Speaking of 50 Hertz, the Guardian doesn't recommend the Björk "Army of me" remix album very much, but they like 50 Hertz: https://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,,1472332,00.html
Artist: Björk
Viewing posts 46-60 out of 69I knew something was different when the envelope had a fancy wax seal. I'm always excited to get packages in the mail, but it's rare that I receive something sent with such care and effort. Upon opening I was even more intrigued - here was a CD packaged in an elaborate insert designed to look and fold out like a flower. My words can't do it justice - you really have to see and feel it to appreciate it. This was most definitely not the standard mediocre demo material I often receive. No, Ea Philippa is most definitely not mediocre or average. Besides the CD, the package also included one of the most ridiculous press releases I've ever seen. Ridiculous as in "Composer and singer Ea Philippa releases her debutalbum "Fjerne Himle" ("Distant Skies") the 7th of March this and with that she bids welcome onboard the starship towards distant galaxes and enchanting realms." Ridiculous as in "The music describes a univers far from this world wraped in magic and fairytales quite ready to explore. It includes glaktic princesses from faraway planets, Dreamweavers in spiderwebpalaces, indecent wizzards and beautyfull elven women with chameleonhair." (all typos reprinted as-is) Did I mention that it's printed on paper with faux burnt edges? And that it includes a map of her aforementioned "magical univers"? Normally this sort of thing would go straight into the trash bin after a good laugh, but I must admit - my curiousity had been raised. There is something so earnest and purehearted in the way that Ea presents herself that I just had to give her more of a chance. I'm glad I did because the music turned out to be quite good.
Genre-wise, Ea exists somewhere between Björk and Stina Nordenstam or maybe within the realms of Loreena Mckennitt and Joanna Newsom. The sound is jazzy at times and very vocal-heavy, but not in a love-it-or-hate-it way like how Newsom is regarded. There's an element of mystery and fantasy that tiptoes the line of absurdity without falling over. The compositions have strong folk and classical compenents as well, in both the melodies and the arrangements. One of my favorite ingredients of the sound is the use of vocal noises and body percussion for beat construction. It's so organic and natural sounding. I suspect that if I understood Danish I might be a bit bummed by the lyrics, but ignorance is bliss. I don't need to know, I just want to enjoy it. Overall, I can't say that this is the best thing I've heard in awhile, but it is easily the most interesting and unique. Definitely worth checking out.
Danish singer/songwriter Lise Westzynthius has signed with One Little Indian, the label of Björk and many other fine artists. Look for her album "Rock, You Can Fly" to get an international release soon.
Swedish lo-fi electropop act 50 Hertz will contribute a track to the upcoming Björk remix/cover album "Army of me", coming out later this month on her own One Little Indian Records will all proceeds from sales being donated to UNICEF. The tracklist was hand-picked by Björk herself, so they consider it a great privilege to be included. The selection will be billed "50 Hertz featuring Slagsmålsklubben and Häxor och Porr" as members from both bands contributed to the recording.
Scandinavian highlights from the Pitchfork top 50 album list include The Concretes (#45), Jóhann Jóhannsson (#37), Björk (#19), Annie (#15), Erlend Øye (#14) and Dungen (#13): https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2004/index.shtml
Via Dagensskiva, here's the Swedish student radio top 40 for the fall semester (total rank, highest rank, # of weeks):
01. (01) (06) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
02. (02) (06) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On (Anybody)"
03. (04) (08) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
04. (01) (05) The Hives - "Two-Timing Touch And Broken Bones"
05. (01) (05) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
06. (04) (06) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
07. (01) (06) Marit Bergman - "Can I Keep Him?"
08. (01) (06) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
09. (02) (05) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
10. (02) (05) Ison & Fille - "Vill va Highwon"
11. (02) (04) The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - "Bigtime"
12. (01) (04) The Libertines - "Can't Stand Me Now"
13. (03) (05) Faithless - "Miss U Less See U More"
14. (05) (05) Thunder Express - "In My Mind"
15. (06) (08) Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "#1 EP"
16. (05) (05) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
17. (05) (04) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
18. (04) (04) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
19. (01) (03) Le Tigre - "TKO/New Kicks"
20. (03) (04) The Mo - "Howl In The Jungle"
21. (01) (03) Beastie Boys - "An Open Letter To NYC"
22. (04) (05) Radio LXMBRG - "L'Indiffirence EP"
23. (02) (03) Dogs Die In Hot Cars - "I Love You 'Cause I Have To"
24. (05) (04) Baby Shambles - "Killamangiro"
25. (03) (07) Embee - "Not Tonite"
26. (08) (05) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
27. (02) (03) The Ark - "One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young"
28. (06) (04) R.E.M. - "Leaving New York"
29. (05) (04) Ron Sexsmith - "Whatever It Takes"
30. (08) (05) Starmarket - "Cologne"
31. (06) (05) Björk - "Who Is It?"
