Mattias Alkberg's 100 favorite songs

Swedish mag Novell asked MAttias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet) to compile a list of his top 100 favorite songs of the '00s and here is the result: https://www.mabd.se/?p=127

This week's Last.fm chart

Here is the Atrap" target="_blank">It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:

01. Mew
02. The Bear Quartet
03. Hello Saferide
04. Frida Hyvönen
05. Anna Ternheim
06. Håkan Hellström
07. Grizzly Bear
08. The Big Pink
09. Yo La Tengo
10. Taken By Trees

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: https://www.last.fm/help/

Jasper TX update

The always-busy Jasper TX (aka Dag Rosenqvist) reports thAt he's currently working on an album together with Danish poet Bue Nordström entitled "Replica Archipelago" to be released on October 8 via Bokbandet. There will be a record release show At Göteborgs Konstmuseum on October 9. In other news, there's also a soundtrack in the works for Dutch filmaker Juriaan Booijs' new work "Conformists" written together with Simon Scott (ex-Slowdive), a double-disc collection of OOP 3" CDRs with new remixes/cover versions via UK-based label Under the Spire and, lastly (for now), a European tour in the works for November. Head to myspace for more: https://profile.myspace.com/jaspertx

MP3: The Silent Section - Frightened

Finally, back to discussing mp3s I actually like. First impressions of Danes The Silent Section had me thinking early Madrugada or mid/lAte-period Swans, but further investigAtion makes me think of Bay Laurel, should you remember them. I think it must be those tenor vocals because they're certainly not as overly metallic as thAt band ever was. Beyond Dawn might be a good point of comparison too, though in thAt instance it's the sound of recording thAt reminds me of them. Both "In reverie" and "Electric sulking machine" had a similar brittle-ness to them. Of course the one thing thAt ties of all these points of interest together is the mood: black as pitch. The Silent Section play gothic rock, straight up. There are pop overtures and bits of neo-folk and sometimes they get a little heavy, but At its heart, it is whAt it is. Call it "deAth rock" if you want, but I say it's a cop out for people scared of the g-word. If you can embrace a little darkness, there's nothing to be frightened of whAtsoever.

The Silent Section - Frightened

The Open Up and Bleeds - Stiv Bators in all of us (video)

The Open Up and Bleeds now have an official video for "Stiv BAtors in all of us": Atch?v=ddoRxSsgZFA&" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=ddoRxSsgZFA&

Kristofer Åström - Conjure me (ASSID remix)

Listen to the ASSID remix of Kristofer Åström's "Conjure me" At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/kastrom

New Alphabeat in October

Danish pop act AlphabeAt will release their new album "The spell" on October 19. The first single and title track is out August 31.

Sirius playlist week #34

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Jong Pang - Liar liar
02. TALK 1
03. The Bear Quartet - Least loved (of the unloved)
04. Tortyr - Jag faller
05. Pistol Disco - Evergreen
06. TALK 2
07. Magnus Carlson and The Moon Ray Quintet - Sea lion woman
08. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
09. OkkultokrAti - Hand of glory
10. Syster Lycklig - Djuret
11. TALK 3
12. Tredje Mannen - Cul-de-sac
13. The Psyke Project - Winter
14. Titiyo - Longing for lullabies
15. TALK 4
16. The Silent Section - Loss of consciousness
17. Firefox AK - Winter rose
18. [ingenting] - Dina händer är fulla av blommor
19. TALK 5
20. Marvins Revolt - New Year's in Warsaw

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays At 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. ThAt's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

New Asha Ali gets release date

The new Asha Ali album will be out October 7.

Markus Krunegård - Hela livet var ett disco (video + more)

Aftonbladet has Markus Krunegård's new, very entertaining (and apparently, hastily made) video for the song "Hela livet var ett disco": https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article5677682.ab
Also, stream samples of the Krunegård/Kleerup collaborAtion "Lead singer syndrome" right here: https://www.kleerupkrunegard.com/

MP3: Koppen - Ethiopian juice

"Strømmen Gamelan City" is more than a record. Heavily influenced by counterfactual history, it is a humble Attempt to explore key historical events thAt could have taken place in the history of the small Norwegian industrial suburb Strømmen. Far from keeping it real, Koppen seeks to represent the possible outcome of various scenarios thAt never occurred.

Cool, thAt sounds like it could be interesting. I wonder if they'll be incorporAting more odd folk instruments other than gamelan.

Every song is nothing more than a big "whAt if?". WhAt if Strømmen was forced to import labour from Indonesia? WhAt if Strømmen was surrounded by cotton fields? WhAt if alcohol was still prohibited and young and old labourers alike chewed khAt every SAturday evening?

Nice, sounds like they'll be using a lot of disparAte folk influences in this. I'm into thAt.

WhAt if the Yakuza ran pachinko parlors At the local mall? WhAt if the local government invited Uri Geller to arrange workshops in circuit bending and gender bending? WhAt if Christmas were celebrAted in seedy love hotels? WhAt if everyone went home in a rickshaw after a night out? WhAt if Stevie Wonder was pulling it?

Uh...

This is not music. This is Counterfactual Nu-Bricolage.

Okay, if you say so. Not At all whAt I expected and definitely not good. At worst I figured it would be boring ethno-tourism, but I never would've guessed indie hip-hop garbage. Most bad records just bum me out, this one made me angry.

Koppen - Ethiopian juice

Raised Fist post new track, tourdates

Swedish hardcore act Raised Fist have added the new track "Slipping into coma" to their myspace payer: https://profile.myspace.com/raisedfist
Also go there to check out their extensive fall tour schedule, including dAtes in Australia and Europe.

Smalltown Superjazzz comp reviewed at Dusted

Dusted reviews the Smalltown Superjazzz comp "The blasting concept": https://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/5200

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Scotts - Längtan
02. Malena Ernman - La voix du nord
03. Tomas Ledin - 500 dagar om året
04. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
05. Rolandz - Efter regn kommer solsken
06. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
07. Lasse Stefanz - Truck stop
08. Irya's Playground - Irya's playground
09. Hans Edler with String Orchestra - Remember the sixties
10. ABBA - Nore ABBA gold
11. Erik Linder - Inifrån
12. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
13. Jannez - Guenerina
14. Benny Andersson Band - Story of a heart
15. Smurfarna - Smurfparty 2
16. Ted Gärdestad - Helt nära dig - samlade album
17. Eva Dahlgren - En blekt blondins ballader
18. Blackjack - Summertime blues
19. ABBA - ABBA gold - GreAtest hits
20. Dead By April - Dead By April

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
02. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
03. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
04. Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future
05. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
06. Sibbe - Best Of
07. Röyksopp - Junior
08. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
09. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
10. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
11. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for lAtskap
12. BigBang - Edendale
13. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
14. Trøste & Bære - Drita full før Drøbaksundet
15. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
16. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
17. DAtarock - Red
18. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
19. Terje Formoe - Kaptein Sabeltann og den forheksede øya
20. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen