Download the new Vit Päls album
Swedish indiepop act Vit Päls are offering their new album "Det har varit ett sjukt år" as a free download: https://vitpals.bandcamp.com/album/det-har-varit-ett-sjukt-r
Cherry-pick the Discobelle x Scion AV comp
Interested in cherry-picking that new Discobelle comp for all the best tracks? Adrian Recordings has you covered: https://www.adrianrecordings.com/default.asp?newsid=226
Indies vs. Tono
It might be a bit hard to follow for non-Norwegian speakers, but Groove is publishing a back-and-forth discussion between various indie labels (Fysisk Format, Mas-Kina) and licensing/copyright bureau Tono/NCB: https://www.groove.no/nyheter.html
Øya Festival Showcase
Live @ the Bell House, Brooklyn 03/16/2009
Co-presented with NYC showlist stalwart Oh My Rockness, the Øya Festival brought burgeoning Norwegian pop acts The New Wine and Casiokids to the city on their way down to Austin for SXSW. Casiokids had built up some hype in the fall after heralded CMJ performances; however this was the US debut by The New Wine, who played slick pop music with a danceable beat and easy comparisons to NYC's Tigercity. They got the crowd moving with their catchy songs and standout vocals and keyboards. Casiokids closed out the show with a set of dance-pop and delivered a very high energy set, both in terms of tempo and stage movements. I had also been unfamiliar with them prior to attending, and the only song I recognized was their encore cover of Familjen's mighty "Det snurrar i min skalle". Overall, this showcase did well to promote the music happening in Norway at the moment and give the audience an idea of the more localized acts playing at Øya in August.
- Matt Giordano
Cody hanging out in NYC
Danish "anti-folk" artist Cody is doing a string of NYC dates in April. Dates (and sound samples) at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/codysongs
Fever Ray - Keep the streets empty for me
RCRD LBL is giving away a new Fever Ray track: https://www.rcrdlbl.com/artists/Fever_Ray/track/Keep_The_Streets_Empty_For_Me
Montée - Secrecy
Norwegian act Montée is now streaming the track "Secrecy" at myspace which features guest sax playing from countrymate Håkon Kornstad: https://www.myspace.com/monteemusic
Bob Hund vinyl onslaught
Bob Hund will be releasing 3 vinyl singles to coincide with their new album release. There will be a 4-song 10" on Törncrantz Rock'n'Roll, a 3-song 10" on Dilletante and a 2-song 7" on Hot Stuff, all due out in time for the tour kickoff on April 20.
Blänk - I'm going for your brother (video)
Check out Blänk's new video for "I'm going for your brother": https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54594356
Apparently their debut album comes out April 7.
Stream Two White Horses
Two White Horses are now streaming their entire new record at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/2whitehorses
The self-titled debut is officially released on April 1 via Sahara Hotnights' label Stand By Your Band.
Universal Poplab + Emmon to play SummerSounds Fest, looking for more US gigs
Universal Poplab and Emmon will be coming over to the US to play the SummerSounds Festival in Greensburg, PA outside Pittsburgh on July 17 and are looking for more gigs, so if you think you can help them out with something either near the fest or in another major city like NYC, please get in touch! Sebastian from Wonderland Records promises to make it worth your while!
MP3: Parasite - Nightwinds
Here's something I picked up on a blind recommendation from a friend: Parasite was a short-lived Swedish metal band who only managed to release one self-titled EP back in 1984. The sound is ballsy NWOBHM, not too unlike Angel Witch but without the high-pitched vocals. The drummer Johan Billerhag went on to play with thrash also-rans Hexenhaus and Memento Mori, but beyond that, they don't seem to have left much of a dent. So yeah, by no means a lost classic, but the price was right and it's got plenty of oomph as you'll hear on the track I've posted today. Very melodic, lots of tasteful leads, good atmosphere -- more than enough reasons to dig in. Especially when it's got such bad-ass coverart too! Tech note: there's a bummer rip of this floating around with some channel dropping at the end, so I ripped this one myself. It red-lined a few times, but the overall quality is far better than the other one I copped. You're welcome!
Parasite - Nightwinds
Can't make it to Umeå Open...?
Stream live video from Umeå Open: https://www.qik.com/umeaopen1
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
02. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
03. E.M.D. - A state of mind - deluxe
04. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
05. Alcazar - Disco defenders
06. Salem - Astronaut
07. Fever Ray - Fever Ray
08. Lili & Susie - Nu och då - Det bästa med Lili & Susie
09. Kevin Borg - The beginning
10. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
11. Adiam Dymott - Adiam Dymott
12. Zillah & Totte - Det låter apa
13. A Camp - Colonia
14. Mikael Wiehe - Sånger från en inställd skilsmässa
15. Olle Ljungström - Sju
16. Takida - Bury the lies
17. Hammerfall - No sacrifice, no victory
18. Jill Johnson - Baby blue paper
19. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
20. Mando Diao - Give me fire!
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. BigBang - Edendale
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2009
03. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham County Line - Brother Of Song
04. CC Cowboys - Morgen & kveld
05. Marius Müllers Funhouse - Plugged 2 - Rett og slett
06. Sie Gubba - Hemafrå
07. Silje Nergaard - A Thousand True Stories
08. Noora Noor - Soul Deep
09. Kristin Asbjørnsen - The Night Shines Like the Day
10. Ole Paus - Paus synger paus
11. Kari Bremnes - Ly
12. deLillos - Huskeglemme
13. Skambankt - Hardt regn
14. Elisabeth Andreassen - Spellemann
15. Montée - Isle of Now
16. Åge Aleksandersen & Mikael Wiehe - To stemmer - 14 akustiske sanger
17. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
18. The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules
19. Heroes & Zeros - Simian Vices Modern Devices
20. Vestlandsfanden - Tipping & Trygd