The Avantgarde-Metal site has reviewed the super-limited cassette that Zweizz released on Epicene Sound Records late last year: https://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/beyond2.php?id=26
Audrey has a nice new website design to go along with the release of their new album "The fierce and the longing", due out April 17 in Sweden, May 22 in Europe: https://www.audrey.se/
The SF Guardian talks to Jens Lekman: https://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2008/03/sxsw_jens_lekman_makes_it_up_a.html
Søren Berlev, drummer for long-running Danish rock act Gasolin, will release his new solo album "Timeless choice" on April 7.
Checkpoint Charlie Audio Productions will be releasing new records from Norwegian acts Modan Garu and The List this coming April. Check out samples at myspace:
https://www.myspace.com/thelistsandnes
https://www.myspace.com/modangaru2007
MP3: Hellsingland Underground - Northern country boy
Bands like Hellsingland Underground frustrate me. On one hand, I can totally understand why a bunch of Swedes would want to start a Southern boogie-rock band ala Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Bros. I bet they have a great time doing it and I imagine that local audiences lap it up. But why record a full album? Do they really think they'll appeal to a more widespread audience? At least the single "Northern country boy" attempts to redress the usual redneck clichés according to the band's true origins, but I'm still left thinking "so what?" Is it because I feel like they could do so much more with it? Or maybe it's because the music simply isn't all that great. I know this stuff is supposed to have a laidback feel, but they've crossed over the line to tepid. Perhaps they should indulge in a bit more of that hembränt and weed they're talking about in order to loosen up. Disappointing.
Hellsingland Underground - Northern country boy
I Am Bones and Marvin's Revolt (plus local act Wet Dog) will play the Danish-centric London clubnight The Pastry Club on April 15. The venue is 93 Feet East and you can find out more here: https://www.myspace.com/thepastryclub
Here is the It's a Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:
01. Radiohead
02. Jens Lekman
03. Death Cab for Cutie
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Kent
06. The Knife
07. Lykke Li
08. Belle and Sebastian
09. Shout Out Louds
10. Elliott Smith
Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: https://www.last.fm/help/
Norwegian act Alpine Those Myriads? are offering up a new 4-song EP for free download/donation: https://alpinethosemyriads.com/blog/a-new-4-song-ep-ready-for-download
Firefox AK
If I were a melody
Razzia Records
The recent hyper-popularity of bands like Justice and MGMT has proven that electronica is now a serious player in the music industry, not only with the indie crowd, but the major label industry as well. Firefox AK has been in the game a few years, garnering attention throughout Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Europe, obviously not to the extent of Swedish comrades such as The Knife, but making an impact nonetheless. The follow up to "Madame, madame", "If I were a melody" again proves that Andrea Kellerman has a unique knack for electronic music: bridging the gap between the dancefloor bound compositions and the more contemplative creations by acts such as The Radio Dept. and Junior Boys (whose Matt Didemus mixed "If I were a melody"). "The river" is one of the finest tracks Firefox AK has ever produced, and first single "Winter rose", with husband and consistent collaborator Rasmus Kellerman (better known as Tiger Lou), demonstrates the range of this album, focusing the synth-driven craftsmanship into a more popular vein. An extremely consistent artist, you probably didn't need too much reassurance that Firefox AK's newest effort was worth a small investment - but, in case you did: "If I were a melody" is a fine album.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:
