Blender does a video interview with Peter Bjorn and John: m/PeterBjornAndJohnInterview/video/6684.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.blender.com/PeterBjornAndJohnInterview/video/6684.aspx

Norwegian noiserockers Ungdomskulen will finally release their debut full-length "Cry baby" on October 15 via Ever Records. Listen to samples and get tourdates at myspace: myspace.com/ungdomskulen" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/ungdomskulen

Peter Bjorn and John create a mix for Gen Art Pulse: m/archives/2007/09/your_must-have_playlist_peter_bjorn_and_john.php" target="_blank">https://www.genartpulse.com/archives/2007/09/your_must-have_playlist_peter_bjorn_and_john.php

Check out a video of moto Boy playing inside a bicycle tunnel in malmö: m/watch?v=flaGOFYZ9i8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flaGOFYZ9i8
Sounds and looks great - check it out. Look for his debut album this fall via Songs I Wish I Had Written.

Swedish sXe hardcore act Anchor has announced that they'll be working with Catalyst and Refuse Records for their upcoming debut full-length, due out in early 2008. Catalyst will be handling the CD version and Refuse will take care of the vinyl.

New Decade has two brand new tracks posted on myspace: myspace.com/newdecademusic" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/newdecademusic

This week's m/group/itsatrap">It's A Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Jens Lekman
02. José González
03. Iron & Wine
04. Kent
05. Shout Out Louds
05. Death Cab for Cutie
07. The Knife
08. Band of Horses
09. Beirut
10. Feist

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Join us! Go here to learn more: m/help/" target=_blank>https://www.last.fm/help/

MP3: Superfamily - Warszawa

October's m/store/product.php?productid=383&cat=1">Record Club selection: Superfamily - Warszawa
No surprise really, especially since I've been touting these guys ever since I first stumbled across their m/watch?v=blZz3mABIuA" target="_blank">amazing m/watch?v=ZLbeWKVDeW8" target="_blank">videos. Simply put: this is probably the best Norwegian indierock band around right now and this album is simply fantastic. Listen to the title track and third single (or watch the m/watch?v=Z1HVjuYodyk" target="_blank">video) and I think you'll understand what I mean. Richly melodic and maybe a bit affected, but always imbued with a sense of joy. That's actually what I like best about the band - they appear to take immense pleasure in their art and it permeates everything they do. No scowls, just smiles. You might detect a slight Hall & Oates influence, but despite the cheeseball keyboard sound, I don't think it's being played up for irony. Good songs remain good songs despite bad hair and silly moustaches. In fact, I heard a Hall & Oates tune while out shopping yesterday ("You make my dreams") and it gave me that same happy feeling. What's not to like?

Superfamily - Warszawa

Speaking of modern folk, look for the Trio mediaeval's fourth album "Folk songs" to get a US release on October via ECm, just in time to mark their 10th anniversary. The Norwegian-Swedish trio has always included folk tunes in their repertoire, but I believe that this is the first time they've dedicated an entire recording to the subject. Look for them to tour Europe this fall with US dates around November/December.

Christopher Porter was kind enough to pass along his full, unedited interview with Norwegian artist Sinikka Langeland for your reading pleasure - m/articles.php?a=325">check it out!
As you may or may not be aware, one of the things I like best about Scandinavian music is the way that folk traditions are kept alive in modern times. Whether it's acts like Hedningarna or Detektivbyrån playing folk tunes using home-built instruments and electronics, Enslaved exploring their viking roots, Amorphis using the Kalevala for lyrical inspiration or Jan Johansson borrowing folk melodies for jazz (much in the same way that Sinikka does), there's a vast, rich musical heritage that's constantly being reinvigorated in new and interesting ways.

Interview: Sinikka Langeland

Timo Räisänen
Love will turn you around
Razzia Records

While not flawless, "Love will turn you around" has already solidified its placement as a record that will receive heavy rotation in my stereo this autumn. There are a few stumbles as Räisänen's more eccentric qualities overpower his usually solid deliveries - "Spill your beans" is far from awful, it just doesn't sit as solidly in the tracklist as the majority of the other compositions do, and makes for a bizarre transition between the heavy, dark delivery of "Sunday" and the softer "Stop rocking the boat" (which, for whatever reason, reminds me of those brilliant early tracks from Ben Folds Five); and "I wash my mouth with soap before I go" could easily be removed from the album without causing much fuss. "Love will turn you around" synthesizes the complicated optimism present in both Swedish indierock and bands like Pavement and, to some extent, Weezer - "Valentine" establishing this talent early on - and yet doesn't shy away from the shadows or more distortion saturated approaches as "Sunday" attests. "michael" has quickly become my favorite Timo Räisänen song, ousting "Sweet marie" and "Fear no darkness, promised child" with it's nearly immaculate craftsmanship and delivery, and is almost worth the price alone. The true power of this album is its appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners - as comparable to Shout Out Louds as it is to Laakso or The Bear Quartet - and what could be more important as the days shorten and grow colder than a solid collection of idiosyncratic, yet ultimately hopeful indie anthems?
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

more quality punkrock added to the mailorder just now! New titles include stuff from m/store/product.php?productid=519">Icos, m/store/product.php?productid=520">Sista Sekunded, m/store/product.php?productid=521">The Vicious and m/store/product.php?productid=522">Knugen Faller. m/store/">Check it out!

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. TALK 1
02. Repoman - Chemically obsessed
03. moder Jords massiva - Vapen
04. Kornstad Trio - Intornette
05. TALK 2
06. Ghost Brigade - Autoemotive
07. Rather Sound Than Safe - The beat
08. September - my neighbourhood
09. TALK 3
10. Ebba Grön - 800°
11. Torpedo - my evil twin
12. Jonna Lee - Dried out eyes
13. TALK 4
14. marvins Revolt - Bugs in time
15. Pimentola - Death is a secret
16. Nils Berg - Sailors fighting in the dance hall
17. TALK 5
18. Lampshade - By and by I come
19. midnight Choir - Will you carry me across the water
20. moonbabies - Walking on my feet
21. TALK 6
22. Candlemass - Elephant star
23. Front and the Factory Lies Beneath - Under a black sun
24. Cortex - Warrior night (live)
25. TALK 7
26. The Grizzly Twister - This city is a halo
27. New Decade - I guess you ran from something
28. The Grand Opening - Don't drop off
29. TALK 8
30. The Bear Quartet - I'm still her
31. Paper - my life is going under
32. Darkthrone - Wisdom of the dead
33. Detektivbyrån - Nattöppet
34. TALK 9
35. mob - Ghost track
36. Fare You Well - Deceiving eyes
37. TALK 10

Pello Revolvers
Hasse K EP
Lompis Records

It would be tempting to call this folk music, with its sparse instrumentation, occasional fiddles, minor keys, and themes of death, sinning, damnation, and too much alcohol consumption. But the sound is a bit too jaunty and upbeat for that. Essentially a one-man band, Hans-Erik Kangasharju, is to be commended for mixing it up, each song has somewhat different instrumentation and a different take on his sound. Kangasharju has a voice that evokes Buddy Holly, though a bit more intense and, alas, a bit more irritating. It would have helped to mix it further down and let the subtle but excellent guitar work shine instead. Indeed, the stand-out track is an instrumental that seamlessly intertwines a killer surf guitar line with a mournful, slow, and almost klezmer fiddle line. It's a strange juxtaposition that works brilliantly. If only the whole EP worked as well.
- Nancy Baym