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Jeremiha - Too much is never enough (Dead Frog)
Jeremiha's debut is a radio-friendly, stadium-ready collection of anthemic synth-pop reminiscent of Duran Duran in their heyday. The sound comes on strong and stays that way right through to the end. The mood never wavers, the singer's got a nice deep voice, and the music is melodic and catchy. I can imagine it blaring from speakers at swimming pools everywhere this summer. But lyrics like "all I want is your touch/it's too much/it's never enough" and "it feels like strangers when we kiss/there must be more to life than this" exemplify how little originality there is here. Churning out solid versions of familiar sounds has made rock stars out of plenty of bands before them, and maybe it'll work for them too. But if you like Swedish music on account of its off-kilter edge, steer clear.
- Nancy Baym

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

Madrguada - Live at Tralfamadore CD / Live at Oslo Spektrum DVD (EMI Norway)
2005 was quite the year for Norway's Madrugada. Their 4th record, "The deep end", outsold their others and swept every Norwegian award there was to be won. Proving that they know how to make hay while the sun shines, they've released not one, but two, follow-ups in less than a year's time. "Live at Tralfamadore" is a live record based primarily on their December, 2005 concert at the Oslo Spektrum, and "Live at Oslo Spektrum" is a DVD of that show. Both are more like top notch souveniers than new additions to their catalogue (they themselves referred to the live record as #4.5 rather than #5), but both feature excellent songs performed with stellar musicianship and passion. "Majesty" on "Tralfamadore" outshines the studio version from "Grit", and old gems like "Vocal" sound better than ever. "Tralfamadore"'s rendition of "Only when you're gone," with an orchestral backing that owes more to modernism than schmaltz is downright breathtaking. Both feature one new song, "You better leave," which is darker than most of "The deep end," and a moving rendition of "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child," an old spiritual that makes it easy to imagine ever-amazing singer Sivert Høyem working the cotton fields of the old south, despite his arctic pallor. There are a few missteps - the cd inexplicably features the studio version of their duet with Ane Brun ("Lift Me"), rather than the live version on the DVD, and two versions of "Black Mambo," seriously disrupting the sense of a concert. The DVD relegates old favorite "Electric" to the credits, leaves some of the fan-favorites performed that night off entirely, and spends a bit too much time on Høyem when one might want to see more of what those playing instruments were up to. Having been filmed at their biggest concert ever, the DVD also creates more of an atmosphere of stardom than the intimacy that characterizes them at their best. But both are strong releases from one of Scandinavia's finest, and further demonstrate how much they deserve a wider international audience than they've found to date.
- Nancy Baym

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

The Radio Dept. - Worst taste in music (Labrador)
As expected, the new single from everyone's favourite band The Radio Dept. is as excellent as anything they've ever released. I read somewhere that they first recorded an album heavily influenced by dance music, only to scrap it when they realised that everyone else was pretty much doing just that. Despite this, "Worse taste in music" sounds like how The Radio Dept. have done previously, and it's as fantastic as ever. Unfortunately, there are only two "proper" songs (both great) on the EP and two remixes (one good, one not as good). So much for them not wanting to follow the latest trends, eh!
- Simon Tagestam

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

Tiger Lou – Nixon CDS (Startracks)
Sometime at the end of last year, my next-door neighbor emerges from his door and tells me he's on his way to see a band called Tiger Lou and that I should probably do the same. Operating under the assumption (sorry to say, but from the name of the band) that TL was probably just going to be another band of indie-rock sissies in horizontal stripes, I opted to go to a cheesy dance club in Malmö instead. Whoops. Tiger Lou are one of the more promising new bands to hail from Sweden within the last couple of years and exhibit a considerable aptitude for penning catchy pop tunes of a darker persuasion: while the songs on the "Nixon" single exude a sort of characteristic moodiness, they never quite veer into truly somber territory – at least not sonically. Most of the songs on the "Nixon" single can be found in one form or another on TL's full-length, "The loyal". The last two tracks are remixed versions of "The loyal" (by Martin Vogel) and "The war between us" (by Rupesh Cartel). The remix of "The loyal" is at best, a little dull: the only thing that salvages the track's tired electro-pop is the quality of the original song itself. The "War between us" remix is even worse as it epitomizes the awful b-side dance remix: imagine the Pet Shop Boys without the nuances that make the Pet Shop Boys well... palatable. The verdict? Ditch the single and buy the album.
- Jessica Numsuwankijkul

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

Vapnet - Thoméegränd (Hybris)
Vapnet's EP "Ge dom våld" was one record that I played to death last year. The EP works as a sort of safety blanket for me nowadays, whenever I feel a bit down or if I just crave a quick fix of good music, I put it on. My hopes for their forthcoming album are obviously insanely high, but if the songs on it are as good as (their latest release) "Thoméegränd" or the ones on "Ge dom våld", it could end up being one of my favourite albums ever. This EP also contains a bunch of remixes (by such prominent acts as Le Sport, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, etc.) which are fun and interesting, but not as satisfactory as new "proper" songs by Vapnet themselves.
- Simon Tagestam

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

.:About the writers:

Simon Tagestam has gone back to going to too many gigs, visiting the cinema, and feeding naughty squirrels (literally) in Victoria Park (in Hackney, London).

