label manager Joakim Haugland has started a new label in collaboration with called after the name of an old watch and record shop in Flekkefjord. Their first signings: hype acts Young Dreams and I Was A King, the latter of which will be releasing their new record "You love it here" through the new enterprise on October 5.
Check out an interview with / bossman Joakim Haugland from M Magazine: http://www.m-magazine.co.uk/featuresinterviews/interviews/sounds-from-a-smalltown/
Swedish pop artist Neneh Cherry (and daughter of famed trumpet player Don Cherry) and Swedish/Norwegian free-jazz trio The Thing (named after a Don Cherry tune) are teaming up for an album to be released via called, quite naturally, "The Cherry Thing". Get full details at the label: http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2012/03/21/neneh-cherry-cherry-album-june/
has signed prolific artist/producer Emil Nikolaisen of Serena-Maneesh: http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2012/03/12/signing-emil-nikolaisen-serena-maneesh/
Not sure if that means his band or a solo project, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
Eclectic Norwegian label is listing top 10 lists in their blog for a number of employees and artists (Todd Terje, Serena-Maneesh, etc.): http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/category/blog/
has announced that Lindstrøm will be doing a few US dates next week: http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2011/02/08/lindstr%c3%b8m-tour-2/
The nominees for this year's Spellemann awards, the Norwegian Grammy, have been announced:
Female Artist:
Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is ()
Ida Maria - Katla (/)
Ingrid Olava - The guest ()
Susanne Sundfør - The brothel ()
Male Artist:
Moddi - Floriography ()
Odd Nordstoga - November (/)
Thom Hell - All good things ()
Thomas Dybdahl - Waiting for that one clear moment ()
Pop Group:
deLillos - Hjernen er alene i Operaen ()
I was a king - Old friends (/)
Kråkesølv - Bomtur til jorda ()
Madcon - Contraband ()
Electronic:
Bjørn Torske - Kokning ()
Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Real life is no cool ()
Ost & Kjex - Cajun lunch (/)
Rock:
Blood Command - Ghostclocks (/)
Kvelertak - Kvelertak ()
Motorpsycho - Heavy metal fruit ()
Serena-Maneesh - No 2: Abyss in b minor ()
Tommy Tokyo & Starving for My Gravy - Go time, showtime & absolute war ()
Metal:
Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini ()
Ihsahn - After (/)
Shining - Blackjazz ()
Solefald - Norrøn livskunst ()
Hip-Hop:
Karpe Diem - Aldri solgt en løgn ()
Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, helt om dagen ()
Salvador Sanchez - Happy daze ()
Folk:
Gjermund Larsen trio - Aurum (/)
Ingvill Marit Buen Garnås og Per Anders Buen Garnås - Salme, segn & solbøn ()
Sondre Bratland/Annbjørg Lien - Alle vegne ()
Unni Boksasp Ensemble - Keramello ()
Jazz:
Elephant9 - Walk the nile ()
Ivar Antonsen/Vigleik Storaas - Dialogues ()
Paolo Vinaccia - Very much alive ()
Supersilent - 10 ()
Trondheim Jazz Orchestra - Triads and more ()
Open Class:
Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge ()
Jaga Jazzist - One-armed bandit ()
Karl Seglem - Ossicles (/)
Pelbo - Pelbo ()
Petter Wettre/Audun Kleive - The only way to travel 2 ()
Lyrics:
Bare Egil Band - I fyr og flamme (/)
Erik Fosnes Hansen - Neste stasjon Grorud ()
Ingrid Olava - The guest (
Pop Composition:
Gjermund Larsen - Aurum (/)
Ingrid Olava - The guest ()
Odd Nordstoga - November (/)
Susanne Sundfør - The brothel ()
Thom Hell - All good things ()
Newcomer:
Bjørn Johan Muri ()
Frida Ånnevik ()
Kvelertak ()
Moddi ()
Thomas Eriksen ()
Winners will be announced on March 5. More here: http://www.spellemann.no/
has signed Razika, female quartet from Bergen, Norway Rough Trade describes as "a killer mix of Slits-style get-up-and-go, ultra catchy pop-hook mayhem and a shamble-punk attitude." Read more: http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2010/12/04/introducing-razika/
will be releasing a new 12" from Mungolian Jetset on November 29 featuring the cut "Moon jocks n prog rock" b/w "Moonstruck". A new full-length will follow in spring.
has confirmed that the new Bjørn Torske album "Kokning" will be out on November 15: http://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2010/09/13/bj%c3%b8rn-torske-kokning-1-november/
Pitchfork reviews the odds'n'ends collection "Dealing in antiques" from Finnish indiepop act Cats on Fire: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14485-dealing-in-antiques/
Also reviewed, act K-X-P: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14500-k-x-p/
will be releasing the self-titled debut full-length from Finnish Kraut/electronic act K-X-P, featuring Timo Kaukolampi (OP:L Bastards, Annie), on July 19.
has confirmed that Driven, the "girl group" led by Kim Hiorthøy (remember?) will be releasing their debut album "Disko" in August.
