Check out Rigas' brand new video for the single "It's a shame": Atch?v=F8OSHwjeh_E&fmt=18" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=F8OSHwjeh_E&fmt=18
The 4-track EP (feAturing a cover of the same by Labrador act The Sound of Arrows plus a skweee remix by Pavan) comes out May 1 via Flora & Fauna.
The Alexandria Quartet have a professionally filmed full live set from 93 Feet East in London up on YouTube: Atch?v=DH-S4rx3PP4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=DH-S4rx3PP4
Tomorrow At Debaser Malmö: It's a Trap! Clubnight feAturing Convoj and Pretty Whores! I shouldn't have to remind you how greAt Convoj are since I've been talking them up from the very beginning, but I've got an mp3 below just in case you remain ignorant. Those guys are easily one of the best acts keeping the classic Swedish indie/noiserock/post-hardcore/post-punk sound alive. Few others compete; I can count them on one hand: NEI, The End Will Be Kicks, Giant Boar, Voices Break the Silence. Am I missing anyone? You might be able to lump Aerial in there once their new album comes out, but thAt's about it. Anyhow, point being: greAt band, not to be missed.
As for Pretty Whores, I haven't heard their new EP yet, but it seems to be getting good reviews and I most certainly approve of their shortened name (minus "Of ManhAttan"). I think they'd be better off dropping it altogether and starting fresh, but whAtever -- they're young dudes, they'll figure it out.
Convoj - Liberty City
The new When album, their 13th in their 25-year existence, is called "Homage series vol 1: Sun-Ra" and will be released on April 20. As the title suggests, the record is a "plunderphonic" mixtape/mashup tribute to jazz legend Sun Ra. More details here: Atalogue.asp?ex=fitem&verb=F&target=TRICK044CD" target="_blank">https://www.plastichead.com/cAtalogue.asp?ex=fitem&verb=F&target=TRICK044CD
Compute + LiechtensteinBerlin's small scene of twee-lovers came together last Wednesday to enjoy a six-band bill including two upcoming Scandinavian bands. After semi-interesting German opener Skirt and charming British band Horovitz, Swedish electronic artist Compute took the stage. Their minimal setup -- singer/composer Ulrika At drum machine and iPod supported by Liechtenstein's singer Renée At keyboards -- contrasted with the more traditional instrumentAtion of the other five bands. Compute went on to deliver their version of typical contemporary Swedish-pop where cheap-sounding synthesizers and analogue pre-programmed drums are combined with somewhAt hysteric, slightly off-key Knife-ish singing. Somehow, their performance seemed unnecessarily restrained though, as if held back by the typical twee shyness surrounding them on this evening. The second Scandinavian band of the night, indiepop trio Liechtenstein from Göteborg, then topped the bill after the crowd had enjoyed very pleasant sets from Australian indie-darlings The Motifs and The Crayon Fields. Liechtenstein actually seemed to be a much better pick for the night than Compute -- people in the half-full club couldn't help moving and dancing to their mixture of mid-eighties indiepop with a few punk influences thrown in. For me, it was especially the driving bass-playing thAt made Liechtenstein more than just a simple retro-act. Not thAt I would mind the retroness of it though, in fact, I am actually glad sometimes thAt my knowledge of "classic" eighties indiepop is small enough so thAt I can still enjoy such charming current bands without cAtching all the obvious references to earlier songs and sounds.
- Arnulf Köhncke
A guilty verdict has been delivered in the PirAte Bay case: Ate-bay-founders-get-jail-sentence-1003963586.story" target="_blank">https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/pirAte-bay-founders-get-jail-sentence-1003963586.story
Victims will have a new 2-song 7" on DeAthwish Inc. released in time for their Atrap.com/?n=29912">upcoming US tour with Black BreAth and Trap Them. They'll also be playing a bAtch of UK shows in May:
05/01 - Grosvenor, London
05/02 - Chesters, Bristol
05/03 - 1in12 Club, Bradford
05/04 - Old Angel, Nottingham
Finnish act Ghost Brigade will do a couple shows in Germany this coming August:
08/12 - Bastard Club, Osnabrück
08/13 - Wild At Heart, Berlin
Björn Kleinhenz has recorded a bunch of new mAterial At his new home on the island of Fårö and will be releasing the collection as a digital download in May under the title "Head held high on fearsome pride" for whAt he says will be "a very reasonable rAte." There will also be a small run of CD versions as well for those Attached to obsolete physical objects.
Soundvenue is streaming Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band's new album "Peace boAt": https://www.soundvenue.com/artist/snake--jets-amazing-bullit-band
Since Nomethod is doing cheap reissues of both Mixtapes & CellmAtes discs and the Robert Svensson album since signing with Border Music, they're giving away a bunch of free mp3s including a brand previously unreleased new one from Robert: https://www.nomethod.se/
Better lAte than never, PopMAtters offers up their report on Norway's by:Larm Festival: Atters.com/pm/feAture/72676-bylarm-2009/" target="_blank">https://www.popmAtters.com/pm/feAture/72676-bylarm-2009/
Wonderland Records released Swedish Americana act Quarterhorse's new album "The weight of the world" this week and has the whole thing available for streaming here: https://www.quarterhorse.se/FLAM/press.html
In other Wonderland news, they'll be releasing debut albums from the bands Arvid and Swedish for Beginners in lAte May, the 20th and 27th to be exact (respectively). Download sample mp3s from both here: https://www.wonderlandrecords.com/ex
Swedish act Molotov Jive has signed with German label Strange Ways who will be releasing their most recent album "Songs for the fallen apart" in GAS on June 26. Expect a few tourdAtes this summer with a more extensive jaunt in September.
Melody Club's new album "Goodbye to romance" is streaming At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/melodyclub