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

Nancy Baym is admiring the flowers blooming all around her and wishing she were far less allergic to them all.

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

Jonas Appelqvist is looking forward to some great bands on tour in his area: The Radio Dept., Raised Fist, Tiger Lou, The Flaming Lips among others...

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

Jessica Numsuwankijkul is a student/freelance writer based in Lund, Sweden. She also enjoys writing about herself in the third person.

Mon, Apr 14th, 2003 00:00:00

.:INTERVIEW: José González

Yes, José González is the name of a Swede. Yeah, his music has been licensed to a commercial for a multinational corporation. You already know about the Kylie, Knife, and Joy Division covers. When the surprises turn mundane, an interviewer has to find out about biochem, nursery rhymes, and psychological boundaries. Don't worry, though, this piece doesn't get too abstruse to neglect a more universally compelling unknown -- the next album.
- Roni Brunn

RB: How has it been doing a live show versus recording on your own?

JG: It's always nice. I've done live shows while I was recording and I tried some of the songs live. So I've always done both in parallel. It's been a lot of live shows and not that much recording lately, since I've been touring pretty much since 2003.

RB: Do you miss recording?

JG: Yeah, I do, actually. I miss being at home [laughs]. And, also, when I've been at home, I haven't quite been able to find the time to feel inspired, or it's always been a bit hectic. It was really fun when I recorded this. I was doing different stuff and, this was my hobby.

RB: What were you doing?

JG: I was studying biochemistry. So, I practically just did this in my spare time on weekends and stuff.

RB: Do you miss science?

JG: Yeah, sometimes. [Laughs] Not that much. I miss learning stuff, but having music as my job is a lot better than having biochemistry as a job.

RB: In what ways?

JG: Just seeing new cities, and my job is to play music one hour and do a couple of interviews and then just hang out in new cities.

RB: What do you do when you hang out?

JG: When I find the time, I try to walk around and usually there's not that much time to see some shops [laughs] and go see some sights.

RB: What cities have you liked?

JG: Oh, there's a lot. On my way here to the States, I played in Reykjavik. That's very nice. Also New York, LA.

RB: Whom do you hang out with?

JG: There's usually not that much time, so it's usually the people that are with me, like that guy over there [points to a man outside the club]. He's my tour manager, and he's always with me everywhere. And I have a sound engineer Dana Wachs. I have friends in different cities, but most of the time there's not enough time to hang out.

RB: How do audiences in the States compare to the ones in Sweden and the UK?

JG: I'm really surprised how the audiences react similarly from country to country.

RB: What's similar?

JG: What do you call it when they really listen? They're really quiet and cheerful [laughs] at the same time? It's comforting to see that it's working in a similar way. Perhaps it's just that similar type of public are coming to my shows. That's perhaps because people are different [laughs], and cultures are really different. And I wouldn't say that the Spanish people are the same as the Swedish because they're not at all. How the people they react to a show depends a lot on which weekday it is, and if there's alcohol [laughs], and what time [the show starts], if it's seated or standing. It seems to be that affects more than what culture the people are from.

RB: How important is it for you to connect to the audience when playing live?

JG: It helps a lot if they're listening [laughs]. I've always felt that live, I just play the songs and I'm not, like, putting on a show or anything. I always feel that it's up to the audience; if they like the music, it's fine, and if they don't, I wouldn't say, "shut up and listen to my stuff," I guess.

RB: Do you ever need to bounce ideas off other people?

JG: Yeah, I used to play my demos to my closest friends and tried to read their facial expressions [laughs] to see if it was good or not. But then, it's mostly just me recording and then listening myself because I'm pretty protective with what I do, so I don't want to, like, spread it to different people.

RB: Why do think that is?

JG: I think it's partly my nature and then that's the style of the music that I'm doing and wouldn't feel good to listen to my new stuff.

RB: Much has been made of the fact that your dad's Argentine. Where is your mom from?

JG: My mom? She's also from Argentina. Yeah, usually I talk about my dad because he really encouraged me to play music. Both are from Argentina, and they fled the country and I was born in Sweden.

RB: Have you gone back to Argentina?

JG: Yeah, three times, just visiting my relatives, and a couple of years ago my father moved back, so I'll probably spend more time there.

RB: How does it feel to be over there?

JG: It feels cool; it's nice. He lives in Mendoza. It's near the mountains, and it doesn't feel like, I mean, I'm feel Swedish. So it feels like being a tourist in a way. But I speak Spanish, so a bit better than a tourist.

RB: You grew up in a home in which Spanish was spoken.

JG: Yeah, exactly, although Swedish is my first language, I always spoke Spanish at home."

RB: Do you know nursery rhymes in Spanish, Swedish, or both?

JG: I don't know [laughs]. I don't know that many, but I know both Swedish and Spanish.

RB: What are your hobbies?

JG: Now that my hobby became my job, I haven't found a new hobby. But what I like to do when I'm on tour and have spare time is to watch videos on my laptop, or just read magazines, but it's not like I started building model ships [laughs]. I don't have a new hobby.

RB: What movies do you like?

