Swedish glamrockers Hardcore Superstar have a new website: https://www.hardcoresuperstar.com/news.htm
Mp3 blog DIY Rockstar on C.Aarmé and Hell On Wheels: https://diyrockstar.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-rocks-in-sweden-nme-hype-band-of.html
Norwegian power-pop act Beezewax has a nice new website: https://www.beezewax.com/
Head over there for an update on tour news, among other stuff. Glad to see that "Who to salute" will finally get a US release in October.
Cokemachineglow on The Horror The Horror: https://cokemachineglow.com/reviews/thehorror_thehorror2006.html
Chromewaves on Radio Dept. and some other Swedish music topics: https://chromewaves.net/index.php?itemid=2209
Absolut Noise does the Q&A thing with Firefox AK: https://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2006/05/interview-firefox-ak_12.html
I don't normally post about tours inside Sweden, but this sounded extra special so I gotta let you know about it: singer/songwriter Maia Hirasawa (also plays w/Hello Saferide) is performing in a jazz trio alongside Thomas Backman (reeds, Loney, Dear, Television Pickup) and Oskar Schönning (doublebass, see recently posted mp3) and the three of them will be doing a church tour. Dates:
06/12 - Björksätra kyrka, Sandviken
07/08 - Stjärnsund kyrka, Dalarna
07/09 - Källstad kyrka, Vadstena
07/12 - Essinge kyrka, Stockholm
07/13 - Veta församlingshem, Linköping
08/27 - Hyltinge kyrka utanför, Flen
MP3: Marit Bergman - This is the year
Marit Bergman plays Tack! Tack! Tack! in London on Monday, so of course I'm obligated to post a song from her today. I know a lot of folks (especially non-Swedes) know her from her fabulous "Adios amigos" single (see the equally amazing video right here), but I'm going to take you back to her first solo album "3.00 A.M. serenades". The production values aren't as high as "Baby dry your eye", but the songs are just as strong. This is the first song from that record and it's a doozy. Marit's trademark bittersweet lyrics and a huge chorus. Beautiful. As of this posting, there's less than 10 tickets left for the show, so be sure to hook it up now if you want in.
Bonus track re-post: Firefox AK - Habibi
Marit Bergman - This is the year
MP3: Halph - Life part II
Denmark's Halph is a band that's hard to pin down. The duo's dark, droning sound bewilders and intoxicates with repetitious riffs and deep, deadpan vocals. Sometimes they let loose and let everything erupt into noise, but they usually keep things tight and fierce. I'm not usually so big on guitar/drum duos, but the interplay between guitarist/vocalist Thomas Nygaard and drummer Karsten Bagge is so intense, so well developed that I barely notice the lack of bass. This particular song I've posted today reminds me of Lungfish in the way that it's monotonous, yet so sinister. It doesn't work like a traditional song with verses, choruses and an emotional arc, but that's not the point. It's all about the mood, the moment. [BUY IT]
Halph - Life part II
Denmark's Halph is a band that's hard to pin down. The duo's dark, droning sound bewilders and intoxicates with repititous riffs and deep, deadpan vocals. Sometimes they let loose and let everything erupt into noise, but they usually keep things tight and fierce. I'm not usually so big on guitar/drum duos, but the interplay between guitarist/vocalist Thomas Nygaard and drummer Karsten Bagge is so intense, so well developed that I barely notice the lack of bass. This particular song I've posted today reminds me of Lungfish in the way that it's monotonous, yet so sinister. It doesn't work like a traditional song with verses, choruses and an emotional arc, but that's not the point. It's all about the mood, the moment. [BUY IT]
I finally just received physical copies of Closer's "Tokpela" EP and holy shit - the packaging is AMAZING. Embossed glossy o-card with a solid black case, a stunning cover image - the works. I'm actually so damn excited about Closer and this CD that I'm going to willingly lose money on it in order to make sure that everyone can buy it at a reasonable price. Don't worry about the band losing out, I've already got them covered. Get on it now because this offer won't last: [click here]
Speaking of excellent packaging, I also just got a copy of the new Existensminimum disc and it looks damn sweet. Tri-panel digipack, lots of metallic ink - Novoton always does it up right.
Hey, look! A new website for David & the Citizens to help promote their brand new EP "Are you in my blood?": https://www.stopthetapestopthetape.com/
You can preview all of the songs from the EP there.
Norway's Wibutee has revamped their website since their new album "Sweet mental" is just about to be released (May 22 in Norway, June 6 in Canada). Check it: https://www.wibutee.net/