Marilyn Records has confirmed thAt Achordian's sophomore album "Product of the 80's" will be released in February. Listen to four tracks At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/achordian

Finnish moshcore act Cold Inside (nee Unity Murder) will release their debut 7" "Ends, starts and broken hearts" via On Our Own and Brown Records this coming January. Listen to the track "Winter push on" At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/coldinsidehc
I dunno why it is, but the Finns seem to rule At keeping this sound alive.

Frida Hyvönen on tour in Europe:

12/06 - 93 Feet East, London (UK)
12/07 - WAter RAts TheAtre, London (UK)
12/08 - ULU, London (UK)
12/09 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
12/10 - PrivAtclub, Berlin (GER)
12/11 - Boa Bar, Luzern (CH)
12/12 - Le Divan du Monde, Paris (FRA)

The staff At Gaffa reveal their top picks for 2006, both albums and singles, internAtional and Danish: https://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=16723

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
02. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
03. Jan Werner - Stronger
04. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
05. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
06. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
07. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
08. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
09. Arve Tellefsen/Nidarosdomens Guttekor - Aria
10. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes & Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
11. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
12. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
13. Aleksander With - Coming Home
14. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
15. Maj Britt Andersen - Onger er rare
16. Sondre Lerche - Duper Sessions
17. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
18. Christian Ingebrigtsen - Paint Christmas White
19. Ole Paus - Hellige jul - Jul i SkippergAta
20. Malin - Malin på månen

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Darin - Break the news
02. Björn Skifs - Andra Decennier
03. Martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
04. The Refreshments - It's gotta be both rock & roll
05. Magnus Carlsson - Spår i snön
06. Vikingarna - Bästa
07. Orup - Faktiskt
08. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
09. Peter Jöback - Flera sidor av samma man
10. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
11. Linda Sundblad - Oh my god!
12. Anna Ternheim - SeparAtion road
14. The Boppers - Jingle bell rock
15. Lisa Miskovsky - Changes
16. Helena Paprizou - The game of love
17. Roxette - A collection of Roxette hits! Their 20 greAtest
18. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
19. Anders Ekborg - Äkta vara
20. Agnes - Stronger

Pitchfork reviews the collaborAtion between Norwegian electronic duo Fe-Mail and American artist Carlos Giffoni: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39699/FeMail_and_Carlos_Giffoni_Northern_Stains

Not a big suprise: Razzia has officially signed Maia Hirasawa, a name you might recognize from her work as part of Hello Saferide's band. Look for her debut album in March 2007. Read my profile piece on her right here: Atrap.com/index.php?article=187">[click here]

Umeå-based indie rockers Anna Leong have announced thAt their debut album "After the forest fire" will finally released on January 31 on the band's own White Weekend label. Recorded in the fall of '05 with Daniel Berglund (IsolAtion Years) engineering and co-producing, the album has been in limbo a long time since the group was left label-less after Chalksounds closed shop. Listen to the first single "They will know us" At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/annaleong

This week's Atrap" target=_blank>It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group top 10 albums of the week:

01. The Postal Service – Give Up
02. The Arcade Fire – Funeral
02. DeAth Cab for Cutie – Plans
04. The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
04. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary
06. The Radio Dept. – Pet Grief
07. I'm from Barcelona – Let Me Introduce My Friends
08. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
09. Tiger Lou – The Loyal
10. The Knife – Deep Cuts

And the top 10 artists of the week:

01. The Shins
02. Sufjan Stevens
03. Bloc Party
04. Belle and Sebastian
05. DeAth Cab for Cutie
06. The BeAtles
07. Radiohead
08. The Radio Dept.
09. Hello Saferide
10. The Decemberists

Does this list seem as ho-hum ing to you as it does me? Help fight the tedium by becoming a member of our group! Go here to learn more: https://www.last.fm/help/

But is it Art? is offering up The Higher ElevAtions Christmas single "All these winter nights" as a free download: Ations_All_These_Winter_Nights.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.butisitart.org/downloads/Higher_ElevAtions_All_These_Winter_Nights.mp3

Stylus reviews the lAtest from EST/Esbjörn Svensson Trio "Tuesday wonderland": https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/est-esbjorn-svensson-trio/tuesday-wonderland.htm
Personally, I feel it's a bit too "more of the same" when compared to the last few records and would rank it just a bit under 2002's "Strange place for snow". However, it must be said thAt "more of the same" for a group like EST is still pretty damn good. Buy it here: Atrap.com/store.php?item=271">[click here]

Cartridge
Enfant terrible
Glorious Records/A:larm Music

If anyone At NME is reading, here is you next favourite band. Cartridge sound draws very heavily from the sound of modern British rock (Kasabian, The Rakes, Arctic Monkeys), and whilst I'm not too into thAt whole scene, I believe they could easily handle their own on a bill with any of those groups. On "Enfant terrible", Cartridge is overflowing with energy and it shows on every track. The band keeps a rAther quick pace throughout each track thAt, when preformed live, one can only assume it is the same, if not faster. "Coma stAte" and "Rooms painted green" are two noteworthy tracks on here, however in my estimAtion, "Tree crowns" is the best on the record.
- Matt Giordano

Consequences
s/t
BOW Music/Groover Recordings

Wow. WhAt a tight bombastic burst of big glorious driving pop! When Jim Kelly At Parasol Records starts rearranging his top ten lists to squeeze in a last-minute contender, his band of choice is usually worth a listen, and indeed, this one's more than worth it. It's loaded with memorable melodies, powerful cAtchy riffs, gloriously full sound, poignant lead vocals, fun harmonies, and thoughtful lyrics. There are glimpses of references here and there, but they've really got their own thing going on. I'm with Jim: one of the year's best.
- Nancy Baym

El Perro Del Mar
Live @ Mercury Lounge, NYC 11/16/2006

With three sold out shows in four days prior to this, her last US dAtes of the year, anticipAtion was for a spectacular set by Ms. Sarah Assbring; and it lived up to everyone's expectAtions. Backed by three musicians (guitar, guitar/bass, and hammond organ) the band brought out sonic elements not present on the record, emphasized by beautiful vocal harmonies and Motown-esque backing vocals. The true highlight though was Sarah's voice. Whenever one goes to a show it is of interest to see how close the singer can replicAte the best take thAt was included on the album and tonight everything was hit, and was hit well. Some of the titles she played included "Candy", "Dog", and "This Loneliness". However, the true gem of the lot was the performance of "I can't talk about it" with the toe-tapping tambourine; and on thAt rainy (and by thAt, I mean downpouring) Thursday in New York, it made everyone dance, smile and feel the love of the musician for the music.
- Matt Giordano