JG: Since I'm on tour, I usually like to watch short stuff, like "The Simpsons" or sketches and funny stuff. Just to have fun on tour.

RB: What magazines do you read?

JG: The first and second year, I was buying a lot of music magazines. After a while, I realized that I was just out on tour drinking, just reading about music, and so, recently, I started buying Scientific American and Popular Science magazines [laughs] .

RB: Have you explored other fields of science?

JG: It's Popular Science, so it's not really deep at all, and I kind of forgot a lot of the biochemistry I knew.

RB: How do you feel about the hip-hop remix project, "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow"?

JG: That's funny. I heard about it one month before he released it. Actually, I like the selection of hip-hop that he [Dert] had chosen. And I really like some of the tracks, like Nas and Kanye West. He has chosen good hip-hop songs, and it's been tastefully done. It's a fun thing.

RB: What's your perspective on lyrics? When you do a cover, your personality comes through very clearly. The words stay the same, but do you feel the message changes when you do it?

JG: In a way, it does. That's part of why I've done, like, the Kylie Minogue cover, "Hand on Your Heart". That was because I saw the video, and she's jumping around, and it's a really happy production. I was listening to the lyrics while watching the video, so I think when you listen to the different versions, you kind of feel differently.

RB: What did you feel when you were listening to the lyrics of "Hand on Your Heart"?

JG: I thought it was pretty heartfelt [laughs], and it's a bit, I wouldn't say, almost cheesy. I mean, it's very direct, and I would never write those sorts of lyrics. It's too direct and too self-exposed. So that's why it's fun to do covers, like, you can put out other people's work and express them yourself.

RB: Do you have a philosophy when writing your own lyrics?

JG: Yeah. [Laughs] A shield. I've always tried to be vague in what the lyrics are about. And I sing in English, which isn't my first language. Now it's strange playing my music in the States, the UK, which I didn't think about when I was writing, but still, all those things are some sort of shielding, I guess, because I've always felt that the music is what I do and lyrics come in second place.

RB: What is that you're shielding?

JG: I don't know. I think you just don't want to expose yourself that much.

RB: You've been credited with penetrating the audience's emotions.

JG: Yeah, it's a strange position, but I guess the thing is that I want to play this sort of music, just guitar and vocals. And when I listen to a lot of the singer-songwriters, I feel awkward because they're singing about their ex-girlfriends, and I wouldn't like to do that, sing, "yeah, she left me, and I'm so unhappy." [Laughs] So I tried to find other ways of doing this sort of music and still have some sort of distance. I always liked instrumental music or music where you hear the vocals, but you don't hear the lyrics. I think there's a strength in just the music.

RB: So you see vocals as another instrument?

JG: Yeah, definitely, and also I don't feel like a poet or a storyteller [laughs].

RB: Poetry and storytelling, are those things that you value in other music?

JG: Yeah, definitely. So it's just something that I don't feel that I'm good at, but it's really important for the lyrics. And more often, it's not about the actual meaning, it's more about the feeling you get from words or sentences.

RB: Do you get ideas for the next album while you're away?

JG: Yeah, like, style wise [laughs]. But when I get home, I might have a lot of ideas how I want it to sound, but then when I start playing it, it takes different forms anyway. So yeah, it's nothing that I can, like, think. It just happens when I start playing.

RB: What are some things that you wish you can express in the future?

JG: I'm working on my next album and it's becoming pretty similar, but it's perhaps not as moody as the last one. But I still want to focus on the rhythm, the guitar playing and the repetitive stuff.

RB: Are you going to add some of the percussionists that you play live with?

JG: Yeah, I've done that a lot in Sweden and the UK, where I've already played a couple of times, and so I usually have two guys that do percussion and backup vocals. I guess it costs money to bring them over to the States.

RB: When are you going to record more?

JG: I wanted to this summer, to have it done by autumn or something. I don't have all the songs for the record, but that's my aim and probably will be out late autumn or spring or something.

.:About the author:

Roni Brunn interviewed José González in a PT Cruiser parked in an Echo Park alleyway. It was silver. The car.

Fri, Apr 11th, 2003 00:00:00

Johan Bergqvist reports he has finished up shooting the video for his new single "This Could Be Our Time". And if you look to your right you'll see that you can download an exclusive mp3 of the track right now. But yeah, the video's done and the CD is being sent off to get mastered, so it's on track for its May release. Johan's also got plans for yet another video - on April 26 he's off to shoot one for the song "Lovelace" as he says he "found a nice location with a grand piano." I'll keep you posted.

People in the US - don't forget about Sahara Hotnights on Conan O'Brien tonight along with guest Adam Sandler.

Here's a bunch of pics from the 2001 Avrika fest, including acts such as The Hellacopters, TSOOL, Mustasch, Nasum, and The Haunted.

Problems arose when the grizzly bear appearing in the video went berserk...

Apparently there were some problems onsite at Turbonegro's video shoot for the song "Sell Your Body (To The Night)" which was being filmed in LA with help from the Jackass dudes. Read more at the the band's website.

