Élodie's final EP "At the end of line" is out now via Jezebel Recordings/A West Side Fabrication/music is my Girlfriend. The band's final show was a few weeks ago at Trästockfestivalen in their hometown of Skellefteå and this is their last recording. I'll be getting a few copies for mailorder soon, but here's a sample in the meantime: musicismygirlfriend.com/audio/elodie%20-%20be%20my%20ghost.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.musicismygirlfriend.com/audio/elodie%20-%20be%20my%20ghost.mp3

Norwegian punk-rockers Johndoe have announced that their new album will be called "Dødvinkel". No release date yet, but the first single "Kjøtere" should be streaming online soon.

MP3: Magyar Posse - Popzag

First, the good news: magyar Posse's latest album "Random avenger" is unmistakbly a magyar Posse album. Their sound is so incredibly distinctive and well... Finnish. I don't know how else to describe it. When I talk about Finnish post-rock (which doesn't happen nearly as often as it should), this is what I'm referencing. I'm sure that band has competition beyond the very-awesome Plain Fade, but I have yet to hear it. Anyhow, I was kind of disappointed by the band's last record, 2004's sophomore slump "Kings of time", so I was really hoping to be wowed by this new one. The bad news: it didn't happen. Don't get me wrong, "Random avenger" is a good record, one that any band should be proud of, but it lacks the power of their debut "We will carry you over the mountains" - the yardstick to which they will forevermore be compared. I'm know I'm probably being unduly harsh, but I want magyar Posse to blow me away. I think they're more than capable of it, too. They get so damn close and that makes it all the more frustrating. Okay, let's end with a bit more good news: one large improvement this new record has over "Kings of time" is that they've gotten much better with incorporating violin and wordless vocals into the instrumentation. Listen to the song I've posted today and you'll see what I mean.

Magyar Posse - Popzag

MP3: Kristofer Åström and Hidden Truck - Poor young man's heart

Hard to believe that Kristofer Åström's debut solo album "Go, went, gone" is already eight years old. It's funny how the years just seem to slip away like that. It remains to be seen whether Kris will keep pushing on with Fireside - I suspect we have yet to hear the last of them - but we can rest assured knowing that his solo career will continue to be fruitful for many years to come. From his humble start as a mopey boy with his heart on his sleeve (as in today's mp3 pick), to his more recent and much darker and deeper work (see the "Black valley" EP), Kristofer Åström has firmly established himself as one of Sweden's most accomplished singer/songwriters. I know it's probably brutally hot everywhere else in the world today, but this somber song works nicely with the cool grey morning we've got going up here in the Pacific Northwest. Don't worry - it sounds just as good in the sunshine too.
Buy Kristofer Åström CDs and mp3s: m/store.php?search=Kristofer%20Åström">[click here]
Extra credit: new (old) Kristofer Åström videos just posted at myspace: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.showvids&friendID=42713210&n=2&myToken=618f07e3-4ee9-4554-b1c3-15e82b2ee80d" target=_blank>[click here]

Kristofer Åström and Hidden Truck - Poor young man's heart

Contest reminder! I'm giving away random packages of promo CDs every Tuesday throughout the month of August. m/special/contest.html" onclick="window.open(this.href,'contest','width=410,height=230');return false;">Click here to enter!

At last, another review of my "Reader's companion volume two" compilation: m/music.php?id=2634" target=_blank>https://www.indieworkshop.com/music.php?id=2634

Reminder: IAT Tack!Tack!Tack! DJs are confirmed for the David and The Citizens tent at Emmaboda next weekend August 10-12
The dynamic duo of Jason Christie and Nick Levine (not me, I can't afford the trip) will curate three hours (5 - 8pm) and are to be joined by Pipettes founder/guitarist monster Bobby and Brighton-based twee-starlets The Bobby mcGees.

Looks like Dial Booking totally dropped the ball and fucked over Trapdoor Fucking Exit and their planned European tour: m/main.html" target=_blank>https://www.trapdoorfuckingexit.com/main.html

The Es/Sami Sänpäkkilä "Early filmworks 1996 to 2006" DVD has been confirmed for a September 6 release. It will feature eight short films and six music videos. Read the press release for more: m/press_es_DVD_eng.html" target=_blank>https://www.escycle.com/press_es_DVD_eng.html

Norwegian label Dead Letter Records has announced that they'll be releasing a new record from Desperado called "Thugs" in September. Look for samples to be posted soon along with a ton of European tourdates.

mIC Norway profiles Alog ahead of their US mini-tour: mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006080411483311976195" target=_blank>https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2006080411483311976195

Delusions of Adequacy on JR Ewing's "maelstrom": https://www.adequacy.net/review.php?reviewID=7144

Death Breath, the old-school death-metal band of Entombed/Nihilist/Hellacopters founder Nicke Andersson has officially signed with Relapse Records. The band's debut album "Stinking up the night" will be released October 17.

Italian label my Honey Records has released a split 2x3" CD featuring Swedish indiepop act Rough Bunnies and Italians Le man Avec Les Lunettes. The two will do a tour of Italy together in support:

08/15 - Knifeville, maniago
08/16 - Tenda blu/Indie d'Urto, Brescia
08/17 - Hana-bi, Ravenna
08/18 - Fooltribe, S. martino Spino

Tim Sendra highlights Swedish acts I'm From Barcelona, Hell On Wheels and Peter Bjorn and John in the latest AmG Editor's Picks column: music.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=61::68DP" target=_blank>https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=61::68DP