G2 - Conwy

(nee ) are offering up a free download from Swedish bluegrass group G2: http://soundcloud.com/cosmosmusicgroup/g2-conwy
Keep an eye out for their new album "Untapped routes" to be released soon.

The Swedish hip-hop evolution

is putting out a Swedish hip-hop collection called "Evolutions", charting the local history of the genre from the 90s though present day, including skweee. The comp was curated by Gaffa journalist Ametist Azordegan along with The Salazar Brothers and should be available in late summer.

Bonnier Amigo starts new metal label

MI reports that has started a new rock/metal imprint called to be run by ex- exec Johnny Hagel: http://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/1534/Bonnier_Amigo_startar_rocketiketten_Supernova_Records.html (in Swedish)
Their first release will be Royal Republic's debut album with other releases on the way from Hate Ammo, Three Minute Madness, April Divine, The Animation and others to follow.

Ex-E.S.T. bassist starts new band, will release album and tour

Ex-Esbjörn Svensson Trio bassist Dan Berglund has moved past the tragedy of his bandleader's untimely death last year and has started a new combo called Tonbruket featuring Johan Lindström (Per Texas Johansson Band) on guitar, Martin Hederos (The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Hederos & Hellberg) on keys and Andreas Werliin (Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Fire!) on drums. The band has recorded a self-titled album for release on January 20 via and the sound is said to be a mix of E.S.T., Pink Floyd, Röyksopp and Arvo Part. See them on tour:

01/30 - Stockholm, Hornstull Strand (SWE)
02/02 - Malmö, Babel (SWE)
02/03 - Helsingborg, Dunkers Kulturhus (SWE)
02/04 - Göteborg, Nefertiti (SWE)
03/13 - Edinburgh, Queen's Hall (SCO)
03/15 - London, QEH Southbank Centre (UK)
03/20 - Dublin, The Button Factory (IRE)
03/25 - Manchester, Band on the Wall (UK)
03/26 - Nottingham, Lakeside (UK)
03/27 - Gateshead, Sage (UK)
03/29 - Milton Keynes, The Stables (UK)
03/30 - Birmingham, CBSO Centre (UK)
03/31 - Barnstaple, The Queens Theatre (UK)
04/01 - Bristol, St. Georges (UK)
04/16 - München, Muffathalle (GER)
04/18 - Koblenz, Café Hahn (GER)
04/20 - Oldenburg, Kulturetage (GER)
04/23 - Mannheim, Alte Feuerwache (GER)
04/26 - Nürnberg, Hirsch (GER)
04/27 - Berlin, Postbahnhof (GER)
04/28 - Hamburg, Fabrik (GER)
04/29 - Basel, Casino (CH)
04/30 - Stuttgart, Theaterhaus (GER)
05/02 - Halle, Opernhaus (GER)
05/22 - Gleisdorf, Forum Kloster (AUS)
05/27 - Visby, Munkkällaren (SWE)

Bröderna Lindgren - Vuxen barnmusik!Bröderna Lindgren
Vuxen barnmusik!
Bonnier Amigo

6

"Vuxen barnmusik!" is an all-star collaboration album of sorts, featuring a slew of Sweden's most popular singers contributing at least one song, many with two. Sonically, the album is mostly a mixture of the textures of mid-70s classic rock and mid-90s alt-country, and, for the most part, it matches that vocally as well. To my ears, Caroline Wennergren contributes the strongest melodies of the album on her tracks "Eld i baken" and "Flyg iväg". In the second tier, one finds the familiarly loved Asha Ali, Mattias Alkberg and Kristofer Åström all taking what could be a slow record and pushing it up quite enjoyably. However, the strongest song on the album is its closer, the gorgeous "Finns det någon där" with Nina Ramsby and Martin Hederos performing a soft piano ballad with a light electric guitar playing in the background. The rest of the tracks though, did not do much for me, especially the faux-reggae "Välkommen til djungeln" which I've found to be completely unbearable. In the end, "Vuxen barnmusik!" is a decent album with a light-hearted feel, but can occasionally stray to the boring.
- Matt Giordano

Tom Malmquist
Two in the morning
Bonnier Amigo

8

I love everything about Tom Malmquist, from his photo drinking wine while soaking in a tub of dirty bath water and his bizarre myspace bio, to his choice of instruments – guitar, banjo, washboard, saw against leather jacket... Then there's his music, of course. He sounds like a quirky young Tom Waits. Except happier. The four-song EP unfolds like a series of letters to lovers, building up to a somewhat darker duet, "Tyranny of heaviness". But even that sounds gorgeous and oddly upbeat. It's celebratory country, of the most comforting variety.
- Stacey Shackford