Vuf #6: Back to nature
Danish label has a new comp posted for free download: https://vuf-empire.dk/
Featured artists include Sleep Party People, Chimes and Bells, The Deer Tracks, Troels Abrahamsen, I Got You on Tape and more.
Immanu El post 2011 tour schedule, more
Swedish postrockers Immanu El have started to confirm dates for their upcoming European tour next March: https://www.myspace.com/immanuelband/blog/540817675
The band also reports that they are working on material for their next album, set for an October 2011 release, and will be debuting a few of the tracks during these dates.
I Was A King
Old friends
Sounds Familyre
On their self-titled debut, I Was a King carved out a niche filled with lackadaisical charms and easily repeatable, difficult to dislike slacker melodies. A year later, the Norwegian band is back with their aptly named sophomore album "Old friends". Crafting more of the same honey-soaked tunes that play like the embodiment of your favorite, worn-out sweatshirt, the band continues their reign of simplistic pleasantries.
Their previous effort boasted a guest spot from Sufjan Stevens (relegated to piano -- but hey, you can't argue with that kind of indie star power); this time Stevens cohort Daniel Smith (Danielson Family) steps in as the guest du jour. The paring makes sense -- both bands are only a few steps away from each other on the quirky scale (with Danielson Family taking the prize each and every time), but while Smith's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mentality translates to an utterly pleasing loose ride, and his recording digs contribute to an undeniably warm and immediate sound, the tunes themselves plateau at merely enjoyable.
With the longest track clocking in at three-and-a-half minutes (and the shortest -- "Kontrari" -- demanding a scant fifteen seconds of your time), it's nice to know that some bands still know better than to overstay their welcome. But while brevity is the soul of wit, achieving it shouldn't come at the cost of stunting idea development -- an unfortunate issue that dots many of the otherwise most enjoyable tracks. "Forgive and forget", in all its classic pop glory could have benefited from an extra verse or two, and the pulled back freak-out of "Unreal" is so adroitly crafted, it would have merited grandstanding. However, the stars do briefly align on "Snow song", a lightening-bolt of a piano ballad that blossoms into to an angular shower of electric guitars. With moments as impressive as this, is it greedy to ask for a bit more?
- Laura Studarus
New album from Lasse Marhaug via Smalltown Superjazzz
will be releasing Lasse Marhaug's new album "All music at once" on December 6, his third solo release for the label. Read more: https://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2010/11/18/lasse-marhaug-music-6-december/
Guest musicians on said record include Jon Wesseltoft (Thorns, Maja Ratkje, Hild Sofie Tafjord and Stian Westerhus (Puma).
September - Resuscitate me (video)
Not sure that she'll ever top "In orbit", but I think I'll always have a soft spot for the dance pop of September. This is her brand new single "Resuscitate me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51vB15OgHrw
Musik med Nina Kinert, PSL i Umeå
Live music with Nina Kinert at PSL: https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/11/19/musik-med-nina-kinert/
Also! PSL has been spending time in Umeå and they stopped by the new shop run by friend and "former Starmarket superstar" Magnus Öberg (/KVLR): https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/11/19/our-favourite-shop-nomethod-butiken/
Cosmos launches children's music imprint
Musikindustrin reports that is starting a children's music sublabel called : https://www.musikindustrin.se/916/nyheter.html
The first release will be a comp entitled "Älskade barnvisor från den skimrande barnkammarboken" which will feature popular children's songs as performed by artists such as Björn Skifs, Magnus Carlson (Weeping Willows), Linda Bengtzing, Amy Diamond, Cookies n' Beans and more.
MP3: Another Nation's National Anthem - About your fathers
I am a big appreciator of the large gesture. Pixie Carnation and We are the Storm are two fine examples of contemporary Swedish acts achieving epic indie rock grandeur; Another Nation's National Anthem is another. The band's new EP "Conscious castle" is a concept work that flows steadily from track to track, from one climatic moment to the next; in between are moments of refined melancholy that remind me of Tiger Lou, especially on the two-part "Hold, stranger". The band's own descriptor of "massive" implies a heaviness that they lack, but they got the size part right on. Many acts have been following similar paths in the wake of Arcade Fire, most of them falling far short; ANNA succeeds with their restrained bombast and a balanced fragility/woundedness. They could probably still do more to differentiate themselves from the rabble, but I can't begrudge a song like "About your fathers" when it does it so well.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Rundt neste sving
02. Madcon - Contraband
03. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
04. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
05. Odd Nordstoga - November
06. Hans Rotmo - Vårres Jul 2
07. Ole Ivars - Stjerneklart
08. Sissel - ...til deg...
09. Ida Maria - Katla
10. Sigvart Dagsland - Bryllups- og Begravelsesorkester
11. Malin & Celine - Julekonserten
12. Trine Rein - Seeds Of Joy
13. Tone Damli Aaberge - Cocool
14. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
15. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
16. Didrik Solli-Tangen - Guilty Pleasures
17. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
18. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
19. A-ha - 25
20. Skambankt - Søvnløs
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Bo Kaspers Orkester - New Orleans
02. Håkan Hellström - 2 steg från paradise
03. Sanna Shirley Sonja - Vår Jul
04. The Playtones - Rock'n'roll Christmas party
05. Jill Johnson - The well-known and some other favourite stories
06. Sarah Dawn Finer - Winterland
07. Caroline af Ugglas - Vad var det jag sa
08. Flamingokvintetten - Tack & förlåt
09. Christian Kjellvander - The rough and rynge
10. Amy Diamond - Greatest hits
11. Tove Styrke - Tove Styrke
12. Daniel Adams-Ray - Svart vitt och allt däremellan
13. Robyn - Body talk pt.2
14. Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet - Echoes
15. Sven Zetterberg - Grounded in reality
16. Nanne - En rastlös själ
17. Oskar Linnros - Vilja bli
18. Eldkvarn - Kärlekens väg - en mässa
19. Kent - En plats i solen
20. Fatboy - Overdrive
Bella Union picks up Treefight for Sunlight
Danish act Treefight For Sunlight has been picked up by UK label who will be releasing their first international single "What became of you and I" on December 13.
The Knife live DVD now streaming at Pitchfork
Pitchfork is streaming The Knife's live DVD "Silent shout - An audiovisual experience" for a week: https://pitchfork.com/tv/#/episode/2527-the-knife-silent-shout-an-audio-visual-experience/1
Museum of Bellas Artes - Days ahead (Pistol Disco remix)
No Modest Bear has a Pistol Disco remix of Museum of Bellas Artes' "Days ahead" posted for streaming/download: https://www.nomodestbear.com/blog/museum-of-bellas-artes-x-pistol-disco/
Säkert! - November
A new song from Säkert!, recorded during the sessions for "Facit" but unreleased until now: https://sakert.blogspot.com/2010/11/november.html
KEXP song of the day: The new improved hypocrisy
The Radio Dept.'s "The new improved hypocrisy" is KEXP's song of the day today, citing the track's timely political message: https://blog.kexp.org/blog/2010/11/18/song-of-the-day-the-radio-dept-the-new-improved-hypocrisy/