The new Annie single "Girlfriend" is streaming at myspace: myspace.com/anniemusic" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/anniemusic

Check out a new e-card from Dreamboy with the video for their latest single "Stars": mboy.se/stars" target="_blank">https://www.dreamboy.se/stars

Finnish powerpop act Hundred million martians have confirmed that their new album "marseille" will be released on march 26 with digital downloads available one week earlier on march 19. Samples at myspace: myspace.com/hundredmillionmartians" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/hundredmillionmartians

Norwegian act Surferosa has added the new single "Open your eyes" to their myspace page: myspace.com/surferosa" target="_Blank">https://www.myspace.com/surferosa
The band's new album "The beat on the street" will be out soon.

Finnish alt-country act The Latebirds are playing a one-off US showcase gig at mercury Lounge in NYC tomorrow march 4. Hear samples: myspace.com/thelatebirds" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/thelatebirds

Check out "Northern Rock" act Hellsingland Underground: myspace.com/hellsinglandunderground" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/hellsinglandunderground
The band plays American-style Southern Rock with a Swedish touch and features two members from maryslim. Look for their self-titled debut album on march 7.

The Raveonettes are performing on radio show morning Becomes Eclectic this morning: m/music/programs/mb/mb080303the_raveonettes" target="_blank">https://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb080303the_raveonettes

Read an interview with Gbg-based sXe hardcore act Anchor from Bulgarian zine Straight From The Inside talking about the state of hardcore, the importance of veganism/straight-edge and more: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=136069910&blogID=362887942" target="_blank">https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=136069910&blogID=362887942

Statler & Waldorf is streaming the new record "Gundsø" from Danish electronic artist/label co-founder/Printer sideproject Pellarin: https://www.statler-waldorf.dk/releases/gundsoe.php
It's a far more minimalist sound than Printer, but also very recommended.

motorpsycho have posted a couple rare tracks on their myspace page from the 1997 EP "Have spacesuit will travel": myspace.com/motorpsychopage" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/motorpsychopage
Also note that the tracklist for the forthcoming record "Little lucid moments" is posted in the sidebar.

If you are curious about the m/index.php?date=2008-02-29#21647">new Volvo commercial featuring music from melpo mene, you can view one of them here: m/watch?v=ytlm1zZe61I" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytlm1zZe61I

Norwegian act monzano has signed with Friend of mine Records in Japan. They will release the band's debut album over there this coming spring with three extra tracks tacked on as a bonus. Hear the band here: myspace.com/monzano" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/monzano

MP3: Saft - I do not smoke

KakoFone is new label out of Denmark focusing on avant-jazz or "modern composition and improvisation" as they put it. At least that's the territory they've covered so far with their first two releases, but I suppose anything is possible since ml" target="_blank">their mission statement leaves things fairly wide open. So keeping that in mind, let's take a look at Saft, a young sax/keys/drums trio out of Århus. First off, this is not atonal free jazz so don't let any avant-garde labels scare you off just yet. Yes, there are strong improvisational elements, but the piece I'm posting for you today has a very strong compositional structure. It might not seem obvious for non-musicians, so let me encourage you to not just listen to the piece I've posted today, but also to m/watch?v=eVbsjlmp-0m" target="_blank">watch it as well. Personally, I find the visual aspect of jazz performance very appealing. Sure, they're reading charts in this instance (hence my comments on strong composition), but they're also interacting and playing off of one another and that's what makes it so exciting. No the subtle differences between the two versions as well - that's what makes it such a fluid art form. However, the thing I like best about the piece is the way they let it build before settling into a groove. Often times with this kind of stuff, the artists seem to forget that challenging music is not incompatible with enjoyment and let themselves get suckered into making music that only appeals to other musicians. Saft makes complicated music with broader appeal and I appreciate that.

Saft - I do not smoke

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Tiger Lou - The loyal
02. TALK 1
03. Karin Ström - Silent night
04. Saft - I do not smoke
05. Caesars - Strawberry weed
06. TALK 2
07. meshuggah - Bleed
08. Pacific! - Number one
09. Pascal - Längtar efter dig
10. TALK 3
11. Logh - An alliance of hearts
12. Benea Reach - New waters
13. Astrid Swan - Sea/e life
14. TALK 4
15. Lykke Li - I'm good, I'm gone
16. The High Hats - Bitterswede
17. Lis Er Stille - Lorelei
18. TALK 5
19. The Tough Alliance - Leg 7
20. Cosmic Overdose - En av dom
21. The Second Band - The piano machine
22. TALK 6
23. De Stijl - Date times
24. Death Breath - Death breath
25. montys Loco - Farewell mr Happy
26. Randy - Freedom song
27. TALK 7
28. Jonas Knutsson & Horn Please! - Snygg Olles polska
29. moonbabies - Forever changes everything now
30. Kristofer Åström - Conjure me
31. TALK 8
32. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Wedding
33. Anna Leong - Guillotine
34. Convoj - RAmJAC
35. TALK 9
36. Tsukimono - Gloomy Sunday

Johnny Superhero
Choices
Around Your Neck

Starting with m/reviews.php?r=563">Downstairs' "Oh father", I rounded off my week of new music with another Finnish act - Johnny Superhero - and successfully reverted back to the 19 year old I was in 2003. A strange, though very coherent mix of the early indie rock sounds of Failure, mineral, Archers of Loaf, and, to a lesser extent, Pavement, "Choices" could easily have come out anytime between 1995 and the early 2000s, though this 'dated' element only adds to the album's charm. Instead of being enjoyed from a somewhat detached, archaeological standpoint, Johnny Superhero make their recreation of the early steps of indie engaging and unique. "Time" could almost pass as a Bear Quartet song, breaking at its midpoint in a distinctly similar way to how "Parking lot" ruptures in being at the end of mineral's "The power of failing". "Schiphol" continues along in a similar vein, though also harkens back to Last Days of April's early, slower recordings. If you remember this transitional stage of music, the shift from grunge to art-rock and the avant-garde, from hardcore and punk rock towards music that is far more comparable to the efforts of today's scene, then "Choices" is worth more than just a few minutes' examination.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson