K-X-P debut coming via Smalltown Supersound
will be releasing the self-titled debut full-length from Finnish Kraut/electronic act K-X-P, featuring Timo Kaukolampi (OP:L Bastards, Annie), on July 19.
Country: Norway
Aversionline recommends Okkultokrati
Aversionline praises the new Okkultokrati record "No light for mass": http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2010/07/12/okkultokrati-no-light-for-mass-cd-lp/
Nils Bech
Look back
Fysisk Format
It's always refreshing to see a label with so much devotion to good music that it'll have a multitude of acts spanning a variety of genres on its roster. It's the mark of a true music fan; someone who's not afraid to take risks and stick two fingers up to the naysayers and proudly state: "This is what I like and I'm releasing it!" Norwegian Nils Bech, is one of the non-metal acts on , his laid back, retro-styled electropop sitting alongside the fist and fury metal battery from the likes of Obliteration, Haust or Okkultokrati. It has to be said that there's a time and a place for "Look back"; It requires a certain frame of mind before someone could take the entire album in one sitting, but that doesn't mean it's a bad release. It's just conducive to pre-planned, late-night, candlelit ambience rather than any summer drive-time fervor. And when it kicks off in that kind of subdued atmosphere, it can be simply wondrous. Vocally, Bech is probably what a Morten Harket and Morrissey hybrid would sound like if they had been releasing stuff in the early '60s. Sure, his music might be classed as electropop but, with its definite retro leanings, it sounds more like the male counterpart of Goldfrapp's "Felt mountain" than the '80s disco companion of "Scoundrel days". The term 'crooner' springs to mind often on this and, if there's one main criticism of Bech, it's that his English pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. Generally, English sung in a foreign tongue adds a certain mystique to an album and, while that's true on a lot of "Look back", Bech's approach can be slightly off-putting at times. The songs on here are well done and, while there's a good buzz around Nils Bech, the vocals really taint this release in places. Best tracks on here are the upbeat "Medieval times" and the distinctly Björk-y "French affairs". A good album that's definitely original. Unfortunately, it would have been much better if Nils had sung på norsk.
- John Norby
Sirius playlist week #28
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Håkan Hellström - Kann ingen sorg för mig Göteborg
02. TALK 1
03. Enforcer - Katana
04. Existensminimum - 1993
05. Ludwig Bell - Kärlek slutar alltid med bråk
06. TALK 2
07. Karla-Therese Kjellvander & The Rockridge Brothers - New season
08. Lapko - Summer nights
09. CEO - No mercy
10. Night Minutes - Lord I can never be your mirror
11. TALK 3
12. Dungen - Marken låg stille
13. My Brother the Wind - Electric universe
14. Rigas den Andre - W.A.S.P. (R2 remix)
15. TALK 4
16. Waklevören - Oslo spy
17. Okkultokrati - Tail of the snakewind
18. Haust - Vomiting
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.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
03. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
04. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
05. Celine - Jentekveld
06. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
07. Tre Små Kinesere - Kjærlighet på tunga
08. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
09. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
10. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
11. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
12. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
13. Liv Marit Wedvik - Solid Ground
14. Venke Knutson - Smiles - The Very Best Of
15. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
16. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
17. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
18. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
19. Elg - Storm
20. Ost & Kjex - Cajun Lunch
Helvete leaves Turbonegro
Nö Music reports that Hank von Helvete has quit Turbonegro: http://www.nomusicmedia.com/2010/07/09/hank-von-helvete-quits-turbonegro/
'Bout time they call it a day methinks.
Krazy Fiesta + Nils Bech - Drunk love
Check out the Krazy Fiesta/Nils Bech collaboration "Drunk love" over at Discobelle: http://www.discobelle.net/2010/07/09/drunk-love/
Pitchfork reviews Diskjokke
Pitchfork reviews the new Diskjokke album "En fin tid": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14405-en-fin-tid/
MP3: Nidingr - Hymiskvitha
I'm not the only one to lose interest in black metal -- genre pioneers Ulver abandoned the genre completely once completing their monumental 3-album trilogy. Which is not to say they abandoned the dark arts completely; in fact, I'd say that some of their post-BM work is ever more black and twisted than "Nattens madrigal". It goes to show that even if you stray, there will still be lines drawing you back, though the news that Ulver mainman Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg's label was releasing a "pure" BM album by the band Nidingr still came to me as a surprise. Naturally, I was immensely curious -- though not all of Jester's releases appeal to me, they are always interesting and I knew I had to hear what was so exciting as to inspire such a return. Amazingly, for a label that prides itself on releasing left-field/avant music, Nidingr's "Wolf-Father" is straight-up orthodox: lots of blasting drums (courtesy of Hellhammer), tremolo picking and cold, dissonant riffs. There are a few standout points of interest though, and that's what makes it an exceptional release. First, the recording. On one hand, it's really flat and digital sounding and, to be frank, the drums are lame and unnatural/heavily triggered, but it's also all very in-your-face, especially the vocals. Also, the cleanliness augments the fact that it's a (mostly) unembellished recording, untainted by excessive and unnecessary overdubs. You can even hear the bass! Furthermore, so much BM is marred by ye standard issue reverb-drenched shrieking, but not here: Nidingr is all about raging screams placed front and center in the mix. Which brings me to my second standout point: the lyrics. Not that I could ever understand Enslaved's old Norse lyrics on their (superb) early albums, but I knew what they were about and I knew it was awesome; Nidingr mines those same Viking legends, but they disseminate it in English and they do it with unbridled fury. Taken as a whole, it's almost enough to get me excited about black metal again. Almost, I say, because I doubt anything else will match it anytime soon.
Nidingr - Hymiskvitha
Moddi gets A-ha millions
artist Moddi is the third recipient of A-ha's million-kroner stipend fund: http://www.groove.no/html/news/85741988.html
I'll bet money that Casiokids will win out over Lars Vaular for the fourth and final coinpurse.
Nekromantheon demo to get vinyl reissue
will be pressing Nekromantheon's debut demo EP "We're rotting" on 12" vinyl. The new edition will be limited to 500 copies and will include "a few" bonus tracks plus a new cover layout.
Kenneth Ishak - Dancing on my own
Kenneth Ishak is the 2nd artist that I'm aware of (after The Animal Five) to cover Robyn's single "Dancing on my own" -- listen to an acoustic in-studio performance from NRK P3 (along with his single "You lived in a world of your own"): http://nrkp3.no/popsalongen/h%C3%B8r-kenneth-ihsak-spille-live/#more-1176
Casiokids to tour North America
Norway's Casiokids are coming to North America in August:
08/18 - Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco, CA
08/19 - Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
08/20 - The Vera Project, Seattle, WA
08/21 - Media Club, Vancouver, BC
08/24 - 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
08/25 - Schubas Tavern, Chicago, IL
08/26 - Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
08/27 - Supermarket, Toronto, ON
08/28 - Glasslands, Brooklyn, NY
08/29 - Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA
08/30 - DC9, Washington, DC
10/08 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
PopMatters reviews Katzenjammer (again)
PopMatters reviews the long-overdue US release of Katzenjammer's excellent album "Le pop": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/127828-katzenjammer-le-pop/
Pitchfork goes to Roskilde
Pitchfork reports from the Roskilde fest, though they don't uncover any previously undiscussed Scandinavian gems: http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7826-roskilde-2010/