Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John) did a "surprise" solo show the other night in Brooklyn and you can read about it here: https://poptartssucktoasted.blogspot.com/2007/11/peter-moren-union-hall-119.html
Superfamily, Alarm Award winners for best live act, will be playing a live show on NRK P3 next Monday at 6pm CET/12pm EST/9am PST. Follow the link and use the "NRK NETTRADIO" drop-down to listen live. UPDATE: this show has been canceled.
MP3: Mando Diao - Gold
I never thought I'd say it, but the new Mando Diao album "Never seen the light of day" is pretty damn good. I can't say if it's the influence of producer Björn Olsson or what, but whatever it is, it works. As to their status as legendary assholes, I can't say, though I'm willing to entertain the notion that they've grown up. Anyhow, "Gold" is the kind of song that's infuriatingly catchy - the taunting la-la-la refrain is obnoxious, but irresistible and the "Oh my god" lead-up to the chorus is even better. Despite my best intentions, I can't help myself. It's good, maybe even a little bit great. I admit it to be true.
Mando Diao - Gold
Sara Berg
When I was a young child I used to feel pleasure from playing with others
Gaymonkey
Where once the market was well and truly saturated with young men, heavy hearts, and acoustic ballads, the scene today has its fair share of Björk inspired vocalists, each with an electronic orchestra backing their efforts - Imogen Heap, Bat for Lashes, and The Knife (to an extent, though Karin Dreijer Andersson's collaboration with Röyksopp on their single "What else is there?" may be a better example), amongst others. Sara Berg has now interjected herself into these ranks with "When I was a young child I used to feel pleasure from playing with others", an album that carefully carries itself along a number of precipitous lines - attempting explorations of darkness and pop flash, featuring pliable organic elements alongside rough digital instrumentation, drawing as much from the fluid approach of Björk's records as from The Knife's sinister focus, with Berg's voice unfolding her range and varying tones throughout this lofty attempt. The whole is definitely not as well put together as many of its parts, "Crawl back from under" and "This can't be desire" being two of the finest examples, but Berg is a talent worth keeping one's eye on. She may not have hammered the point home on this effort, but there's every reason to believe that she will, and soon.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
The Lost Patrol Band has recorded a few new tracks recently. First up is the new song "Tidsfördriv" plus an Ebba Grön cover for a Ny Våg comp. Next we have a cover of "Come back and stay" by Jack Lee/The Nerves (and made famous by Paul Young) for tribute 7". As for the future, the band plans to do another two songs for a 7" on April77 Records.
Danish music mag Soundvenue is expanding into Sweden: https://www.soundvenue.se/
Morningside Records will release the debut EP "Carry yourself" from Shout Wellington Air Force on December 3. Listen to samples: https://www.myspace.com/shoutwellingtonairforce
Frukt has a new record from Fredrik Ståhl posted for free download: https://www.fruktrecords.se/
James Ausfahrt (Agent Simple, Hemstad) has a new album out on Fridlyst called "Party for the arty people/arty for the party people". Listen to samples: https://www.myspace.com/jamesausfahrt
Norwegian singer/songwriter Egil Olsen was recently robbed in Oslo and the Eardrums blog has the lowdown in English: https://eardrumsmusic.com/2007/11/12/norwegian-singer-songwriter-egil-olsen-robbed-in-oslo-please-help/
Labrador Records will be reissuing Johan Hedberg's (Suburban Kids with Biblical Names) self-titled solo debut EP on Cosy Den as a 10" vinyl EP with the song "Hurra för fredag fest och öl" tacked on as a bonus track.
PopMatters reviews the new Hives album: https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/50782/the-hives-the-black-and-white-album/
pHinnWeb on the Helsinki Complaints Choir: https://phinnweb.blogspot.com/2007/11/helsinki-complaints-choir.html