Swedish pop-punk act the High HAts have a brand new 5-song EP for free download on Friday: Ats" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/highhAts
I assume the link will be posted on the page when they're ready. Lucky for me, I already have it and it's greAt.

Danish electro artists WhoMadeWho have confirmed thAt their new record "The plot" will be out on March 2. The group's new single "TV friend" is officially released on November 21 and can be heard on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/whomadewhomusic

Swedish indie hip-hop crew Maskinen will be releasing their debut full-length on January 19. The group feAtures Frej Larson from Slagsmålsklubben, Kihlen from Snook and duo Afasi & Filthy.

Swedish indie-folk act Nervous Nellies have a new video for the song "Gold mine" which pays homage to "The Warriors" and feAtures a cameo from countrymAtes Shout Out Louds: Atch?v=bFJ26qGZlNU&fmt=18" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=bFJ26qGZlNU&fmt=18

Danish "new-wave rockers" The Foreign Resort will collaborAte with the record shop Smukstoj for the release of their debut album, due out in February. The digital version is already available I believe, but the physical incarnAtion will be vinyl-only. Samples and tourdAtes (incl. Germany) At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/theforeignresort

Swedish piano-based indie trio Eskju Divine has broken up and frontman Gustaf Spetz is going solo. His debut album "Good night Mr Spetz" will be out on January 28 via his old label Imperial Recordings (José González, Promise and the Monster) with the first single "You and me" preceding it on December 29. Listen At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/gustafspetz

MP3: Spirits of the Dead - White lady/Black rave

It just occurred to me this morning thAt the opening track of the new Spirits of the Dead album sounds an awful lot like Crystal Antlers, 'cept without the annoying LA-ness thAt band puts off. I don't want scrubby indie dudes making my psych-rock, I want rock'n'roll dirtballs who look like they stepped out of a time machine. Not thAt I'm 100% sure I wouldn't be annoyed by Spirits of the Dead in person, but they do have a guy in the band named Deadly Nightshade and their sound is far cleaner, tighter and more controlled than Crystal Antlers could ever hope to me. Listen to the muscular rhythm section on thAt boogie-woogie bass riff - not a single extra note out of place, nor a poorly placed cymbal hit to be found. Compare and contrast. Deadly Nightshade vs. Sexual ChocolAte? The songwriting is better too, even if just for the extended dynamic range the Spirits offer. "White lady/Black rave" does overstay its welcome past the 5-minute mark, but the positive outweighs the negAtive to my ears. Even when overindulging, they're too modest to totally freak out and lose it. Still, it's nice to hear someone holding back. Lessons can be learned here.

Spirits of the Dead - White lady/Black rave

Fredrik
Live @ Cakeshop, NYC, 11/07/08

I had been anticipAting this show for a few weeks after I had seen it posted on this very website. Fredrik's debut "Na na ni" was released earlier this year and has proved to be a very enjoyable and soothing listen, and I was very interested in how it would translAte to a live setting. Well, the evening was more a surprise than anything else, as the band opened with "Black fur" and closed with "Alina'a place", with the three songs played in between being instrumentals. I found it to be a bit odd, considering how much of a pop record they have released. I was rAther disappointed not to hear the first single "1986" played too, but overall they performed well, it was just something I was not expecting.
- Matt Giordano

Stockholm BeAt Connection has the new single "Shirt off" from Luleå-based electro act Blänk: Atconnection.blogspot.com/2008/11/blnk-shirt-off.html" target="_blank">https://stockholmbeAtconnection.blogspot.com/2008/11/blnk-shirt-off.html

Mr. Suitcase's gig At Klubb Rotor in Uppsala on December 12 might be the last you hear of him in a long while: https://www.mrsuitcase.se/site/2008/11/one-more-kickdrum-for-the-road/

In addition to the Frak reissue I mentioned Atrap.com/index.php?dAte=2008-11-17#24956">yesterday, InformAtion also has a new release from Dan Lissvik of the group Studio on the way: https://www.inf000.com/

Swedish indie act Ram Di Dam has signed with Mock Turtle Records, the label run by Erik Londré of Bonnie & Clyde/The Spurts. A full-length album will be released in January/February, but the first single "Flashbacks" is already streaming At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/ramdidam

Danish electronic artist Rumpistol is doing a bAtch of live dAtes this fall:

11/21 - inSpiral Café, London (UK)
11/21 - Café Oto, London (UK)
11/22 - Luminopolis, London (UK)
11/30 - Golden Pudel, Hamburg (GER) w/Snöleoparden
12/06 - Dense Recordshop, Berlin (GER)
12/07 - Berghain Cantine, Berlin (GER) w/Bjørn Svin & Sofus Forsberg

Cold MeAt has posted details for the new album "Souyuan" from Swedish dark ambient/industrial artist Atrium Carceri, his first new album in three years.: At.se/mailorderf.asp?id=2733" target="_blank">https://www.coldmeAt.se/mailorderf.asp?id=2733
The official release dAte is November 26.

The new Scraps of Tape album (title tba) is set for release next March and the band plans to tour Europe throughout April and May. DAtes and details to come.