Absolut Noise gets a few Swedish musicians to answer a short poll, summing up the year 2007: https://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2007/12/absolut-noise-2007-quizz-part-1.html
MIC Norway reports that the Quart Festival has hired Andy Inglis from London venue The Luminaire as their new head booker: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007121212513522704509
StSanders, the Finnish overdub genious, recently posted a new YouTube "shreds" clip featuring Finland's Anssi Kela: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAPHu7yDB9Y
NONS has revealed that Doktor Kosmos will release their new album "En ny skiva med Doktor Kosmos" next April.
Bad Taste has officially signed legendary Swedish hip-hop act Looptroop and will be releasing their new album this coming spring.
The boring, entirely predictable nominations for this year's Rockbjörnen:
Female artist:
Amy Diamond
Miss Li
Robyn
Sonja Aldén
Säkert!
Male artist:
Danny Saucedo
Lars Winnerbäck
Magnus Uggla
Måns Zelmerlöw
Ola Svensson
Group:
Kent
Mando Diao
Sahara Hotnights
The Ark
The Hives
Best newcomer:
Danny Saucedo
Miss Li
Måns Zelmerlöw
Oh Laura
Salem Al Fakir
Best song:
Kent: Ingenting
Lars Winnerbäck: Om du lämnade mig nu
Magnus Uggla: Pärlor åt svin
Måns Zelmerlöw: Cara Mia
Ola Svensson: Natalie
Best album:
Kent: Tillbaka till samtiden
Lars Winnerbäck: Daugava
Magnus Uggla: Pärlor åt svinen
Ola Svensson: Good Enough
The Ark: Prayer for the Weekend
Best live act:
Kent
Lars Winnerbäck
Mando Diao
The Ark
The Hives
Go here to vote: https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/musik/rockbjornen2007/article1324994.ab
The Bell's debut album "Make some quiet" (as posted about numerous times), will finally get its proper US release on February 12 via Badman Recording Co.
Division of Laura Lee has added a new track to their myspace page: https://www.myspace.com/divisionoflauralee
Restocks coming in later this week, available to order now: Those Dancing Days, "Upp till kamp!" and Paris. Also look for brand new stuff such as E.S.T./Esbjorn Svensson Trio's latest record "Live in Hamburg", the all-star tribute to Cornelis Vreeswijk's masterwork "Poem, ballader och lite blues", the Brödera Lindgren "Vuxen barnmusik!" (Children's music for adults), the "Alvin Eldpojken" album (actual children's music) and a new 2CD classic Swedish prog collection from MNW. I'll be making them available as soon as they arrive, so check back!
MP3: Shoot the Breeze - Ministers
I've been following Shoot the Breeze for awhile now, noting their slow and steady improvement over the years. Every new release is slightly better than the last and their proper debut full-length "Ministers of mind" is no exception. Problem is, "slightly better" is just that. They've finally managed to get a proper studio recording, but unfortunately that poses a new set of problems. Shoot the Breeze consider themselves a live band and it shows; what works on stage doesn't necessarily translate on record. Every tiny gaffe, every imperfection is under the microscope. Perhaps if they had gone with a rawer, more "live" sound, it would suit them better. Not that they need to record with Steve Albini, but they probably need to rethink their approach, whether that's embracing their strengths as a live act or utilizing the studio as another instrument. I still really like what they're trying to do - think "Dream police"-era Cheap Trick meets Mötley Crüe/Def Leppard; 80s arena rock with a strong powerpop vibe - but it's still not quite there yet.
Shoot the Breeze - Ministers
Promise and the Monster
Transparent knives
Imperial Recordings
There is often a saturation point with music for me. I can only own so many 'types' of albums - lonely, rambling narratives of singer-songwriters, the dancefloor-bound energy of a new generation of post-punk bands, the aural nostalgia of the 80s throwbacks. The first few moments of Promise and the Monster's "Transparent knives" had me nearly pigeonholing this album as another longing, echo-laden proclamation of emptiness and lack of direction. Luckily for me, I pushed on, returning over and over to examine the strata of guitars (not completely unlike José González's deft finger work) and accompanying instrumentation, Billie Lindahl's fragile, beautiful voice soaring easily over her dreamscape compositions. Had I not already submitted my Top 10 of 2007 list, "Transparent knives" would at the very least warrant a 'notable mention' spot there, if not a proper place. An absolutely masterful album that is at home with comfortable isolation as it is with desolate, sorrowful artic wastelands, whose guitar work is as poetic as Lindahl's unique voice and lyrics, unveiling new layers through repeated listening, and, more often than not, leaving the listener awestruck and hopeful instead of disheartened or darkly introspective.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Hanne Hukkelberg's sophomore album "Rykestrasse 68" will receive a North American release on March 4 via Nettwerk. Look for US tourdates to be announced for March along with a SXSW showcase.
Svenska Akademien has posted their Xmas tune "Klappjakt" for free download: https://www.betraktaren.com/svenska_akademien/default.asp?sida=media&undersida=1