The Swedish band Lowood asked Kristofer Åström to sing guest vocals on their song "It's a mess" and you can now hear the result at myspace: myspace.com/lowoodsweden" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/lowoodsweden

MP3: The Bear Quartet - I'm still her

Frequent contributor matt Giordano has this week's BQ post:

It's always tough to choose your favourite Bear Quartet, because the variety is so much and the band's back catalogue is filled with so many EPs and LPs it's a bit overwhelming. For mine, I've chosen "I'm still her" from 2003's "Angry brigade". There's just something about the music in this song — it's absolutely gorgeous. Of course, mattias Alkberg's hauntingly frail vocal take just further exemplifies the struggle of life and of self-realisation, and that's reflected in the somewhat [albeit purposely] confused song title. This track is cold, aching, and just stunning.

I'm still looking for more people to contribute their own thoughts on the mighty Bear Quartet. Best song, worst song, whatever you want - I want to know all about it. m/contact.php">Get in touch!

The Bear Quartet - I'm still her

MP3: Sanctum - {-}

Back in the early 90s I went through a period of being all about industrial music. Part of that was a result of being heavily steeped in BBS culture, though I never did go as far as to sew old circuit boards into my army jacket or anything like that. The dumb shaved-under haircut - yes, I will admit to that. While some of that music has aged well (Skinny Puppy being a prime example, up to "Last rights" at least), most of it has not (please let me never hear "Pretty hate machine" ever again). I bring this up because, even though I quickly became immersed in punk for the rest of my teenage years, I still kept a sympathetic ear open to the sounds of industrial. Discovering Cold meat Industry later that decade was like a godsend - not only did it satisfy my desire for more Scandinavian music, but it also made me nostalgic for my roots. That many CmI artists were also on the fringes of black-metal was a bonus.
1998's two-disc sampler "The absolute supper" is the perfect introduction to the sound of CmI. The first disc offered the more "melodic" (I use that term very lightly) side of the label and the second was almost all brutal noise. The standout track: Sanctum's curiously titled "{-}" also known as "The library song". I believe the pictograph is meant to represent the ladder referenced in the first line. This is about as pop-oriented as CmI will ever get and I suppose it's not too far off from Portishead, though the rest of Sanctum's material is far more cold and dark. Approach lightly!

Sanctum - {-}

Boat Club
Warmer climes EP
I Wish I Was Unpopular Records

Debut release from Göteborg's Boat Club, on the fantastically cool I Wish I Was Unpopular Records. The two tracks on this EP are a sublime combination of New Order and Frankie Knuckles circa "Can you feel it". The feel of this record is atmospheric and epic, with a subtle nod in the direction of the once derided shoegazing genre. The whole package reeks of quality, and surely there are greater things still to come.
- Nick Levine

Cake on Cake
I guess I was daydreaming
Desolation Records

In the course of just two full-length CDs, Sweden's Cake on Cake, fronted by Helena Sundin, has managed to create one of the most instantly identifiable sounds in all of Scandinavia. Sundin's gently feminine voice, breezy childlike melodies and plethora of keyboards, create an honest-to-God authentic style, one that is hopeful, romantic and melancholy all at the same time. "I guess I was daydreaming", her sophomore effort, doesn't break that much new ground, although the instrumentation is richer. You're still offered a casual tour of Sundin's personal thoughts and musings, most of which concern the people in her life, the hopefulness of love ("You make my heart say yes"), and events that made her contemplate things more deeply ("The accident"). There are waltzes both sad and bright and plenty of innocent little ditties adorned by the simplest of rhythm tracks. Sundin sings like she's in a field of flowers, perhaps with a fawn or two watching from afar, but far from being cloying, she's a vital reminder of the value of pure, uncynical self-expression. This is an airy, soothing, gracefully melodic charmer of a record.
- Kevin Renick

Firefox AK
Live @ Dingwalls Camden, London, 02/20/07

The line outside snakes it's way around to Camden Lock where dealers serve up weed by day and by night the vinyl junkies adorn this patch waiting for the gig of the night in London: Junior Boys with Firefox AK. This is a sweet billing for Firefox AK witnessed by the day-glo, very nu-rave crowd. She opened with "What's that sound" – rapturous applause followed marking her acceptance into the gang. Dressed impeccably in a blue acetone coloured pinniffer made from the sort of material that bed sheets were made of, the sort which lit up the room with static electricity giving off a indoor wirework display - a bit like the rendition of "Love to run". Yes, what Andrea Kellerman does on stage is this: she is intense, seeks perfection, looks hell-bent on what she is doing, and then in one flash of her smile lifts that focus and atmosphere with the saccharine which is her voice.
The sound could have been better. It always could be – in every venue – yet with this and pounding basslines, sharp guitar effects and the sweetest of vox. "The draft" missed the duet dynamic of her 'old man Rasmus, yet "madame! madame!" set out the Kellerman stall just fine to finish a short set.
- Jason Christie

