Skjelvekommode - Stapte Renault
Check out the debut single "Stapte Renault" from Skjelvekommode, the collaboration of Frank Tønnesen (Tønes) and Frode Strømstad (I Was A King): https://hypecity.no/?p=865
Hjertestop US dates confirmed
Dates are now starting to be confirmed for Hjertestop's US tour in November: https://www.myspace.com/hjertestop
Rubik recording, touring
Finnish indie act Rubik are currently recording a new album at their home studio for release in early 2011 via . They'll also be doing a number of European dates starting at the end of the month:
10/29 - Kaserne, Basel (SWI)
10/30 - Merkker, Baden (SWI)
11/01 - Le Rocher Palmer, Bordeaux (FRA)
11/02 - Le Saint des Seins, Toulouse (FRA)
11/03 - Le Centrifugeuse, Pau (FRA)
11/08 - La Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA)
11/10 - Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers (FRA)
11/11 - Festival les Indisciplinés, Lorient (FRA)
11/12 - Festival les Boréales, Caen (FRA)
11/13 - Le 6 Par 4, Laval (FRA)
11/25 - Primavera Club, Madrid (ESP)
11/26 - Primavera Club, Madrid (ESP)
11/27 - Primavera Club, Barcelona (ESP)
Ayla, HighWon & I-Smile - Nya Sverige
Swedish hip-hop crews Ayla, HighWon and I-Smile respond to Sweden's new xenophobic political climate with the track "Nya Sverige": https://djsilenceblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/ayla-highwon-i-smile-nya-sverige.html
AC4 UK tour (updated)
Updated UK tourdates for AC4:
10/14 - The Coalition, Brighton
10/15 - Club Revolution - The Park, Peterborough
10/16 - The Underworld, London Camden
10/17 - The Croft, Bristol
10/18 - The Old Bell, Derby
10/19 - Carling 02 Academy 3, Birmingham
10/20 - The Well, Leeds
10/21 - Parish, Huddersfield
10/22 - Boiler Room, Guildford
10/23 - Club Ifor Bach, Cardiff (day show)
10/24 - The Joiners, Southampton
Dusted reviews Islaja
Dusted reviews the new Islaja album "Keraaminen paa": https://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/6005
I'm Kingfisher - Willing night plants (video)
See the video for I'm Kingfisher's new single "Willing night plants" (as posted about Monday): https://blogs.playgroundmusic.com/intlpub/exclusive-video-premiere-im-kingfisher-willing-night-plants
Sweden United - Open your eyes
An all-star anti-bullying campaign headed by Scarpoint featuring guest vocals from Jens Kidman (Meshuggah), Jimmie Strimmel (Dead by April), Anette Olzon (Nightwish), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Zak Tell (Clawfinger), Martin Westertrand (Lillasyster), Tom Englund (Evergrey) and Peter Tägtgren (Pain, Hypocrisy). Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fK7V9UBfJ8
More info/background/interviews here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC0h0rZFlxY
New Bjørn Torske gets release date
has confirmed that the new Bjørn Torske album "Kokning" will be out on November 15: https://www.smalltownsupersound.com/2010/09/13/bj%c3%b8rn-torske-kokning-1-november/
Lighthouse Project album preview
Rokkizine is streaming the new Lighthouse Project album "Atonement": https://www.rokkizine.fi/artikkelit/lighthouse-project-2/
There's also an interview, but it's in Finnish so it's completely impenetrable to me.
Eardrums Music on Azure Blue
Eardrums Music on Azure Blue, the new solo act from Irene frontman Tobias Isaksson: https://eardrumsmusic.com/2010/10/06/azure-blue-new-solo-project-from-the-singer-of-irene/
Boeoes Kaelstigen - Desolate view
Boeoes Kaelstigen have just released their new single "Desolate view" which features guest vocals from Stefan Storm of Sound of Arrows and you can listen/download here: https://boeoeskaelstigen.co.uk/?p=121
Case Conrad - Hold up this song (video)
Gustav Haggren of Gustav and the Seasick Sailors has a new band called Case Conrad and this is their debut single. Look for the John Roger Olsson-produced album "Dew point" to be released on October 23 via .
Petter Seander - Silver spoon (video)
Check out the video for the new single "Silver spoon" from Swedish artist Petter Seander (Sleeping Beauty, Kristian Anttila): https://vimeo.com/14799725
MP3: Britta Persson - Toast to M
"Toast to M" is oddly cheery sounding for a song about suicide, but I suppose that's the point. It's about making peace, not wallowing in misery. It's also an obvious standout on Britta Persson's new record "Current affair medium rare", which is one of three great new Swedish albums out this season, all fairly obvious picks from established artists. As with the others, one of Britta's best qualities is her consistent progression -- she abandoned straightforward girl-with-a-guitar based songwriting with previous album "Kill Hollywood me" and has now gone further into rhythm-heavy composition, building songs around memorable beats. Naturally, having someone as gifted as Per Nordmark (Fireside, Bad Hands, etc... playing Friday at Debaser Malmö for IAT! Clubnights) as your sideman certainly helps, but let's not diminish Britta's wonderful phrasing, among other highpoints. There's lots to like, moreso on the record as a whole.
Also note that Britta Persson will be one of Club Killers' special "secret" guests at Strand on October 8 where she will be singing "Bleeding love" and "Kids in America" with the band. So there you go, two must-see shows on each side of Sweden. I won't be anywhere close, but I would if I could.
Britta Persson - Toast to M