Lindstrøm & ChristabelleThe 80s sitcom that runs in Lindstrøm's head must be a good one. His punchy pianos and retrofitted synthesizers don't just wink and nod to some tinny ancestor, they're as at home in the era as the TV families that materialized behind the electro-cheese of their theme songs. If that's true, then "Real life is no cool", Lindstrøm's album with seductive Norwegian-Mauritian songstress Christabelle might as well be "Family Matters". Lindstrøm is the whitewashed theme, and Christabelle a young Laura Winslow, the pristinely beautiful center of attention. But while "Family Matters'" stiff and unsexy theme may be the most ill-matched theme of all time, Lindstrøm has no problem relating to Christabelle -- his retrograde stylings are an oddly synchronous fit for her breathy delivery. Nowhere is this faultless latticework more noticeable than on "Keep it up" and "High and low", two songs that tower above the album. On these, Christabelle's ineffable sexiness reigns supreme. Lindstrøm's vocal production here is a sort of anti-social enabler: the subtle cracks and pops of Christabelle's half-whispered consonants actually succeed at creating an air of intimacy. That's a massive compliment given that it's a dance album. So "High and low" and "Keep it up" are the consummate singles: they've got enough holdover from the spacey futurism of 2008's "Where I go you go too" to please the diehards, and enough short-form nostalgia to seduce the iTunes generation. But elsewhere on the album, Lindstrøm's backwards gaze becomes pure pastiche. "Baby can't stop" is an MJ retread without the slightest hint of distinction, and "Lovesick"'s Survivor bassline is just that -- a Survivor bassline. Ultimately, though, this album comes as good news to those of us who found Lindstrøm's earlier work too inscrutable or too lengthy for consumption. "Real life is no cool" distills Lindstrøm to sitcom-sized morsels of dance music deeply invigorated by the smoky sensuality of Christabelle's vocals.
- Nathan Keegan
The nominees for the 2009 Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian Grammy) have been announced:
Female Artist:
Ane Brun - Live At Stockholm Concert Hall (, )
Hanne Hukkelberg - Blood From A Stone ()
Julie Dahle Aagård - Stompin' Feet ()
Noora Noor - Soul Deep ()
Male Artist:
Alexander Rybak - Fairytales ()
Martin Hagfors - Men and flies ()
Sivert Höyem - Moon Landing ()
Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio (//)
Pop Group:
Datarock - Red (/)
Donkeyboy - Caught In A Life ()
Kings Of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence (/)
Kråkesølv - Trådnøsting ()
Montée - Isle Of Now ()
Electronica:
Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - 2 (/)
Mungolian Jetset - We Gave It All Away (/)
Röyksopp - Junior (/)
Vinter In Hollywood - Outbreak (/)
Rock:
DumDum Boys - Tidsmaskin (/)
Heroes & Zeros - Simian Vices Modern Devices (//)
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt ()
Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future ()
Skambankt - Hardt Regn ()
Metal:
Code - Resplendent Grotesque ()
Immortal - All Shall Fall ()
The Cumshots - A Life Less Necessary ()
Årabrot - The Brother Seed ()
Hip-hop:
Chris Lee - Love Ghost (/)
Lars Vaular - D'e Glede ()
Tommy Tee - Studio Time ()
Jazz:
Håvard Stubø Quartet - Way Up ()
Kim Johannesen/Svein Magnus Furu/Tore Sandbakken - Kayak ()
Nils-Petter Molvær - Hamada (/)
Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons (/)
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored, Returned ()
Open Class:
Crimetime Orchestra - Atomic Symphony ()
Kristin Asbjørnsen - The Night Shines Like The Day (/)
Knut Reiersrud - Gitar (/)
Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea (/)
When - Homage Series Vol.1: Sun Ra ()
Lyrics:
Anne Grete Preus - Nesten Alene ()
Kjartan Kristiansen/Aslak Dørum - DumDum Boys; Tidsmaskin ()
Stein Torleif Bjella - Heidersmenn ()
Sverre Knudsen - La Det Brenne ()
Tønes - Sobihob ()
Best Newcomer:
Alexander Rybak
Donkeyboy
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen
Kråkesølv
Vilde Frang
More here: http://spellemann.no/