"Their mesmerising guitar excursions are worthy of early Pink Floyd; the tunes are beyond brilliant; this is, without question, among the most supremely desirable stoner albums you are likely to hear all year" - James Delingpole, Sunday Telegraph, on "Every Time A Bell Rings An Angel Gets Its Wings"

Folks in London get the lucky opportunity to see Logh for free at 93ft East in London on April 14. The show starts at 7:30 and if I was you, I wouldn't miss it.

Been awhile since I heard from these guys, but the Diamond Dogs are going on tour:

4/21 - Monroes, Workingston (UK)
4/22 - Roadmenders, Norhhampton (UK)
4/23 - Markoni Club, Chelmsford (UK)
4/24 - Penningtons Live, Bradford (UK)
4/25 - Baths Hall, Scunthorpe (UK)
4/26 - Cheese and Grain, Frome (UK)
4/27 - Patti Pavilion, Swansea (UK)
4/28 - Camden Underworld, London (UK)
5/02 - Culturen, Västerås
5/08 - El Sol, Madrid (ESP)
5/09 - Stereo, Alicante (ESP)
5/10 - La Casa del Loco, Zaragoza (ESP)
5/13 - University, Granada (ESP)
5/15 - La Nasa, Santiago (ESP)
5/16 - Auditorium Intersecciones, Oviedo (ESP)
5/17 - Azkena, Bilbao (ESP)

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 4
03. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
04. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
05. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel
06. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
07. Jill Johnson - Discography
08. The Refreshments - On the rocks
09. Dilba - Revolution
10. Emil Sigfridsson - Tillbaka till igår
11. Fernandoz - Vem får din kärlek i natt
12. Roxette - The pop hits
13. Gloria - People like you and me
14. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
15. The Knife - Deep Cuts
16. The Sounds - Living in America
17. Wilmer X - Lyckliga hundar
18. Rikard Wolff - Du får mig (om jag får dig)
19. Anders Widmark featuring Sara Isaksson - s/t
20. Kikki Bettan Lotta - Live från Rondo

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

01. (01) The White Stripes "7 Nation Army"
02. (02) Fireside "All You Had"
03. (08) The Dandy Warhols "We Used To Be Friends"
04. (15) The Knife "You Take My Breath Away"
05. (04) Shout Out Louds "100 Degrees"
06. (09) Her Majesty "F.U.N.E.R.A.L."
07. (03) Timbuktu "Ett brev"
08. (05) Jurassic 5 Ft. Mya "Thin Line"
09. (06) First Floor Power "Happy Endings"
10. (07) The Coral "Don't Think You're The First"

11. (NY) Floetry "Floetic"
12. (14) The Concretes "You Can't Hurry Love"
13. (NY) Interpol "Obstacle 1"
14. (NY) Asian Dub Foundation Ft. Sinead O'Connor "1000 Mirrors"
15. (10) Isolation Years "Open Those Eyes"
16. (11) Blur "Out Of Time"
17. (NY) David & The Citizens "New Direction"
18. (NY) Turbonegro "F**k The World (F.T.W.)"
19. (19) The Kills "Fried My Little Brains"
20. (17) Komeda "Reproduce"

Leaving the chart:
(12) The Donnas "Take It Off"
(13) Melody Club "Covergirl"
(16) Kamera "At Work"
(18) Ron Sexsmith Ft. Chris Martin "Gold In Them Hills"
(20) Lil' Kim Ft. Mr Cheeks "The Jump Off"

ZTV will begin broadcasting a TV version of Hitlisten, Sweden's official sales chart, compiled by IPFI affiliate GLF and published every Thursday.

Magnus Carlson from the Weeping Willows has his new Eggstone-produced solo album coming out July 9. Turns out he's getting even more outside help, this time from film director Lukas Moodysson (Fucking Åmal/Show Me Love, Tillsammans/Together)and Radio Dept. Lukas has reportedly helped out with some lyric writing while Radio Dept. and Magnus played together at their home in Malmö. The first single will be for the song "Jag ber dig", a cover of the Northern Soul-hit "Beggin'" with Swedish lyrics.

Moneybrother is heading on tour in support of his new, forthcoming album "Blood Panic". The dates:

5/21 - Stockholm, Södra Teatern
5/22 - Karlstad, Glada Ankan
5/23 - Oslo, So What
5/30 - Göteborg, Playground @ Pustervik
5/31 - Linköping, Rocksensation
5/27 - Malmö, Trenchtown @ KB

Mobbade Barn Med Automatvapen (MBMA) have a new 12" coming out in May called "Nu Ännu Drygare" with four songs. Breakmecanix and Embee (Loop Troop) handled the production and Timbuktu and Chords make guest appearances.

Here's an interview with Sami Liuski of Rovaniemi, Finland aka 8-Bit Rockers and Bangkok Impact among others. He talks about his upcoming touring activities and the Finnish electronic music scene, among other interesting topics. Those dates:

4/23 - Pianos, NYC, NY
4/24 - Rhode Island
4/25 - Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
4/26 - Touch Supper Club, Cleveland, OH
4/27 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, MI
4/30 - Noise Lab, Seattle
5/01 - Blackbird, Portland, OR
5/02 - Obscura Digital, San Fransisco
5/05 - Knitting Factory, Los Angeles
5/06 - Los Angeles
5/08 - Sin 13, San Antonio
5/09 - The Elysium, Austin, TX
5/10 - Mermaid Lounge, New Orleans
5/11 - Miami
5/13 - Highlight, Chappel Hill, North Carolina
5/14 - Heaven and Hell, Washinton DC
5/16 - Ivy South, NYC, NY, USA

Danish dance duo Junior Senior are heating things up over in Britain. Not only are they in the singles chart at #5 with "Move Your Feet", but they're also planning to do either dates over there in May, starting with Glasgow Barfly on the first and ending with Liverpool Barfly on the 11th.

