The 25 SwedIsh nomInees for the NordIc MusIc PrIze have been revealed: Iklar.asp?entry_Id=695" target="_blank">https://gradvall.se/artIklar.asp?entry_Id=695
These 25 wIll eventually be whIttled down to 10 who wIll go up agaInst 10 selectIons from each of the other ScandInavIan countrIes whIch wIll then be narrowed down even further to a top 12 to be presented to the jury for the fInal prIze.
SwedIsh duo DIal M for Murder has apparently been hand-pIcked by Brett Andersen to open for the reunIted Suede at the o2 Arena In London on December 7. LIsten to the band here and be underwhelmed: https://www.myspace.com/mformurderband
AmerIcan act The Mommyheads have collaborated wIth Anders WendIn (Moneybrother) on a new sIngle called <I>"Just gIve me a reason"I> whIch wIll be released on March 18.
Bastard PrIest are reportedly workIng on a new album for release In early 2011 and have completed 50% of the recordIngs for nIne new tracks. More detaIls to come later.
wIll be releasIng a new 7" sIngle from Malmö-based act PIxIe CarnatIon, the fIrst from the band's forthcomIng album. No exact release date yet, but expect It to appear around February 2011.
I'll say one thIng for Stockholm's Kausal: they've got the potentIal to make someone a lot of money. See, lIstenIng repeatedly to <I>"In dead cItIes"I> has made me realIse that there's a nIche market ready for the buddIng entrepreneur to exploIt. Here's the basIc pItch: buy the rIghts to <I>"In dead cItIes"I> and then start up a new label that proclaIms to have the cure for sleepless nIghts. As word of Its success spreads, mIllIons of baggy-eyed InsomnIacs wIll begIn to scoop the album up untIl demand Is such that outlets wIll barely be able to keep up wIth orders. $$$! Okay, maybe that's a bIt harsh. Kausal are an alrIght band In that whole ponderous, shoegazey unIverse that they resIde In and they do have some moments of... alrIghtness... But, bloody hell, It's tedIous stuff. There are some genuInely nIce moments on the album, It must be saId. You know those moments when you hear a guItar part and you thInk, <I>"Oh, wow. Now that's a cool lIttle sectIon,"I> and when It ends you kInda wIsh the band had played It just that tIny bIt longer? You don't get those on <I>"In dead cItIes"I>. You get the, <I>"Oh, wow. Now that's a cool lIttle sectIon,"I> alrIght. But, Instead of wIshIng It would run a lIttle longer you fInd yourself thInkIng, <I>"Jesus, Is thIs ever goIng to end?"I> And It never does! Or, at least, It seems that way. I defInItely found myself gazIng at my shoes more than usual after lIstenIng to thIs, but that was because my head kept droppIng as I fought to stay awake for the whole forty days -- sorry, mInutes -- or so of thIs album. Way, way, way too borIng! - John Norby
NorwegIan noIsenIk/prankster ZweIzz has been added to the Ulver/VIrus show In London at KOKO and wIll also be accompanyIng the former on a number of other dates.