marie from Danish act Tiger Tunes has a new solo project called marybell Katastrophy. Listen to four demo tracks here: marybell.dk/" target=_blank>https://www.marybell.dk/

Swedish blogger micke Orgel has a live set from José González for download: mickeorgel.blogspot.com/2006/01/jos-gonzalez-live-frn-rotterdam-2005.html" target=_blank>https://mickeorgel.blogspot.com/2006/01/jos-gonzalez-live-frn-rotterdam-2005.html

Finnish metal act Farmakon has posted a new track for download: makonband.com/media/temporary_death.mp3" target=_blank>https://www.farmakonband.com/media/temporary_death.mp3
The band is currently label-less after the closing of Earache subsidiary Elitist Records. (mizdat.info/" target=_blank>via

Jens Lekman talks to NPR's Weekend Edition: mplates/story/story.php?storyId=5133204" target=_blank>https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5133204 (m/" target=_blank>via)

Updated magnet live dates:

01/24 - ULU, London (UK) w/Dios (malos)
02/22 - Paradise, Boston, mA
02/23 - Beyond, Philadelpia, PA
02/24 - Black Cat, Washington DC
02/25 - Webster Hall, NYC
03/16 - SXSW, Austin, TX

Khoma's new album "The second wave" has been confirmed for an April 3 release via Roadrunner.

John Roger Olsson, the man behind The Grand Opening, will be releasing an official solo album a bit later this year. I'm pretty excited to hear it as I'm (obviously) a big fan of his work. Also new for Roger is that he's joined his pal Chris Öberg from What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas and I Stray in the project Hearts No Static. more info on that here: m/" target=_blank>https://www.heartsnostatic.com/

Namur has posted a preview of a song from his new album on his myspace page: myspace.com/namur" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/namur

Tonight Records will be releasing the new album "Killing spree" from electronic musician/digital artist Tobias Bernstrup on January 24. more info: m/" target=_blank>https://www.tonightrecords.com/

New Norwegian act Rebel Android has posted three new demo tracks to their website: m/" target=_blank>https://rebelandroid.com/
Is it time for the grunge revival already?

Check out the video for "Summer wind" from Lesli: mmerwindhigh.mov" target=_blank>https://www.lesli.se/video/summerwindhigh.mov
The clip was directed and animated by Johan Emil Ljungberg.

Some new Scandinavian music reviews from Sellfish:

ml" target=_blank>JR Ewing - maelstrom
Jens Lekman - Oh you're so silent Jens
Switchblade - s/t

Randy has posted the b-side to the "Razorblade" single on their myspace page: myspace.com/randytheband" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/randytheband
The band's latest album "Randy the band" comes out in the US tomorrow via Fat Wreck Chords and you can listen to a streaming preview here: music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds" target=_blank>https://music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds (scroll the album selector the right)
Buy it so the label brings the band over on tour. Oh and Randy were also the 'band of the day' over at spin.com recently: m/features/band_of_the_day/2006/01/060106_randy/" target=_blank>https://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2006/01/060106_randy/

MP3: Aerial - Time is on fire

New track today from Aerial, one of the first signings to the new label (The method of) Nomethod. No disrespect to QGmR whose "No language" EP comes out tomorrow as the label's first release (available m/store.php?item=135">here as a cheap paid download), but Aerial is the band that grabbed my attention. The band's four-song album "Black rain from the bombing" (yes, four loooong songs) doesn't come out until the end of the month, but I'm just too excited about it to wait that long. The label compares them to mono and Sonic Youth with elements of "Blizzard"-era motorpsycho, but I'm also hearing touches of classic Swedish indie like Him Kerosene. Post-guitar-rock? Anyhow, the riffs on this thing are monstrous. So many beautiful twisted patterns, weaving in and out of one another. 2006's first great release. For you lucky folk in Stockholm, be sure to check out both Aerial and QGmR at the free Nomethod showcase at Sjöhästen on February 11. Flyer method.se/labelnightweb.gif" target=_blank>here.

Aerial - Time is on fire

The Bright & Shiny
I've got love
Elektrofuzz/DGR

Sorry, but I've tried to like this but even though there are some rather exciting moments here, the overall feeling I get from listening is boredom. 2005 was full of bands sounding like New Order, and 2006 looks like to be a(nother) year of Joy Division clones. The Bright & Shiny sound like a mix of both these British institutions, but unfortunately they're nowhere near as good. I might give them another shot in a couple of years though, since there's some potential to be found somewhere in these songs, but they're just not good enough for me to listen to them again.
- Simon Tagestam