Division of Laura Lee has lined up a few extra dates around their appearance at the upcoming Coachella fest near LA:

4/21 - Houston, Engine Room
4/22 - Austin, Emos
4/23 - Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
4/25 - Phoenix, Mason Jar
4/26 - Indio, Coachella

UPDATED: David & the Citizens will be on P3 Pop on April 14 from 10pm till midnight. They'll be playing live and chatting with Hanna in studio. They'll be sure to play the song "Glued to the Light" from the new EP "New Direction" they say, but they'll also be premiering two brand new tracks. As this news implicates, the band is already making plans for their next record - they'll be hitting the studio in May with plans to get it out around September.

In Flames have revealed the details for their forthcoming EP entitled "Trigger". The track listing is as follows:

01. Trigger (single edition)
02. Watch Them Feed (new song)
03. Land Of Confusion (Genesis cover)
04. Cloud Connected (Club Connected Remix)
05. Moonshield (C64 Karoke Version)

Look for it soon on Nuclear Blast. In other news, the band recently returned home from their most recent trek across the US and had this to say on their website:

Hello all, thanx a million for the GREAT support from both old and new fans on In Flames/Mudvayne tour in the US. We had a great time, and as usual we met some really cool people on the road( talking about you, our wonderful fans) and we made some good friends in the other bands- Mudvayne, Grade 8, and Depswa - we really hope to meet up again soon!!!!
On the way home we were forced to make an emergency landing in New Foundland, due to some strange objects on the aircraft that needed closer attention. This of course scared the hell out of us, but luckily it was false alarm, so as we speak we are in Sweden, jet-lagged as hell, but really glad to be on safe ground at home again.
In the end of June we will go back on the road again on a headline spin across the US, bringing some great acts along with us (see soon for official update on this). The tour will take us to places we didn´t hit on the last tour and some that we did play... Hope to see ALL of you out there. Also, watch out for our video/EP for "Trigger" that will be out very soon

Swedish power-metallers Hammerfall have booked themselves a short Czech Republic tour along with the following festival dates:

6/27 - Bang Your Head - Balingen, GER
6/28 - Masters Of Rock, Vizovice, CZ
6/29 - Centre of Town, Jihlava, CZ
6/30 - Hall Lokomotiva, Plzen, CZ
7/04 - Sundsvalls Gatufest - Sundsvall, SWE
7/05 - Töreboda Festival - Töreboda, SWE
7/25 - Karlskoga Stranddagar - Karlskoga, SWE
8/30 - Bloodstock Metalfest - Derby, UK

Transport League has announced that Crash Music Inc. will license their most recent EP "Grand Amputation" for release in the US. It was originally released last year on their own label Hoffa Communications through MNW distribution. In other news, the band reportedly just did some time in the studio with producer J. Reivén (ex-LOK) working on a new demo.

Thu, Apr 10th, 2003 00:00:00

I'm happy to report that the show last night went quite well. The Caesars were a lot of fun and I was glad to finally get a chance to see 'em. The guitars weren't quite as loud as I would've liked, though. And yeah, that Jocke is definitely a nutter on stage. Needless to say, TSOOL rocked the house. Having Martin Hederos back with them (the guy from the Whyte Seeds was subbing last tour) made a huge difference in the sound. Ludwig from t(I)NC did a right and proper job filling in on the drums. Good fun. Someday I'll see the full band together, but until then...

Oh, and The Caesars now have a US website, too. Check it.

And making me even more happy is the fact that I got an exclusive (!!!) mp3 from Johan Bergqvist to offer you. People signed up with the newsletter already got a chance to download the song last week, but now I'm making it available to everyone. The track is called "This Could Be Our Time" and it's from his single due out in May. For more info on Johan, check out his website at www.pristinemusic.com/johanbergqvist.

Cobolt, Umeå's kings of sadcore, finally got themselves a website. About time, doncha think? Check it out.

The new Cult of Luna record is reviewed in the May issue of Rolling Stone. Short, but sweet.

