The Confusions have posted a pair of live recordings for free download. First up is a recording of six songs from their record release show at Pipeline in Sundsvall: m/media/sound/confusions_live_releaseparty@pipeline060225.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.theconfusions.com/media/sound/confusions_live_releaseparty@pipeline060225.mp3
Second is an interview/acoustic-performance from the Swedish radio show "This is music" on Stockholm-based 95.3. The interview is in Swedish only unfortunately, but there's 4 songs performed as well: m/media/sound/confusions@thisismusic_studentradio.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.theconfusions.com/media/sound/confusions@thisismusic_studentradio.mp3

All About Jazz has posted a good summation of Norwegian trumpet player Nils Petter molvaer and the made-for-Stateside consumption collection "An American compilation": m/php/article.php?id=22130" target=_blank>https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=22130
As the author says, "when things are good, they are really good," but when they're not, molvaer can definitely be a bit trying.

Norwegian black-metal act Borknagar is working on an all-acoustic album for release in October. Read the press statement: metal.com/news.asp?cid=7422" target=_blank>https://www.digitalmetal.com/news.asp?cid=7422

MP3: Hello Saferide - The quiz

Of all the many, many artists that have come my way recently, Hello Saferide is definitely the surest bet for international success. She's already generated considerable buzz and for good reason: she's an amazing songwriter with a great voice and an incredibly charming personality. Just listen to "The quiz", the lead single from the "Would you let me play this EP ten times a day?" EP. The lyrics alone are just so undeniably cute, not to mention the irresistible, laidback delivery. I especially love the "scared of feet" line that references "Get sick soon" off the "Introducing..." album. Annika, I doubt you'll have any trouble finding someone to pick you up from here on out.
Purchase Hello Saferide CDs: m/store.php?search=Hello%20Saferide">[click here]

Hello Saferide - The quiz

MP3: David & The Citizens - Absent mind

A new label, a revamped lineup, but is it the same David & the Citizens? I say yes, most definitely. If anything, the jump to Bad Taste has probably strengthened the band as it allows magnus to concentrate on just the music and not the business side of things. Band leader David Fridlund's songwriting is just as invigorating as ever, too. I've always been a fan of D&tC EPs as I feel the band is at their best on the short format, so it's no surprise that "Are you in my blood?" is a fantastic release. I was strongly considering a post about the ballad "Sometimes forever", but I've changed my mind this morning and decided that "Absent mind" would make a better selection as it's an upbeat number more in the classic power-pop vein that D&tC is known for. I love the chanting backing vocals in combination with the horns. It's the kind of thing that drills into your head and won't let go. "Sometimes forever" may be more emotionally powerful, but I need driving pop to get my day started off right.

David & The Citizens - Absent mind

Gustaf Kjellvander of The Fine Arts Showcase reports that he has recorded a Rough Bunnies tribute album entitled, appropriately enough, "TFAS sings the Rough Bunnies". No word yet on how/when it'll be released, but I'll keep you posted.

Check out a recording of Serena maneesh performing at Sounds Records during SXSW: metics.com/serena_maneesh/Podcast/F82F8004-EFC8-423D-A843-4A3280A25150.html" target=_blank>https://www.draincosmetics.com/serena_maneesh/Podcast/F82F8004-EFC8-423D-A843-4A3280A25150.html

Norwegian troubadour Saint Thomas is back from rehab with a new album entitled "There's only one of me". He'll be releasing it on his own Cornerman Records in Norway on August 28 and has licensed it for release in GAS via make my Days Records in late September and also in the UK via YesBoyIceCream Records come October.

