Pitchfork reviews the self-titled album from half-Norwegian electronic duo Toy: media.com/record-reviews/t/toy/toy.shtml" target=_blank>https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/t/toy/toy.shtml

Norwegian label Duplicate Recordings has announced their plans for 2006. First up will be a new Beyond Dawn single/EP featuring a new version of The New men's "Strange relief" remix from the "We're down with species of any kind" 2xLP along with a few unreleased b-sides and one brand new track. The previously announced 3xCD Beyond Dawn retrospective has now been scaled back to a more manageable 2xCD set - one disc of album tracks and one disc of unreleased gems. I'm definitely looking forward to that one as BD has long been one of my favorite bands. Also on the way is "Paralympik sessions" from Norwegian death-grind act Endwarfment which should ready soon along with new stuff from thrashers Warbastard and Infernö. Those latter two are planned for a 06.06.06 release, of course. There might also be a new 7" from Audiopain, but details are still being worked out.

Swedish blues-rockers Deltahead on tour in Scandinavia and the UK:

02/23 - Kägelbanan, Stockholm (SWE)(Release party)
02/24 - Klubb Idiot, Örebro (SWE)
02/25 - Lommaryds Pub, Lommaryd (SWE)
03/02 - Last Train, Oslo (NOR)
03/03 - Storan, Göteborg (SWE)
03/09 - Pitstop, Kolding (DK)
03/10 - Studenterhuset, Ålborg (DK)
03/11 - Stengade 30, K-hamn (DK)
03/15 - Smålands Nation, Lund (SWE)
03/16 - Gimle, Roskilde (DK)
03/17 - Förbraendningen, Albertslund (DK)
03/18 - Fabriken, Århus (DK)
03/25 - Kafé Deluxe, Växjö (SWE)
03/28 - The Social, Nottingham (UK)
03/29 - The Cluny, Newcastle (UK)
03/30 - The Gregorian Theatre, Stockton (UK)
03/31 - The Voodoo Bar, manchester (UK)
04/01 - The Cockroach Club, Peterborough (UK)
04/02 - The musician, Leicester (UK)
04/04 - Artrocker Club, London (UK)
04/05 - The Windmill, Brixton (UK) (tbc)
04/06 - The Spitz, London (UK)

MP3: Seamonster¹ - The second generation defunctioned technology for the sound industry

I really don't know much about Seamonster¹ at all. The Huskvarna, Sweden-based duo started around '97 and put out a few records before dissolving in 2004 or thereabouts and then the two of them (mustafa Knastr and Kompjotr Eplektrika) each began creating music on their own. I don't think I would've ever bothered seeking them out if it wasn't for the recommendation of a friend who considers them to be one of Sweden's greatest hidden musical treasures. It's certainly surprising that a band this goods perseveres for so long with barely any recognition. I suspect that's partially because they were a bit too early for their own good. I don't think that their style of spaced-out instrumental post-rock had really caught on much back when this particular track was released in '99. most people probably didn't even know what "post-rock" meant. Not that everyone understands it now, but I think the label's implication is accepted in much wider circles. People will nod and pretend like they know - always a winning strategy. But are they really one of Sweden's best undiscovered acts? Listen for yourself.

Seamonster¹ - The second generation defunctioned technology for the sound industry

Deleted Art will release the debut full-length album "Hex" from art-punks Knife and Ape in may. more details soon.

AOL is streaming the video for "motherfucker - Fake Vegetarian Ex-girlfriend" from Daniel Cirera: mp.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=2&pmmsid=1463057" target=_blank>https://mp.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=2&pmmsid=1463057

Danish indiepoppers Epo-555 have confirmed their new album "mafia" for release on march 13 in Denmark, April 28 in Germany.

Junk music has posted a rehearsal clip of mom & Dad, the new project featuring Jens and David rrom Brainpool: musik.com/?p=440" target=_blank>https://www.junkmusik.com/?p=440

The Virtues in NYC:

03/14 - Knitting Factory
03/16 - The Hook

more to come.

mando Diao has announced a couple new UK gigs:

04/12 - Elbow Room, London
04/13 - SEOne Festival, London

Swedish female rockers Soak the Sin will finally release their debut full-length album "The work is done" on march 24 via morphine Lane Records. For song samples and videos, go here: m/audio.html" target=_blank>https://www.soakthesin.com/audio.html
Personally, I found the band slightly lacking when I saw them last year at Umeå Open, but I do like the recordings I've heard. It's kind of an obvious comparison, but they really do remind me of the first Sahara Hotnights album, but heavier.

Swedish Love Story has posted a new track for download: music.se/" target=_blank>https://www.slsmusic.se/

Swedish power-pop act Antennas are streaming a few tracks from their forthcoming album "Sins" on myspace: myspace.com/areyouantennas" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/areyouantennas

Hybris has posted an mp3 of the brand new single "You're never lonely when the band plays" from Andreas mattsson (ex-Popsicle, Vanessa and the O's): m.com/files/andreasmattsson-youreneverlonely.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.hybrism.com/files/andreasmattsson-youreneverlonely.mp3
Andreas' new album "The lawlessness of the ruling classes" comes out march 1.

Vapnet has posted some of the details concerning their new single "Thoméegränd" and forthcoming full-length album: m/2006/02/vapnet-2006.html" target=_blank>https://vapnet.blogspot.com/2006/02/vapnet-2006.html (in Swedish)