UK-based Scandinavian clubnight Ja Ja Ja have officially partnered with The Line of Best Fit full-time and relaunched with a new blog site: http://www.jajajamusic.com/
Their next actual live music event will be on September 29 at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen and will feature Sondre Lerche, LCMDF and Sykur.
That new video thing from Sigur Rós? Turns out it's a teaser for the upcoming live concert video/double-live album "Inni", filmed by director Vincent Morisset in London back in 2008 and due out in November via . Hit up Pitchfork for more: http://pitchfork.com/news/43559-sigur-ros-announce-live-album-and-film/
Sigur Rós have a new video posted at their website as a preview for what I believe is the new album "Inni": http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/
Icelandic artist Sóley of Seabear/Sin Fang is going solo and will be releasing her debut solo full-length "We sink" on September 2 via . Download the lead single "I'll drown" and get more info here: http://www.morrmusic.com/artist/S%C3%B3ley/fdl/ndw7s31
Scandinavian acts Datarock, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour and For a Minor Reflection have been added to the lineup of this year's Culture Collide fest in LA: http://culturecollide.com/index.php/news/entry/gang_gang_dance_datarock_men_more_added_to_2011_culture_collide
Pitchfork reviews the new soundtrack album "The miners' hymn" from Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15578-the-miners-hymns/
Also reviewed, the new Diskjokke record "Sagara": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15584-sagara/
Pitchfork reviews the new Ungdomskulen pseudo-novelty project "Gimme ten": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15554-gimme-ten/
Also at Pfork today, an "Guest List" interview with Icelandic artist Jóhann Jóhannsson: http://pitchfork.com/features/guest-lists/7985-johann-johannsson/
Washington City Paper previews the artists appearing at this year's Nordic Jazz Fest in Washington DC: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2011/06/13/nordic-jazz-festival-boasts-big-acts-unexpected-sounds/
Every year the Swedish electronic music festival Voltfestivalen invites an acoustic ensemble to cover various genre classics and this year the honor of performing goes to The Uppsala Chamber Music Choir who will be playing the following:
Mr Oizo - Flat Eric
New Order - Blue Monday
Björk - All is full of love
It all goes down June 11 at Uppsala Concert Hall. Details: http://voltfestivalen.se/
Berlin-based Scandinavian clubnight Nordic By Nature have a new mixtape up for June: http://www.mixcloud.com/Nordicbynature/nordic-by-nature-hermannplatz-june-mix/
As for this month's events, Rubik will be performing at Festsaal Kreuzberg on June 4 and then Vinnie Who will be coming to Roter Salon on the 17th.
theartsdesk reports on this year's SPOT Festival: http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3797:the-arts-desk-in-aarhus-spot-festival&Itemid=29
Highlights for the UK-based author include Our Broken Garden, Oh Land, 4 Guys From the Future, Helsinki Poetry and one artist I particularly like, Hymns From Nineveh.
Episode #3 of the podcast is now online, this one being a special Icelandic episode in honor of recent signees Apparat Organ Quartet: http://blog.crunchy.dk/post/CRUNCHY-FROG-PODCAST-3.aspx
The 4th volume of Iceland Music Export's "Made in Iceland" compilation series is out and, as always, it features a wide selection of artists including a few you may know (FM Belfast, Sin Fang, Ólöf Arnalds, Rökkurró, etc.) plus at least a couple you may not. All have released albums recently and are touring at home and abroad and, who knows? Maybe even a few will surprise you by not conforming to your usual expectations of Icelandic music -- I can tell you that this Dikta track certainly defies my prejudices. No ambient soundscapes, no other-worldly vocal swoops, no precious tweeness -- just straight-up solid, friendly pop/rock. Nothing wrong with that at all.
For more info, check out the comp's official microsite where they have the whole thing available for streaming: http://www.icelandmusic.is/Media/Made-in-Iceland-4/
Dikta - Thank you
has picked up Icelandic act Apparat Organ Quartet and will be releasing their sophomore album "Pólýfónía" across Europe this coming September. More here: http://blog.crunchy.dk/post/Apparat-Organ-Quartet-signed-at-Crunchy-Frog.aspx
