Swedish indierockers Last Days of April have announced that they will be releasing the new album "79" in late March via . Go here for a free download of the lead single "Feel the sun again" and get the details on the latest batch of upcoming European tourdates: http://www.badtasteempire.com/bad-taste-records/last-days-of-april-announce-release-of-new-album-entitled-79/
The nominees for the 2012 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative/indie Grammy, have been announced:
Folk/Ballad:
Marin/Marin – Småfolket ()
Merit Hemmingson – EQ ()
Navarra – Nya fönster ()
Siri Karlsson – Gran Fuego ()
Dance:
Skudge – Samlad årsproduktion ()
Jonsson/Alter – Samlad årsproduktion ()
The Field – Looping State of mind ()
Pallers – The Sea Of Memories ()
Punk:
Sju Svåra År – Storma varje hjärta ()
Obnoxious Youth – The Eternal Void ()
Vånna Inget – Allvar ()
Black Feet – Black Feet ()
Hip-Hop:
Mofeta & Jerre – Briljanter & Smaragder ()
Ison & Fille – För evigt ()
Mohammed Ali – Vi ()
Roffe Ruff – Barrabas ()
Experimental:
Hans Appelqvist – Sjunga slutet nu ()
Hanna Hartman – H ^ 2 ()
Ophir – Opus Operatum ()
Midaircondo feat. Michala Østergaard-Nielsen – Reports on the Horizon ()
Hardrock:
In Solitude – The World. The Flesh. The Devil ()
Opeth – Heritage ()
Terra Tenebrosa – The Tunnels ()
The Haunted – Unseen ()
Rhythm:
Syster Sol – Kichinga! ()
Simone Moreno – Planetas ()
Kapten Röd – Fläcken Som Aldrig Går Bort ()
OK Star Orchestra – The Beat and the Melody ()
Pop:
Azure Blue – Rule of thirds ()
Jonathan Johansson – Klagomuren ()
Korallreven – An album by Korallreven ()
Loney Dear – Hall Music ()
Rock:
Pascal/Mattias Alkberg – Allt det här ()
Kajsa Grytt – En kvinna under påverkan ()
Bob Hund - Det överexponerade gömstället ()
Tramp – Indigo ()
Synth:
Henric de la Cour – Henric de la Cour ()
Necro Facility – Wintermute ()
Mr Jones Machine – Monokrom ()
Covenant – Modern Ruin ()
Jazz:
Jonas Holgersson – Snick Snack ()
Parti & Minut – Från klart till halvklart ()
Priming Orchestra – Deep Blue ()
The Splendor – Delphian Palace ()
Best Unsigned:
Death By Armborst
Storskogen
Schizo and the Personalities
Farsta
Singer/Songwriter/Country/Americana:
Brothers of End – Mount Inside ()
Ane Brun – It All Start With One ()
Promise & the Monster – Red Tide ()
Lars Bygdén – Songs I Wrote ()
Best live act:
Kriget ()
This is Head ()
Graveyard ()
Mattias Alkberg ()
Interesting to see and dominating their respective niches. Winners will be announced on February 3 at a ceremony at Nalen in Stockholm. Read more: http://manifestgalan.se/manifestgalan-2012/nominerade/
New from Swedish hip-hop act Mohammed Ali featuring a cameo from Ison & Fille, consolidating the best Sweden has to offer in the genre in one track. Look for Mohammed Ali's new EP "Vi & resten" to be released on November 18 via .
