Hunt - Fight

Brand new stuff from Susanna Brandin and Hunt (ex-Winter Took His Life).

Hunt
Ashes of a secret heart
self-released

This debut EP by Susanna Brandin (aka Winter Took His Life) is essentially an extension of the Swede's solo output, but with a full band behind her, a move that has allowed Brandin's expression to breathe and expand beyond the confines of her work as Winter Took His Life. While "Ashes of a secret heart" adheres to Brandin's fundamental sound -- that of melancholy -- the addition of a postrock overtone and a sublime production courtesy of Jonas Odhner serves to elevate the music and bring out the true potential of Brandin's talent. She has already proven herself as a solo artist and anyone who liked her material back then will undoubtedly fall in love with the atmosphere created on "Ashes of a sacred heart". With the right moves, this Göteborg six piece could find themselves becoming part of the global musical picture in the near future.
- John Norby

MP3: Hunt - Ashes of a secret heart

Hunt is the new band of Susanna Brandin from Winter Took His Life and "Ashes of a secret heart" is the title track to their debut EP. It's not a huge departure from Susanna's previous project -- we're still very much in slowcore territory -- but the full-band instrumentation allows her to explore much bigger dynamics. This song in particular takes a little while to get going, but when it does, oh does it ache! The pain, loneliness and 2nd guessing is further magnified by Jonas Odhner's (Sonores) superbly ethereal production, as he ably captures the final swell of the music as it drifts to its conclusion, a like a wake breaking on the shore. This is beautiful melancholy, as Scandinavia does best.

Hunt - Ashes of a secret heart

MP3: Bolywool - Save my soul

Despite the participation of many folks whose music I admire (Jonas Odhner from Sonores, Susanna Brandin of Winter Took His Life, etc.) and a beautiful presentation, I just can't connect with Bolywool. It's definitely more of a "it's not you, it's me" sorta thing though as I've never been a fan of the Madchester/baggy sound they emulate and never will, no matter how hard I try. I prefer my shoegaze to be more assertive than fey, y'know? Still, personal preference aside, I fully acknowledge that Bolywool's take on that sound is plenty competent so it's not like I can write them off or say "this sucks" or anything because it so obviously doesn't. Bolywool are a good band making music I don't care about. Maybe you will. That's perfectly okay by me.

Bolywool - Save my soul

Winter Took His Life "Horses" tour doc

Check out a tour documentary featuring Winter Took His Life plus Madamm and Cedarwell: http://www.vimeo.com/8971310

Presenting: Hunt

Susanna Brandin from the excellent act Winter Took His Life has started a new band called Hunt. Check out three demo tunes at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/huntgbg

Dirtfarming and Logging '09 tour

Swedish solo artists Hajen, Euphoria and the Lazy Boy, Winter Took His Life and Tvärvägen are teaming up for the "Dirtfarming and Logging '09" tour in May in which they will all share the stage together as a single band performing eachother's songs. Dates:

05/05 - På Besök, Malmö (SWE)
05/06 - MS Stubniz, Rostock (GER)
05/07 - Kulturhaus 73, Hamburg (GER)
05/09 - Kulturpalast, Hannover (GER)
05/10 - Bahía de Cochinos, Castrop-Rauxel (GER)
05/11 - Malteserkeller, Aachen (GER)
05/12 - Exhaus, Trier (GER)
05/13 - D:qliq, Luxemburg (LUX)
05/14 - KIFF, Aarau (CH)
05/15 - Zimmertheater, Tübingen (GER)
05/16 - Pop Up Festival, Leipzig (GER)
05/17 - Kultiviert Anders!, Leipzig (GER)
05/20 - Z Live Music Club, Stuttgart (GER)
05/21 - Musigbistrot, Bern (CH)
05/23 - Kulturverein Provisorium, Nürtingen (GER)
05/24 - Dimensione, Winterthur (CH)
05/26 - Intersoap, Berlin (GER)
05/27 - Klex, Greifswald (GER)
05/28 - Hasenschaukel, Hamburg (GER)
05/30 - Fängelset, Göteborg (SWE)

