3
Ugh. Prog rock has enough problems trying to prove it's worthy of respect without soggy little outings like this one reenforcing what many listeners automatically cringe at. From the painfully unimaginative name to Olof Gustavsson's utterly bland vocals to the Asia/Marillion-lite arrangements, this Swedish trio prove they can rip through a bunch of chord changes they've studied in the Teach Yourself Prog! handbook (Tommy Magnusson must shoulder the blame for most of these). But they don't accomplish much else. There's at least ONE rule you cannot break doing this so-called "symphonic rock": thou shalt not bore the listener. Now go break up with your girlfriends and try writing some angry punk songs or somethin'!
- Kevin Renick
6
I wanted this to be good, I wanted this to be great, so it's a shame that it's just ok. Santa Maria is Maria Eriksson from The Concretes and Heikki, which are two bands that I adore. This is a pleasant album, but too often the pleasantness drags on a bit too much and it all becomes a bit boring. The great melodies that make The Concretes and Heikki so fantastic are sadly missed. It feels like the album could have done with an energy injection at regular intervals. Maybe next time... (it took The Concretes about 8 years to become the great band they now are)
- Simon Tagestam
Slowly, but surely I'm catching up on my review list: [click here]
New tourdates for Cult of Luna:
04/17 - KFZ, Marburg (GER)
04/18 - Les Vents Du Sud, Toulouse (FRA)
04/19 - Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao (ESP)
04/20 - Louie Louie, Gijon (ESP)
04/21 - Theatre, Coimbra (POR)
04/22 - Corroios Theatre, Lisboa (POR)
04/23 - Moby Dick, Madrid (ESP)
04/24 - Be Cool, Barcelona (ESP)
04/26 - Siddharta Club, Prato (ITA)
04/27 - Spazio 211, Torino (ITA)
04/28 - Rockplanet Club, Pinarella Di Cervia (ITA)
04/29 - Mochvara, Zagreb (CRO)
04/30 - Orto Bar, Ljubjana (SLO)
05/01 - Starclub, Dresden (GER)
05/02 - Smålands Nation, Lund (SWE)
The new Tsukimono album "Time canvas" has been confirmed for a March 15 release via Kning Disc. Artwork, tracklist and more details: https://www.kningdisk.com/02_releases_kd030.asp?id=335
Swedish singer/songwriter Thomas Denver Jonsson has posted a new acoustic demo video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXA6-Edhsh0
The Village Voice talks to Norwegian 80s revivalist hype act New Violators: https://www.villagevoice.com/music/0710,baron,75957,22.html
Norwegian noiserockers Noxagt have updated their website with more North American tourdates: https://www.noxagt.com/
The latest Music Export Finland newsletter is now online: https://musex.fi/mxf/player/news?articleId=128
Swedish rockers The Maharajas will soon reenter the studio to begin work on their fourth album. Expect an early summer or late August release via Low Impact Records.
Jens Lekman seems to have worked out his issues with Secret Canadian regarding his upcoming releases: https://www.jenslekman.com/records/smalltalk.htm
Norway's Datarock plans to cash in on the zeitgeist with a special 5-song EP entitled "See what I care" paying tribute to the renown Madchester rave scene. Think: Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Charlatans, etc. Four songs they say are in the style of the "classics" plus one so-called "New Rave anthem". It comes out April 23.
MIC Norway runs down the list of Norwegian acts playing SXSW this year: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007030813583821519340
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham C. - Amerikabesøk
02. Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of blue
03. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
04. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
05. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
06. Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
07. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
08. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
09. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
10. William Hut - Nightfall
11. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
12. Somebody's Darling - Walls
13. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
14. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
15. Tungtvann - 96% Tungtvann
16. Malin - Malin på månen
17. Dag Arnesen - Norwegian Song
18. Ulf Risnes - Ingen andre
19. Skambankt - Elixir
20. Blind Archery Club - The Union