Blackstrap are a band I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot about in the future as the powers-that-be are pushing them hard. They've got that fresh nü-gaze sound - not too dissimilar from Norwegian acts 120 Days or Serena Maneesh, but will less of the Krautrock drone and more melody. They've also got a much more pronounced rock'n'roll flair ala BRMC, but their Swedish flavor probably leans 'em more towards The Soundtrack of Our Lives. I like it, but there's a distinct lack of personality. It's hard not to listen to everything they do without comparing it to some other band, just as I've done. And I still think Silverbullit is the best band of this style - something that is all too apparent considering that this album starts out exactly the same as Silverbullit's "Arclight". Go find yourself an mp3 of "Run" and compare it to "Winning speech" on Blackstrap's myspace profile. It's ridiculous.
Blackstrap - To far gone
Got a big box of CDs due to arrive either today or tomorrow including new stuff from Säkert!, Isolation Years, Ane Brun and more so I've gone ahead and updated the webshop with all the new inventory. Restocks include Nikola Sarcevic, the "Oh no... it's Christmas!" comp and Hello Saferide's "Would you let me..." EP.
Moonbabies' new video for "War on sound" is streaming online: https://www.aftonbladet.se/atv/player.html?catID=2672
Weeping Willows have a new website to go with their new album "Fear & love": https://www.weepingwillows.nu/
Swedish rockers Dream and Trading Fate have decided to join forces in a new (as-yet-unnamed?) band. Read more: https://www.tradingfate.com/
Italian webzine The D-Side talks to Swedish electro duo Rupesh Cartel: https://www.thedside.it/interviste/int35.asp
The Silent Ballet does not like Plain Fade at all: https://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Reviews/2007/January/tabid/81/ctl/Details/mid/442/ItemID/253/Default.aspx
Seems like the record was too esoteric for the reviewer to get into.
Samuraj Cities have a bunch of high quality live footage on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=samurajcities
Some new US dates for Peter Bjorn and John:
04/28 - Coachella, Indio, CA
04/30 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
05/01 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
05/02 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
05/03 - TLA, Philadelphia, PA
05/04 - Paradise, Boston, MA
05/05 - Le National, Montreal, Quebec
05/06 - Phoenix, Toronto, Ontario
05/07 - Wexner Center, Columbus, OH
05/08 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
05/09 - First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
05/12 - Commodore, Vancouver, British Columbia
05/13 - Neumos, Seattle, WA
05/14 - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
05/15 - Bimbo's, San Francisco, CA
05/16 - Bimbo's, San Francisco, CA
The Haunted will spend late April and all of May on the road in Europe with US thrash throwbacks Municipal Waste as support. Dates posted here: https://www.the-haunted.com/
Dibaba has posted even more remixes for free download: https://www.dibaba.com/?page_id=12
Bad Taste is offering up an mp3 from the new Last Days of April album "Might as well live": https://www.mejeriet.net/badtaste/mp3/last_days_of_april_-_whos_on_the_phone.mp3
Bad Afro has announced that they will be releasing the self-titled debut album from The Setting Son this coming September with the first single "In a certain way" preceding it in April. The band features drummer Lorenzo Woodrose of Baby Woodrose along with Sebastian Kristensen on vocals, Adam Olsson (The Aim) on gutiar and Marco Burro (The Untamed) on bass and was recorded at Black Tornado in Copenhagen with Lorenzo and Ralph Rjeicy manning the desk.
London-based club night White Heat is hosting a special Smalltown Supersound show in London on February 27 featuring 120 Days, Bjorn Torske and Takka Takka. More info: https://www.whiteheatmayfair.com/