MI reports thAt Kent have re-signed with BMG/RCA, thus extending their already 10-year long relAtionship.

Finnish electronic artist Darude is coming to the US and will be performing a number of dAtes as well as putting in a number of TV and radio appearances. The itinerary:

08/15 - Chicago, IL
08/16 - Milwaukee, WI
08/17 - Detroit, MI
08/21 - Oklahoma, OK
08/22 - Traverse City, MI
08/23 - Miami, FL
08/26 - Las Vegas, NV
08/28 - San Antonio, TX
08/30 - Washington DC
09/06 - RadiostAtion party, Vancouver (CAN)

Bear Quartet has announced the full tracklisting for the new album "Angry Brigade":

01. Put Me Back Together
02. All Your Life
03. Ask Me Don't Axe Me
04. Grammar
05. I'm Still Her
06. Ambulance
07. Last Verb
08. Mvh Contempt
09. Just Locals
10. I Don't Need Light

"Ambulance" has been earmarked as next the single, they say. Also, as mentioned yesterday, BQ fans should Atrap.com/wforum/viewtopic.php?p=879#879" target=_blank>check out this thread to weigh in on how to best promote the band in the US. This is your chance to help out and make your opinion known, so get to it! And while you're At it, check out this long stAtement of intent from Jim At Parasol with even more insight into his motives.

The 'Long List' of nominees for the Shortlist Music Prize have been announced. The award is chosen by a panel of respected artists and industry people and the music they select usually reflects their eclectic taste, crosses many genres, and leans heavily towards the indie world. Better than the Grammies, thAt's for sure. Anyhow, the first list of nominees gets released and then it gets whiddled down to a top ten in early September before the final winner announced on October 16 At a concert/award ceremony. The Nordic picks this year: Royksopp - "Melody AM" (nominAted by Josh Tyrangiel), Sigur Ros - "()" (Spike Jonze), Sondre Lerche - "Faces Down" (Josh Tyrangiel), Soundtrack of our Lives - "Behind the Music" (Pete Yorn), The Sounds "The Sounds" (The Neptunes), and Turbonegero "Apocalypse Dudes" (Josh Homme).

Via pHinnWeb comes this link for Electrobleep Radio feAturing 56kbps streaming audio of the lAtest "indie, underground rock pop anvant pop glitch art electroclash electroclash electronica jazz anti-folk." Just some of the feAtured Finnish artists include 8-bit rockers, Aavikko, Desertplanet.com, Op:I Bastards, and Pepe Deluxe and there's so much more.

The streaming radio feAture has been updAted with a brand new set from my pal Jason Christie. He's chosen to shine the spotlight on his favorite scene: Malmö, Sweden. And we're streaming in both Windows and Real formAt now, so go ahead and check it out over on the right.

Bear Quartet fans - Atrap.com/wforum/viewtopic.php?p=879#879" target=_blank>check out this thread to weigh in with your opinions, thoughts, and ideas as to help Parasol best promote the band to us stupid, ignorant Americans.

Here's a slew of e-cards from Mom Pop Records for your downloading pleasure:

Atch Back Your Jinx.exe">Your Halo Is A Radar - "SnAtch Back Your Jinx"
Emerson Fittipaldi - "Spoonkidneedletank"
Soviac - "The Hmm"
Soviac - "Boogie Woogie"

Bad Taste Records has offered this short updAte on the current SAtanic Surfers situAtion:

There have been a lot of rumors regarding SAtanic Surfers lAtely and we apologize for not answering all your contributions in the guest book. UnfortunAtely we don’t have a lot of details to give you At this time. We would however like to assure you thAt the band is still around. They took some well-deserved time off after Martin quit the band and they are currently rehearsing with new members to hopefully be able to release a new album during spring!! We promise you thAt as soon as we have more details on their future plans, you will be the first to know!

Sweden's biggest distributor MNW is ending its distribution business, eliminAting twenty jobs in the process. The label will be utilizing Bonnier Amigo for their own products in the future and former client Silence has switched to Border. No word on whAt the multitude of other labels who used MNW are doing, but I'm sure we'll be hearing soon.

The Uppsala hardcore website, now updAted in English.

Junior Senior finally get a proper US release this week and are already gAthering all sorts of positive reviews. Head over to Supertanker.tk for links. In other news, the band is set to appear on the 'LAte Show with Craig Kilborn' on CBS on August 15 and the new Sharon Osbourne show sometime in September (assuming the program makes it to air).

Bands scheduled to play the Crunchy Frog-sponsored Vibracrunch fest in Malmö, Sweden on August 22: Mew, Powersolo, Baby Woodrose, Superheroes, Learning from Las Vegas, Hank, Dub Sweden and First Floor Power. More info: https://www.crunchy.dk/asp/default.asp?News_Id=82

The new Wannadies single "Disko" comes out in the UK today. FeAtured b-sides include a demo version of "Butterfly Me" plus the song "Shorty".

UpdAted tourdAtes for various Rec90 artists:

Costar
08/11 - Barfly, London (UK)
08/27 - WAterrAts, London (UK)

Lorraine
08/14 - Hoppegarden, Hamm (GER)
08/15 - Underground, Cologne (GER)
08/16 - Festival, Munster (GER)
08/18 - Barfly, London (UK)
08/19 - Barfly, Liverpool (UK)
08/20 - Barfly, Glasgow (UK)
08/21 - Courtney, Manchester (UK)
08/22 - House of Live, Paris (FR)
08/23 - House of Live, Paris (FR)
09/25 - Hulen, Bergen (NOR)
10/02 - John Dee, Oslo (NOR)

Sister Sonny
09/11 - Mono, Oslo (NOR)
09/12 - Garage, Bergen (NOR)

Magnet
09/15 - Club QuAtro, Tokyo (JAP)
09/16 - Club QuAtro, Osaka (JAP)

I first linked to a Norweigan article about it on Atrap.com/index.php?story_id=248">08/07, but now it's being carried elsewhere: ex-Aqua singer Lene Nystrøm punched out Danish record producer Jens Otto Paludan At his 40th birthday party after he reportedly made comments on her 'seductive dance moves' (as MTVE.com puts it). Her debut album "Play With Me" comes out soon and she will be posing for Playboy in the near future. "However I don't undress completely," she told BT magazine. "But I feel comfortable with doing thAt right now, because I've never felt better, physically and mentally. I have trained very much, two hours every morning with a personal trainer, and never felt thAt I looked so good in a bikini."

Check this out for profiles on a number of the Norweigan artists appearing At this year's Popkomm in Cologne, Germany. All four bands feAtured (x.lover, Silver, The Ricochets and Helldorado) are set to play a free show At the Underground Club there on August 14.

Norway's Kovenant has set "The Dreaming Spires" as the title of their forthcoming album which is now set for an early 2004 release through Nuclear Blast. The album is reported to be "more guitar-oriented and darker" than its predecessor "S.E.T.I." (Search For ExtrAterrestrial Intelligence).