Download a preview comp from the artists here: http://www.zshare.net/download/591209963fec62af/

'Records make great pets - Volume 2' coming March 16

Stereo Test Kit has confirmed the tracklist for their upcoming "Records make great pets - Volume 2" compilation featuring 20 tracks from 20 Swedish indie artists: http://www.stereotestkit.com/pets.htm
Hard to pick specific highlights since the tracklist is incredibly strong, but some of the names are Alarma Man, Björn Kleinhenz, Convoj, Hajen, Lowood, Park Hotell, Rickard Jäverling, Scraps of Tape, The Social Services, Two White Horses and Winter Took His Life.

Winter Took His Life has a new tour EP, live video

Winter Took His Life has a new 4-song EP she recorded at home called "Your face was home" that she'll be taking with her when she tours Italy next week with Hajen. Dates and details at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wintertookhislife
Also, watch her play a gorgeous song on the Swedish TV program "Garage": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN3Q9efjClM&fmt=18

Interview: Audrey

Winter Took His Life, et al bigband tour in May

Winter Took His Life, Euphoria And The Lazy Boy, Hajen and Tvärvägen will all be touring Europe together in May playing as one big band. Some dates are booked, but not all so help out if you can: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=46503669&blogID=463137548

Swedish artists Winter Took His Life and Björn Kleinhenz both contribute music to the soundtrack of the upcoming film "New York lately". Read more: http://nylately.com/

MP3: Thomas Denver Jonsson - The light of love

It's Wednesday so that means it's time again for more Björn Kleinhenz cover tunes as we count down to the release of his new album "Quietly happy and deep inside". Seeing as how one of this week's featured artists is Thomas Denver Jonsson, an artist I'm frequently in contact with, I figured I'd track him down for a short Q&A session:

How did you get involved with the cover project? Have you known Björn for awhile or what?

Me and Björn must've known each other since 2001 when we started to appear on the same compilations and was reviewed in the same magazines. We also had a band, The Topeka Twins and we released a record 2003 [how soon I forget! -ed.]. We quitted the duo though since we looked too much like a Swedish version of Simon & Garfunkel. The situation was unbearable. Both wanted to be Art.

Did you get to pick the song or was it assigned to you? How did you approach doing your own version?

Björn handpicked "The light of love" for me, he said 'cause it was a country song. I wanted to take away the country pop element and do something more introspective with it. I was very cautious to not listen to the original version while starting to work with the song and recording it.

So how do you think it turned out? Were successful in what you set out to accomplish?

Yeah, I'm quite happy about it and it was fun dubbing the vocals. I had a nice evening doing it.

Have you heard any of the other contributions to the project? Any favorites?

I've only heard what has been revealed and I think all have been fantastic this far. Love Susanna's [Susanna Brandin aka Winter Took His Life -ed.] choir arrangement of "At night we die". It's a great tribute to one of Sweden's best pop artists.

Download more Björn Kleinhenz covers here: http://www.tomtrecordings.se/thelight

Also, be sure to check out Thomas while he's on tour - dates at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thomasdenverjonsson

As for me, I'm heading to SF for the next few days so expect updates to be slow. Mom, if you're reading this, I'll call you when I figure out my schedule - don't worry!

Thomas Denver Jonsson - The light of love

Tomt Recordings is counting down to the release of the new Björn Kleinhenz album "Quietly happy and deep inside" by posting covers and remixes every Wednesday up until the record's release date on October 29. Up first, Kid Ikarus and Unikorus aka Susanna Brandin/Winter Took His Life. Check it: http://www.tomtrecordings.se/thelight

Winter Took His Life has a brand new track up on myspace, appropriately titled "Something new": http://www.myspace.com/wintertookhislife