Famed Swedish producer/musician/songwriter Dan Swanö has announced plans to reform metal band Edge of Sanity to record a new album via his official message board. Here's his full statement:

Hello Everyone...
Since Black Mark [his record label] have been clever enough to announce a new EDGE OF SANITY release called "CRIMSON II" even though I begged them to keep it a secret, what can I do??? I don't want to lie to my friends.
The first two weeks of May will be dedicated to the writing and recording of an album I have had bubbling inside of me ever since I started the fight for a more "accessible" Bloodbath (Which we all know didn't happen)
I have a bunch of good riffs that sounds SOOO like Edge Of Sanity that it would be ridiculous to start yet another project and sound just like something I invented years ago.
Black Mark have been asking me to re-join the band since the moment I quite and they never really got the fact that I wanted nothing to do with it. After "Evolution" I felt it was all over and went on to do my thing.
Then the "other" Edge Of Sanity split up and let the world "Edge-less"
That's when the ball began rolling. And after a long discussion over a good meal at the Black Mark house I decided to start thinking about the stuff I was writing as a new EOS album.
On the train ride home I started toying around with the idea of a follow up to "Crimson" and when I got home it seemed like the only right thing to do.
I am not in the mood for some "singer songwriter, wanna have a hit single" Metal.
I want Epic-goddamn!!!
So there will be one big piece this time as well, (With track numbers for index, this time!!)
It will be a mind-blowing powerful blend between E.O.S. (duuh..) Pan Thy Monium, Godsend, Karaboudjan, Diabolical Masquerade, Odyssey and maybe even some passages of old Nightingale thrown in. A Massive Swanö-style pomp-death overkill!!!!!
Some of the stuff I have this far is the most classy pomp-death stuff I have ever written and I feel very confident in myself.
The main reason to why I do such a sacred and weird this, as to revive EDGE OF SANITY is...I want this album to be known, to sell, to get through the fucking jungle of albums, to be reviewed everywhere...I know this album will kick ass and I don't want it to drown in some "new project with the guy from EOS" formula..
If it IS called EDGE OF SANITY it will be given a serious listen and trust me..
no one will be disappointed, it will be among the best EOS albums.
August it is..

"Dude, where's my lighter?" - The Venue have put up the first part of their tour diary from their recent US excursion for SXSW.

The guys from Supersilent got a few more gigs lined up at the Molde International Jazz Festival in Norway. First up, Helge will be playing with Norwegian folk singer Unni Løvlid and percussionist Terje Isungset on July 14. Next, Jarle plays the farmer's market on the 17th with festival "artist in residence" Michael Brecker and Ståle will duet with drummer/percussionist Thomas Strønen on the 18th. And finally, the full band will perform on the 19th at Kulturhuset.

In related news, Supersilent-member Arve will play with the combination British/Norweigan quartet Food during a festival tour of Canada:

6/25 - Jazzfest International, Victoria
6/27-28 - Vancouver International Jazz Festival
6/29 - Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

More details available here.

Nightwish will be entering their own home-studio on October 27 to record basic tracks for the follow-up to last year's "Century Child". From there, they'll go over to Finvoxx Studios in Helsinki to track vocals and guitars.

Her Majesty has just signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music. The album "Happiness" comes out in May.

Petter, Doggelito and Daddy Boastin all make guest appearances on the debut Don Diego album "Mitt Liv", due out April 14 on Flava Records.

A-ha has decided not to release their new double live album "How Can I Sleep With Your Voice In My Head" in the UK due to lack of support from their label, Warner Music. The record is doing well in their home of Norway and is poised to do well also in Germany where the band has previously enjoyed healthy sales. No word if another label will step in to take over for a wider release.

Norway's eclectic 10-piece electronic-jazz act Jaga Jazzist will touring Europe in support of the wide release of their first album "The Stix" on Ninja Tune which comes out April 15. The dates:

4/15 - Belgium Brussels Ancienne Belgique
4/16 - France, Rennes Ubu
4/17 - France, Paris New Morning
4/18 - France, Lyon Ninkasi
4/19 - France, Strasbourg Laiterie
4/20 - Switzerland, Martigny Caves Du Manoir
4/23 - Switzerland, Zurich Moods
4/25 - Italy, Verona Interzona
4/26 - Italy, Rome La Palma
4/30 - UK, Brighton Beach Club (tbc)
5/1 - UK, London Ocean
5/2 - Ireland, Dublin The Village
5/3 - UK, Bristol Croft (tbc)
5/5 - Netherlands, Haarlem Bevrijdings Festival
5/6 - Netherlands, Rotterdam Nighttown
5/7 - Netherlands, Amsterdam VPRO (TV recording)
5/8 - Netherlands, Tilburg 13
5/9 - Netherlands, Groningen Vera
5/10 - Netherlands, Utrecht Tivoli
5/12 - France, Montpellier Rockstore
5/14 - Spain, Pamplona (tbc)
5/15 - Spain, San Sebastian Gaeztezena
5/16 - Spain, Madrid Teatro Jacinto
5/17 - Spain, Mieres Jovellanos
5/18 - France, Arles Cargo de Nuit
5/20 - Austria, Vienna Wuk
5/21 - Germany, Dresden(tbc)
5/22 - Germany, Berlin Maria Am Ostbahnhof
5/23 - Poland, Katowice Hipnoza
5/24 - Poland, Warsaw Jazzgot
5/26 - Germany, Halle (tbc)
5/27 - Germany, Cologne (tbc)
5/28 - Germany, Hamburg (tbc)
5/29 - Germany, Hannover (tbc)
5/30 - Denmark, CopenhagenJ azzhaus
5/31 - Denmark, Aarhus SPOT Festival
6/14 - Spain, Barcelona Sonar Festival
7/5 - Norway, Kongsberg Kongsberg Jazz Festival
7/6 - France, Belfort Eurockeennes Festival
7/9 - Switzerland, Montreux Montreux Jazz Festival
7/10 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg Kulturfabrik (tbc)
7/11 - Belgium, Dour Dour Festival
7/12 - Belgium, Bruges Cactus Jazz Festival
7/13 - Netherlands, Hague North Sea Jazz Festival
8/3 - UK, Malvern Big Chill Festival
8/4 - UK, London Jazz Cafe
8/8 - Norway, Oslo Oya Festival

Komeda will release their long-awaited new album "Kokomemedada" on June 2.

