Sweden's Victims were another Havoc Records band I managed to miss while they were on tour (the first was Regulations - d'oh!) Listening to their latest release gave me a taste of what to expect if I ever see them live. "Divide and conquer" is a testament to early '80s American hardcore bands. What's with the Swedes that makes them play something that sounds like it's over 25 years old, but yet still modern? Anyhoo, 15 tracks of American hardcore/Swedish crust-inspired punk that'll get you amped. Think of Discharge when you listen to this. Singer Johan's vocals and the band are balanced pretty well with one not overpowering the other. Not what I would normally listen to, but it kept me interested.
- Navy Keophan
Finally, some new reviews: [click here]
Lookee here, a full live set from The Legends in Cambridge, MA: https://www.bradleysalmanac.com/2006/08/mp3s-legends-live-in-cambridge-ma.htm
Note the teaser promising a recording of the Acid House Kings set from the same show in the future.
Zip Records has announced the signing of Swedish act Zoodrive and will be releasing their debut EP "Not fully medicated" in September. Go here for more info and samples: https://www.ziprecords.com/artists/zoodrive/index.shtml
Lemonator, one my favorite new pop bands, has posted some new live and demo tracks for free download: https://www.lemonator.net/music.htm
Jens Lekman checks in with some memories from his recent US tour: https://www.jenslekman.com/records/smalltalk.htm
Norwegian hard-rockers Jaqueline have posted a few new sample tracks from their new album "Reaping machines" on their new website: https://www.jaquelineband.com/
The record comes out August 21 via Nun Music, the label founded by the dudes behind WE, another excellent heavy Norwegian act (see "Reader's companion volume one" for a sample).
The kind folks of Hemstad have posted a little mixtape for free download: https://www.hemstadhemstad.com/
The new Raymond & Maria single "Storstadskvinnor faller ner och dör" is up on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/raymondochmaria (via)
Frida Hyvönen's album "Until death comes" has been officially confirmed for release on October 24 via Secretly Canadian. Personally, I'm kinda meh on her, but many of IAT's contributors thought that record was one of 2005's best.
Bad Taste is streaming a brand new David & the Citizens song at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/badtasterecords
Or just stream the whole damn thing at MTV's site: https://www.mtve.com/article.php?ArticleId=6417
Espen Jørgensen (Green Carnation) will be releasing a solo album entitled "On the great Alkali Plains" via Jester Records. The record was recorded live to tape at Rainbow Studios with absolute no overdubs. Check out a track at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/jesterrecords
Also on the way from Jester is another new When album. It will be called "Who's laughing now?" and is due out Summer 2006, so I imagine that means 'soon'.
Pitchfork gives extremely high praise to I'm From Barcelona: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37756/Im_From_Barcelona_Let_Me_Introduce_My_Friends
As short as the album is, I still find that it wears on me to listen to it all the way through. The first EP was perfect in every way. It's a shame my dog Parker hates them so much.
New track today from Swedish electronic act FAP, a name which probably stands for something, I just don't know what. The label's description actually sums up the record quite nicely, a trait sadly all-too-rare in the music biz. Here's how they see it: "FAP's debut LP is a about a half an hour of minimal, ambient and lush drones; sparkling guitars and curious sine waves." And when they say LP, they mean it - this is a vinyl only release. Imagine a more lush version of Pan Sonic or maybe think of that Viktor Sjöberg record I was hyping recently. The music is deceptively simple, but extremely satisfying. It's the kind of stuff that easily does double-duty as both ambient background music or can be cranked up for more detailed listening. It doesn't demand your full attention, but proves to be rewarding when you do. Very recommended.
FAP - You golem