As the Swedish indie-dance/electropop music scene gets more and more crowded, it's becoming increasing hard to sift through all the crap. I believe that eventually the cream will all rise to the top, but right now the genre is overloaded with also-rans and wannabees. To be completely honest, I have a hard time getting into any of it. It's not hard to make crap dance music and even some of the best stuff still sounds pretty damn weak once you leave the club, so it's rare for me to find a record I can really get into. Part of that is also due to the fact that it's just a genre well-suited to the extended-length format. I can think of many examples of artists who released great singles and EPs only to crash and burn when they tried to do an album. Sadly, Kalle J is no exception. I really dig his "Some old friends and a glimpse of the future" EP. A lot. Great beats and production without any unnecessary pop singer/songwriter aspirations. His new full-length "Om du lyssnar noga"? Well, it's pretty hot once you get past the first four songs. The single "B.G.I.T." (see the video here) proves that Kalle is capable of making vocal-based pop, as do the subsequent tracks that close out the record (as you can hear from the one I've posted today), but you'd never know it if you didn't get past the halfway mark. So listen, here's my proposal: stop making albums. Put out as many EPs and singles as you want. Embrace the 'long tail' theory - less of more. We'll all be happier.
Buy Kalle J CDs/mp3s: [click here]
Kalle J - Burt Ward
This week's winner of the IAT promo giveaway is Morten Stytzer of the Hits in the Car music blog. Funny things can happen when you draw names from a hat. Disappointed? Well, have no fear because I'll keep on giving away more and more CDs the rest of the month. Click here to enter! Please note that if you've already entered, there is no need to do it again. Karl Elisha - this means you.
Swedish electro/rock act Viva Revolución will come to the US in September. Dates soon.
Niccokick has posted a brand new demo track at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/niccokick
Swedish hip-hop mag Kingsize is offering up a free mixtape download from Organism and DJ Large. Check it: https://www.kingsizemagazine.se/readNews.asp?nwsID=1442
Flunk will release an iTunes exclusive EP in early October featuring 2-3 songs recorded at the band's Hotel Cafe gig in LA from early May. One of the confirmed tracks is a cover of "See you" by Depeche Mode.
Newly reunited act Don Juan Dracula will make their triumphant return to the live stage in September with an appearance at the Beijing Pop Festival, as well as a warm-up gig supporting The Ark back home in Norway. Details: https://www.donjuandracula.com/article/news_20060805.asp
Some new Disco Ensemble tourdates:
09/21 - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
09/22 - Columbiaclub (Sally*Sounds), Berlin (GER)
09/23 - Kamp, Bielefeld (GER)
09/24 - Matrix, Bochum (GER)
09/25 - Abart, Zurich (GER)
09/26 - Prime Club, Cologne (GER)
09/27 - Jazzhaus, Freiburg (GER)
09/30 - The Atomic Cafe, Munich (GER)
The Corpid Netlabel has posted an EP of Bobby Baby remixes for free download: https://www.corpid-label.de/releases.htm
The new Asta Kask single "Precis som far" is now streaming on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/astakask
Danish act Anomaly has announced the departure of guitarist Nord. Read the band's full statement: https://anomaly.dk/news.php?action=latest
Swedish music blog Pop Karusellen has posted a radio rip from the recent Loney, Dear BBC session: https://popkarusellen.blogspot.com/2006/08/loney-dear-live-i-brittisk-radio.html
Norwegian slowcore act The White Birch has announced that members Hans Christian Almendingen and Ulf Rogde are leaving the band, the former to concentrate on other musical endeavors and the latter to spend more time with his family. Don't despair - frontman Ola Fløttum will soldier on and is already composing material for the band's next album. Your last chances to see the old lineup:
08/09 - Øyafestivalen, Oslo (NOR)
08/18 - Mudd Club, Berlin (GER)
08/19 - Off Festival, Myslowice (POL)
Speaking of The White Birch, here's a review of their latest over at PopMatters: https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/the-white-birch-come-up-for-air/