Profile: Like Honey

MP3: Kristin Asbjørnsen - Ride up in the chariot

Conceptionally, this sounds like a terrible idea. Kristin Asbjørnsen is a Norwegian singer/songwriter whose debut solo album "Wayfaring stranger - A spiritual songbook" is a collection African-American spirituals she learned from Ruth Reese, a Chicago native who emigrated to Norway in 1960 (and passed in 1990). It would be very easy to dismiss it outright, but truthfully, it's not that bad. Kristin has a delicate, scratchy voice that fits the songs and her spacious, subdued arrangements suit the material well. Listen to the song I've posted today and two things should be readily apparent. Firstly, the percussion is nothing but hand-drums. Second, the backing chorus is very small, small enough that you can pick out the individual voices. In less talented hands we'd be hearing a full gospel choir and church band. The concept itself remains problematic, but seeing as how the project was treated with such reverence, it's harder to write it off. Nomatter what, it's impossible to deny that the artists are passionate about the music. Now I'm just waiting for an American gospel artist to record an album of Norwegian folk tunes.

Kristin Asbjørnsen - Ride up in the chariot

The Animal Five has record an English version of Säkert!'s single "Vi kommer att dö samtidigt" and posted it on myspace: myspace.com/theanimalfiveplease" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/theanimalfiveplease
Naturally, I think Annika's original is better, but it's nice to hear the lyrics for us non-Swedish speakers.

There's now a website for Ireland's Absolut Swedish arts & music festival which will be taking place February 28 through march 4: https://www.swedishfestival.ie/
As mentioned before, artists confirmed include Hello Saferide, Samuraj Cities, Juvelen, I'm From Barcelona and more.

Finnish act Disco Ensemble will see their latest album "First aid kit" released in Canada on march 6.

Amplifier reviews the US release of The Tiny's "Starring: someone like you": mplifiermagazine.com/reviews/cds/the_tiny_cd_ep.php" target=_blank>https://www.amplifiermagazine.com/reviews/cds/the_tiny_cd_ep.php

Finnish indiepop act Laurila has four new tracks posted on myspace: myspace.com/laurila" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/laurila
"Death and sexuality" is the lead single from the band's new album "Boyhood". Nice syncopation in the guitar riff on that one.

Quartermain has confirmed that Death By Kite's debut full-length will be released on April 16. Preview a few tracks at Last.fm: m/music/Death+by+Kite" target=_blank>https://www.last.fm/music/Death+by+Kite

Supertroels has posted a remix of As in Rebekkamaria, the solo project of Lampshade's frontwoman: https://supertroels.dk/wp/?p=170

Hybris has posted the new Sibiria single "Jag minns bara hur du plågade mig" for free download: m/mp3/Sibiria-Jagminnsbarahurduplagademig.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.hybrisfiles.com/mp3/Sibiria-Jagminnsbarahurduplagademig.mp3

Adrian Recordings will release the new Familjen single "Kom säger dom" on February 28.

Fluxblog has new tracks today from both Robyn and Santa maria, the solo project of Concretes/Heikki vocalist maria Eriksson: me.html" target=_blank>https://www.fluxblog.org/2007/02/things-i-abandon-only-abandon-me.html

Check out an e-card for the new my midnight Creeps album "Histamin", due out march 5: mi.no/mmc/innsalg_presse.html" target=_blank>https://www.emi.no/mmc/innsalg_presse.html

Kings of Convenience sideprojects The Whitest Boy Alive and Kommode are touring together beginning in late April:

04/28 - Hansa 39 @ Feierwerk, munich (GER)
04/30 - Cabaret Aléatoire, marseille (FRA)
05/01 - Le Kléo, Toulouse (FRA)
05/02 - Point Éphémère, Paris (FRA)
05/03 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
05/04 - Stadtgarten, Cologne (GER)
05/05 - Les Nuits Botanique, Brussels (BEL)
05/06 - Spedition, Bremen (GER)
05/07 - Zakk, Düsseldorf (GER)
05/09 - Showboxx, Dresden (GER)

Allmusic has a special post-Valentine's Day feature on "crushworthy" bands and guess who's featured? Hello Saferide! Go check it out: music.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=61::72PP" target=_blank>https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=61::72PP