Apparently Susanne Sundfør is not one to rest on her laurels. She may have just released the excellent album "The brothel", but is apparently already working on a follow-up entitled "The silicone veil". Watch her perform and talk about a couple new tracks at ABC Studios in Etne, Norway (along with a performance of "The brothel", my favorite song of the year so far): http://sebyen.no/abclive/video.php?artist=susannesundfor
Norwegian label is my favorite new label. Not my new favorite label, but you get the idea. Conceived as the sister label to to concentrate on new up-and-coming acts, they've got a surprisingly strong and diverse roster. I told you about Far From Tellus the other day, now here's a track from Kobert, the first act on the label to release an album. The two couldn't be more different -- whereas the former is folksy, upbeat pop, Kobert makes low-key, jazzy electronica. Inorganic sounds with an organic vibe; just listen to the way vocalist/sample-manipulator Ingrid Lode deftly navigates the narrow melody. What sounds simple is anything but. Sometimes the group does veer off towards trip-hop/adult contemporary territory at times, but the more I listen, the more I find them to be on the right side of tasteful/whitewashed. Still, would not be surprised to hear them in a Euro-style elixir bar, all white and metal and right-angles. I'd be okay with that.
Kobert - I have just
The new Lydia Laska single "Nervous" will be released on May 18, the day after Norwegian National Day. Look for it to appear on myspace on May 4.
Norwegian psych act Gravel Control will release their debut full-length "In the back of my mind" on May 20 via . Preview five tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/gravelcontrol
All About Jazz reviews act Espen Eriksen Trio and their new record "You had me at goodbye": http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36200
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Okkultokrati - Ragnarokian
02. TALK 1
03. Menfolk - Matador
04. Newkid - Gör det för
05. Rasmus Kellerman - Five years from now
06. TALK 2
07. The Tarantula Waltz - Synthetic sun (feat. Ebba Forsberg)
08. Kommun - Death of a CEO
09. Far from Tellus - Far from Tellus
10. TALK 3
11. Moddi - Stuck in the waltz
12. Faster Katt - Death song
13. Blowback - Fool
14. TALK 4
15. Nils Bech - Don't worry
16. Familjen - När planeterna stannat
17. Banjo - You and the sun
18. NEI - A wonderful day
19. TALK 5
20. Junip - Rope and summit
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. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
02. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
03. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
04. Jenny & Arne - From Our Hearts
05. Chand Torsvik - Kongeriket Norge
06. Aleksander With - Still Awake
07. Finn Kalvik & Hans Erik Fosnes - Neste Stasjon Grorud
08. Raga Rockers - Shit Happens
09. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2010
10. Ingrid Olava - The Guest
11. Torbjørn Egner - Samlede CD-er
12. Navigators - The Straight And Narrow
13. Thom Hell - All Good Things
14. WigWam - Non Stop Rock'N'Roll
15. Dum Dum Boys - Tidsmaskin
16. Ketil Bjørnstad - Remembrance
17. Sigrid Moldestad - Sandkorn
18. Darkthrone - Circle The Wagons
19. Staut - Staut
20. Diverse artister - Mgp Jr 2008
Jan Toft has signed with and will be releasing a new album with them in June. Hear the first single "Berceuse" here: http://www.warnerwall.no/?p=2593
Hurra Torpedo, indoctrinating the youth in the ways of musical kitchen destruction: http://www.vgtv.no/?id=29900&category=5
Watch Thomas Dybdahl perform "Party like it's 1929" live on Norwegian TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXW6tbA3C5M
His new album "Waiting for that one clear moment" is out now.
The BBC gives high praise to Elephant9's excellent new release "Walk the Nile": http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/frfd
Music blog Eardrums Music netlabel is now, at long last, done with their new compilation and have posted it for free download: http://www.eardrumspop.com/releases-2/
The title of the collection is "Between two waves", an allusion to the theme: every single track, every illustration is a collaboration between two artists. Many many Scandinavian artists took part, including Boy Omega, My Little Pony, The Honeydrips, Dylan Mondegreen, Solander, We Are Soldiers We Have Guns and lots more.
Stream a few new tracks from "Tales from a thousand graves", the new album from international grind/death act Gangrenator (feat. members from Dødheimsgard/DHG, Endwarfment, Thorns, etc.): http://www.myspace.com/gangrenator
Norwegian act Lama will be releasing the new 12" EP "Curses and broken glass" on April 26. Said release will feature two new songs plus remixes by Proviant Audio, Ralph Myerz and Dokkemand.
It's so nice to get an unsolicited CD in the mail where the one-sheet betrays nothing, yet the music astounds. Far From Tellus' self-titled debut is the first thing I've gotten in ages from a band I've never heard of that instantly won me over. Their happy, jangly folk-pop is a welcome tonic for the weary soul as we slowly drift towards summer and sunnier weather. If the considerably praise for the latest album from The Tallest Man on Earth has you convinced (I picked up the LP this weekend and am digging it), check these gents out as well because they're on a similar trip, albeit with a full band and a small dose of David Bowie/T. Rex glam to balance out any Dylan-esque troubadour vibes. Strongly recommended!
Far From Tellus - Norwegian fairytale mix