Lotta Wenglen plays Tavastia in Helsinki on April 15 in support of the new single "Ambassador of Love". Buddaboys will also perform.

Advance Patrol are hitting the road and now confirmed for Roskilde:

4/12 - Mejeriet, Lund
4/17 - Frölunda Fritisgård, Göteborg
4/18 - Tivoli, Helsingborg
4/25 - KB, Malmö
4/26 - TBA, Uddevalla
5/1 - Första Maj-Fest, Slottsparken, Malmö
5/2 - Culturen, Västerås w/Ison & Fille
5/14 - Rust, Köpenhamn (DK)
5/31 - Universitetet, Stockholm
6/28 - Roskildefestivalen, Roskilde (DK)

Speaking of Roskilde, Norway's Turbonegro and Cato Salsa Experience are now both confirmed to play, too.

Finnish experimental techno label Symptom Records will be putting out their second 12" release on April 22 containing three tracks from artists who will remain anonymous. Preview the music here: www.symptomrecords.com/preview.

The Haunted are coming back to the US in May with Shai Hulud and Skinless. Darkest Hour and Bleeding Through will also support on select dates. The itinerary so far:

5/08 - Krome - South Amboy, NJ *
5/09 - Rainbow - Montreal, QC, CANADA *
5/10 - Club Rockit - Toronto, ON, CANADA *
5/11 - Majestic - Detroit, MI *
5/12 - Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH +
5/14 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA *
5/15 - Bridge Street Music Hall - Syracuse, NY *
5/16 - Club Laga - Pittsburgh, PA *
5/17 - The Palladium/New England Metal and Hardcore Fest - Worcester, MA
5/18 - Jaxx - West Springfield, VA +
5/19 - Ziggy's - Winston-Salem, NC +
5/20 - Uncle Doctor's - West Columbia, SC +
5/21 - State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL +
5/22 - The Factory - Fort Lauderdale, FL +
5/23 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA +
5/24 - Tek World - Louisville, KY +
5/25 - Engine Room - Houston, TX +
5/27 - Emo's - Austin, TX +
5/28 - Tree's - Dallas, TX +
5/29 - Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM +
5/30 - Marquee - Tempe, AZ +
5/31 - Huntridge Theatre - Las Vegas, NV +
6/01 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA +
6/02 - The Pound - San Francisco, CA +
6/05 - Bluebird Theatre - Denver, CO +
6/06 - The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS +
6/08 - Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH +
* w/Darkest Hour
+ w/Bleeding Through

Amorphis will be honored with a 10-year retrospective collection called "Chapters" coming out June 3 from Relapse Records. Features include rare tracks, extensive liner notes and a DVD. View the cover art here. As mentioned before, Amorphis' new album "Far From The Sun" comes out on Virgin in Finland on May 20.

Marit Bergman has signed with BMG in Sweden making her labelmates with Kent, Sahara Hotnights, and the Backyard Babies. There's obviously been quite a bit of interest in her from the majors since her self-released debut solo album "3.00 A.M. Serenades" did so well and garnered many accolades. Now she's happy she no longer needs to worry herself about promotion, royalties or any of that other behind-the-scenes business and can concentrate 100% on the music.

The buzz is getting louder for Radio Dept. as their "Leibling" 7" was just played recently on the UK's legendary John Peel radio show.

And speaking of John Peel, don't forget to check out The Hellacopters playing live on-air tomorrow.

Wed, Apr 9th, 2003 00:00:00

Going to see The Soundtrack of Our Lives and The Caesars in SF tonight. Should be fun! TSOOL is also playing for free over at Amoeba Records at 5, so if you're in the area you may want to check that out as well. I may also have an extra ticket for tonight's show, so if you think you might be interested, let me know.

Hypocrisy report that they are preparing to work on a new album. Frontman Peter Tägtgren posted this message describing the process on their website:

band meeting today, it went well and we have a plan for the next release we're going to get together and practise for the recording for the first time in 9 years! starting mid-may, so everybody will start writing new material a.s.a.p. so we will have anything to practise... the new album will go with the abducted sound (production) the music will go in the sign of abducted and the hypocrisy (self-titled album) working title is "the arrival" and i think the little green men are back in my head!!!

Here's an interview with Startracks label head Fredrik Holmgren from firesideometer.com. Entertaining, informative, and in English, too.

Speaking of Fireside, the video for the new single "All You Had" will be premiered on SVT Spinn this Thursday.

Check out the Whyte Seeds playing live on MTV Morning Glory.

For you audio engineering nerds (guilty!), here's a detailed description of the recording specs for the latest Nasum album from singer/guitarist/engineer Mieszko.

