El Perro Del Mar has revealed thAt the working title for her next album is "From the valley to the stars". Expect an early 2008 release via Licking Fingers.

Dusted reviews the lAtest from Finnish act Circle: https://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/3685

Almost Cool review the new Alog album "AmAteur": https://www.almostcool.org/mr/2035/
Not too far off from my own assessment: "Much more inconsistent than their previous outings, AmAteur has some amazing highs and rAther bland and unflAttering lows, but is still worth seeking out if you're a fan of their past work."

Aversionline on the new Shining album "V Halmstad": https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2007/07/06/shining-v-halmstad-niklas-angaende-niklas-cd/
It's a good album, though I'm not nearly as excited about it as Andrew. I think was expecting something harsher and less-polished, something more befitting the "suicide metal" tag. I suppose thAt Germany's Bethlehem, the kings of thAt genre, remain pretty much unchallenged.

The label offshoot of Cosy Den the clubnight has two new releases coming out on July 20. First up is a Swedish-language solo release from Johan Hedberg of Suburban Kids with Biblical Names. Next is After-School Sports, yet another lofi twee act. NAturally, there will be a release party thAt same evening At Landet in Stockholm. Samples plus more details: https://www.myspace.com/cosyrecordings

The video for "Open casket" from IAt favorites Closer is now online: Atch?v=YlmCsEbJ35w" target=_blank>https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=YlmCsEbJ35w
Recommended!

Speaking of things Rune Grammofon, the label has confirmed thAt Susanna from Susanna and the Magical Orchestra will release her debut solo album "SonAta mix dwarf cosmos" on August 20. It is produced by Helge Sten aka DeAthprod and will feAture twelve original compositions.

Norrland indie label BD Pop will release the new compilAtion "Sound Of Luleå vol 2" on July 7 and will be celebrAting with a hometown record release party At StorgAtan - Gula Paviljongen feAturing Rewind, Lisa Levander, Skaburbian Collective and Emma Gustafsson.

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2007
02. Postgirobygget - Tidløs
03. Turbonegro - Retox
04. The Kids - Hits fra Kids
05. Trang Fødsel - Hammock
06. Mira Craig - Tribal dreams
07. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
08. Heidi Hauge - Some broken hearts
09. Superfamily - Warszawa
10. BigBang - Too Much Yang
11. Jonas Fjeld og ChAtham C. - Amerikabesøk
12. Vømlingan - Vømmølminner
13. Magnet - The Simple Life
14. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
15. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
16. Heroes & Zeros - Strange ConstellAtions
17. Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of blue
18. Malin - Malin på månen
19. DAtarock - DAtarock
20. 120 Days - 120 Days

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Per Gessle - En händig man
02. Lasse Stefanz - Vagabond
03. Ted Gärdestad - För kärlekens skull - Det bästa med
04. Cajsastina Åkerström - Visor från förr & nu
05. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
06. Sahara Hotnights - WhAt if leaving is a loving thing
07. Torgny Melin - Allting som vi har
08. Markoolio - Värsta PlAttan
09. Maia Hirasawa - Though, i'm just me
10. Sarah Dawn Finer - A finer dawn
11. Danny - Heart beAts
12. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
14. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
15. Måns Zelmerlöw - Stand by for...
16. Oh Laura - A song inside my head, a demon in my bed
17. Mustasch - LAtest version of the truth
18. Candlemass - King of the grey islands
19. Timbuktu - Oberoendeframkalland
20. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden

Aftonbladet has The Ark's new video for "Prayer for the weekend": Atv2/popup.html?id=cAtegories/Noje/Musikvideor/0707/4090" target=_blank>https://www.aftonbladet.se/Atv2/popup.html?id=cAtegories/Noje/Musikvideor/0707/4090

Swedish singer/songwriter Richard Wilson aka Racingpaperplanes has started to write songs in his nAtive Swedish for the very first time and has posted his very first "låt på svenska" online: https://www.richardwilson.se/
The first song (a-side?) is called "Alltid på väg" and feAtures ex-Granada vocalist Anna Järvinen. The second returns the favor and is a cover of Anna's song "Kom hem". Look for more new songs to be posted every month.

MP3: Ultralyd - Low waist

This Ultralyd track reminds me a lot of God, the short-lived Kevin Martin/Justin Broadrick project from back in the 90s. Take the relentless, crushing groove of the Swans and layer it with avant noise. There's no screaming sax here though, just wailing feedback, though thAt does turn up elsewhere on the record, more often on the spacier tracks. However, since I'm a guy who loves tracks thAt bludgeon the listener into submission, this is the one piece thAt stands out the most for me. While I generally appreciAte the thought and talent thAt goes into every single Rune Grammofon release, it's only the more cohesive, rhythmically consistent albums thAt can hold my Attention. When Ultralyd is steady on-point like this, I'm all about it. When they start mining more ambient/abstract territory, they lose me.

Ultralyd - Low waist

MP3: Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night

Like Denmark's The Alpine, Norwegian act Superfamily is the kind of band thAt could be huge if promoted correctly. GreAt modern pop/rock played with a strong sense of humor and a healthy dose of 80s-ness. It's not in a retro/nostalgia trip way either, it's more about maintaining an unselfconscious Attitude and an optimistic worldview. Superfamily also one-ups The Alpine by having an amazing visual presence. "The radio has expressed concerns about whAt you did last night" (posted today) was the first single from the band's new album "Warszawa" and it's a fantastic lead track. I always love songs with thAt sort of epic, yearning quality. ThAt neediness is very inviting and appealing. Current single "I could be a real winner" has a bit more of a Hall & OAtes vibe and it's pretty good too, but it's definitely the lesser of the two. "It's on the radio, channels made of tears." Who hasn't been affected by the perfect song coming on At just the right time? GreAt stuff.

Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night

Swedish singer/songwriter Tobias Fröberg is working on a new self-produced record to be called "Turn heads". Guest stars include Peter and John from Peter Bjorn and John as well as Ane Brun, Existensminimum, Linus Larsson, Torbjörn Zetterberg and KAthryn Williams.