32. (07) (05) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
33. (02) (06) Kings Of Convenience - "Misread"
34. (09) (04) Jens Lekman - "Julie"
35. (07) (04) Blacknuss Feat. Awa Manneh & ADL - "All Your Lovin'"
36. (10) (04) Deportees - "Not Tonight"
37. (06) (03) Franz Ferdinand - "Michael"
38. (08) (03) The Chrysler - "Blue Gold"
39. (04) (04) Talib Kweli Feat. Mary J Blige - "I Try"
40. (08) (03) De La Soul - "Shopping Bag"
Via Dagensskiva, here's this week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (01) Beastie Boys - "An Open Letter To NYC"
02. (03) The Ark - "One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young"
03. (02) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
04. (04) Ison & Fille - "Vill Va Highwon"
05. (06) Radio LXMBRG - "L'Indiffirence EP"
06. (05) Faithless - "Miss U Less, See U More"
07. (NY) Slam - "This World"
08. (07) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
09. (08) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
10. (09) The Chrysler - "Blue Gold"
11. (14) The Chemical Brothers - "Galvanize"
12. (NY) Acid House Kings - "This Heart Is A Stone"
13. (NY) Morrissey - "I Have Forgiven Jesus"
14. (13) Rantoboko Feat. Promoe - "Ironical World... Mr President"
15. (NY) ...Trail Of Dead - "Worlds Apart"
16. (18) John Legend - "Used To Love U"
17. (16) Keane - "This Is The Last Time"
18. (NY) USCB Allstars - "Cheap Imitation/Rise Above"
19. (10) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
20. (NY) Timbuktu - "Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö"
Hot tracks outside the top 20:
David Lindh & Hail Marys - "Good Thing"
The Concretes - "Lady December"
Nancy Sinatra - "Burnin' Down The Spark"
Leaving the chart:
(11) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
(12) CDOASS - "Speak To Me"
(15) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
(17) Snow Patrol - "How To Be Dead"
(19) The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - "Believe I've Found"
(20) Björk - "Who Is It?"
Via Dagensskiva, here's this week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (07) Beastie Boys "An Open Letter To NYC"
02. (01) Promoe "Long Distance Runner"
03. (03) The Ark "One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young"
04. (02) Ison & Fille "Vill va Highwon"
05. (03) Faithless "Miss U Less, See U More"
06. (04) Radio LXMBRG "L'Indiffirence EP"
07. (05) Bloc Party "Helicopter"
08. (06) Timo Räisänen "Lovers Are Lonely"
09. (08) The Chrysler "Blue Gold"
10. (09) The Go! Team "Ladyflash"
11. (11) The Tough Alliance "Holiday"
12. (12) CDOASS "Speak To Me"
13. (NY) Rantoboko Feat. Promoe "Ironical World... Mr President"
14. (NY) The Chemical Brothers "Galvanize"
15. (13) Mando Diao "God Knows"
16. (14) Keane "This Is The Last Time"
17. (17) Snow Patrol "How To Be Dead"
18. (NY) John Legend "Used To Love U"
19. (NY) The Soundtrack Of Our Lives "Believe I've Found"
20. (16) Björk "Who Is It?"
Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Stellan Wahlström Drift Band "Ocean Ave"
Bertine Zetlitz "Fake Your Beauty"
The Concretes "Lady December"
Leaving the chart:
(15) The Streets "Blinded By The Lights"
(18) Joanna Newsom "Sprout And The Bean"
(19) Embee "Not Tonite"
(20) David Fridlund "April & May"
Via Dagensskiva, here's this week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (03) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
02. (02) Ison & Fille - "Vill Va Highwon"
03. (09) Faithless - "Miss U Less, See U More"
04. (18) Radio LXMBRG - "L'Indiffirence EP"
05. (04) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
06. (01) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
07. (NY) Beastie Boys - "An Open Letter To NYC"
08. (NY) The Chrysler - "Blue Gold"
09. (05) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
10. (NY) The Ark - "One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young"
11. (07) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
12. (NY) CDOASS - "Speak To Me"
13. (08) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
14. (ÅT) Keane - "This Is The Last Time"
15. (17) The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
16. (06) Björk - "Who Is It?"