is looking to hire someone new for their office in Lund: http://www.badtasteempire.com/bad-taste-records/bad-taste-soker-nytillskott/
A new track from Swedish hip-hop act Mohammed Ali off their debut album "Vi", due out April 13 via . Download the mp3: http://www.mohammedali.se/files/mohammed_ali_gatan_sjunger_ut.mp3
Dates are finally confirmed for our upcoming IAT! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö! First up on December 10 we have hard-rockers Graveyard (who I presume will be premiering matering from their forthcoming, much-anticipated album) plus recent -signees Riddarna! Maybe even guest DJs too, who knows? And then in January, Last Days of April who will be playing in support of their new album "Gooey" which just came out on . Look for a support act to be announced soon and see you there! ('cept that I won't)
will be putting on a post-SXSW showcase at the Viper Room in LA on March 26 featuring Last Days of April, Timbuktu & Chords, Adam Tensta and Maskinen. More at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=314613801794&ref=nf
Here are the winners of the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy:
Punk/Hardcore: Troublemakers - Made in Sweden ()
Dance: Samuel L Session - The man with the case ()
Jazz: The Opposite - Intertwined ()
Dansband: Blender - Välkommen in ()
Rhythm: Jaqee - Kokoo Girl ()
Composer: Lisa Nordström and Lisen Rylander Löve (Midaircondo)
Lyrics: Ken Ring
Rock: Makeouts - In A Strange Land ()
Pop: El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop ()
Hårdrock/Metal: Abandon - The Dead End ()
Synth: Arvid - Andetag ()
Singer/songwriter: Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus ()
Folk/ballad: Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet ()
Hip-hop: Mohammed Ali - Processen ()
Best poplabel:
Best live: Fever Ray ()
Best unsigned: Fulmakten
Read more: http://www.manifestgalan.se/125.aspx
Go here to download the new Embee single "A day at a time" (feat. Daniel Lemma): http://www.looptrooprockers.com/the-mellow-turning-moment/
The new album "The mellow turning moment" is now set for release on February 24 via /.
The nominees for the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy, have been announced:
Punk/Hardcore:
En Svensk Tiger - Versace style ()
Troublemakers - Made in Sweden ()
Tysta Mari - Sveriges Casino ()
The Clichés - Monkey see, monkey do ()
Dance:
Minilogue - Samlad årsproduktion
Samuel L Session - The man with the case ()
The Field - Yesterday and Today ()
Tomas Andersson - Stiff Disco ()
Jazz:
Bengt Berger - Beches Brew ()
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - The Half Naked Truth 1998-2008 ()
The Opposite - Intertwined ()
Plunge With Bobo Stenson - Origo ()
Rhythm:
Calle Real - Me Lo Gané ()
Jaqee - Kokoo Girl ()
Music is the weapon - Music is the weapon ()
Syster Sol - Dömd att bli bedömd ()
Rock:
Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco ()
Makeouts - In A Strange Land ()
Murder by guitar - Murder by guitar ()
Skriet - Skriet ()
Pop:
Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen ()
El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop ()
JJ - JJ n° 2 ()
Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen ()
Hårdrock/Metal:
Abandon - The Dead End ()
Candlemass - Death Magic Doom ()
Katatonia - Night Is The New Day ()
Tribulation - The Horror ()
Synth:
Arvid - Andetag ()
Dupont - Entering The Ice Age ()
Emmon - Closet Wanderings ()
Rupesh Cartel - Anchor Baby ()
Singer/songwriter:
Ane Brun - Live at Stockholm Concert Hall ()
David Åhlen - We Sprout In Thy Soil ()
Jonna Lee - This Is Jonna Lee ()
Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus ()
Folk/ballad:
Taken By Trees - East of Eden ()
Miriam Aida - Letras au Brasil ()
Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet ()
Esbjörn Hazelius - Blunda och du ska få se ()
Hip-hop:
Mohammed Ali - Processen ()
Organismen - Om Gud vill och vädret tillåter ()
Promoe - Kråksången ()
Stor - Nya skolans ledare ()
Best live:
Frida Hyvönen ()
Jenny Wilson ()
Fever Ray ()
Florence Valentin ()
Best unsigned:
Den Svenska Björnstammen
Extended Heads
Fulmakten
Nora
Go here for more: http://www.manifestgalan.se/122.aspx
Navid Modiri & GudarnaIt was with a hallelujah impression, when I, a couple of years ago, saw Navid Modiri & Gudarna perform live. Thought finally a band that can't be placed in a specific box and, thanks to that, can bomb us with creativity in unlimited ways. It is not the same hallelujah moment when their third release "Allt jag lärt mig hittills" feels like they can't live up to what they have done before. Even so, they have made us fall in love with their sharp attitude and truly, if you are a fan, expect to fall over and over again. With this album the focus on American politics, cult artists such as Lou Reed and the location Hisingen, has changed. A displeasure at first, with the Hisingen loss, but as hinted before, inveterate is not their thing. This new release is about symbolic violence. Navid Modiri & Gudarna is a controversial band, either you like them or you don't. This is a kind of Miss Li unlabeled music genre that, if you need words, goes into a blend between reggae oriental pop with a jazz influence on circus. Navid Modiri is known for his society criticism in a sarcastic but reasonable way. Some people call it naivety, but not if you have been on a live performance and heard "Kom och dansa med oss" and laughed collectively at Bush with final tears caused by "Om jag ska dö" from the album "Många mil att gå", though I have a hard time to see this album go as far. Highlights from this release are: "Telefonsvaren", "Dagen jag fick nog" and "Kung Midas". Give it a few listens and it will grow on you.
