The Göteborg spotlight series continues! This week's guest: Mattias Carlsson, ex-drummer for The Smackdown and current member of Dead Vows, The VIII Arms Around You and Anchor.
How long have you lived in Gbg? What brought you there and what keeps you around?
I've been living in or close to Gothenburg all my life. It's a beautiful city. Small enough to make me feel like a human and big enough to not bore me out.
What's the current punk/hardcore scene like in Gbg? Is there much interaction with other indie music scenes or is it more insular? Is DIY culture alive and well? What about sXe, veg*nism and other related issues?
Yes, I definitely think Gbg is a city where people live their projects and make things happen. It's very inspiring. Unfortunately there's a lot of division though. The edge-kids support their thing, the indie-kids know where to go and the crusties go to their shows. It's a bit depressing when all of these kids are doing cool stuff, but don't get the attention or credit they deserve for their efforts. But that's what it's like everywhere, more or less.
There's there's a good amount of vegan and straight edge-kids around at the moment which makes me very happy and generally a lot people engaging in important stuff. Gbg is traditionally a working class city and politics have always had an important role in alternative music.
How does the legacy of Gbg's musical history affect you, if at all? Do you ever stop to consider the kids coming up in the scene now who may take your place in the future?
I don't really know. Even though Gothenburg has got a massive history of alternative music the only band I feel like I have some sort of relation to at the moment is At the Gates or Skitsystem. My sister and brother played a lot of Gbg punk-bands to me when I was a kid and all of them have meant very much to me, but I could probably not name many of them at the moment.
Since I hear you do a lot of booking, who are the bands to watch these days?
In my eyes there's quite a few new bands around that are awesome. Maybe not specifically from Gbg but in Sweden in general.The Cutting Edge are incredible, Scraps of Tape have always been unique and amazing. Repoman are awesome and Another Year too. Loads of things to be discovered!
Got a track you'd like to share? Either from one of your own bands or one you admire?
My projects can be found at myspace.com/deadvows, myspace.com/theviiiarmsaroundyou and myspace.com/xanchorx. Dead Vows are recording a full-length at this very moment. Should be out around August in time for our European tour! A band I admire, that'd have to be Scraps of Tape. Check myspace.com/scrapsoftape out. Amazing band!
However, seeing as how Mattias didn't bother actually sending a track, I'm forced to go with something from one of his bands whether he likes it or not. Here's "Guilt ridden" from The VII Arms Around You.
MP3: The VIII Arms Around You - Guilt ridden 
RATING: - / - 
Swedish act The Animation has a new website- go there to download their latest single "Overboard": http://www.theanimation.se/
File under: general, multimedia
05/16/2008 16:59:05 |
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Service's 2nd single as a coop comes from Kool Dj Dust aka Daniel Savio, a name you might recognize from the skweee scene or maybe Hundarna Från Soder. Stream his new single "The quest" here: http://srvc.se/catalog/item.php?catno=SRVC002
File under: general
05/16/2008 16:52:28 |
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The new Keep Of Kalessin album "Kolossus" will be released on June 6 in Europe and June 10 in America. Otherwise, look for a video for the track "Ascendant" to be released soon, but in the meantime, preview said song on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/keepofkalessin
File under: general
05/16/2008 14:31:55 |
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Live music with Rabid Records folk duo First Aid Kit at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/5/16/musik-med-first-aid-kit/
File under: multimedia
05/16/2008 13:22:05 |
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Montt Mardié's UK debut release "Introducing... the best of Montt Mardié" will consist of 2 new songs, 6 re-recorded tracks from his first album "Drama" plus 10 tracks off of the "Clocks/Pretender" double-album.
File under: general
05/16/2008 13:13:20 |
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Gbg-based electronic act Studio will be releasing the new remix collection "Yearbook 2" on May 28. Here's the tracklist:
01. A Mountain of One – Brown Piano (Remake by Studio)
02. Shout Out Louds – Impossible (Possible version by Studio)
03. Love Is All – Turn The Radio Off (Remake by Studio)
04. Rubies – Room Without A Key (Version by Studio)
05. Brennan Green – Escape From Chinatwon (Version by Studio)
06. Kylie – 2 Hearts (Version by Studio)
07. Williams – Love On A Real Train (Version by Studio)
File under: general
05/16/2008 12:44:30 |
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Dusted reviews the new El Perro Del Mar: http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4320
Quite a few sentiments there that I wholeheartedly agree with.
File under: reviews
05/16/2008 12:36:37 |
1 comment |
Check the "in concert" sidebar for a few new Logh tourdates.
File under: live
05/16/2008 12:33:59 |
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All About Jazz has created a great guide giving a broad overview of the modern Norwegian jazz scene: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29498
File under: general
05/16/2008 12:28:31 |
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Swedish ambient/doom project Ondo has a new 3" CD out now called "Slow". Details: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=124662689&blogID=395087184
File under: general
05/16/2008 11:58:32 |
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Swedish indie artist You/Me has posted a couple new live tracks on myspace showcasing some new material: http://www.myspace.com/youmeband
File under: multimedia
05/16/2008 11:04:15 |
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Slightly, but not entirely OT: Scottish indie favorites Camera Obscura will once again be working with producer Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) on their next album with Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) handling the string arrangements.
File under: general
05/16/2008 10:56:49 |
1 comment |
The Real Ones' new single "Lonesome town" is streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/realonesmusic
File under: multimedia
05/15/2008 19:02:58 |
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Look for Norwegian singer/songwriter (and IAT fave) Susanne Sundfør to tour the US this October. Dates soon?
