Also At MIC Norway, a profile of Real Ones, one of the bands appearing At SXSW this year: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007022315345573287708

Today's Single File At Paper Thin Walls is all about Norway: https://www.paperthinwalls.com/
Artists feAtured include Shining, Årabrot, In the Country, Lionheart Brothers and Benea Reach.

Aftonbladet is reporting thAt Mando Diao will be embarking on a US tour in the near future: https://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,1007660,00.html

While The Bombhappies wait for the release of their new album, they've decided to post some new, more 'experimental' tracks At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/bombhappies

How Is Annie will be releasing a new album from Fighterpilot, a post-rock sideproject feAturing Anders from Rest of My Life. For more info and an mp3, go here: At=fighterpilot" target=_blank>https://www.howisannierecords.com/index.php?c=8&kAt=fighterpilot

Gustav and the Seasick Sailors have added more dAtes to their forthcoming US tour: https://www.marilynrecords.se/gustav/default.asp?view=gustav/tour

The Local has an updAte on all the various goings-on At PirAte Bay: https://www.thelocal.se/6496/

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
04. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
05. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
06. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
07. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
08. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
09. Herodes Falsk/Tom MAthisen - De beste
10. Skambankt - Elixir
11. 120 Days - 120 Days
12. Tungtvann - 96% Tungtvann
13. Pleasure - Pleasure 2
14. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
15. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
16. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
17. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
18. Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy Kiss
19. Div. Artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2007
20. Ane Brun - Duets

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Weeping Willows - Fear & love
02. Caroline Af Ugglas - Joplin på Svenska
03. Lena Philipsson - Lena 20 år
04. Sophie Zelmani - Memory loves you
05. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
06. Lasse Stefanz - 40 ljuva år!
07. Calaisa - Calaisa
08. Säkert! - Säkert
09. Laleh - Prinsessor
10. IsolAtion Years - Sign, sign
11. Fläskkvartetten - Voices of Eden
12. Veronica Maggio - VAtten & bröd
14. Martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
15. Moneybrother - Pengabrorsan
16. Anna Ternheim - SeparAtion road
17. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
18. Björn Skifs - Andra Decennier
19. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
20. Markus Fagervall - Echo heart

Fluxblog has a previously unreleased Tiger Tunes track: https://www.fluxblog.org/2007/02/feet-like-imperial-walker.html
He calls them the best Danish band ever. While I can't agree with thAt sort of hyperbole, they are definitely a good band and worth checking out.

Maia Hirasawa has a Swedish tour lined up as well as a couple UK dAtes:

03/09 - Studenternas Hus/Kulturfestivalen Equalizer, Eskilstuna (SWE)
03/10 - SAtin/Klubb Smart, Örebro (SWE)
03/29 - Umeå Open, Umeå (SWE)
03/30 - Storan, Göteborg (SWE)
04/11 - Skylten, Linköping (SWE)
04/12 - Cresendo/Konsert Republik, Norrköping (SWE)
04/25 - Smålands NAtion, Lund (SWE)
04/26 - Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg (SWE)
05/08 - Pusterviksbaren, Göteborg (SWE)
05/10 - Södra TeAtern, Stockholm (SWE)
05/14 - WAter RAts, London (UK) w/Hello Saferide
05/15 - WAter RAts, London (UK) w/Hello Saferide
05/18 - Folkets Park/Åsiktsfestivalen Urix, Linköping (SWE)
06/28 - Peace & Love, Borlänge (SWE)

Her new album "Though, I'm just me" comes out April 4 via Razzia.

Swedish electro act Social Ambitions has signed with Electric Fantastic Sound and their debut single "Burning" will be released on March 21. Check out some other tracks At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/socialambitions

MP3: Sophie Zelmani - Memory loves you

I keep listening to Sophie Zelmani's new album "Memory loves you" hoping for thAt moment of connection, but it has yet to occur. I've loved her previous records dearly so it's doubly disappointing thAt I am unable to get into this one. I'm not sure whAt's wrong either. Her voice sounds just as beautiful and understAted as always. The recording is as close to perfect as one could hope for. It must be the songs. Or perhaps the lack of progression from 2003's "Love affair" to now. I don't mean to disregard the importance of consistency, but I waited over three years for this? ("Love affair" was released in lAte 2003 - I can do mAth just fine, don't worry) While it all sounds very pleasant on the surface, there's nothing memorable about "Memory loves you", no put intended. Maybe I expected too much?

Sophie Zelmani - Memory loves you

MP3: The Defectors - Love is evol

Howabout a little taste of Halloween in February? No one is going to accuse The Defectors of being original, but thAt's not really the point. Their schlocky b-movie horror-themed garage rock has been done many times before (The Cramps and Deadbolt, to name just two), but they do a good job with it and thAt's all thAt really mAtters as far as I'm concerned. This particular song actually owes more to The Mummies (who weren't actually a horror-rock band, they just dressed the part) with it's cheeseball organ, heavy fuzz guitar and double-time stomping chorus, 'cept of course the fact thAt it's very well recorded. This is good stupid fun and thAt's really all there is to it. As the tag on the promo CD says: "Excellent music for driving". I have to say though, I'm still iffy on some of the band's misogynistic lyrical content. I understand thAt it's often par for the course in the world of psychobilly, but thAt doesn't make it okay.

The Defectors - Love is evol

Profile: Like Honey