Norgesvenn, Norway's friend

Norgesvenn is a new Norwegian label founded by a couple of the guys at Spoon Train Audio dedicated to licensing music from abroad for their home market. Their first singing: Danish electropop hype Battlekatt. Read more: http://norgesvenn.no/

Morten Myklebust - She she (video)

Brand new music from Norwegian artist Morten Myklebust by way of Spoon Train Audio. Check out the studio/album version here.

Spoon Train allstars present Sunturns, the Christmas band

Members of the Norwegian indie acts Mylittlepony, The Little Hands of Asphalt, Monzano and Einar Stray are joining forces to record a Christmas album as the band Sunturns. Said album, which is simply titled "Christmas", will include new tunes, covers of songs from the various member's individual catalogs, as well as covers of Low's "Just like Christmas" and Swearing At Motorists' "Losing mine" and will be released on November 25 via Spoon Train Audio.

Bedroom Eyes - Hand-in-hand grenade (video)

Bedroom Eyes' new video for "Hand-in-hand grenade". Direct link: http://youtu.be/ot7x8HdZqIU
Look for the band's album "The long wait champion" to be released in Norway on September 9 via Spoon Train Audio.

Spoon Train announces upcoming releases

Norwegian indie label Spoon Train Audio has announced that they will be releasing the upcoming Einar Stray album "Chiaroscuro" on February 7 and the new album "Lifting ships" from Casa Murilo on February 28.

Mylittlepony - A miracle

Spoon Train Audio is giving away a new track from Norwegian indiepop act mylittlepony (nee My Little Pony) from the band's new album "Making marks", due out January 17: http://spoontrain.no/mylittlepony-a-miracle
The label will also be posting live acoustic clips of songs from the record every week throughout the month, as you can also see at the above link.

Top tens for 2010: It's a Trap!

Einar Stray - Chiaroscuro

Spoon Train Audio is offering up a new track from Norwegian experimental singer/songwriter Einar Stray as a free download: http://spoontrain.no/free-download-einar-stray-chiaroscuro
Look for his debut solo record "Chiaroscuro" to be released on February 7.

My Little Pony - Hard to be good (video)

This is Norwegian indiepop act My Little Pony's new single "Hard to be good", officially released on October 4 via Spoon Train Audio. Too twee for my tastes, but don't let that stop you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oig4TIAv-zA

New Lama 12" coming via Spoon Train Audio

Spoon Train Audio will be releasing the new Lama 12" single "Curses and broken glass" on April 19.

Spoon Train spring sampler

Norwegian label Spoon Train Audio has posted a spring sampler comp in time for by:Larm: http://spoontrain.no/blog/audio/2010/02/spoon-train-sampler-spring-2010
It's worth grabbing for the Monzano tracks alone.

MP3: Monzano - Cold waters

Monzano never made much of an impression on me in the past, but their new record "By this time last year every thing will seem younger" (due out February 15 via Spoon Train Audio) is easily the best new thing I've heard so far in 2010. "Cold waters" was previously featured on volume 2 of the "Oslo" comp series and is the first song the band recorded for said album, an obvious example of leading with your best foot forward. I hear it as a toned-down take on the same sort of indie/rock territory covered by countrymates Lukestar -- similar androgynous vocals, similar twisting melodies and interweaving guitar lines, but with everything notched down a smidge. They never truly "rock out" per se, but they don't really need to (like the mandolin wasn't an immediate tip-off). As for the "Islands in the stream" references, this is definitely not anything close that duet's adult contemporary/soft-rock vibe, but I think they do emulate a bit of those Barry Gibb harmonies and a touch of his melodic lilt here. Say what you will about the Bee Gees, I think that's a good thing; this is a good song. Oh and good thing I picked up a Dolly Parton 7xLP boxset last weekend, or I might not have been able to cross-reference. I can't hang with most of her 80s output (cocaine sure did bad things to country back then), but there's more than enough good stuff in there to make it worthwhile.

Monzano - Cold waters

Monzano confirm new album, offer sample

Norwegian indie act Monzano has announced that their 2nd album is done and confirmed for a February 8 release via Spoon Train Audio. Hear a sample cut at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/monzano

My Little Pony
Think too much
Spoon Train Audio

I am still wondering whether choosing such a name for your band works in your interest or against you. It sets the tone for something not that ambitious. Don't be fooled though, "Think too much" is a sensitive and sincere album from one of the front-runner bands on the new Oslo indiepop scene. My Little Pony's music creates a sometimes bright and euphoric, sometimes down-tempo and mellow soundtrack, packed with trombones, saxophones, banjos and slide guitars; reminding me of The Magic Numbers and Belle and Sebastian. Lyrically, they are funny and inventive and make some amusing TV series references ("MacGyver", "The West Wing" and "The Mighty Boosh"). And, as always, what counts the most is that this album has proven itself by managing to stay on my playlist for quite a while now.
- Vasilis Panagiotopoulos