File under: live
05/15/2008 18:32:55 |
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Danish electronic/techno label Statler & Waldorf has signed Antifilm and will be releasing something from him later this year. Hear samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/antifilmspace
File under: general
05/15/2008 18:29:43 |
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Steso Songs has four brand new tracks up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stesosongs
As mentioned earlier this week, look for a new EP to be released next week.
File under: multimedia
05/15/2008 18:21:43 |
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The May edition of the Music Export Finland newsletter is now online: http://musex.fi/mxf/news?articleId=155
File under: general, industry
05/15/2008 17:43:30 |
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This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
02. Vassendgutane - Xo
03. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
04. Malin - Pang
05. Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong
06. Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen - Sound Your Horn
07. Madrugada - Madrugada
08. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
09. Julian Berntzen - Rocketship Love
10. Eick, Mathias M/Balke/Kleive - The Door
11. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
12. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
13. Hovedøen Social Club - Que Viva Noruega
14. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
15. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
16. Ingeborg Selnes - The Zoo
17. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
18. Sondre Bratland - Det er den draumen
19. Roy Lønhøiden - Når dagen demrer blått
20. Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments
File under: charts
05/15/2008 17:13:34 |
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Download a new Grace Jones edit as done by Norway's Mental Overdrive: http://myblurrywindow.blogspot.com/2008/05/medits-1.html
File under: multimedia
05/15/2008 17:06:26 |
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This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Amanda Jenssen - Killing my darlings
02. Sanna Nielsen - Stronger
03. Christer Sjögren - Jubileum 40 år med Christer Sjögren
04. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero
05. Brolle - Ett hjärta som glöder som en gång brann
06. Nordman - Djävul eller gud
07. Håkan Hellström - För sent för Edelweiss
08. Peter Lemarc - Lemarc live!
09. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
10. BWO - Pandemonium - The singles collection
11. The Hellacopters - Head off
12. Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm just me (new edition)
13. Melissa Horn - Långa nätter
14. Amy Diamond - Music in motion
15. Linda Bengtzing - Vild & galen
16. In Flames - A sense of purpose
17. Oh Laura - A song inside my head, a demon in my bed
18. Takida - Bury the lies
19. Papa Dee - A little way different
20. Monica Zetterlund - Sakta vi gå genom stan - Det bästa med Monica
File under: charts
05/15/2008 16:45:17 |
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Speed of Sound has signed Danish act Le Fiasko, a band that features members from Choir of Young Believers and Under Byen. Listen at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lefiaskocph
File under: general
05/15/2008 15:22:24 |
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PopMatters pans Norwegian indiepop artist Soda Fountain Rag: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/soda-fountain-rag-its-rag-time/
File under: reviews
05/15/2008 15:00:09 |
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Stereogum has an mp3 of Danish popsters Alphabeat doing an acoustic Daft Punk cover: http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/alphabeat-cover-daft-punk_009812.html
File under: multimedia
05/15/2008 14:56:44 |
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Paper Thin Walls on Swedish shoegazers Blackstrap: http://www.paperthinwalls.com/singlefile/item?id=1593
File under: reviews
05/15/2008 14:55:46 |
0 comments |
Swedish indiepop act The Carny is streaming their latest single "Where the daffodils grow" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thecarnyband
The download-only single also includes the previously unreleased tracks "Let me sleep with you" and "Your life doesn't do your living" as b-sides.
File under: multimedia
05/15/2008 14:51:20 |
0 comments |
Millencolin
Interview: Mattias Alkberg
MyFriends: The Spurts, Virak, Easy, Seda, That Dude Prince, Evocation
Column: A Postcard Life #6
MyFriends: Bluebridge the Quartet, Desktop Orchestra, Epidemics, Gentil, Harasser, Panter
Podcast: Q108
The VIII Arms Around You - Guilt ridden
No Privacy - Steal my heart
MABD - Jag vill inte förstå
Little Jimmy Reeves - Romance on drugs
Ihsahn - Unhealer
The Tough Alliance - Neo violence
Hello Saferide
Sonores
| 05/17/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Kiff, Aarau (CH) |
| 05/18/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Chelsea, Wien (AUS) |
| 05/19/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Grüner Jäger, Hamburg (GER) |
| 05/20/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Stereo Wonderland, Köln (GER) |
| 05/21/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Schokoladen, Berlin (GER) |
| 05/21/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Forum, Bielefeld (GER) |
| 05/22/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Faust, Hannover (GER) |
| 05/22/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Römer (tbc), Bremen (GER) |
| 05/23/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Magnet Club, Berlin (GER) |
| 05/23/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Instore afternoon gig, Braunschweig (GER) |
| 05/23/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Amp, Münster (GER) |
| 05/24/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Amp, Münster (GER) |
| 05/24/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ UT Connewitz (Pop Up), Leipzig (GER) |
| 05/25/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Gigant, Apeldoorn (NL) |
| 05/26/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Raststätte, Aachen (GER) |
| 05/27/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Nun, Karlsruhe (GER) |
| 05/28/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Kulturrampe, Krefeld (GER) |
| 05/29/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ D:qliq, Luxembourg (LUX) |
| 05/30/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Subrosa, Dortmund (GER) |
| 05/31/2008 - | The Grand Opening @ Horns Erben, Leipzig (GER) |
| 07/30/2008 - | Logh @ Lagerhaus, Bremen (GER) |
| 07/31/2008 - | Logh @ Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (GER) |
| 08/01/2008 - | Logh @ Rock Olmen, Olmen (BEL) |
| 08/08/2008 - | Björn Kleinhenz @ Mamallapuram Festival, Storkow (GER) |
If you are highly self-motivated individual with a passion for music, we want you to write for us! To apply, please send a letter of introduction and a writing sample. Thanks!
mattg | 05/16/2008 14:15:15