Mika Vainio, one half of Finnish minimalist electronic duo Pan Sonic, has a new solo album entitled "Revitty" ("Torn") out now on Wavetrap Records. More info: https://wav.post-pop.org/wav06/
Swedish electro act Social Ambitions has signed with Electric Fantastic Sound and their debut single "Burning" will be released on March 21. Check out some other tracks at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/socialambitions
Samuraj Cities next single "All along the shoreline" will be released on March 28. The band just wrapped up a video last night so it should be online before too long.
MP3: Sophie Zelmani - Memory loves you
I keep listening to Sophie Zelmani's new album "Memory loves you" hoping for that moment of connection, but it has yet to occur. I've loved her previous records dearly so it's doubly disappointing that I am unable to get into this one. I'm not sure what's wrong either. Her voice sounds just as beautiful and understated as always. The recording is as close to perfect as one could hope for. It must be the songs. Or perhaps the lack of progression from 2003's "Love affair" to now. I don't mean to disregard the importance of consistency, but I waited over three years for this? ("Love affair" was released in late 2003 - I can do math just fine, don't worry) While it all sounds very pleasant on the surface, there's nothing memorable about "Memory loves you", no put intended. Maybe I expected too much?
Sophie Zelmani - Memory loves you
MP3: The Defectors - Love is evol
Howabout a little taste of Halloween in February? No one is going to accuse The Defectors of being original, but that's not really the point. Their schlocky b-movie horror-themed garage rock has been done many times before (The Cramps and Deadbolt, to name just two), but they do a good job with it and that's all that really matters as far as I'm concerned. This particular song actually owes more to The Mummies (who weren't actually a horror-rock band, they just dressed the part) with it's cheeseball organ, heavy fuzz guitar and double-time stomping chorus, 'cept of course the fact that it's very well recorded. This is good stupid fun and that's really all there is to it. As the tag on the promo CD says: "Excellent music for driving". I have to say though, I'm still iffy on some of the band's misogynistic lyrical content. I understand that it's often par for the course in the world of psychobilly, but that doesn't make it okay.
The Defectors - Love is evol
Look to the right and you'll see that we have a new profile piece today on Swedish indiepoppers Like Honey: [click here]
We Are Soldiers We Have Guns will be releasing a new all-covers 7" single on Lavender Recordings in the near future. Details to come. In other news, here are some new German tourdates:
03/02 - Privatclub, Berlin
03/04 - Frü-auf, Leipzig
03/05 - Mausefalle, Bonn
03/06 - Hafen 2, Offenbach
03/07 - Kulturpalast, Hannover
03/08 - Astrastube, Hamburg
Tomt Recordings has announced that they will be releasing the new Ronderlin album "The great investigation" on May 7. Listen to a preview track in the label's web jukebox: https://www.tomtrecordings.se/
The Hives have started to post various festival dates they will be appearing at this summer: https://www.hivesmusic.com/tour/
The Alpine has a new roadmovie/music video posted on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqg1zAlebjQ
New tourdates for Danish indierockers Gravy:
04/12 - Studenterhuset, Århus (DK)
05/11 - Flockenpop Festival, Hannover (GER)
05/24 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
05/25 - Buschbrand, Duisburg (GER)
09/07 - Hafenstrasse tbc, Meißen (GER)
09/08 - Objekt 5, Halle (GER)
"Back with the nerds", the first single from the band's forthcoming album "Glory to our brilliant name", will be out in March. The album itself comes out April 16.
NME is running a special on Danish music in their February 24th issue. Artists featured include Figurines, Oh No Ono, Kashmir, Nephew, The Broken Beats, The Blue Van and WhoMadeWho. See a scan of the article here: https://www.rosa.org/v3/uploads/gallery/2/2289_full.jpg
Goto80's live set from Worm in Rotterdamn on January 26 is now available online: https://www.wormstation.nl/
Click on 'stage' and then 'dance to the bit'.
Finnish post-rockers Magyar Posse are planning some sort of 10-year anniversary special this coming May.
Sandy Mouche frontwoman Helena Josefsson has a new website for her solo career: https://www.helenajosefsson.com/