Ben Watt (Everything But The Girl) is launching a new label entitled Strange Feeling and his first release will be the UK debut of Danish act Figurines with their most recent album "Skeleton". He's also remixed the band's song "Silver ponds" and will be releasing it as a 7" and 12" single.

JuJu Records has a new mixtape from Zoro for free download: m/news.php?id=84" target=_blank>https://www.jujurecords.com/news.php?id=84
Artists featured include Timbuktu, Chords and Spotrunnaz.

Jetset Kravalls has posted their new 4-song demo for free download: m/" target=_blank>https://www.jetsetkravalls.com/

Danish indie act I Am Bones has revealed that Frederik Thaae (A Kid Hereafter) has been selected to record and produce their next record. They hope to have it wrapped up by may. In other news, here's some new tourdates:

03/02 - Weekender, Innsbruck (AUS)
03/03 - Swamp, Freiburg (GER)
03/04 - tba
03/05 - tba
03/06 - Das Bett, Frankfurt (GER)
03/07 - Uebel U. Gefärhlich, Hamburg (GER) w/Junior Boys
03/08 - magnet, Berlin (GER)
03/16 - Ridehuset, Århus (DK)

Kinkt Records will release the new album "mil mascaras" from Finnish indiepop act The Conquistadors on April 11. Hear samples at myspace: myspace.com/theconquistadorsmusic" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/theconquistadorsmusic

Norwegian rockers El Caco have a new song on myspace: myspace.com/elcaco" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/elcaco

Egil Olsen (nee Uncle's Institution) has posted a live video of him performing "You and I (and the dog)" on his website: m/video.htm" target=_blank>https://www.egilolsen.com/video.htm

Finnish act Damn Seagulls have now added a jukebox to their website so you can preview clips from their new album "Soul politics": mnseagulls.com/" target=_blank>https://www.damnseagulls.com/

music (for robots) invokes the tired "is it the water?" cliché in this post on Suburban Kids with Biblical Names: music.for-robots.com/archives/001838.html" target=_blank>https://music.for-robots.com/archives/001838.html
Thank goodness they didn't go all out and mention Abba as well.

Swedish singer/songwriter michael Bach of the Wild Geese music Collective has a new 5-track EP for free download: music.com/" target=_blank>https://www.wildgeesemusic.com/

Singer/songwriter Pekka Pörtfors has posted a new demo on his myspace page: myspace.com/pekkaportfors" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/pekkaportfors

Swedish artpunks Knife & Ape have a new demo track posted on myspace: myspace.com/knifeandape" target=_blank> https://www.myspace.com/knifeandape

Pitchfork has a English translation of The Knife's Grammi acceptance video: media.com/page/forkcast/40870#The_Knife_Video_The_Knife" target=_blank>https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/forkcast/40870#The_Knife_Video_The_Knife

MP3: First Floor Power - We are the people

I was watching the musikbyrån 10-year special the other day (thanks Christoffer!) and amongst the bounty of footage was a short live clip of First Floor Power performing "We are the people". In that brief moment, I realized I knew exactly what song I had to post this Friday. I'm mostly ambivalent about First Floor Power's music, much preferring the more recent solo work of members Jenny Wilson and Karl-Jonas Winqvist aka Blood music, but this song trumps 'em all. The base of the song is a shuffling beat and a ghostly four-note melody, upon which they pile layers of sound: a little squeezebox, some electronics, handclaps. When they take it to the chorus, the song explodes with heavy tremolo guitar and grand declarations. However, I think the lines that begin the verses are more crucial: "We are the people who tried to create something new / We are the people who tried to invent something true" High aspirations that deserve to be lauded.

First Floor Power - We are the people

MP3: Asha Ali - Coward heart

It's February so that means it's time once again for a new album of the month, 'cept of course now my selection is tied into my m/store/product.php?productid=383&cat=1">Record Club. Even though Asha Ali garnered 'best newcomer' nominations for both the P3 Guld awards and the Swedish Grammis, I still feel like she hasn't quite gotten her due. Her debut full-length was one of late 2006's best surprises. Her music is earthy, warm and soulful, even on the catchiest numbers such as "Fire, fire" (which I posted back in m/index.php?d=1110">mid-November) and today's track "Coward heart". Those two songs are piggybacked at the top of the record which initially led me to think it was top-heavy and front-loaded, but further listens proved that it's actually a much more compelling listen when taken in as a whole. Get drawn in with the upbeat numbers, stay for the ballads.

Asha Ali - Coward heart