- Therese Buxfäldt
Quit Your DayjobRiding a huge wave of success and acknowledgement, the freaks are out and back again. This, the follow up to 2005's "Sweden we got a problem", is, despite its simplicity, a more complex record. The hardcore fans, however should not be alarmed by this, the trademark madness QYD do so well is intact throughout all 13 tracks. The impression I get when listening to "Tools for fools" is that the songwriting has improved. For better and worse, I must add. The head-on, full-frontal punkrock with surf vibes, the all-or-nothing feeling is lost on this album at times. And to be really honest, this is one band that is more suited for just releasing EPs. When the band sounds like a date between Dead Kennedys and The Cramps on speed in "Danger! Fire kills children", it's like coming home again. Robert Johnson & the Punchdrunks would be proud of a song like "Medieval monsters in the modern man" and "Bodypoppers" is a smart move as the first single, being co-written with The Sounds. To sum it up, these maniacs are enjoying recognition from all sorts of characters including Blag Dahlia from The Dwarves, Ok Go, The Hives and, more surprising, R.A. The Rugged Man who is also featured on the opening track "Warmachine". I salute them as well! If they had just weeded out some of the weaker material, the grade would've been higher, for sure.
- Jonas Appelqvist
Peeling off the layers of music has always been an interesting way to evolve for a band. And it certainly feels as if Karl Larsson finally found his home musically. This, the 5th album, is simply packed with rawk that has an astounding appeal. The man knows how to write catchy songs, but this collection are his masterpiece. And speaking of catchy, "Who's on the phone?" can possibly be the catchiest song to be released this year. Other favourites are the somewhat epic "Melbourne" and the sensitive and driven "Two ply glass". LDOA is a one-man project nowadays, but never is it a dull project. On the contrary, it is very much alive and kicking, something that the album title refers to. With Fredrik Granberg from Randy behind the drums and Mathias Oldén from Logh on bass, it's a combo that really tightens the sound together. And once and for all; I think we can finally erase that "emo rock"-mark LDOA have been labelled with for so long now.
- Jonas Appelqvist
It has gone full circle so to speak. I absolutely adored the debut album "Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings", released in 2001 for the band's introverted indierock mixed with atmospheric soundscapes. Rock suitable for a motion picture soundtrack. On "North", the band reveals qualities not shown since that first full-length. Despite the fact that it took some time to reconcile with the record this time, you've got to hand it to these guys as they've done it again! This time, it's a more focused record with no dead spots. A true masterpiece. Gone are the flirtations with the post-rock scene and Mathias Oldén once again proves himself to be a great songwriter. "The raging sun" and "A sunset panorama" are great albums as well, no doubt about that, but now it has all fallen into place. Considering songs like "Saturday nightmares" (the first single from the record, do check out the amazing video as well), "The black box" and "Thieves in the palace", Logh should be acknowledged by a wider audience.
- Jonas Appelqvist
David & The CitizensAfter three years, David & The Citizens have actually delivered a record with exactly what they promised. Most groups talk about how their sound has either expanded or altered, but few times (especially in the past ten or fifteen years) has the resulting material been so accurate in description. I must admit, however, that I was a bit skeptical when they had said they were going to make a more "rocking" album, but then I realised that "Big chill" was an amazing song and that going in that direction would not be a bad thing at all. "Stop the tape! Stop the tape!" sees the production values, especially when dealing with the low-end, bumped up with a bit more confidence and thump. The rhythm section is powerful in its delivery and aids the listeners' head to nod throughout the release (most notably on "A heart & a hand & a love for a band", "Oblivion" and the first single "Are you in my blood?"). The extended mix of "48h" is, to me, flawless in songcraft, and one of the top on the record along with "What if nobody would catch us?". David & the Citizens have delivered what everyone had hoped for: a band realising their potential, acting upon it - and succeeding.
- Matt Giordano