Pictures of The Sounds playing live at the Electroluxe in San Diego are available here.

A couple Bad Taste acts are gonna be hitting the small screen in the future. First off, Last Days of April will have the song "Will The Violins Be Playing" featured on the US TV show "Mysterious Ways" which can be seen on the Sci Fi channel. The band also got the track "I'm Calm Now" on an upcoming DVD promoting the X-Games VIII which are taking place in LA come August. But they aren't the only ones - Logh's song "Yellow Lights Mean Slow Down Not Speed Up" will be played during the show "Boarding House: North Shore" which follows seven pro surfers who live and surf together during the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing competition in Oahu, Hawaii. That one airs on the WB Network in the US.

Carpet People are having a record release party at Scharinska Villan in Umeå on April 12. Show starts at 9 and they hit the stage at midnight. However- you should show up early cuz they promise a secret guest opening act. The album hits stores on the 11th from Chalksounds.

If you want more information about that Swedish punk fest that I talked about yesterday, go to the official site: www.svenskpunk25.nu

Fireside, Dub Sweden, USCB Allstars, Fingathing, The Raveonettes, Miss Universum, Merciless, Radio Dept., Dot Allison, Mary Lou Lord, Surfer Rosa, Pauline and Satirnine are some of the new bands confirmed for Hultsfred Fest.

Moneybrother, Moder Jords Massiva and Trapdoor Fucking Exit are some of the new bands confirmed for Popaganda fest in Stockholm on May 29-31.

Touted as the 'next big thing' from the cold, cold North by Barfly Magazine, The Hommos will be touring the UK next month as they've just signed a deal with Liverpudians Deltasonic Records (home of The Coral) who will be releasing a single in May. The band is also playing Debaser in Stockholm on Thursday with Brenda Harris, so check 'em out before they get huge.

Former popstar Leila K was remanded on charges of assault, robbery and theft. My sources tell me that she's allegedly 'partial to poison powders', so it really shouldn't come as much surprise to anyone who's followed her fall from grace.

Langhorns are playing with buzz-band Shout Out Louds at Club Blender in Lund on April 26.

A sampling of the pikseliÄHKY 2003 festival line-up will be playing at Saunabar in Helsinki on April 8. It also serves as a record release for Antoine Verhaverbeke whose album comes out on Abflug next month. Also performing will be Karri O (also on Abflug), Formatt and DJs Nuutti Koskinen and Michael Heap (VJs.net, UK) along with video artist O Samuli A/Samuli Alapuranen. The music starts at 8 and entry is free. More info here.

Tue, Apr 8th, 2003 00:00:00

Read a short, gushing review of the new album "Souvenirs" from the Netherland's The Gathering. As mentioned in therein, the album features guest appearances from Mathias Elk of Jaga Jazzist and Trickster G (Kris Rygg) of Ulver, and yes, I agree that it really is great.

Reviews and samples of new releases from Ulver, Katatonia, JR Ewing and more from Aquarius Records. Mailorder, too.

As already reported, Arve and Jarle from Supersilent will be appearing solo and as part of the Tord Gustavsen Trio on May 10 at the Maijazz festival in Stavanger, Norway. It's not confirmed that Supersilent themselves will also be playing the fest on the day before. In other news, Arve makes a guest appearance on the new Jørn Simen Øverli album "Pengenes Oppmuntrende Virkning" along with Stian Carstensen from Farmers Market.

Mustasch is entering the studio on April 22 to record a new album under the tutelage of producer Jacob Hellner (credits include Rammstein, Clawfinger, and Fläskkvartetten). They expect to have it out around fall.

Here's an interview with Ebbot from TSOOL talking about touring the US among other things. (in Swedish)

25 years ago the first Swedish punk single "Vårdad klädsel" from Kriminella Gitarrer came out. There's gonna be a show celebrating this event at Vågen in Göteborg on October 4 featuring Brända Barn, Asta Kask, Attentat, Stry Terrarie and Freddie Wadling plus more to be announced. Tickets go on sale April 11.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Mew - Comforting Sounds
03. Kwan - Shine
04. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
05. A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
06. C21 - You Are The One
07. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
08. Roxette - Opportunity Nox
09. Winta - Emotions
10. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth

Challengers:
01. Left Lane - Walk after you
02. HIM - Funeral of harts
03. Ralph Meyrz & The Jack Herren Band - Think Twice
04. Whyte Seeds - Slow motions
05. Don Diego - Min lat

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Lotta will be playing Tavastia in Helsinki on April 15 with Buddaboys. Even better, Yle Radio X3M will be broadcasting the show live.

Orange Crunch has a new EP coming out on Dead Frog in May. They play Alcazar in Stockholm tomorrow night, too.

The Svensk Rockarkiv will be making a roadshow appearance at Hultsfred fest this year. The archive was started in 1993 as a place to keep documentaries, photos, records and so on from all sorts Swedish artists through the ages.

The winners of the 2002 SAMA awards have been announced:

Best newcomer: Melody Club
Best song: Melody Club – Electric
Best album: Covenant – Northern Light
Best artist: Apoptygma Berzerk

It's a Trap! Scandinavian music journal