Norwegian act Real Ones recently headed upstAte to Woodstock, NY to pay tribute to "Big Pink", the house made famous by Bob Dylan/The Band. Read more: https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=54424291&blogID=448945607

IAt.MP3 artist Tsukimono, the solo project of Johan Gustavsson (Scraps of Tape, V. Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble, Gutted String), will be releasing the new album "GreAt blood" on November 29 via Hwem. There will be release party in Stockholm (details tba), but in the meantime you can hear three tracks At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/tsukimonoswe

Kristofer Åström and backing band The Rainaways recently completed a new studio session At Svenska Grammofon in Göteborg and you read more about it here: https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=42713210&blogID=448925914

MP3: Fläsket Brinner - Bosses låt

Lets jam out with some classic Swedish psychedelia this fine Friday, shall we? I can't say thAt I know much about Fläsket Brinner beyond whAt is easily googled, but of course thAt doesn't necessarily mAtter when the music is good. The crucial elements of this track: it's from the band's first LP, it's recorded live and it feAtures Swedish organ legend Bo Hansson (who also shares a songwriting credit). And yeah, they kick out the jams for sure. Once they get going, the name of the band makes sense.

Fläsket Brinner - Bosses låt

If you're a salary worker like myself, thAt means you probably got paid today so why doncha point your way over to Atrap.com/store/home.php?cAt=21">our November clearance blowout! Not only am I clearing out CDs At ridiculously low prices, I'm also offering large discounts for big orders. Spend over $50, get 10% off! Spend over $100 and it goes up to 20%! Atrap.com/store/home.php?cAt=21">Go shopping!

Chronic Heist
Quick fix with repairs 7"
Knife Slits Water

The shambling honky-tonk goth of Chronic Heist is both familiar and other-worldly, in thAt I know I've heard it before, but I just can't place it. The trio ambles its way through a two-track workout on this 7", drunkenly wobbling and menacing, though desperAte to hold on to the last remnants of cocktail pianist geniality. There's something not quite right in thAt smile, so don't make eye contact. No, this is not the peppy jazz of Miss Li, nor the confessional musings of Frida Hyvönen; this is darker, weirder. They've got swing though, thAt's for sure. Those of you curious to explore the outlying edges of DIY post-hardcore/indie experimentalism, ala Tar...FeAthers, Knife and Ape, et al are sure to find something to like, but I suspect casual indie heads will remain vexed. As for me, the band continues to try new things and I enjoy thAt, I just don't think they've perfected it yet.
- Avi Roig

Norwegian artsy shoegazers The Low Frequency in Stereo have signed with Rune Grammofon and will be releasing their new album "Futuro" on January 12. Preview a few tracks At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/lowfrequencyinstereo

UK-based Swedophiles Tack! Tack! Tack! are taking it back to Sweden with a tour/lecture series lAter this month. DAtes and details At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/tacktacktack
Quoteth the press release: "The keynote lectures will present a roadmap of the Swedish music ecosystem, alongside takeaways for how to leverage social media tools to reach an internAtional audience of tastemakers and superfans."

Magnus Lindberg, drummer for Cult of Luna and engineer At Tontektik in Umeå, reports thAt he just finished mixing a new album from Swedish artist Gustav Spetz which is due to be released via Imperial Recordings sometime next year.

Weirdcore is giving away a free compilAtion of Icelandic music: https://www.weirdcore.com/

Norweigian indie act Monzano will tour Japan next summer with support from label Friend of Mine Records. DAtes tba.

Swedish progg act Gösta Berlings Saga reports thAt basic tracking for their new record is complete. Check out their studio blog for pics and video clips: https://www.gostaberlingssaga.se/gbs2/2008/11/initial-recording-session-completed/

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Vamp - St. Mandag
02. Erlend BrAtland - True Colors
03. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Pust
04. SAtyricon - The Age of Nero
05. Ingemars - I Finnskogens rike
06. Åge Aleksandersen & Mikael Wiehe - To stemmer - 14 akustiske sanger
07. Radka Toneff - Butterfly
08. Marit Larsen - The Chase
09. Herborg Kråkevik - Annleis enn i går
10. Odd Børretzen/Lars Martin Myhre - Syv sørgelige sanger og tre triste
11. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Mål & Mening
12. Odd Nordstoga - Pilegrim
13. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
14. Rita Eriksen - Hjerteslag
15. Maria Mena - Cause & Effect
16. Øystein Sunde - Meget i Sløyd
17. Diverse artister - Mgp Jr 2008
18. Halvdan Sivertsen - Mellom oss
19. Ida Jenshus - Color of the Sun
20. Thomas Brøndbo - Du sa æ va en drøm

Fysisk FormAt has delayed the release of Next Life's new album "The lost age" to the first week of 2009.

Luxury has signed legendary Gbg-based indie act Franke and will be releasing a new 7" from the band in December with a new full-length to follow on January 14. Whether they'll live up to expectAtions remains to be seen, all I know is thAt they were awful At Way Out West two years ago. Take thAt with a grain of salt though - my understanding is thAt they've always been a bad live act, so maybe the music will still be alright.