Pfork on the "Special ediiton" reissue of Opeth's "Ghost reveries": https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/40119/Opeth_Ghost_Reveries_Special_Edition
David Fridlund reminisces about the year past: https://davidfridlund.webblogg.se/291206190530_2006.html
Closer went into Helter Skelter Studio in Stockholm today to start recording a new EP. Seeing as they were one of my favorite new acts from 2006, I've got high hopes for 2007.
Alarma Man is starting to put a tour together for spring:
04/14 - Out of the crowd Festival, Esch (LUX)
04/15 - La Fleche D´or, Paris (FRA)
04/16 - tba (FRA)
04/17 - tba (FRA)
04/18 - tba (FRA)
04/19 - tba (ESP)
04/20 - tba (ESP)
04/21 - tba (ESP)
04/22 - tba (ESP)
04/23 - tba (ESP)
04/24 - tba (FRA)
04/25 - Kubus, Gossau (CH)
04/26 - ISC, Bern (CH)
04/27 - tba, (GER)
04/28 - tba, (GER)
Peter Bjorn and John's excellent album "Writers block" will finally get a proper US release on February 6 via Almost Gold, the new label founded by Arcade Fire manager Scott Rodger and Isaac Green of the label StarTime International. The domestic stateside version will include the so-called 'single' version of "Let's call it off" as well as a bonus disc of b-sides such as "Ancient curse" and "All those expectations (weak remix)" (From the original "Young folks" single, if I remember right), as well as "Self-pity", "Sitar folks" and the"Young folks" remix "Beyond the wizard's sleeve re-animation". The band is also playing NYC at the end of January, but I do believe it's already sold out.
Hello hello! I'm finally back with a brand new site, just in time for 2007. I've added quite a bit of additional functionality such as mp3 streaming, better posting for both the message board and comments sections as well as a completely revamped mailorder/mp3 store. Phew! I'm 99% sure everything is up and running smoothly as I've been working my ass off these past few weeks trying to check and double-check each and every little detail, but in case I've messed something up, please let me know!
Regular content will resume tomorrow!
MP3: The Bear Quartet - Volksblues
I'm considering a change to my posting schedule: instead of the usual oldie mp3, I could post a different Bear Quartet song every Friday. Lord knows, there's more than enough good ones to get me through 2007, possibly even further. I'm serious, this might happen. At the very least I'll probably end up dedicating at least one Friday per month to BQ. It's due time that Sweden's great indierock band gets the respect and attention they deserve beyond their country's borders. I've chosen today's song not only for it's punked-out/fuck-you attitude, but also because the female guest vocals come courtesy of Karin Dreijer Andersson from current band du jour The Knife. The album: 1998's "Personality crisis", often my favorite BQ record for its heavy load of introspective, folksier material. Not that it's apparent from this track, of course. Keep in mind that it's likely I'll declare every BQ album to be my favorite as time goes by, but that just goes to show how good they are.
The Bear Quartet - Volksblues
It didn't make the final 50, but Hello Saferide did make three of the individual Stylus critics year-end lists, including the number-one spot of contributor Paul Scott: https://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-top-50-albums-of-2006-individual-writer-lists.htm
Today's top ten: Niclas of Celebrity Lifestyle Records. Gotta love a label that's named after a Swans song.