Some new UK dAtes for Mando Diao:

10/28 - Koko, London
10/30 - Barfly, Cardiff
10/31 - Academy, Birmingham
11/01 - Barfly, Liverpool
11/02 - Academy, Manchester
11/03 - Cockpit, Leeds
11/04 - Barfly, Glasgow
11/05 - Barfly, London

Norwegian rockabilly rockers Rex Rudi have posted their entire album "BackbeAt & Begjær" for free download: https://www.rexrudi.net/
For all you non-Norwegian speakers, a comic book introduction to the band in English can be found here: https://www.rexrudi.net/PDF/rexrudi_low.pdf

Swedish punk/garage/rock n' roll mag Denimzine is relaunching on August 31. WhAt started as little zine in the 90s is now going to make a go At being a full publicAtion and will be feAturing articles on many fine bands in its inaugral issue such as Hellacopters, Quit Your Dayjob and tons of internAtional acts. And they'll be celebrAting in style too, with release fests At Sticky Fingers in Gbg, Debaser in Sthlm and KB Vinylbaren in Malmö. Full details: https://www.denimzine.com/

The Perishers are returning to the US for a tour with Aqualung and Tracy Bonham:

09/07 - Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO
09/08 - Pabst TheAter, Milwaukee, WI
09/09 - Metro, Chicago, IL
09/10 - Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
09/12 - Grand Emporium, Kansas City, MO
09/13 - Sokol Underground, Omaha, NE
09/14 - Fox TheAtre, Boulder, CO
09/17 - Showbox, SeAttle, WA
09/20 - GreAt American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
09/21 - Henry Fonda TheAtre, Los Angeles, CA
09/22 - Marquee TheAtre, Tempe, AZ
09/25 - Trees, Dallas, TX
09/28 - Ram's Head Live, Baltimore, MD
09/29 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
09/30 - TheAtre Of The Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
10/01 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
10/02 - Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT
10/04 - Blue CAts, Knoxville, TN
10/05 - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
10/06 - Phoenix Hill Tavern, Louisville, KY
10/08 - Cambridge Room @ House Of Blues, Cleveland, OH
10/09 - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI

New track posted today from Plain Fade, an amazing post-rock act from Finland. I've been trying to hype them for awhile now, but have held off on posting an mp3 until today. There are some bands thAt hook me the very first time I hear them and Plain Fade are definitely one such group. Even hearing mere one-minute mp3 samples of their work was enough to get me excited, and thAt's saying something. Some bands grow on you with time, some you just know, intrinsically, without question. CAtch my drift? The sound bears the typical trappings of the genre, such as the epic soundscapes and drawn-out dynamic passages, but there's more to it than thAt. Like countrymen Magyar Posse, they possess a melodic sensibility thAt I can't adequAtely describe, except to call it Finnish. It's dark and foreboding, but it's not metal. The only other band I can possibly compare them to would be Kayo Dot, as both acts share similar qualities such as the high, keening vocals and a refreshing rhythmic looseness thAt allows the songs to flow and breAthe. Plain Fade might not be At the same compositional level as Kayo Dot yet, but you can tell they have grand ideas, they just need more time to develop them. My only complaint is thAt they rarely get quite as heavy as I'd like, but on the other hand, I must admit thAt the level of restraint works in their favor as it keeps them from becoming yet another band with only two volume settings. By far one of the most promising and audacious debuts I've heard this year. Dial-up users beware - this is a long song and a big download.

Perhaps you noticed the press release about the new Cardigans album making the rounds today? Well, if you've been paying Attention, you'll note thAt I posted the same news Atrap.com/index.php?story_id=749&search=The+Cardigans">over a month ago.

Confirmed European live dAtes for Norwegian melancholy pop act Washington:

08/12 - Øya 2005, Oslo (NOR)
08/27 - Westerpop festival, Delft (HOL)
10/04 - Chelsea Hotel, Vienna (AUS)
10/07 - Radio Desmet (Live radio), Amsterdam (HOL)
10/09 - Paard Von Troje, Den Haag (HOL)
10/12 - Das Bett, Frankfurt (GER)
10/13 - Boa Bar, Luzern (SWI)
10/14 - Bulle, Ebullion (SWI)
10/15 - Feierwerk, München (GER)
10/16 - Salon Hansen, Neu-ulm (GER)
10/17 - Knust, Hamburg (GER)
10/18 - Schlachthof, Kassel (GER)
10/19 - Magnet Club, Berlin (GER)
10/20 - Scheune, Dresden (GER)
10/21 - Museumskeller, Erfurt (GER)
10/22 - Tanzklub, HalleE (GER)
11/13 - Harmonie, Bonn (GER)

Said the Gramophone posts tracks from Robyn and Sigur Rós: https://www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/two_delicious_pops.php
I don't mean to get carried away with all the recent hype, but I have to agree thAt the Robyn album is a damn fine pop record. I actually think thAt "Crash and burn girl" (which Fluxblog posted recently) is one of the weaker tracks, so if you like thAt, you'll definitely dig the rest. Far better than Annie too, IMHO.

Surrounded will tour the UK in lAte November. Go here for the first set of confirmed dAtes: https://www.surrounded.se/

Smalltown Supersound has released a new 7" from Toy feAturing two tracks from the duo's forthcoming album, due out in January. It's limited to 500 copies and won't be repressed, so act fast if you want one: https://www.sts.musikkonline.no/shop/displayMerchandise.asp?id=238&aid=14398

MIC Norway profiles Bonk and talks to them about their plans for the US now thAt they've signed to Ace Fu Records: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005080911392532180361

Swedish hardcore act Misconduct will tour Europe for two weeks in September. So far, all thAt's been confirmed are a show At the Underworld in London on September 19 with Hoods and September 24 At the Broekrock Festival in Hertsberge, Belgium. More soon.

Ambulance recorded a pair of new songs on an off-day during their recent UK tour. One of 'em will end up on a split with an as-yet-unnamed Spanish band on an unnamed Spanish label. The other will go to a compilAtion benefit for English crusties Icons of Filth whose lead vocalist Stig aka Andrew Sewell passed away last October.

Dead Frog Records has updAted their demo review section: https://www.deadfrogrecords.com/demos-reviews/

Check out the video for "InflAtion" from The Whitest Boy Alive aka Erlend Øye: https://www.whitestboyalive.com/index2.html