Danish acts The Attacks and Lars and the Hands of Light will be coming over for SXSW and will both be stopping in NYC along the way: http://blog.crunchy.dk/post/Lars-and-The-Hands-of-Light-and-Thee-Attacks-in-the-US.aspx
Altered Zones get hip to Iceage: http://alteredzones.com/posts/1011/iceage-new-brigade/
Also, check out that interview from The Quietus that they reference: http://thequietus.com/articles/05778-iceage-interview-new-brigade
Check out Danish hype act When Saints Go Machine performing a live "i-n session" for i-D Online: http://www.i-donline.com/i-spy/i-n-session-when-saints-go-machine
Berlin-based Scandinavian music clubnight Nordic By Nature has a new mixtape up for March: http://soundcloud.com/shibie/nordic-by-nature-birdy-talk-march-mix
Cherry OverdriveIt's an up-and-downer, this second full-length from the Kjøbenhavn girls. You know, one of those albums where some tracks are great and some are just... pfft! That said, when this shines, it really does shine! Tracks such as "Lay me down" and "Leave my town" are wonderful, retro-fueled classics that are exemplary in their execution and, indeed, many of the 12 tracks on here can boast the same. Where the album falters a little is more in certain aspects of the vocals, which sometimes sound a bit out of place and not delivered in the same spirit as the tune in which they reside. It's a minor flaw that's only evident on parts of a few tracks, but it's there nonetheless. Add to that the inclusion of a few songs that seem like filler, and the standard reached by Cherry Overdrive on their debut fails to be bettered this time around. Still, it's solid enough for the most part, and the girls could well be on their way to bigger and better with future releases.
- John Norby
Of the Wand & the Moon will be releasing a new 7" in mid-March featuring "Shine black algia" b/w "Hold my hand", neither of which will appear on the forthcoming full-length "The lone descent".
Danish dance/pop act WhoMadeWho will be releasing the new, supposedly darker-sounding 8-track mini-album "Knee deep" on April 11 with another as-yet-untitled full-length album to follow sometime in fall. Look for the new single "Every minute alone" in a couple weeks.
Danish label has announced that they will be releasing the debut album from Messy Shelters on March 28. Get more info and a sample tune here: http://www.messyshelters.net/
has posted the video for 4 Guys from the Future's new single "Don't help me up": http://tambourhinoceros.net/home/2011/dont-help-me-up-video-single/
The March lineup for Ja Ja Ja,as curated by Rich Thane of The Line of Best Fit, has been confirmed for the 31st and will feature Team Me, Lucy Swann and When Saints Go Machine.
I've been on kind of a negative trip recently, either damning with faint praise when I'm not being outright scornful and I know it's a bummer. It's a bummer for me too because it turns into a downwards spiral and, honestly, I really don't hate everything even though it often feels that way. One thing I wholeheartedly do love: the new Hymns from Nineveh album. I've been a fan of the Hymnboy Jonas Petersen since hearing his previous act Attrap and the few samples he's dropped while working on his album have been quite nice, but the end result of the finished work is absolutely lovely. Spiritual music can be a gamble as there are so many potential pitfalls, but when it works, there's nothing else so soothing. Like the hug of a favorite blanket or the feeling delivered by your favorite comfort food, it's a kind of satisfaction that radiates from the inside out. It puts the world at ease and, for a little while, all is well.
Hymns from Nineveh - So mournful the elegy, so comforting the hymn
Øresund Space CollectiveIf you're not already familiar with Denmark's improv jazz merchants, the band name itself should hint as to the style evident on "Slip into the vortex". That's right, it's a progtastic space rock extravaganza that will have fans of the genre slipping into ØSC's own musical vortex for close on 80 minutes. It's a strange affair, this album. Of course, that can be said for a lot of bands who populate this weird sub-genre. But with "Slip into the vortex" there's something altogether different going on; it might sound silly, but the first part of this album sounds a lot like an electronic version of the Lethal Weapon 2 soundtrack with its odd, almost sleazy, saxophone sections playing a predominant role, especially in opening track, "I teleported to Acapulco". It takes a while before the cosmic elements kick off in earnest but, when they do, it's like the soundtrack to a space rock fan's wet dream (I assume). If this is as improvised as the band claims, then it's astounding that they've pulled it off so fluidly. There's definitely a particular frame of mind required to pull maximum enjoyment from this and if you're there it's sublime. If not, it can get a bit tiresome. Might not be the greatest thing ØSC have ever done, but it's close.
- John Norby
The William Blakes' new album "Music wants to be free" is now streaming in its entirety via Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/music-wants-to-be-free/sets/music-wants-to-be-free-album/
Said album will be officially released on Monday.
Danish psychrockers Baby Woodrose are now up on Bandcamp with their entire discography available for streaming/purchase, including various sideprojects such as Dragontears and Spids Nøgenhat as well as rarities including a number of things never released before: http://babywoodrose.bandcamp.com/
Danish label has started a podcast: http://blog.crunchy.dk/post/The-Crunchy-Frog-Podcast.aspx
In addition to talking and playing various tunes they also interview Powersolo.
