The Ark
State of the Ark
Virgin
My Swedish friends may make fun of me for having the musical taste of a 14 year-old girl, but I can't help it: I like The Ark. But jeez guys, when did you get so angry? There's really an overwhelming air of hositility on this album that I just did not expect. Ola's cursing like a sailor! Not that it's a bad thing, it's just a far departure from what I expected. Perhaps they are trying to keep up with their aging demographic? Or is it to show they the edge needed to break into the fickle US market? Anyhow, there's still plenty of the usual flamboyant glam-pop here to satisfy my needs, I don't care what anyone else says.
- Avi Roig
Det Gamla Landet
s/t
AA/Nosordo
The beauty of this record made me rewrite this review three times because I couldn't quite capture what I felt. This record is what I would like people play as funeral march once I pass away. As creepy as that sounds, it really isn't. The music is full of mourning but yet you remember all the beautiful times you had. This folk, with somewhat military percussion, banjo, acoustic guitars and melodica, is superbly written and played. Despite the simplicity of the music, and the lack of vocals, the songs flow with an incredible ease. This review still sucks but I guess that's the best I can do.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Thomas Dybdahl
One day you'll dance for me, New York City
EMI
This is 24 year old Norwegian Dybdahl's third long player. Taking hints from Ed Harcourt and Bright Eyes, the palette from which he paints from is both fragile and weary. "It's always been you" is a heartfelt weepie that features whispered breathy vocals and a gorgeous piano refrain, all drenched in subtle strings. Title track "One day you'll dance for me, New York City" has an underlying country feel to it with a gently picked banjo, whilst Dybdahl's lyrics are concerned with typical outsiderdom. The young Norwegian doesn't anything new or different on this record, he's just a great songwriter.
- Nick Levine
Echo Is Your Love
Paper cut eye
If Society
As some of you might know, Echo Is Your Love record almost completely without rehearsals, trying to keep thing as spontaneous as possible. Other bands have done similar things, most notably Spazz who never rehearsed a note, and others would like to sound like they did. EIYL somehow keep it relatively together despite their self-imposed limitations (but nowhere as tight as Spazz have been, by the way). Of course, they keep the music as wisely focusing on one area of rock music as possible not drifting away from their Sonic Youth-ish dirty rock direction. Surprising results.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Jeniferever
Iris
Big Scary Monsters
Like Appleseed Cast, these guys play dreamy pop that often stretches into epic post-rock territory. They've certainly got a lot of good ideas and the right instincts and I especially like the bits where they incorporate extra instrumentation such as strings and trumpet, but are a bit lacking when it comes to songwriting and arrangements and subsequently lose me in the big picture. I think if they worked on doing better transitions and added a bit more dynamics, they'd do okay.
- Avi Roig
September Malevolence
Tomorrow we'll wonder where this generation gets its priorities from
A Tenderversion Recording
September Malevolence's previous EP, my introduction to their music, left me more than a little cold. Post-rock in its current GY!BE/Mogwai/Sigur Rós mold is left with little in terms of innovation because everybody uses the same structures and the basic premise. That's where songwriting comes in. Good songwriters, whether or not their genre has been explored in every little corner, will create good music. September Malevolence aren't quite there yet, but considering the progression between the EP and this one, they could very well have something very special soon.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Check out an mp3 for "Poster" from Sweden's The Night Keys: https://www.nightkeys.tacksam.com/mp3/TheNightKeys-Poster.mp3
The song is the title track from the band's debut album and features a guest appearance from acclaimed singer/songwriter Jens Lekman who recites an Arabic poem in the middle section. More info and other downloads available at the band's website: https://www.nightkeys.com/
Finland's Aaviko will be releasing a new album called "Back From The Futer" in April. More info soon.
You can now listen to samples from the upcoming Iconcrash album "Nude" right here: https://www.iconcrash.com/music_mp3.html
In Flames will support Judas Priest on tour in Europe. Dates so far:
02/23 - Valby Hallen, Copenhagen (DK)
02/25 - Lofbergs Lila Arena, Karlstad (SWE)
02/26 - Stockholm Globe Arena, Stockholm (SWE)
02/28 - Oulu Ice Hall, Oulu (FIN)
03/02 - Tampere Icehall, Tampere (FIN)
03/03 - Hartwall Arena, Helsinki (FIN)
03/05 - Scandinavium, Goteborg (SWE)
03/08 - Oslo Spektrum, Oslo (NOR)
03/10 - Grugahalle, Essen (GER)
03/11 - Offenbacher Stadthalle, Offenbach (GER)
03/13 - Zenith, Munich (GER)
03/14 - Sporthalle , Boblingen (GER)
Candlelight Records has announced the signing of an American distribution agreement with Regain Records. Candlelight will release and promote all of the Swedish label's releases over in this part of the world starting with Marduk's "Plague Angel" on March 8. More soon.
Norwegian/American all-star band The High Water Marks are touring Europe in March:
03/02 - tba (SWE)
03/03 - tba (SWE)
03/04 - Blekingska Nationen, Lund (SWE)
03/05 - tba (SWE)
03/06 - The Windmill, London (Brixton) (UK)
03/07 - The Ferry Boat, Norwich (UK)
03/08 - The Fab Cafe, Manchester (UK)
03/09 - Cherry Jam, London (UK)
03/10 - tba
03/11 - Blæst, Trondheim (NOR)
03/12 - Kvarteret, Bergen (NOR)
03/13 - Cafe Mono, Oslo (NOR)
03/15 - tba, (NL)
03/16 - Merelyn, Nijmegen (NL)
03/17 - tba
03/18 - tba
03/19 - Sublime, Aflenz (AUS)
03/21 - B52, Vienna (AUS)
The group consists of Hilarie Sidney (Apples in Stereo), Per Ole Bratset (Palermo), Jim Lindsay (Oranger, Preston School of Industry) and Mike Snowden (Von Hemmling).
Eskobar will release the new single "Even if you know me" on March 31. This will be the fourth single from their most recent album "A thousand last chances".
Norwegian electro act Datarock has confirmed that they will finally release their self-titled-times-two debut full-length in Norway on April 4. That's "Datarock Datarock", in case you didn't figure it out on your own. Anyhow, the tracklist will include a few old songs from the "Computer Camp Love" EP, a few rerecordings of really old songs such as "I used to dance..." and of course, a bunch of new material. More info soon.