Aftonbladet has the new Lene Alexandra video for "Hot boy hot girl": ml?id=categories/Noje/musikvideor/0709/6415&category=noje/musikvideor&commercial=yes" target="_blank">https://www.aftonbladet.se/atv2/init.html?id=categories/Noje/musikvideor/0709/6415&category=noje/musikvideor&commercial=yes
If you enjoyed the inanity of "my boobs are okay", I'm sure you'll like this too.

Danish hardcore act The Psyke Project has uploaded some rehearsal room footage to YouTube: m/watch?v=z3V6mDB0ofc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3V6mDB0ofc
The track they play ("Physical romance") is probably my favorite from their most recent album "Apnea". Also check the 'more from this user' tab for additional clips.

Check out a video clip of Alarma man rehearsing a new instrumental track in the studio: m/watch?v=uUaCIRjUSmk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUaCIRjUSmk

Norwegian artist Ida maria will finally release her debut 7" single "Oh my god" b/w "We're all going to hell" on October 1 via her own Nesna Records. 1000 copies, all hand-decorated by her and her band. Look for her to play the UK again this week along with more dates to follow in NYC for CmJ and then a Swedish tour in late October/early November. more details and samples: myspace.com/idamaria" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/idamaria

Check out Kocky's new video for "Be part": m/watch?v=flF2K0dUb04" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flF2K0dUb04
The track features vocals from Jens Lekman, but the clip does not feature the man himself.

Pitchfork reviews the new múm record "Go go smear the poison ivy": media.com/article/record_review/45812-go-go-smear-the-poison-ivy" target="_blank">https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45812-go-go-smear-the-poison-ivy

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

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

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: The Opium Cartel - Three sleepers

New (exclusive?) track today from Norway's The Opium Cartel, the solo project of Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow). On this particular track, he's joined by fellow WW member Sylvia Skjellestad on lead vocals, so if you're at all familiar with myspace.com/whitewillowband" target="_blank">that band, this will probably sound quite similar. But whereas WW displays a strong prog influence, The Opium Cartel is far, far mellower no doubt largely due to the influence of producer and fellow collaborator mattias Olsson (Pineforest Crunch, Änglagård, Nanook of the North, etc). For recording nerds like myself, it's possible to let mattias' signature warm synth sounds and excellent layering skills overwhelm the track, but it can also be enjoyed as a fine atmospheric pop song. I'm reminded a bit of fellow Norwegian artrockers The 3rd and the mortal, but it's probably a bit more akin to David Sylvian or Kate Bush as this style of prog/pop is far more weighted towards the pop side of things. Y'know, the kind of thing that appeals to 'serious' music types and high-minded critics without alienating the general listening audience. It's possible to geek out on it, but can be readily enjoyed by anyone as the the overall prettiness of the music is by far its strongest asset.

The Opium Cartel - Three sleepers

Sonjagon
Demo
self-released

Sonjagon are a band fresh out of school, from Stockholm. musically their sound is expansive and epic. The obvious references which spring to mind on "Buckybell Wtai" and "Aristocrat" are muse and Jeff Buckley and the band are all very competent musicians, with the falsetto of Jacob Stenberg easily matching matt Bellamy et al. The most interesting of the four demo tracks however, is "Abbey Lake", a hypnotic piano-led soundscape with echoey reverb drenched vocals. "Original sound", whilst being the most conventional track on the demo, shows the most commercial promise and could well end up as a lighter aloft stadium set-closer.

Sonjagon are far from the finished article, but they have a hell of a lot of potential. They are a rough diamond which may well dazzle in time. If you're about in Stockholm on the 27th September, be sure to check the band out at Berns.
- Nick Levine

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Isolation Years - Frosted minds
02. TALK 1
03. Hyacinth House - Lucky stranger
04. Immanu El - Kosmonaut
05. Kamera - Fragile
06. TALK 2
07. Pay TV - Fashion report (clubmix)
08. Fun - I've got a truck
09. Timo Räisänen - Sixteen
10. TALK 3
11. Superfamily - Warszawa
12. majessic Dreams - Still inside
13. The Indecision Alarm - Time for the big guns, baby
14. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Flir
15. TALK 4
16. The Fine Arts Showcase - modern love
17. Karin Ström - Ordlös
18. meleeh - malign
19. TALK 5
20. Kongh - Pushed beyond
21. Baby Woodrose - Let yourself go
22. TALK 6
23. mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet (Cat Burgler remix)
24. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Rhythm
25. The Bell - I need nothing
26. September - Satellites
27. TALK 7
28. Piroth - Waltz for prima ballerina
29. Sällskapet - Järnstaden
30. montt mardié - Birthday boy (drama)
31. TALK 8
32. CS Nielsen - Bottle for the road
33. Susanna and the magical Orchestra - Love will tear us apart
34. Voices Break the Silence - mopo3
35. TALK 9
36. Plain Fade - Blue skies ahead

MP3: The Bear Quartet - I'm still her

Once again, I am blessed with a guest contributor for this week's Bear Quartet post. Not only am I happy to take the day off, but I find that one of the best things about this series is reading other people's thoughts on the mighty BQ. So with that, here's Christoffer Davidsson:

There are a few things truly beautiful in life. It can be moments, places, people and so on. Lately, for me, it's been "I'm still her", one of many great songs on "Angry brigade". Peter Nuottaniemi's lyrics are hopeful, yet dark. Saying it's all going to hell, but that it's all right. I hope.

"There's happiness where and when I least expect
everything that I see will outlive me
there's happiness and of course fear and death
loneliness hard regrets, one fire less
we'll never ride into the sun with the end
hung above our hardships and our love
I didn't cry not until we lowered you
down into the cold ground the cold cold ground"

Jari's guitars are wonderful as always and I think Håkan Hellström would have killed for them, and maybe he will. Although matt Giordano m/mp3.php?t=336">already covered this song, I think it is worth posting again. That's how good it is.
Enjoy.

Agreed. That's a statement that's impossible to deny.

The Bear Quartet - I'm still her

Trust No One reports that the vinyl for Candlemass' "From the 13th sun" is finally done and now expanded to a gatefold 2xLP with three exclusive bonus tracks. LP1 is red vinyl and LP2 is clear.

Skywriter's new single "Craving utopia" can now be heard at myspace: myspace.com/skywriterdk" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/skywriterdk

Enslaved, Shining (NOR) and Keep of Kalessin will tour Europe together in October:

10/20 - Ubu, Rennes (FRA)
10/21 - mean Fiddler, London (UK)
10/22 - Junktion7, Nottingham (UK)
10/23 - Breda, mezz (NL)
10/24 - Vosselaar, Biebob (BEL)
10/25 - Nijmegen, Doornroosje (NL)
10/26 - Backstage, munich (GER) w/Secrets of the moon
10/27 - Roxy, Saarbrücken (GER)

Swedish/Danish experimental/electronic label Phisteria will be releasing a new 10" EP from Swedish act Purl in the near future. There's no more details than that for the time being, but you can always listen to samples from other artists on the label at myspace: myspace.com/phisteria" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/phisteria