Sadly unavailable via Spotify here in the US (yes I have it now and yes, I am predictably disappointed by the fact that many major Scandinavian artists are unavailable to me thanks to major label short-sightedness), but thankfully available for streaming via SoundCloud. Get yr sommarplåga on!
Junip jams out for Moog Sound Lab. More here: https://moogmusic.com/sight-and-sound/sound_lab/junip
Swedish old-school punks Mob 47 are heading to Japan in October:
10/08 - F.A.D., Yokohama
10/09 - Day Trip, Nagoya
10/10 - King Cobra, Osaka
10/12 - Choatic Noise, Kochi
10/13 - Border, Hiroshima
10/14 - K2, Tsuyama
10/15 - Club Chaos, Mie
10/16 - Earth Dom, Tokyo
has a new label sampler out now and it's well worth checking out if you want to stay up on Sweden's current best indierock.
The new Navet single "For the show" is out today and can be streamed/downloaded for free here: https://www.fortheshow.se/
Pitchfork gives high marks to the new Biosphere album "N-plants": https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15626-n-plants/
They also posted admiringly about a tune from Swedish act I Break Horses: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12257-hearts/
I came back from a long run this morning and my wife asked me to put on some music while she made breakfast. "Something mellow, but not a bummer," she said. I put this song and knew immediately that it was the perfect choice. A clear, sunny summer morning and the song stylings of Björn Kleinhenz; it doesn't get much nicer. Have a happy and safe 4th of July everybody!
French label has put together a 2CD set of music from Swedish industrial act Agent Side Grinder featuring one disc of their best studio tracks from both albums and the 2nd featuring their excellent live cassette-only release "Industrial beauty". Full details: https://www.manicdepressionrecords.com/artists.php?id_artiste=42&lg=uk
The new Bastard Priest LP "Ghouls of the endless night" has been confirmed for release in time for Kill-Town Death Fest which is happening in Copenhagen September 2-3, which the band will not be playing. Said album will be released in two editions, one limited with a gatefold sleeve and color vinyl.
Spinner talks to Swedish kraut/pop act This Is Head: https://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/this-is-head/
Summer tune number #2 comes from what is and what will probably remain one of 2011's best releases, "Gimme some" from Peter Bjorn and John. Just like I said last time, it's an exceptionally solid release the whole way through, so I really could've picked any other tune for posting, but really, I just wanted an excuse to pair "May seem macabre" with Ministry's "So what" because I can't hear the former without thinking of the latter. Not a diss! I just wonder if they've ever considered a live segue between the two.
For vinyl nerds who like their shoegaze dreamy and underwhelming, has reissued the first three albums from The Radio Dept. on 180g vinyl: https://www.labrador.se/shop.php3
Okay, summer music time. Even though I've got a summer cold (always the worst!) and the sun isn't shining at all here in the PacNW, I'm about to go on vacation for two full weeks and am looking to get mentally prepared. Not to mention, I need to make playlists for cruising down the coast. So with that in mind, my #1 pick is easy: Kaka. I hate to say the name out loud (still!) and will typically just say "Richard Karlsson's solo project" instead, but there's no denying that his latest album "The two" is my current go-to, good-time party jammer. He's got such a cheap and corny Casio factory-preset sort of sound, but by fully embracing it and taking it to the extreme, he makes it work. The ridiculousness is integral.
"Candyman" is one of the "darker" tunes from the albums I guess, though it's certainly relative -- can't fuck with that Gary Glitter-swing in the beat and that monster chorus, especially the huge buildup before each instance. So while I'm still reluctant to say the name aloud (much like the song name, I suppose), I offer no such hesitance in recommended the music.
Grande Roses have been officially picked up by / and will be releasing their (excellent!) new single "Go home" (as posted for preview yesterday) on July 11 with the new "Hide EP" following on August 24. Best of luck to those guys reaching a larger audience, I've been a fan from the beginning and am happy to see their talent get validated.
Dazed Digital talks to Swedish indie duo Masquer: https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/10700/1/rise-masquer