Swedish darkwave act Arcana has signed with German-based label Kalinkaland Records. Arcana has previously released records on Cold meat Industry and since 2003 has worked exclusively through their own Erebus Odora imprint.

Finnish musician/artist Verneri Lumi (Rinneradio, Johanna Juhola) now has a proper website all his own: mi.com/" target=_blank>https://www.vernerilumi.com/

Imperial Recordings reports that Eskju Divine, TLS and Samuraj Cities will all record new albums this summer for release this coming autumn.

Cake On Cake has posted a brand new song for listening: myspace.com/cakeoncake" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/cakeoncake

Lots of new tourdates for Tina Dico:

07/25 - Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
07/26 - Doug Fir Lodge, Portland, OR
07/27 - media Club, Vancouver, CA
07/28 - RX Gallery, San Francisco, CA
07/31 - Casbah, San Diego, CA
08/01 - Largo, Los Angeles, CA
08/09 - Oye Festival, Oslo, Norway
08/10 - Skanderborg, Denmark
08/27 - Underbelly, Edinburgh
09/05 - Schubas, Chicago, IL
09/06 - World Café, Philadelphia, PA w/Teitur
09/07 - Spiegeltent, New York, NY w/Teitur
09/08 - Jammin Java, Vienna, VA w/Teitur
09/09 - Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, mD w/Teitur
09/15 - Cabaret Du musee Juste Pour Rire, montreal, QC w/Teitur
09/16 - The mod Club, Toronto, ON w/Teitur
10/01 - The Social, Nottingham (UK)
10/02 - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich (UK)
10/03 - The musician, Leicester (UK)
10/04 - New Roscoe, Leeds (UK)
10/05 - Late Room @ Live Cafe, manchester (UK)
10/06 - Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh (UK)
10/08 - The Boardwalk, Sheffield (UK)
10/10 - Ifor Bach, Cardiff (UK)
10/11 - Dingwall's, London (UK)
10/13 - The Louisiana, Bristol (UK)
10/15 - Glee Club, Birmingham (UK)
10/16 - Komedia, Brighton (UK)

Look for more US dates on the Teitur coheadlining tour to be announced shortly. In other news, Tina recently recorded six acoustic songs for an EP to be released via iTunes on July 18 and everywhere else in the beginning of August.

Textura is offering up a download from the new Det Gamla Landet record: https://www.textura.org/ (under Downloads)
Very highly recommended.

Trust me Records has signed Rockettothesky aka Norwegian singer/songwriter/sound-artist Jenny Hval and will release her debut album on October 2. Listen to some samples here: myspace.com/rockettothesky" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/rockettothesky

Popmatters reviews the new Enslaved: matters.com/pm/music/reviews/enslaved-ruun/" target=_blank>https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/enslaved-ruun/

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Lars Winnerbäck - Efter nattens bränder - 1996-2006
02. Tomas Ledin - Plektrum
03. Peps Persson Oh boy - Det bästa med Peps Persson
04. Benny Anderssons Orkester - Bao på turné
05. marie Fredriksson - min bäste vän
06. Amy Diamond - Still me still now
07. The Poodles - metal will stand tall
08. Carola - Från nu till evighet
09. Lill Lindfors - Här är den sköna sommaren
10. BWO - Halcyon days
11. Totta & Wiehe - Dylan
12. Shirley Clamp - Favoriter på Svenska
13. Patrik Isaksson - Patrik Isaksson
14. Eric Gadd - Eric Gadd
15. Lasse Stefanz - Pickup 56
16. Laleh - Laleh
17. Sebastian - Sebastian
18. Ola - Given to fly
19. Son of a Plumber - Son of a Plumber
20. Linda Bengtzing - Ingenting att förlora

Norrland indierockers KVLR are done with basic tracks on their new album: myspace.com/kvlr" target=_blank>https://blog.myspace.com/kvlr
No one's sure about a release date yet, but I'm talking with the guys about doing a netrelease EP with some of the songs.

MP3: Nathan Larson and Nina Persson - Itämaista rakkautta

I have yet to see "Om gud vill" ("God willing"), the big-screen acting debut of The Cardigans' Nina Persson, but I have been fortunate enough to have heard the soundtrack. A lot of people seemed quite excited to hear her take on "Dead leaves and dirty ground" by the White Stripes, but if you ask me, the highlight is Nina singing the Finnish tango classic "Itämaista rakkautta" ("Oriental love"). It's pretty amazing to hear how much Nina has progressed over the years - those first few Cardigans records are near and dear to my heart, but they are so far removed from what the band is capable of nowadays. Singing a White Stripes cover is slumming, plain and simple.

Nathan Larson and Nina Persson - Itämaista rakkautta

MP3: Attrap - Just a word away

The fireworks started at 8am yesterday and were still going strong at 11:30pm when I went to bed. my neighborhood's firepower was intense! I'm all for blowing stuff up every now n' then, but this was ridiculous. my dogs were definitely not pleased. Since my headache has yet to subside, I'm going with something a little mellow for today's mp3 post. Attrap is a group from Denmark that definitely fits into the post-Radiohead/epic melancholy musical landscape. Ethereal vocals, spacey guitar and a heavy atmosphere. Sure it's been done to death, but it's rare that it's done so well. What makes Attrap unique though, is that they have no drums. The closest they get to percussion is glockenspiel. That gives the music a much more delicate feeling, not to mention plenty of space to breathe. I'm not sure it would hold my attention for a full album as such, but the debut EP "House of dreams" is exquisite.

An aside: my wife just loves to ask me what I'm listening to when this is on:
"What are you listening to?"
"Attrap."
"What is it?"
(sigh) "It's Attrap."
(giggle)

Attrap - Just a word away

Hey! If you found your way here from Penny Arcade today, feel free to stick around and check out my site, but I'm thinking that chances are high Chris Avellone meant to point you towards here. This site has nothing to do with Star Wars, only Scandinavian music. Bummer, right? Anyhow, like I said, enjoy your stay, but please don't ask me any Admiral Ackbar questions.

Copies of the new Peter, Bjorn and John album "Writer's block" are now in-stock and ready to order: m/store.php?item=243">[click here]

Tobias Fröberg's new album "Somewhere in the city" has been confirmed for an August 14 release in Scandinavia and the Baltics via Playground music, August 22 in the US via Cheap Lullaby and September 4 in the UK via Poptones. I wasn't too impressed with his last record, but I immediately felt that this new one is stronger from my first cursory listens.