Huntsville
For the middle class
Rune Grammofon

There's a kind of madness in the best instrumental rock records; it's just something you notice after listening to a lot of them. Norway's Huntsville are clearly miles above most of their competitors, and the difference must be down to their inspired playing, creative brinksmanship on the edges where electronica, post rock and jazz come together, and yes - a bit of madness. There is nothing ordinary about "For the middle class"; it contains music that's constantly in motion, looking for the least-traveled road to take you down. "Add a key of humanity" is 22 minutes long - a real mind-fry of a track featuring frantic percussion, jittery keyboard sounds that contrast in interesting ways, and of all things, a banjo. It's absolutely riveting, and so is the 15-minute "Appearance of a wise child", which, with its upright bass and locomotive-like rhythm, sounds like a train ride through some war-torn country. Without a doubt, though, Huntsville take you on a wild, often psychedelic ride, making every overlapping sound matter. This is a major release in the realm of Nordic soundscape music.
- Kevin Renick

Frida Hyvönen
Gives you: Music from the dance performance Pudel
Licking Fingers

This is not the follow-up to Frida Hyvönen's excellent debut album "Until death comes", but a side project that soundtracks a dance performance involving humans and poodles. Even though there are ten tracks on it, the CD clocks in under half an hour. It's a great little collection of songs though, and it gives me high hopes for any future side projects from Hyvönen. Hopefully she won't forget to record a "proper" album at some stage. Until then, I'm more than happy to be fed great little nuggets like this.
- Simon Tagestam

Logcabin
A forest
Jezebel Recordings

I've often heard the term "art damaged" to describe a certain breed of off-kilter modern rock, and I was never sure what was meant by the phrase. But the third CD by Swedish trio Logcabin sure sounds art damaged to me, if we take that to mean a moody, often esoteric, often abrasive piece of work that has real ambition behind it. There's distorted guitars all over this 11-song platter and some my Bloody Valentine-style static blending with distant, sad vocals straining for your attention. The lead voices (Gustav Karlsson and Karin Nordquist) are never upfront enough to discern the lyrics, but the feeling of melancholy near-detachment comes through strongly. There's a buzzing, angry-insect quality to many of Logcabin's songs, and yeah, some of it stings. But it's just compelling and creative enough to be worthy of your attention, especially if fuzzy, guitar-heavy Swedish melancholia is your thing.
- Kevin Renick

Love Is All
Live @ The Astoria, London, 02/16/07

I sort of pity Love Is All tonight, being the support band at a sold out London's Astoria to a 2,000 strong audience who's there to check out the great Regina Spektor can't be the easiest thing. Especially since the two artists are quite far apart musically. Whereas Regina Spektor is spellbinding in her own right with her extreme charm and fantastic songs, Love Is All is more of "put the dancing shoes on" type of band. But with a set list consisting of some old favourites, mixed with a few new songs (that sounded ace), they came out on top and they appeared to have quite a lot of people in their thrall. They're coming back to play in London at a more intimate venue in the middle of march. I'm really looking forward to seeing them properly then.
- Simon Tagestam

Those Dancing Days
s/t
self-released

Sweet as apple-pie pop from Stockholm highschool girls, led by a pounding Hammond organ. These four tracks emulate some of the true twee pop greats such as Bis and Girlfrendo. "Those dancing days", the northern soul inspired song which the band are named after, could easily fit onto the soundtrack of "Austin Powers". "Hitten", possibly the band's signature tune, is a fizzy pop number which will have you singing along instantly. If this band are not the next big thing, I am willing to bet my life savings that one of the members of this group will feature on a Top Twenty selling Swedish album within the next five years.
- Nick Levine

New reviews posted today - check it: m/index.php?a=284">[click here]

The musebox PR people have a microsite to help promote many of the Scandinavian acts appearing at this year's SXSW festival: meem.com/" target=_blank>https://nordicnights.imeem.com/

Dömd Fanzine now has a new website: mdfanzine.net/" target=_blank>https://www.domdfanzine.net/

Efterklang has posted a new track at myspace: myspace.com/efterklang" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/efterklang
The song is called "Towards the bare hill" and is from their forthcoming minialbum "Under giant trees", due out April 2.