Stylus lauds Norwegian pop artist margaret Berger and her album "Pretty scary silver fairy": magazine.com/reviews/margaret-berger/pretty-scary-silver-fairy.htm" target=_blank>https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/margaret-berger/pretty-scary-silver-fairy.htm
I've been listening to this record a lot recently and will probably be posting an mp3 in the near future.

Century media has a trailer video posted for the new Naglfar album "Harvest", due out February 26, march 6 in the US: media.de/video/naglfar__trailer.mpg" target=_blank>https://specials.centurymedia.de/video/naglfar__trailer.mpg

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Sophie Zelmani - memory loves you
02. Caroline Af Ugglas - Joplin på Svenska
03. Lena Philipsson - Lena 20 år
04. Lasse Stefanz - 40 ljuva år!
05. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
06. Calaisa - Calaisa
07. Säkert! - Säkert
08. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
09. Fläskkvartetten - Voices of Eden
10. Laleh - Prinsessor
11. martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
12. moneybrother - Pengabrorsan
14. The Knife - Silent shout
15. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
16. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
17. Björn Skifs - Andra Decennier
18. Lisa miskovsky - Changes
19. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
20. markus Fagervall - Echo heart

Oskar Schönning, the Stockholm-based bassist/bandleader who released m/index.php?a=260">one of my favorite records of 2006, has a new project with the Stockholm Strings and pianist Jonas Östholm. Listen to two demo tracks here: myspace.com/stockholmstringswithoskarschonning" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/stockholmstringswithoskarschonning
my wife commented that it sounds like an Ingmar Bergman soundtrack and I'm inclined to agree. Very nice!

Thirdimension has put together a promo site where you can preview their new acoustic live album "Before the end begins": mension.nu/" target=_blank>https://www.thirdimension.nu/
Not only is the music great, but IAT's own frequent contributor Nancy Baym wrote the liner notes. How cool is that?

It was only m/index.php?d=1174">last Friday that I was wondering what was up with Paola and guess what? I've got an update! Finnish act Tigerbombs just wrote to tell me that she helped out with arrangements and songwriting on the band's new album "Things that go boom", due out march 28. She also sings of course and will appear on two duets tracks.

Turbonegro has posted an update regarding the progress of their new album and the possibility of a few shows in Texas in march: myspace.com/turbonegro" target=_blank>https://blog.myspace.com/turbonegro

Upcoming dates for Finnish doom/hardcore act Callisto:

02/17 - Bar&Boos, Leiden (HOL) w/Otis, Daily fire
02/18 - Romeijn, Leeuwarden (HOL)
02/19 - Bitterzoet, Amsterdam (HOL) w/Amenra
02/20 - Eureka, Zwolle (HOL) w/Otis, Daily fire
02/21 - Ex-Haus, Trier (GER)
02/22 - Orange House, munich (GER) w/Last Grain in the Hourglass
02/23 - Bunker, Bolzano (ITA)
02/24 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
02/25 - Subway to Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
02/26 - Knaack, Berlin (GER)
03/09 - El mocambo (Canadian music Week), Toronto (CAN)
03/11 - Sin-é, New York, NY
03/14-16 - SXSW, Austin, TX
03/21 - Klubi, Tampere (FIN) w/Swallow the Sun
03/22 - Bar Kino, Pori (FIN) w/Swallow the Sun

Pitchfork inducts Göteborg-based pop duo Studio into their hallowed halls of recommended records: media.com/article/record_review/41151/Studio_Yearbook_1" target=_blank>https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/41151/Studio_Yearbook_1

Wasted Sounds will be reissuing Final Exit's discography on vinyl. The legendary Umeå-based straight-edge band included both Dennis Lyxzen and David Sandström pre-Refused and will be performing a one-off reunion show at this year's Umeå Open. In other Wasted Sounds news, the label will be sending off new LPs from Knugen Faller, Blinds and Asta Kask to get pressed in the next week or so. For preorder info and tons of tourdates for all Wasted Sounds-affiliated acts, go to their website: m/" target=_blank>https://www.wastedsounds.com/

