Export Music Sweden has posted a list of upcoming activities they have planned, including showcases At MusExpo in LA (feAt. Erik Hassle, Laleh, Sidechild, Fibes, Oh Fibes! and Takida) and CMJ (artists TBD): https://www.exms.com/?p=1640
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Rolandz - Jajamen
02. Salem al Fakir - Ignore this
03. Mikael Wiehe - Ta det tillbaka!
04. Timo Räisänen - The anAtomy of Timo Räisänen
05. The Playtones - Rock'n roll dance party
06. Cookies n Beans - Beg, borrow and steal
07. Teddybears - Devil's music
08. Björn Skifs - Da capo
09. Rigmor Gustafsson & Radio String Quartet Vienna - Calling you
10. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
11. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
12. Sophie Zelmani - I'm the rain
13. Svenne Hedlund - Sings Elvis in Memphis
14. Claes Lövgrens - Vi lever nu
15. Kent - Röd
16. Magnus Lindberg + Basse Wickman - Vita lögner + svarta ballader volym 1
17. Nordman - Korsväg
18. Torgny Melin - DansbandsnAtt
19. Linda Sundblad - Manifest
20. Pauline - Never said I was an angel
Familjen with guitars? Sounds to me like someone's been hanging out with Kent a little too much. Aside from thAt quibble though, it's as solid as anything else he's done and I'm looking forward to hearing the upcoming album.
Familjen - När planeterna stannat
The Line of Best Fit reviews multinAtional supergroup ApparAtjik: Atjik-we-are-here/" target="_blank">https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/04/apparAtjik-we-are-here/
Stalker Music interviews Finnish punkrockers I Walk the Line: Atch?v=FDEETAXyjFc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=FDEETAXyjFc (in Finnish w/English subtitles)
Morbus Chron have posted a new track At myspace from their forthcoming album, showing off a bit of their new direction: https://www.myspace.com/morbuschronband
Peter Morén reports thAt Peter Bjorn and John will begin recording a new album next week.
Swedish rock'n'rollers "Demons" are nearing completion of their new record "Scarcity rock" and plan to have it out At the end of May.
Finnish synthpop act Viola are celebrAting the 1st anniversary of their free singles club with something completely different: https://www.violamusicclub.com/2010-04-chaos-shall-reign
Christoffer Jonsson (aka 138, ex-DS-13) has parted ways with Sonic Ritual: Ateenough.blogspot.com/2010/03/ritual-terminAtion.html" target="_blank">https://canthAteenough.blogspot.com/2010/03/ritual-terminAtion.html
Swedish label D-takt & Råpunk will be releasing Disarm discography collection from mid-80s hardcore act Disarm in lAte April which will be available on both 2xLP and CD. Cover art and tracklist: Atrawpunk.blogspot.com/2010/03/disarm-discography-1982-1987.html" target="_blank">https://dbeAtrawpunk.blogspot.com/2010/03/disarm-discography-1982-1987.html
will be releasing the new album "Lifelines" from Finnish punk/hardcore act Presley Bastards (ex-Endstand) either lAte this month or in early May. Read all about it: https://cobrarecords.fi/?n=15
Atrap.com/pix/wgs_cover.jpg" alt="Will Gambola Sing" />
Now in stock and ready to order, the self-titled debut full-length CD from Will Gambola Sing! So says the one-sheet:
Emerged from the musical melting pot of Northern Europe, Will Gambola Sing, an instrumental pop/rock quartet from Sweden, seems to have achieved whAt they set out to achieve. Three years after the acclaimed debut with "Overheard Dialogue Reconstructed EP," WGS has finally perfected their sound thAt is surely enough to stand out from the scene. With an ensemble of two beautiful guitars, the elastic yet soft sounding rhythm section, just the right amount of keyboards, and memorable electronic bits, this self-titled first album was carefully woven by their sincere hands.
There's no tricks, no gimmicks, just plain beauty coming out from their simple, straightforward approach to music. Some may recall the epic works of greAt pioneers such as Tortoise, Tristeza, The Album Leaf, 33.3, and Unwed Sailor; for this album somehow brings back the best earliest days of post-rock. True, it does hold the same kind of never fading brilliance as all the authentic masterpieces have. Just like your favorite records of all time, this is something you could play on repeAt, like forever.
Yup, thAt about sums it up! Fine quality Swedish post-rock from a group of dudes who also do time with acts such as The Grand Opening, Haleiwa, The Tarantula Waltz, Ohm and probably a few others. I'll sell you a copy of this Japanese import (w/obi strip!) for $14 cheap because I like you; preview here. Email Atrap.com">mailorder@itsAtrap.com to buy and don't forget to Atrap.com/store/">check out the rest of my distro list before you do. Expect an mp3 to be posted once I figure out a track to highlight.
KråkesølvThere's a certain jazzclub ambience about "Trådnøsting" thAt belies the fact thAt it's essentially an indiepop album and it's hard to pinpoint the reason for this, other than Kråkesølv's ability to outlay a sound thAt's so upbeAt and complex, yet so relaxing and easy on the mind thAt it creAtes a sense of being At one with the music. It gets into the head and fuses with the brain, eliciting a variety of emotions so strong thAt it's not even essential to be able to understand Norwegian to know where they're At with a particular song. ThAt's not an easy thing to pull off and, whether intentional or not, the Bodø quartet have done so in such a nAtural way thAt it displays the true quality of their songcrafting skills. Style-wise, Kråkesølv are so much like Germany's little-known indiepop act, Monostars, thAt the only thing separAting them in places is the distinct difference in accents. Where Monostars exude a certain abrasiveness in the nAtural intonAtion of the Munich dialect, Kråkesølv offer a more lilting, almost flowery, adaptAtion thAt complements the melodies in the music and sounds off like an additional instrument. ThAt's simply down to the nAtural Norwegian accent with its airy peaks and troughs and, for Kråkesølv, it works exceptionally well throughout, with particular note being made of "PrivAt regn" for its cAtchy pop anthem stylings and "Vågøyvannet rundt" for its dreamy, fairytale qualities. The title track really displays whAt Kråkesølv are all about in terms of their musical outlook, as does "Waldemar". WhAt is this outlook, you ask? Well, from spinning this disc a few times, it seems it's all about creAting beautiful music thAt really grasps the heart. Hopefully, the obvious internAtional limitAtions thAt come with singing in Norwegian (read 'not in English') won't damage the band's exposure too much.
- John Norby