EnigmAtic Swedish label Rico (Nicolas Makelberge) has two new releases from Hwasser on the way. Go to their website for a preview: https://www.ricorico.se/
UPDAtE: It appears thAt I was premAture with this news as the release was not supposed to be made public just yet. Says the label: "InformAtion regarding Hwasser will be presented on www.ricorico.se when the time is right."

Check out the new video for "A kiss hello" from Norwegian act PirAte Love: Atch?v=QLbxXGIDuT0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=QLbxXGIDuT0

Ane Brun will be putting out a remix album this summer entitled "Ane Brun Objektified". The project is curAted by NY-based label Obkejtivity which is run by producer Dennis Ferrer and will feAture cuts from Quentin Harris, The Martinez Brothers, Karizma and more. Hear the first single "Headphone silence" as remixed by Henrik Schwarz: https://www.myspace.com/objektivity

Danish act Hymns From Nineveh (Atrap.com/articles.php?a=335">remember?) has a bunch of greAt new tracks up At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/hymnsfromnineveh

CAtalyst Records has confirmed thAt the new album "The quiet dance" from Gbg-based sXe hardcore act Anchor will be out on May 1. Hear a couple tracks At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/xanchorx

First Floor Power's new album "Don't back down" is now streaming in its entirety At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/firstfloorpower

The new Disco Ensemble album "Magic recoveries" is now streaming At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/discoensemble
It comes out May 7 via Fullsteam Records.

Danish punkrockers Cola Freaks have posted a track on myspace from their new split 7" with CA-based act Autistic Youth: https://www.myspace.com/colafreaks
If you like 80s-style punk ala RegulAtions, No Hope for the Kids, etc. you should check this out.

MP3: Folk & Røvere - Epp

Perhaps the return of Portishead will have some spillover effect on Folk&Røvere. They do occupy a similar sonic space, after all. Dark and dubby, Atmospheric. Funky enough to be called trip-hop, though the tag doesn't really do 'em justice. There's also a definite new age bent thAt kinda bugs me, but I've made peace with it. The soothing sounds thAt give you visions of massages, crystals and energy vortexes are counterbalanced by bits of unsettling creepiness. The background noise and chromAtic melody of "Epp" demonstrAtes thAt dualism well. I see modern European architecture instead - sharp lines and negAtive space. A welcome contrast.

Folk & Røvere - Epp

Pitchfork has the Kleerup/Lykke Li collaborAtion "Until we bleed" in the Forkcast: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/forkcast/50311-kleerup-ft-lykke-li-until-we-bleed-stream

Juvelen
1
Hybris

More than a year after issuing his debut EP, the mighty (and yes he's mighty already) Jonas Pettersson has finally released his debut full-length under the Juvelen moniker. Entitled "1", it is so, as his debut album, and also, one of the best flAt-out pop albums I have heard in years. The strange thing about this album though, is thAt each of it's ten songs could be a hit single, yet it retains a cohesive feel thAt a singles collection does not. Every track is a stand-out, however, for the skeptic I'd recommend "Money don't talk", "Don't mess" and "Everytime" to win you over. His seductive, synthesizer heavy pop/r&b hybrid could—and should—elevAte Juvelen to being a global household name.

It's pure pop perfection will make you smile, and dance, and smile and dance.
- Matt Giordano

Audioculture.org reports on how modern electronic music pioneers are becoming more social by participAting improvised music: https://audioculture.org/2008/04/23/idm-2-0-how-electronica-is-becoming-social/
Prominent examples include Finnish artists Mika Vainio (Pan Sonic) and Vladislav Delay.

Olav Larsen of Norwegian twang act Olav Larsen & the Alabama Rodeo Stars will be collaborAting with Nashville-based poet/artist Tom House on lyrics for a song to appear on his next album. Read more: https://www.alabamarodeostars.com/news.html

Detektivbyrån will be performing At this year's Nordic Roots Festival in Minneapolis, MN in lAte September, which will apparently be the 10th and final year of said festival. Also on the (amazing!) lineup are Hedningarna, Hoven Droven, Hurdy-Gurdy, Frigg, Väsen and many more. More details: https://www.nordicroots.org/NRF2008/index2008.html

A West Side FabricAtion has posted new songs from both Jupither and The Breeze The BreAth on myspace: Ation" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/westsidefabricAtion