MIC Norway profiles accordian player Frode Haltli: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007103114464935739986
Don't let his choice of instrument mislead you - his music is anything but boring folk.
Danish rockers The Royal Highness have enlisted Lasse Johnson from The Hors D'Oeuvres as their new guitarist. Upcoming tourdates:
11/01 - Stengade 30, Cophenhagen (DK)
11/22 - Cafe Kino, Cophenhagen (DK)
11/27 - The Trash Bar, NYC
11/28 - Arlenes Grocery, NYC
11/29 - Europa Club, NYC
12/06 - On The Rox, LA
Swedish label Ten-to-one is putting out a new album from Swedish pop duo Masterdrum early next year, but first they are offering up a free two-song single for download: https://www.duffmusic.net/
They won't be available until November, but you can also preview 'em at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/masterdrum
MP3: Entombed - Night of the vampire
Halloween is a special day so it deserves a special post. My first thought was to go with a Misfits cover, cuz y'know nothing says Halloween quite like them, but instead I've opted for Entombed covering Roky Erickson's "Night of the vampire". I actually kinda prefer the flipside from the original split 7" with New Bomb Turks (a cover of "I hate people" by Anti-Nowhere League), but this is pretty damn killer and, let's face it, it's a perfect track for today. Who can't get down with some creepy Texas psychrock as covered by a Swedish death-metal band?
Entombed - Night of the vampire
Laakso
Västerbron & vampires
V2
After two releasing stellar albums in the same year, it's not that much of a surprise that a band's follow-up EP would be a bit of a hangover. Beefing up the "Västerbron" single with three new tracks (that feel more like demos), Laakso has gotten a bit more dark to kick into their fall tour. Other than the single, "England" would have to be the best track on the album, and, clocking in at over seven minutes, is quite epic for Laakso. The lyrics and melody are in top self-depricating fashion and it's the most complete of the three b-sides. The middle two, "Lack of blood" and "Great times underground", come across more as rough ideas and, when it comes down to it, lack those great hooks we all have come to love Laakso for. However, the potential is still there for the next Laakso album being great.
(As a comparison, the feel of this is very similar to the "Aussie girl" EP).
- Matt Giordano
Viola plans to work on their next album "Melancholydisco 2" this coming winter. As with the first one, it will include remixes of older material plus new stuff. Expect a spring 2008 release.
Listen to the Mixhell remix of "Target group" by The Bell: https://www.myspace.com/thebelltheband
Vapnet has a new profile on myspace for remixes which includes a previously unreleased track for SLS (Swedish Love Story): https://www.myspace.com/remixedbyvapnet
On the occasion of Halloween, Marit Bergman has posted three different versions of her excellent single "No party" on myspace including a new sparse piano version plus remixes from The Field and Isabel y Decibel: https://www.myspace.com/maritbergman
Danish singer/songwriter Jakob Faurholt's new single "Sing little bird" (featuring a guest appearance from Taxi Taxi!) is posted on myspace for streaming: https://www.myspace.com/jacobfaurholt
Luxury will release the new Almedal single "A" on November 14. Look for details concerning a release party soon, otherwise listen to demos here: https://www.myspace.com/almedal
Homeland, aka ex-David & the Citizens member Mikael Carlsson, has posted an entire album worth of new acoustic material for free download: https://www.homelandhome.com/download/love.html
Eventually the more electronic-ified/less rough versions of said songs will be released as well.
Check out the Envelopes' new video for the track "Farmland": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJDEXv7uA4s
Umeå-based post-hardcore act Royal Downfall has finally completed work on their second album "These means have no end" and will be releasing it via their very own label Luftslott. Listen to a few tracks at Last.fm: https://www.last.fm/music/Royal+Downfall/These+Means+Have+No+End