I Walk the Line has posted a diary from their recent trip to Japan: music.com/iwalktheline/stories_japan2007.htm" target=_blank>https://www.fireinsidemusic.com/iwalktheline/stories_japan2007.htm

Swedish post-rockers Audrey have licensed their most recent album "Visible forms" to Zankyo Records for release in Japan this fall. Look for a tour over there as well. Here's the group's current tour schedule:

02/09 - Amp, münster (GER)
02/10 - Feinkostlampe, Hannover (GER)
02/11 - Privatclub, Berlin (GER)
02/12 - Cookys, Frankfurt (GER)
02/13 - Cairo, Würzburg (GER)
02/14 - Rote Fabrik, Zürich (SWI)
02/15 - Alter Schlachthof, Wels (AUS)
02/16 - tba, Vienna (AUS)
02/17 - Orangehouse, münchen (GER)
03/29 - Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg (GER)
04/03 - Jubez, Karlsruhe (GER) w/Eleventh Dream Day
04/04 - Divan du monde, Paris (FRA) (Tenderversion Showcase)
04/05 - tba, Nancy (FRA)
04/06 - D:Cliq, Luxemburg (LUX)
04/07 - Rhâââ Lovely Festival, Cortil Wodon (BEL)
04/12 - ISC, Bern (AUS)
04/13 - Blue Shell, Köln (GER)
04/14 - End Pilot Festival, Erfurt (GER)

Apartment Records and Humbug Records will be joining forces to release Fredrik Ness Sevendal's (Slowburn, DEL, Lucia, etc.) new album "No foly bow" this coming spring. Go here for samples and more info: mentrecords.com/fns/" target=_blank>https://www.apartmentrecords.com/fns/

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
04. Skambankt - Elixir
05. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
06. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
07. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
08. Herodes Falsk/Tom mathisen - De beste
09. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
10. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
11. 120 Days - 120 Days
12. Ane Brun - Duets
13. Tungtvann - 96% Tungtvann
14. Jan Werner - Stronger
15. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
16. Ole Ivars - Jag trodde änglarna fanns
17. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
18. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
19. Shining - Grindstone
20. Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lena Philipsson - Lena 20 år
02. Caroline Af Ugglas - Joplin på Svenska
03. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am
04. Lasse Stefanz - 40 ljuva år!
05. Fläskkvartetten - Voices of Eden
06. moneybrother - Pengabrorsan
07. martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
08. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
09. The Knife - Silent shout
10. Laleh - Prinsessor
11. Calaisa - Calaisa
12. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
14. Lisa miskovsky - Changes
15. Björn Skifs - Andra Decennier
16. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
17. markus Fagervall - Echo heart
18. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
19. Orup - Faktiskt
20. Lars Winnerbäck - Efter nattens bränder - 1996-2006

Analog Giant has an mp3 of the Timbaland/Hives collaboration: m/2007/02/timbaland-and-hives.html" target=_blank>https://analoggiant.blogspot.com/2007/02/timbaland-and-hives.html

French label Blog Up musique has a new lullaby comp for free download which features a track from Swedish act Pinto as well as many other fine artists: musique.com/" target=_blank>https://blogupmusique.com/

Drowned in Sound reviews The Kissaway Trail's recent show in London: m/event/view/22658" target=_blank>https://www.drownedinsound.com/event/view/22658

Chromewaves likes Loney, Dear: mewaves.net/?itemid=2527" target=_blank>https://www.chromewaves.net/?itemid=2527

Aversionline likes Once We Were: m/blahg/2007/02/08/once-we-were-contra-2xcd/" target=_blank>https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2007/02/08/once-we-were-contra-2xcd/
Andrew has great taste, so you should listen to him.

Pitchfork reviews the new Sondre Lerche: media.com/article/record_review/41003/Sondre_Lerche_Phantom_Punch" target=_blank>https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/41003/Sondre_Lerche_Phantom_Punch
Popmatters and Stylus cover the record today as well: matters.com/pm/music/reviews/10687/sondre-lerche-phantom-punch/" target=_blank>https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/10687/sondre-lerche-phantom-punch/
magazine.com/reviews/sondre-lerche/phantom-punch.htm" target=_blank>https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/sondre-lerche/phantom-punch.htm

MP3: No Hope for the Kids - Secret police

As I've said m/index.php?d=1039">before, besides Umeå-based act Regulations, Denmark's No Hope for the Kids are the finest retro-punks in the world. But as I've also previously noted, it's amazing how current the band's Cold War rhetoric sounds today. Secret police? Doesn't sounds too far-fetched here in George Bush's America. The best thing about this song though, is that it's so damn catchy. I can listen to it over and over again.
Note: this is a vinyl rip so the quality isn't perfect. Deal with it.

No Hope for the Kids - Secret police

MP3: Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes and Askil Holm - Man of constant sorrow

Lately I have been spending a lot of time exploring the Norwegian pop charts. It's an arduous task, but I do it so that you don't have to. Believe it or not, there are gems out there waiting to be discovered. Sadly, today's track is not one of them.
It's no secret that I'm a fan of World Idol champ Kurt Nilsen. He's got an undeniably amazing voice and a charming, trolldoll appearance. my wife practically melts every time she hears him. What's not to like, right? Naturally, I was intrigued by the "Hallelujah - Live" album featuring Kurt alongside fellow Norwegian singer/songwriter/heartthrobs Espen Lind, Alejandro Fuentes and Askil Holm. The concept is a totally contrived - four dudes, already at least somewhat successful on their own, together on stage with acoustic guitars playing a few safe cover tunes and helping eachother sing their hits. It's a no-brainer recipe for success, so it's no surprise that the CD and accompanying DVD were massive sellers. Too bad the music is bland, bland, bland. Even Kurt's songs sound weak compared to the album versions. He still sounds good, but he's phoning it in. The best thing about the record: hearing the girls in the crowd shreik when their favorite star hits a high note or does something else swoon-worthy. This cover of "man of constant sorrow" is kinda great too, if only for the WTF factor.
Look for more Norwegian pop in coming weeks.

Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes and Askil Holm - Man of constant sorrow

Got a nice big box of new CDs from Wonderland Records yesterday - new releases from Emmon, Depressive Art and Universal Poplab as well as Redlight's debut record. I've also finally made the new Scraps of Tape album "This is a copy is this a copy" available for preorder. Either click the direct links under 'What's new' on the right or head to the main storefront m/store">right here.

Superfamily will do a few shows in Germany in may: mily.no/" target=_blank>https://www.superfamily.no/