17. (12) Snow Patrol - "How To Be Dead"
18. (14) Joanna Newsom - "Sprout And The Bean"
19. (15) Embee - "Not Tonite"
20. (16) David Fridlund - "April & May"
Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Chick Habit - "Bullshit Radio"
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - "Believe I've Found"
Stellan Wahlström Drift Band - "Ocean Ave"
Leaving the chart:
(10) Ayesha - "Squaffie"
(11) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
(13) Richard Reagh + Wwnb2 - "Outlaw EP"
(19) Dizzee Rascal - "Dream"
(20) Florence Valentin - "Där jag borde va"
Via Dagensskiva, here's this week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (16) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
02. (08) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
03. (02) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
04. (11) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
05. (04) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
06. (01) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
07. (10) Björk - "Who Is It?"
08. (NY) Radio LXMBRG - "L'Indiffirence EP"
09. (NY) Ison & Fille - "Vill va Highwon"
10. (05) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
11. (09) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
12. (NY) Faithless - "Miss U Less, See U More"
13. (NY) Ayesha - "Squaffie"
14. (NY) Keane - "This Is The Last Time"
15. (03) Embee - "Not Tonite"
16. (NY) Snow Patrol - "How To Be Dead"
17. (NY) Joanna Newsom - "Sprout and the Bean"
18. (ÅT) Richard Reagh + Wwnb2 - "Outlaw"
19. (15) Doktor Kosmos - "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
20. (17) Peter Bjorn And John - "Teen Love"
Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Dizzee Rascal - "Dream"
Florence Valentin - "Där jag borde va"
Sophie Rimheden/Håkan Lidbo - "Shout"
Leaving the chart:
(06) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On. (Anybody)"
(07) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
(12) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
(13) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
(14) 22-20s - "Shoot Your Gun"
(18) The Hellacopters - "Turn The Wrong Key"
(19) The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
(20) Starmarket - "Cologne"
Via Dagensskiva, here's this week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:
01. (01) Bergman Rock - "I'm A Crab"
02. (02) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "A Small Demand"
03. (06) Embee - "Not Tonite"
04. (09) The Go! Team - "Ladyflash"
05. (NY) The Tough Alliance - "Holiday"
06. (03) Phoenix - "You Can't Blame It On. (Anybody)"
07. (05) Ed Harcourt - "Born In The '70s"
08. (NY) Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
09. (NY) Mando Diao - "God Knows"
10. (NY) Björk - "Who Is It?"
11. (NY) Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
12. (04) Sahara Hotnights - "Who Do You Dance For?"
13. (07) Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
14. (16) 22-20s - "Shoot Your Gun"
15. (19) Doktor Kosmos - "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
16. (NY) Timo Räisänen - "Lovers Are Lonely"
17. (NY) Peter Bjorn And John - "Teen Love"
18. (NY) The Hellacopters - "Turn The Wrong Key"
19. (NY) The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
20. (08) Starmarket - "Cologne"
Hot tracks outside the top 20:
Florence Valentin - "Där Jag Borde Va"
Ayesha - "Squaffie"
Bright Eyes - "Take It Easy"
Leaving the chart:
(10) [Ingenting] - "Här Kommer Solen"
(11) Snoop Dogg Feat. Pharell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
(12) Baby Shambles - "Killamangiro"
(13) Deportees - "Not Tonight"
(14) Mos Def - "Sex, Love & Money"
(15) Destiny's Child - "Lose My Breath"
(17) The Mo - "Howl In The Jungle"
(18) Richard Reagh + Wwnb2 - "Outlaw"
(20) The Concretes - "Seems Fine"
Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:
01. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
02. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
03. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
04. Lazyboy - Facts of life (DK)
05. Nine - Anxienty report (SWE)
06. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)
07. Björk - Oceania (ICE)
08. Ville Pusa - I dina ögon (FIN)
09. Indica - Ikuinen virta (FIN)
10. Annie - Chewing gum (NOR)
Challengers:
11. Bomfunk MC's - No way in hell (FIN)
12. Týr - Regin smidur (DK)
13. Melody Club - Take me away (SWE)
Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:
01. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
02. Nine - Anxienty report (SWE)
03. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
04. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
05. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)
06. Ville Pusa - I dina ögon (FIN)
07. Sondre Lerche - Days that are over (NOR)
08. Annie - Chewing gum (NOR)
09. Björk - Oceania (ICE)
10. Gimmel - Pisaroita ja kyyneleitä (FIN)
Challengers:
11. Indica - Ikuinen virta (FIN)
12. Günther - Teeny weeny string bikini (SWE)
13. Lazyboy - Facts of life (DK)