Popmatters calls Koop's "Koop islands" an "overlooked treasure": matters.com/pm/music/reviews/52590/koop-koop-islands/" target="_blank">https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/52590/koop-koop-islands/

Serena maneesh has posted some samples on myspace from their forthcoming "oldies" collection: myspace.com/serenamaneesh" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/serenamaneesh
Check out their website for more details: maneesh.com/news.php" target="_blank">https://www.serena-maneesh.com/news.php

Peter Bjorn and John frontman Peter morén reports that his debut solo album is done and being prepped for a spring release in both Europe and North America via two different labels.

Check out the video for the Ocelot remix of Robyn's single "Be mine": m/watch?v=2mYB0yPmCzk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mYB0yPmCzk

Swedish indie act Out Of Clouds has reinvented themselves as Alibi Tom. Listen to two new tracks at myspace: myspace.com/alibitom" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/alibitom
Their debut album will be out on UK-based indie Leon music, Art & Fashion this coming April.

The best albums of 2007, as voted on by readers of Dagensskiva: m/2008/01/12/arets-skivor-2007-besokarna/" target="_blank">https://dagensskiva.com/2008/01/12/arets-skivor-2007-besokarna/

Lukestar's next single will be for "The shade you hide". Listen at myspace: myspace.com/lukestar" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/lukestar
I'll say it again: their album "Lake Toba" is the first great release of 2008. Very recommended.

Promise and the monster's excellent album "Transparent knives" will be released in Belgium and Holland on February 4 via the label Lowlands.

Check out a 3rd teaser video for the forthcoming Barra Head album "Go get beat up": myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=26090987" target="_blank">https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=26090987

Updated German dates for munck//Johnson:

01/15 - Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig (GER)
01/16 - Prinz Willy, Kiel (GER)
01/17 - Feinkost Lampe, Hannover (GER)
01/18 - Belvedere, Buxtehude (GER)
01/19 - Hasenschaukel, Hamburg (GER)
01/22 - Object 5, Halle (GER)
01/23 - max Str., Ludwigsburg (GER)
01/24 - Schwarzes Cafe, Reutlingen (GER)
01/25 - Sparte 4, Saarbrücken (GER)
01/26 - Zelle, Reutlingen (GER)
01/27 - Blues Bar, Bamberg (GER)
02/01 - Cafe Zapata, Berlin (GER)
02/03 - Die Remise, Berlin (GER)

New European dates for Swedish act Surrounded:

02/14 - Platformtheater, Groningen (NL)
02/16 - De Effenaar, Eindhoven (NL)
02/17 - 93 Feet East, London (UK)
02/18 - Frog & Nightingale, Chester (UK)
02/19 - Korova, Liverpool (UK)
02/20 - The Louisiana, Bristol (UK)
02/22 - mariaberg, Rorschach (CH)
02/24 - Fundbüro, Hamburg (GER)
03/22 - Gaswerk, Winterhur (CH)
03/29 - The Cage Club, Livorno (ITA)
03/30 - mattatoio Live Club, Carpi (ITA)
04/01 - Fluc, Vienna (AUS)
04/02 - Subway To Peter, Chemnitz (GER) w/Frank Shinobi
04/03 - Cafe Panam, Leipzig (GER)
04/04 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)

Danish indie label Speed of Sound reports that the upcoming Baron Criminel album "Rapture" is just about done and that they will also have band friend/esteemed producer mikkel Holtoug (Death By Kite, Decorate. Decorate., etc.) remix the entire thing for a bonus disc to be included in the release.

Norwegian act Grand Island reports that their new album "Boys and brutes" is done and on-track for an early April release. Look for samples to be posted online soon.

1 more day left to enter the Universal Poplab giveaway! Simply email your name and address to poplab.contest@itsatrap.com for a chance to win a big stack of CDs from the band including the new single "Fame & hate" plus "Uprising" and "Uprising - The remixes".

Christian Kjellvander has a new website: m/" target="_blank">https://www.christiankjellvander.com/