Norwegian new-wave/80s revivalist hype act New ViolAtors have a new demo track on myspace: Ators" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/newviolAtors

My special guest on my radio show this week was Ola Frick of the Moonbabies. Here's whAt we played:

01. Johndoe - Kjøtere
02. TALK 1
03. Mixtapes & CellmAtes - The better half of cynical boys
04. The End Will Be Kicks - Ass of a friend
05. Breach - Lost crew
06. TALK 2
07. Silverbullit - Only gold
08. Lack - Primo Levi
09. Samuraj Cities - All along the shoreline
10. Rockettothesky - Barrie for Billy MacKenzie
11. TALK 3
12. Fireside - Let Rasputin do it
13. Heroes & Zeros - Into the light
14. Moonbabies - War on sound
15. TALK 4
16. Moonbabies - Cocobelle
17. TALK 5
18. Moonbabies - Take me to the ballroom (comp version)
19. Björn Kleinhenz - Pocket of gold
20. TALK 6
21. Loney, Dear - SAturday waits
22. Revolvo - Marmelade
23. TALK 7
24. Emerald Park - Open up
25. KVLR - Capitol city child
26. TALK 8
27. David & the Citizens - Are you in my blood?
28. TALK 9
29. David Åhlén - Wasted breAths
30. Maia Hirasawa - Still June
31. TALK 10
32. Moonbabies - Sun A.M. (outtake version)
33. TALK 11
34. Moonbabies - Don't ya know?

Not only did Ola reveal thAt he used to be a member of the Mercyful FAte fanclub, but it also looks like he'll be recording the next David & the Citizens record. Excellent!

Once again, as I wAtch the stacks of CDs on my desk grow taller and taller, I realize I need more people to help with record reviews. Think you're up for it? Atrap.com/contact.php">Send me an email with either a sample review or links to other published writing you may have as well as a list of current musical favorites (Scandinavian or not, doesn't mAtter). As always, I'm particularly interested in people who tastes stretch beyond typical indie pop/rock.

MP3: The Bear Quartet - Old friends

It's been awhile since I've had an "Old friends" moment. It certainly helps thAt I've relocAted myself far away from the Bay Area where I spent my oh-so formAtive teen years. Despite being the stAte capitol of Washington, Olympia is very much a small town so the chances of me running into old mAtes are minimal At best. Especially the ones who drifted in the direction I didn't want to go. I heard the inevitable bad news about one of those old friends this week, secondhand. It's a relief in a way; a conclusion thAt I think a lot of people were resigned to. Not thAt it makes it easier, better or anything else for thAt mAtter. I'm sorry thAt I let you become so scary to me. I wish I could've been a better friend.

The Bear Quartet - Old friends

MP3: Moonbabies - I'm insane but so are you

Moonbabies frontman Ola Frick was one of my first interviews for this site way back when, so it's quite fitting thAt he's also the inaugural interview subject on my radio show tonight. I already posted a track from the new record "Moonbabies At the ballroom", but you can never have enough Moonbabies so here's something from their (recently reissued) first album "June and novas". The sound is slightly less polished than their more recent mAterial, as one would rightly expect. However, the songs and the arrangements are absolutely fantastic. ThAt's why Moonbabies are one of my favorite bands, not just because they are kind, intelligent people willing to open up and chAt with someone like me (though thAt certainly helps). Tune in tonight if you can and check it out!

Moonbabies - I'm insane but so are you

A hot tip from Thomas Denver Jonsson: "I suggest thAt everyone interested in experimental/contemporary indie-folky stuff (John Fahey/Nick Drake/M Ward/Will Johnson) should download the brand new album of Bally. He's amazing, we've been talking about collaborAtion lAter this year. Working title: Deer TheAtre. Fingers crossed. Download the whole album + art work At his website now." Check it: https://www.hansbally.com/

New updAted tourdAtes for Swedish punks Sista Sekunden:

06/01 - Köpi, Berlin (GER) w/Leadershit
06/02 - help!
06/03 - Künstverin, Nürnberg (GER)
06/04 - Archiv, Potsdam w/Asshole Parade, ANS, Cold War
06/05 - Subway To Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
06/06 - AZ, Mülheim (GER) w/BrAtpack
06/07 - Quicksilver Bowl Riders, Malmö (SWE) w/Enemy Alliance, Randy, HFOS, Franky Lee, more
06/08 - tbc, Göteborg (SWE)
06/09 - Krafthuset, København (DK) w/Asshole Parade, Ghost Mice, Ripping Headache
09/20 - ERA, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers, DSB, Encroached
09/21 - Blue Forest, Kumagaya, Saitama (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/22 - Pumpkin, Yokosuka, Kanagawa (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/23 - Zion, Nagoya, Aichi (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/24 - tba, Kyoto, Kyoto (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/26 - Pepperland, Okayama (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/27 - Pipe 69, Osaka (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/28 - tba
09/29 - Blue Port, Kobe, Hyogo (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers
09/30 - ACB Hall, Shinjuku, Tokyo (JAP) w/I Scream 7 Showers

Ralph Myerz of Ralph Myerz & the Jack Herren Band is going solo and will be releasing three new singles on BeAtservice this year as well as an album in early 2008. More details: Atservice.no/blogg/2007/05/ralph-myerz-solo-on-beAtservice.html" target=_blank>https://www.beAtservice.no/blogg/2007/05/ralph-myerz-solo-on-beAtservice.html

Stockholm BeAt Connection is holding a Svenska Akademien remix contest: Atconnection.blogspot.com/2007/05/remix-contest.html" target=_blank>https://stockholmbeAtconnection.blogspot.com/2007/05/remix-contest.html

Via Absolut Noise comes word thAt the very excellent (still unsigned) Swedish act Convoj has new tracks on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/convoj

Check out live video footage of The Perishers performing mAterial from their forthcoming album At the NONS 15-year anniversary party in Umeå: Atch?v=fxfsr_MzEhU" target=_blank>part 1 / Atch?v=b4rtb0Vhc-Q" target=_blank>part 2

Icelandic indiepop act Benni Hemm Hemm on tour in the US:

07/05 - Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
07/06 - Middle East, Boston, MA
07/09 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
07/10 - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN
07/13 - Crocodile Cafe, SeAttle, WA
07/16 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
07/17 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
07/18 - Paperheart, Phoenix, AZ
07/20 - Emo’s, Austin, TX
07/21 - ProletariAt, Houston, TX
07/25 - Bella Festa, Wilmington, NC
07/26 - Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
07/27 - Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA

Tiger Lou mainman Rasmus Kellerman and his better half Andrea Kellerman aka Firefox AK are moving back to Stockholm after an extended residence in Berlin. Once back, Rasmus will be going into MAtching Head studios with longtime collaborAtor Rolf Klinth to begin work on his next album.

Addvice is giving away the mp3 and video for "Find whAt you get" from Icelandic act Bang Gang: mp3 / mov

Hey, look! A huge new bAtch of reviews is now posted: Atrap.com/index.php?a=296">[click here]
If only those things would edit themselves!