The Faintest Ideas
What goes up must calm down
Magic Marker

Short and sweet. Or, spastic and speedy. Songs with guitar riffs that race ahead while the singer struggles to keep up with lyrics about sinister hearts and missed phone calls. most hover around the two-minute mark. The Faintest Ideas (nee Javelins) produce power punk-pop, of the variety more often heard in the hallowed halls of Glasgow than Göteborg. C86 fans will be kicking up their Converse-clad heels at this catchy collection, and even pop princesses like me will love "Nosebleeders on the track". And what about that title? Worth five points alone, I reckon.
- Stacey Shackford

Pär Hagström & Cirkus Transmopol
We are music
Adore Music

I couldn't wait to get my mitts on Pär Hagström & Cirkus Transmopol's debut album after falling in love with "I'm not going home tonight", an empowering, air-punching, hip-swaying highway hit that teeters only a wee bit precariously on the line of 80s anthem rock. "Sing and dance" not only crosses that line, however, it penetrates deep into the heart of Cheeseville, and I don't think I was ready to take that trip. The remainder of the album strays elsewhere – into Eastern Europe, to collect a bit of the gypsy folk that seems to be picking up momentum thanks to Beirut and Gogol Bordello. With Cirkus included in the name of the band, I suppose it shouldn't come as any surprise that there's also a hint of the theatrical, with some songs verging on cabaret, but it wasn't a combination I was expecting from this mysterious Göteborg collective who describe themselves not as a band, but "more like an orchestra, or a joyful funeral procession… a huge mass of people tumbling around on a mysterious stage or as a calm sea of milk with two lonely sailors upon it." Yeah. Weird.
- Stacey Shackford

Laleh
Princessor
Warner Music Sweden

Second album from hippiechick-come-eccentric who can sing like bat out'a hell, and is named after the fifth Tellytubby (allegedly). Brace yourself, it's a full on affair. That I set the player to random seems to have made no difference because 'random' is the operative for "Prinsessor". Warped classical, circus bigtop, singer/songwriter mark a few of the turns - and don't she just love la-la-la-la's, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma's and bird song sound effects. Note the dual assault of English and Swedish language songs. There's lots of movement to "Closer"; bombastic to begin then insipid mcDonald's equivalent of Dub is: "Call on me".
A horrendous mish-mash of styles and so ear bashingly provided; but she does have these flashes between keys throughout. Bear in mind Laleh is one massive pastiche, and that "Step on You" could be called 'The world's best song by the greatest session musicians ever' - Fleetwood mac would have been proud! It's preposterous, but The Knife ought to get Laleh's vocal sampled - not least on the first few versus of "I know this". This album is genuinely good when ambling, but hideous when clever.
- Jason Christie

Saint Thomas
There's only one of me
YesBoyIceCream

It's no secret that Saint Thomas (aka Thomas Hansen) has had some problems grappling with substance abuse, psychological issues, and the bad behavior those things too often entail. On this record, he lays it all out with 14 sad short songs that reference many of his lowest moments. The result is poignant and at times beautiful, reminiscent of masterpieces like Big Star's "Third: Sister Lovers", a heartbreaking wrencher of a dark sad record. Unlike that one, though, "There's only one of me" lacks the variety to keep it interesting across its total length. Saint Thomas's high voice starts sounding more whiny than tortured about half way through and the simple acoustic arrangements don't bring any excitement to the mix. It has some magnificent moments that capture the pain, confusion, and sense of loss in depression and addiction, but as a complete listening experience, it falls short.
- Nancy Baym

Sekvens
Live in Moskva
Hwem

Drone, when done right, is transcendent. When done wrong, few things are worse. This two-track live document of a performance in moscow falls squarely with the former. I'm not sure how much of the set was composed in advance versus live improv, but the pacing is excellent. The approach is very minimalist with slow, subtle shifts in texture over time, gradually building the tension before descending into the sounds of despair. Even better, it lets up before overstaying its welcome. I can't say that it would have been exciting to see this live and in-person, but it's quite nice on record.
- Avi Roig