This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Håkan Hellström - Nåt gammalt, nåt nytt, nåt lånat, nåt blått
02. Björn Skifs - Decennier sånger från en annan tid
03. Agnes - Agnes
04. Laleh - Laleh
05. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber
06. Thåström - Skebokvarnsv 209
07. Lena Philipsson - Jag ångrar ingenting
08. Sven-Ingvars - Livet är nu - 50 år det bästa med sven-ingvars
09. Monica Zetterlund - Z - det bästa med monica zetterlund
10. The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
11. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
12. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
13. Robyn - Robyn
14. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
15. Darin - Darin
16. Peps Blodsband - Äntligen!
17. Nanne - Alltid på väg
18. Sophie Zelmani - A decade of dreams 1995-2005
19. Moneybrother - To die alone
20. Eva Dahlgren - Snö

Aversionline on Crimes Against Humanity Records and finnish black-metal act Gaurithoth: https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2006/01/if-this-is-life-of-crime-sign-me-up.html

The White Birch
Come up for air
Racing Junior/Glitterhouse

This record is so fragile it makes you want to walk around on tiptoes while listening to it, lest you disturb the mood. And that mood is Nordic--not the sunny daydream of Århus or Stockholm in July, but the frigid calm of Norway (or Iceland, or finnish Lapland) in the dead of winter. Everything revolves around Ola Fløttum, whose delicate guitar and piano parts blend into his lilting voice, which drifts in and out of falsetto. Bassist/keyboardist Ulf Rodge and percussionist H.C. Almendingen add elements impressive in their subtlety, because they blend in seamlessly. Tracks like "The white birds" and "June" are experimental, dreamy and seemingly in slow motion, which have made Sigur Rós comparisons come fast and furious (though, to be fair, the Oslo trio has been around longer). There are plenty of differences between the two, especially in Fløttum's use of English lyrics. Those expecting a fast song every now and then will be frustrated; "Come up for air" never breaks from its wintertime pace, which adds even more fragility and beauty to this impressive release.
- Matthew W. Smith

finnish noiserockers Fun (as heard on the "IAT reader's companion" CD) have posted a short tourdiary from their recent trip to Russia: https://www.noisecorewalze.com/text_template.php?text=russia_2005
In other news, the band will contribute the previously unreleased song "P-bone" to a compilation called "Hahmotushäiriö", due out soon from Kissankusi Records. Other bands on the record will include Sur-rur, Radiopuhelimet, Can Can Heads, Valse Triste and The Insult That Made a Man Out of Mac.

The finnish band Lapko has a new website to mark the release of their new album "Scandal", out now on Fullsteam Records: https://www.lapko.com/

Swedish punk-rock'n'rollers The Accidents will be releasing a new 7" on finnish label Woimasointu sometime in the near future entitled "The beechcraft bonanza EP". Two new songs plus a UK Subs cover that you can hear on their myspace page. Upcoming tourdates:

01/09 - Rosenkeller, Jena (GER)
01/10 - Subway To Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
01/11 - Silo 1, Töging (GER)
01/12 - ISC, Bern (SWI)
01/13 - Kulturfabrik Kofmehl, Solothurn (SWI)
01/14 - Merkker, Baden (SWI)
01/15 - Walfisch, Freiburg (GER)
01/17 - Arena, Wien (AUS) w/Anti-Flag, Good Clean Fun, Mike Park
01/18 - Komma, Wörgl (AUS)
01/19 - K4, Nürnberg (GER)
01/20 - Conne Island, Leipzig (GER) w/Meteors
01/21 - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
01/28 - Club Slacker, Göteborg (SWE)
02/04 - Backbeat Club, Södertälje (SWE)
02/18 - Ögir, Köping (SWE)

finnish metal act Farmakon has posted a new track for download: https://www.farmakonband.com/media/temporary_death.mp3
The band is currently label-less after the closing of Earache subsidiary Elitist Records. (via

finnish electronic artist Mr. Velcro Fastner has a new website: https://www.mrvelcrofastener.com/

finnish folk/vocal group Värttinä has a new website: https://www.varttina.com/

finnish label Next Big Thing has announced the signing of ex-Killer vocalist Siiri Nordin. Look for a new single this spring with an album to follow sometime before summer.

finnish hardcore act Morning After has broken up, but they recorded one last song and you can hear it here: https://www.fullhouserecords.com/fhr/media.php
The track can also be heard on the upcoming comp "Hometown Pride", to be released by Pekka Productions.

Dusted reviews finnish accordian player/composer Aki Peltonen: https://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/2592

Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen, better known to some as finnish duo Pan Sonic, have collaborated with artist John Duncan on a new album entitled "Nine suggestions". Details: https://www.allquestions.net/orderinfo.html#AQ08

finnish game-pop group Desert Planet was awarded the "Artist of the year 2005" award from the Arts Council of Lapland, Finland. Besides the cash reward, the council also cited the group's original music, innovative use of Internet promotion and success with export despite any official support. Congrats!

finnish punk/hardcore label Combat Rock Industry has posted a couple new tracks for download:

01. Nine - Everything went black
02. The Phoenix Foundation - This town

Nine's new MCD "Death is glorious" and the new Phoenix Foundation full-length "Falling" will be out soon.

finnish electro act Polytron is offering up a free Christmas promo for download: https://www.sci.fi/~polytron/joulu2005.html