PopMatters is excited about the official release of Katzenjammer in the US and is premiering a new live video from the band: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/126780-katzenjammer-a-bar-in-amsterdam-popmatters-video-premiere
has posted the new CyranoArmageddon track "Feeling alone" for preview: http://www.metronomiconaudio.net/archives/656
The band's new album "Club soda 2012" will be released on July 5.
Norwegian breakcore/noise act Ars Dada have a new release available for free download via , a new "extreme electronic music" netlabel based in the UK: http://braincore.co.uk/_wp/?page_id=233
RIYL digital hardcore ala Atari Teenage Riot, etc.
Music Export Norway celebrated their 10th birthday by unveiling a new website, now completely in English: http://www.musicexportnorway.no/
Listen to Norway profiles Katzenjammer ahead of a busy summer which will see them touring internationally and releasing their album "Le pop" in the US (on June 29 via ): http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010060910043788814373
I plan to attend the upcoming show in Seattle later this month.
Pitchfork reviews the expanded reissue of Refused's seminal "The shape of punk to come": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14330-the-shape-of-punk-to-come-a-chimerical-bombation-in-12-bursts-deluxe-edition/
Also reviewed, the Casiokids album "Topp stemning på lokal bar": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14303-topp-stemning-pa-lokal-bar/
The folks behind the annual Norwegian Alternativ Julekalender and the festival Bygdalarm are teaming up for a special summer advent calendar to count down until the event begins. So starting on June 11 they'll be sending a free mp3 from a featured artist each and every day up through the entire week of the fest -- simply head over to their website to sign up: http://bygdalarm.no/
has posted details for their next release, Phonophani's new album "Kreken", due out June 21: http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/phonophani/rcd-2101-phonophani_-kreken
Renown Norwegian composer Arne Nordheim passed away this weekend at the age of 78: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010060619092096355230
Norwegian noise/metal act Altaar has pressed a 2nd edition of the "Dødsønske" CS. Order via : http://www.roggbif.com/
Look for a new 7" from the group in the near future along with their upcoming full-length CD/LP "Okkult de sac".
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. TALK 1
02. Dear Euphoria - Coming down
03. Magnus Pelander - A sinner's child
04. Monzano - Grand siblings
05. TALK 2
06. Haust - Pointing and laughing
07. Pets - A good day for telling lies
08. Adventure Of - Time will tell
09. Swedish House Mafia - One
10. TALK 3
11. Supersci - Snap out of it
12. Pearl Fiction - The ruby fever
13. Britta Persson - Meet a bear
14. TALK 4
15. Nidingr - Reginsmol
16. The Bear Quartet - You you you you you you
17. Grande - You are the night
18. Rasmus Kellerman - The greatness & me
19. TALK 5
20. Susanne Sundfør - The brothel
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:
01. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
02. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
03. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og deilig -beste
04. Venke Knutson - Smiles - The Very Best Of
05. Bobbysocks - Let It Swing - The Best of Bobbysocks
06. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
07. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
08. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
09. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2010
10. Thomas Dybdahl - Waiting for that one clear moment
11. Ingenting - Ingenting live
12. Aleksander With - Still Awake
13. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
14. Keep Of Kalessin - Reptilian
15. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
16. Chand Torsvik - Kongeriket Norge
17. Senjahopen - Bli med på yttersida
18. Jenny & Arne - From Our Hearts
19. Sigrid Moldestad - Sandkorn
20. Finn Kalvik & Erik Fosnes Hansen - Neste Stasjon Grorud
Norwegian act Asleep has posted a new track at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/asleepmusique
Expect a new album from them sometime later this year.
It never occurred to me until my wife mentioned it last night, but Monzano sounds a heckuva lot like Hello Saferide. It's true: same wistful tone, same literate lyrics, even the same vocal range. Similar instrumentation and production too, though that's far less striking in the vast ocean of guitar-based indierock. Guess it's no surprise then that I consider their album "By this time last year everything will seem younger" to be one of 2010's best releases. Six months later and I've still got it on regular rotation.
Monzano - Know your velocity
will be a special "Label in Residence" at this year's Moldejazz Festival in Molde, Norway beginning on July 19. The label is celebrating their 100th release and will exhibiting sleeve art from at their catalog as well as presenting many affiliated artists such as In The Country, Puma, Stian Westerhus with Sidsel Endresen, Bushman's Revenge, Espen Eriksen Trio, Biosphere with Nils Petter Molvær and also a special commissioned work from Motorpsycho and Ståle Storløkken (Supersilent, Humcrush, Elephant9) to be performed with the Trondheim Jazz Orkester and Trondheimsolistene. More info: http://www.moldejazz.no/2010/