01. Frivolvol - Out come the knives
02. TALK 1
03. Lapko - Dead disco
04. Gentle Touch - Once you used to
05. Pellarin - Whistle like you're 56
06. TALK 2
07. Björn Kleinhenz - Light of love
08. Pascal - Smärtsillande
09. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Weddings
10. TALK 3
11. Margaret Berger - Samantha
12. Doughnuts - Become one
13. Kusowsky - Jonny
14. NEI - The devil
15. TALK 4
16. Happiness - Loot at that rabbit go!
17. Firefox AK - Pushing
18. Fattaru - Hörde jag skål
19. TALK 5
20. Britta Persson - Cliffhanger
21. Grizzly Twister - Black box
22. The Social Services - Baltic Sea
23. TALK 6
24. Montys Loco - Criminal
25. Fontän - Alla kan se dig
26. Animal Alpha - Pin you all
27. TALK 7
28. Astrid Swan - Spartan picnic
29. Barra Head - Undermine
30. Fun - 2:22men
31. TALK 8
32. Ted Gärdestad - Oh, vilken härlig dag
33. Christian Kjellvander - Poppies and peonies
34. Echo Is Your Love - Lion tamer vs tigers
35. TALK 9
36. I Am Bones - Home is the one corner of hell that didn't catch fire
37. Miss Li - I'm sorry, he's mine
38. The Deer Tracks - YesThisIsMyBrokenShield
39. TALK 10
40. Entombed - Damn deal done
MP3: Pistol Disco - Beat of the tune
The Göteborg spotlight series continues! This week's guests: Pistol Disco.
How long have you lived in Gbg and what keeps you there?
Alex: All my life, and what's keeping me here is Mikael. But I will probably move to Stockholm soon since my girlfriend is getting homesick.
Mikael: Lived here all my life, too. The idea of leaving has crossed my mind. But not yet.
You guys seem to gain appreciation from both the indie/pop and the avant/experimental scene. Is there any side that feels more "at home" to you? Or are the lines so blurred that it doesn't even matter?
Alex: I guess its so blurred it doesn't really matter
Mikael: Our "home", music-wise, has always changed and scattered (in a good way).
I noticed that you appropriated the Broder Daniel logo on your myspace page - is there a certain Gbg musical heritage that you are trying to play up?
Alex: Haha, no not really. Well, Broder Daniel has always been an exciting band, but we dont really play up any kind of heritage. We really like their music and the logo rip is more or less an homage. We played in France two years ago and the French thought the logo was really funny since "PD" (pronounced PeeDee) in French means "pedophile".
Mikael: Henrik, the singer of BD, once saw us wearing the 'PD' pin. Everyone was drunk, and I tried to explain to Henrik that 'this is a tribute, nothing else'. Of course he didn't belive me. But I was telling the truth, because I like that band, especially at pre-parties.
Are there any other cities in Sweden that you think have impressive music scenes? What about internationally?
Alex: I have no idea, really. But when we toured through Europe I was really impressed with the art scene that seems to be growing like weeds through concrete. Dennis Tyfus and all that stuff, people just going bonkers and doodling down whatever hits their mind. Really exciting stuff! Music wise, hmm, I guess Portugal became more attractive since Panda Bear moved there.
Mikael: I think Malmö has a great music scene, keeping in mind that Malmö is smaller than Gothenburg. Malmö has a number of interesting venues and the people arranging clubs seem a little more unpretentious and laid back than their Stockholm and Gothenburg counterparts. Other than that, I don't really know which place to go in this country, except my hometown. I guess you have to dig deep down the internet, there are different underground-ish festivals happening during summertime all around Sweden.
Alex: Yeah ,what Mikael said, Malmö is really great. The guy who made our latest cover art is from Malmö, His name is Rasmus Svensson (Push the Button) and don't you forget it! Also our dear friend Jason used to live in Malmö, he is now back in the states and is gonna release our next next album on his label Ormolycka. And we have to give a shout out to our label Celebrity Lifestyle Recordings (Stockholm), they are the best.
Do you have a particular song that you feel is reflective of the city?
Alex: Not really, but we have this new tune that is really great, we are recording in a studio now ("wow" I know!). Mattias Persson is the producer and he is a bless from heaven, I never knew we would have such luck to be produced by such an understanding and talented person.
Mikael: I am very happy with the drums in this track. Mattias Persson really knows the art of recording sound.
Pistol Disco - Beat of the tune
Sincerely Yours has a new 7" "The queen's corner" out from Swedish artist Joel Alme aka Carl Reinholdtzon Belfrages from Gravitation Records act Spring in Paris: https://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0072.html
Check out the new video for "Killer whales" from Finnish act Lapko: https://www.netinfect.de/aextern/lapko/lapko_killer_whales.wmv
I just recently got into these guys- good, intelligent hard rock kinda along the lines of Mew and Tool.
Swedish act Sugarplum Fairy is creating a video blog while they record their new album: https://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=30687579