The Washington Post reviews Sami neo-folk act Adjagas live in DC: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/06/AR2007120602521.html (scroll down)
Themilkfactory reviews Norwegian artist Silje Nes: https://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2007/12/silje-nes-ames-room-fat-cat-records-splinter-series/
Finnish doom act Paganus has confirmed that their new self-titled album will be released on January 12. 4 tracks in 50 minutes, so you know it's the real deal. Hear samples: https://www.myspace.com/paganusdoom
Madrugada's new single "Look away Lucifer" is now on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/wearemadrugada
The band's new self-titled album is confirmed for release in Norway on January 21.
Michael Bach of the Wild Geese Music Collective has a new 5-track EP posted for free download: https://www.wildgeesemusic.com/
MP3: Moder Jords Massiva - Ingenting
I've decided to dedicate the last few Fridays of 2007 to tracks that I neglected to post earlier this year. Whether I decided to go with a different album track or missed the boat completely, I hope to rectify my neglect. For my first selection, I figure I'll continue on the same tangent I was on yesterday with something else from Flora & Fauna. Moder Jords Massiva are a collective of sorts, featuring a vast, revolving cast of members. My impression is that they are best experienced as a live act, but their albums are decent too. Still, as with Rigas (and maybe even moreso), there are definite standout tracks that rise above the rest. Their most recent album "Ren ondska" sat on my desk for a long, long time before I actually listened to it. And even once I did, it took me a while to wrap my head around it, leading us to where we are today, months after its initial release. I'm still not at a point where I feel comfortable passing final judgment on the album as a whole, but I know what I like and I love the track "Ingenting". The momentum of the beat and bassline reminds me a lot of Fattaru's "100:-", one of 2006's best singles. Some of those synth tones are kinda similar too. MJM's rapping can't compete, but the cadence possesses the same urgency and similarly revisits the songtitle at the end of each line. "Ingenting" has more of a bounce to it as well, with that steady four-on-the-floor kick and doubled-up hi-hat. Same dark club vibe too, but nowhere near as aggressive. That's important, 'cuz it makes it more dancefloor-friendly. Good stuff, too bad I didn't jump on it when it was new.
Moder Jords Massiva - Ingenting
E-Type
Eurotopia
Lulubelle Records/Universal
It's something of a miracle that E-Type can still peddle his music, let alone that he has been allowed to keep on doing it for so long. Why, after more than 10 years of sonic torture, haven't people taken to the streets and forced the Swedish government to ban E-Type from recording ever again? Is he perhaps big in Germany or Russia, and the Swedish people are scared of being invaded if they do something about this musical toxin? Last week Iran decided to start a war against obscene rap music, but if they had their priorities right they'd do the world a favour and concentrate their efforts on E-Type instead. If they did that, I'm sure that we'd all turn a blind eye to their plans to build nuclear arms.
Criticizing E-Type is perhaps like shooting fish in a barrel, but I think I'm justified to do this since I've had the extreme displeasure of listening to "Eurotopia" in its entirety while on public transport. It made me feel ashamed and depressed, as if I was sitting there and having my ears raped voluntarily. Being subjected to this album has definitely been one of the most unpleasant experiences I've had in 2007, although deleting it from my ipod gave me a serene feeling of having my soul cleansed.
- Simon Tagestam
Norwegian all-star act The National Bank has posted their new single "Family" on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/thenationalbank
Check out Don't Be A Stranger's new Magnus Renfors-directed video for the track "Mon-chi-chi": https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=23327568
PopMatters reviews Norwegian hype noiserockers Ungdomskulen: https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/51540/ungdomskulen-cry-baby/
NRK on Vamp's new vocalist Paul Hansen: https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/rogaland/1.4231197 (in Norwegian)
Swedish electronic/experimental duo Fontän will release the new EP "Winterhwila" on Information (Studio) in early 2008. Their previous record "Aktionskammarn" was superb, so I'm definitely looking forward to hearing something new.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
02. Jan Werner - Eg veit i himmelrik ei borg
03. Celine - Bæstevænna
04. Anne Grete Preus - Om igjen for første gang
05. Kurt Nilsen - Push push
06. Hellbillies - Spissrotgang
07. Ole Paus - Den store norske sangboka
08. CC Cowboys - På Svalbard uten strøm
09. Maria Arredondo - For a moment
10. Henning Kvitnes - Stemmer i gresset
11. Diverse artister - Idol 2007
12. D.D.E. - 15 år live
13. Barnas Supershow - Musikken fra julekalenderen
14. Marian Aas Hansen - It's beginning to look a lot like christmas
15. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
16. Ole Ivars - Vi lever i håpet
17. Alejandro Fuentes - Tomorrow only knows
18. Rein Alexander - Song for you
19. Åge Kvalbein/Iver Kleive - Julemeditasjoner
20. Dance With A Stranger - Everyone needs a friend - The Very Best of DWAS
Viktor Sjöberg on the new album from the V. Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble: https://elefanten.blogspot.com/2007/12/on-upcoming-v-sjberg-new-jazz-ensemble.html
No official release date yet but, as he says, the discs are currently being manufactured so I'd expect an early 2008 release. I've been fortunate enough to hear some excellent live recordings, so I expect great things. All of the people involved in this project are fantastic musicians.