PopMatters reviews Dragontears
PopMatters is scared of Dragontears' final album "Turn on tune in fuck off!!": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/133348-dragontears-turn-on-tune-in-fuck-off/
Hypertext to release 7" single
Hypertext's single "Ivy league" will be issued as a 7" via short-lived label with album track "Mary" tacked on as the b-side.
Delay Trees - Cassette 2012 (video)
This is the first video off of Delay Tree's self-titled album. I wasn't a big fan of their earlier EP, but the full-length is significantly better. Direct link: https://vimeo.com/17051307
Sweden's selections for the Nordic Music Prize
The 25 Swedish nominees for the Nordic Music Prize have been revealed: https://gradvall.se/artiklar.asp?entry_id=695
These 25 will eventually be whittled down to 10 who will go up against 10 selections from each of the other Scandinavian countries which will then be narrowed down even further to a top 12 to be presented to the jury for the final prize.
Suede picks Swedish unknowns for opening slot
Swedish duo Dial M for Murder has apparently been hand-picked by Brett Andersen to open for the reunited Suede at the o2 Arena in London on December 7. Listen to the band here and be underwhelmed: https://www.myspace.com/mformurderband
Danish P3 Guld nominees
Gaffa has the rundown for the nominees of Denmark's P3 Guld awards: https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/45085
New Mommyheads single to feature Moneybrother
American act The Mommyheads have collaborated with Anders Wendin (Moneybrother) on a new single called "Just give me a reason" which will be released on March 18.
Papir debut out December 1
has announced that the self-titled debut LP from Danish Krautrockers Papir will be released on December 1. 250 copies, hand-stamped covers; preview here: https://www.myspace.com/papirband
Bastard Priest working on new material
Bastard Priest are reportedly working on a new album for release in early 2011 and have completed 50% of the recordings for nine new tracks. More details to come later.
Pixie Carnation - Speed up your heart
will be releasing a new 7" single from Malmö-based act Pixie Carnation, the first from the band's forthcoming album. No exact release date yet, but expect it to appear around February 2011.
Swedish House Mafia as the next Spinal Tap
The Guardian reviews Swedish House Mafia's seemingly unselfconscious ridiculousness in their tour documentary "Take one": https://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/27/swedish-house-mafia-take-one
Kausal
In dead cities
Version Studio
I'll say one thing for Stockholm's Kausal: they've got the potential to make someone a lot of money. See, listening repeatedly to "In dead cities" has made me realise that there's a niche market ready for the budding entrepreneur to exploit. Here's the basic pitch: buy the rights to "In dead cities" and then start up a new label that proclaims to have the cure for sleepless nights. As word of its success spreads, millions of baggy-eyed insomniacs will begin to scoop the album up until demand is such that outlets will barely be able to keep up with orders. $$$! Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh. Kausal are an alright band in that whole ponderous, shoegazey universe that they reside in and they do have some moments of... alrightness... But, bloody hell, it's tedious stuff. There are some genuinely nice moments on the album, it must be said. You know those moments when you hear a guitar part and you think, "Oh, wow. Now that's a cool little section," and when it ends you kinda wish the band had played it just that tiny bit longer? You don't get those on "In dead cities". You get the, "Oh, wow. Now that's a cool little section," alright. But, instead of wishing it would run a little longer you find yourself thinking, "Jesus, is this ever going to end?" And it never does! Or, at least, it seems that way. I definitely found myself gazing at my shoes more than usual after listening to this, but that was because my head kept dropping as I fought to stay awake for the whole forty days -- sorry, minutes -- or so of this album. Way, way, way too boring!
- John Norby
Ulver + Virus + Zweizz
Norwegian noisenik/prankster Zweizz has been added to the Ulver/Virus show in London at KOKO and will also be accompanying the former on a number of other dates.
Haunting the Chapel: Årabrot
Stereogum talks up Norwegian sludge act Årabrot: https://stereogum.com/584521/arabrot-interim-me/franchises/haunting-the-chapel/