Danish garage-rockers The Blue Van will support Electric Six on tour in the US starting in September:

09/15 - Austin City Limits, Austin, TX
09/17 - Bowery Ballroom, NYC, NY
09/18 - maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
09/19 - middle East, Boston, mA
09/22 - Sonar, Baltimore, mD
09/23 - Black Cat, Washington, DC
09/25 - Cat's Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC
09/26 - Earthlink Live, Atlanta, GA
09/27 - State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL
09/28 - Studio A, miami, FL
09/29 - The Social, Orlando, FL
09/30 - Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL
10/02 - Exit Inn, Nashville, TN
10/03 - Bottle Tree Café, Birmingham, AL
10/04 - The Parish, New Orleans, LA
10/05 - Walter's, Houston, TX
10/06 - Hailey's, Denton, TX
10/07 - Emo's, Austin, TX
10/09 - Plush, Tucson, AZ
10/11 - Casbah, San Diego, CA
10/12 - Galaxy, Santa Ana, CA
10/13 - Key Club, West Hollywood, CA
10/14 - Independent, San Francisco, CA
10/16 - Dog Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
10/17 - Richard's, Vancouver, BC
10/18 - Neumo's, Seattle, WA
10/20 - Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
10/21 - Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
10/23 - Sokol Underground, Omaha, NE
10/24 - mojo's Columbia, mO
10/25 - Record Bar, Kansas City, mO
10/26 - The Annex, madison, WI
10/27 - First Avenue, minneapolis, mN
10/28 - mad Planet, milwaukee, WI
10/29 - Headliner's, Louisville, KY
10/31 - Double Door, Chicago, IL
11/01 - Southgate House, Newport, KY
11/02 - Little Brother's, Columbus, OH
11/03 - Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
11/04 - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, mI

The Animal Five has a new website: malfive.com/" target=_blank>https://www.theanimalfive.com/

The new LA Priest remix of Envelopes is streaming on myspace: myspace.com/envelopes" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/envelopes

Finnish act Disco Ensemble is spreading their tentacles into Europe and has signed a worldwide deal (excluding Finland where they remain on Fullsteam) with Universal Records. They recently re-recorded four songs from the "First aid kit album with Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside, The Hives, etc.) and michael Ilbert (The Hellacopters, Cardigans, etc.) in Sweden for a special European rerelease in August. The single "Black euro" comes out first on August 4 and the full-length follows on August 18. And that's not all - the band will also release "We might fall apart" as a 7" single in the UK on July 3 simultaneously with a release in their home country of Finland. For the record, "We might..." is probably my favorite DE song that I've heard, but that's not necessarily saying that much.

Swedish hard rockers Crucified Barbara will doing quite a few international dates this fall:

10/13 - The Gaelic Club, Sydney (AU)
10/14 - The Hi Fi Bar, melbourne (AU)
10/19 - Ruby's Lounge, Belgrave (AU)
10/20 - Fowlers Live, Adelaide S.A (AU)
10/21 - The Greenroom melbourne (AU)
11/02 - City Hall, Newcastle (UK)
11/04 - Scotland Academy, Glasgow (UK)
11/05 - Apollo, manchester (UK)
11/07 - St Georges, Bradford (UK)
11/08 - City Hall, Sheffield (UK)
11/09 - Academy, Birmingham (UK)
11/11 - University, Cardiff (UK)
11/12 - New Theatre, Oxford (UK)
11/13 - De montfort Hall, Leicester (UK)
11/15 - UEA, Norwich (UK)
11/17 - Corn Exchange, Campbridge (UK)
11/19 - Regent, Ipswitch (UK)
11/19 - Rock City, Notthingham (UK)
11/20 - Colston Hall, Bristol (UK)
11/21 - Pavilion, Plymouth (UK)
11/23 - Guildhall, Portsmouth (UK)
11/24 - Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone (UK)
11/25 - Brixton Academy, London (UK)

All UK dates are supporting the legendary motörhead.

Check out the video for "Storstadsidyll Kyaal Remix" (feat. Desmond Foster) from Swedish hip-hop artist Petter: mix.mov" target=_blank>https://www.dach.se/remix.mov

The latest music Export Finland newsletter is now online: musex.fi/mxf/news?articleId=104" target=_blank>https://musex.fi/mxf/news?articleId=104