse
18. Pixie Carnation - Little sister
19. Björn Kleinhenz - Show me love
20. TALK 5
21. New Decade - I guess you ran from something

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.

MP3: Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out

Repost! This song deserves top placement again, not just because I just received copies of their CDEP for resale, but simply because it needs to be heard. I think these dudes are one of the biggest potential breakthrough acts of this year, so listen up! Oh yeah, and glad midsommar!

Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out

Pixie Carnation
Fresh poems
self-released

"Fresh poems" exists very much in the shadow of Arcade Fire's "Neon bible", an influence that pervades every track on this spectacular EP, though, in Pixie Carnation's defense, the Springsteen-styled, Wall of Sound indierock overdrive of "Neon bible" in many ways resembles what Scandinavian artists have been bringing to the table for years. Still... there's no way to not immediately think of Arcade Fire when "Fresh poems" blisters alive with "When did the lights go out?", but, honestly, I can't see anyone really caring too much. There's a huge difference between an overwhelming influence on a talented group of musicians and that same influence on a less gifted bunch -- and Pixie Carnation fall very much into the first category, allowing this EP to feel more part of a movement started by Arcade Fire and less like a band trying to be them. Besides, a band should ultimately be judged on the quality of their songwriting and "Fresh poems" is brilliant from start to finish. The dense layers of instrumentation have a deft agility that keeps them flooding ever-forward in driving, anthemic waves instead of being rendered cumbersome constructs of noise, and this kinetic energy permeates every song, from the discord that "When did the lights go out?" emerges from to the brilliant ending of the title-track -- a gorgeous explosion that solidifies Pixie Carnation as a fantastic new voice from the Swedish south.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

Sirius playlist week #19

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

01. Penny Century - Just because (feat. Mattias Alkberg)
02. TALK 1
03. Piroth - Fog dancers
04. Shogun Kunitoki - Riddarholmen
05. Elenette - Start; alla program; spel
06. TALK 2
07. The End Will Be Kicks - Sweets and filth
08. Viola - Nobodylovers
09. Pan Sonic - Maa
10. Antifilm - Here comes the son
11. TALK 3
12. Ingenting - Slapp in solen
13. Pixie Carnation - Fresh poems
14. David Åhlén - Spirit fall
15. TALK 4
16. The Fine Arts Showcase - The teenage order
17. Pinto - We breathe too much
18. The Opium Cartel - Better days ahead
19. Dag för Dag - I am the assassin
20. TALK 5
21. Aerial - All refrain

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.

Band of Horses hires Swedish guitarist Ludwig Böss

Apparently it was announced at the beginning of the month, but I missed it: Swedish artist/producer Ludwig Böss (Böss, Ray Wonder, Pixie Carnation) has been enlisted as Band of Horses' new guitarist. Look for him to tour with the band all over the world this summer.

Sirius playlist week #15

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

01. Lowood - It's a mess (feat. Kristofer Åström)
02. TALK 1
03. Murmansk - Sweet trio
04. Øresund Space Collective - My heel has a beard
05. Nutid - Pianoflikkan
06. TALK 2
07. Montt Mardié - Bang, bang (Echo in Warsaw)
08. Rupesh Cartel - Oh no oh no!
09. Bellman - Sleep forever
10. Pixie Carnation - Little sister
11. TALK 3
12. Fever Ray - Concrete walls
13. Jesper Norda - We have the guts
14. Bad Hands - Bad hands (feat. Nina Kinert)
15. TALK 4
16. Turboweekend - Up with the smoke - Down with the ash

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.

MP3: Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out

If I didn't tell you that Tobias Hellkvist was involved with Pixie Carnation, you'd never know from listening. This band sounds nothing at all like his solo material, though you may start to find parallel threads if you look hard enough. For instance, that soaring e-bow/delay guitar in the background? I'd bet money it's all Tobias. Anyhow, I'm not posting this song because Tobias is involved, I'm posting it because it's a damn good song, one of my current favorites. Our personal connection is merely the method of informational transference, I wouldn't bother talking it up if it didn't deserve it. It's a great opener to their new 5-song "Fresh Poems EP", from the haphazard tuning drone that run into the rhythm guitar jangle and kick/snare lead-off, to the way the strings and feedback eventually coalesce to create a heavy air of anticipation. When the band crashes in with those falsetto backing vocals, I'm won over completely. The future is wide open for these guys -- so very recommended.

Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out

Sirius playlist week #13

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

01. The Late Call - Put your lights on
02. TALK 1
03. Fever Ray - When I grow up (Håkan Lidbo remix)
04. Maskinen - Alla som inte dansar
05. Isolation Years - Albino child
06. TALK 2
07. Pixie Carnation - When did the lights go out
08. Unleashed - Dead forever
09. Lack - Soot, smoke & ash
10. TALK 3
11. Small - Comic girl
12. Peter Bjorn and John - It don't move me
13. Masquer - I think I'll lose my mind
14. Ironville - Roses
15. TALK 4
16. Parasite - Nightwinds
17. Aerial - Kallisti
18. The Crystal Caravan - Tombstone eyes
19. TALK 5
20. Hello Saferide - Arjeplog

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.

Presenting: Pixie Carnation

Check out Pixie Carnation, a new band featuring IAT.MP3 artist Tobias Hellkvist together with childhood friend Ola Pålsson: http://www.myspace.com/pixiecarnation
It's not like Tobias' other work, but that shouldn't stop you from listening because it's really, really good, solid indierock, emphasis on the rock. Expect a 5-song EP to surface very soon, otherwise enjoy the three tracks up for preview right now.