You know why the Flaming Lips are not copied more, despite their fame? Because nobody has the balls to even try to sound like them, they are just that good. You know why mew will never be a regular play of my discography? Because they try to be the Flaming Lips, albeit less happy and more melancholic, and they just are not as good.
- Simon Thibaudeau
What a great compilation this is! It's the first in the series from Stereo Test Kit Records, and it's a fantastic mix of the best Swedish indie music around. It starts of with two of my favourite songs this year: El Perro Del mar's "Dog" and Heikki's "Former hero", then it continues with a few tracks by artists I've never heard but were surprised how good they were (e.g. Björn Kleinhenz) and some other tracks I've heard before that I really like (Sambassadeur's "Between the lines" being one of them). The compilation is pretty cheap as well, so if you've never heard of most of these bands I think you should try and get your curious fingers on it. Now I can't wait until Stereo Test Kit release the second volume; if the quality will be this high it can't be anything but a must-have.
- Simon Tagestam
Warwick Avenue draw from a lot of influence to create some pretty complex and layered rock. I love the use of harmonica and Hammond organ and the strong southern rock influence appeals to me a great deal. I am not too sure about the songwriting though, it seems to be lacking the extra either melodic content or rock grit to make it any good. This one will make it to the mediocre pile with a lot of its friends.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Congrats to Karl Elisha - you've won a copy of the new self-titled CD from Hyacinth House. Thanks to everyone that entered - all you people who missed the boat should still download a song and check 'em out. It's good stuff.
And lookee here - a new batch of reviews has been posted as well: m/index.php?article=105">[click here]
Babylon Bombs will enter Decibel Studios in Stockholm in mid-October with Lasse mårtén (Blindside, etc.) to record their second full-length album, tentatively due out late march 2006.
"Bones" will be the first single from Finnish rockers Slideshaker's new album "In the raw". It comes out out on November 14 in both 7" and CDS format, but in the meantime, you can download an mp3 of the track here: mp3" target=_blank>https://netti.nic.fi/~hekkis/audio/Slideshaker%20-%20Bones.mp3
Go here to download a full recording of Stalwart's show from October 8 at Vastavirta in Tampere, Finland: mot.net/html/mp3.htm" target=_blank>https://www.hahmot.net/html/mp3.htm
The video for "Riverbank" from Pelle Carlberg is now online: mall.mov" target=_blank>https://www.labrador.se/video/riverbank_small.mov
Check out the video for "Art director" from Larsen and Furious Jane: m/video/art_director.mov" target=_blank>https://www.larsenandfuriousjane.com/video/art_director.mov
Their new album "Tourist with a typewriter" comes out October 17 via morningside Records.
Norwegian all-star cut-up/thrash act Kill is now to be known as Killl. Though the band declares that they will never release an actual studio album, a live DVD is in the works and will contain an assortment of material culled from their recent Norwegian tour. And at long last, you can even download a sample: multimedia.htm" target=_blank>https://www.v8.no/kill/multimedia.htm
Karisma Records has announced that the debut self-titled album from atmospheric/experimental rock act Corvine will be out on October 24. The band will play a record release show at Hulen with labelmates Petiko on October 21.
The latest music Export Finland newsletter is now online: musexfinland.fi/index.php?page=news&id=78" target=_blank>https://www.musexfinland.fi/index.php?page=news&id=78
Aa has announced that they will release "Open the gates of mimer" from Swedish improv/noise act Skull Defekts in the beginning of November. The music was recorded live at Norberg Festival 2005 and features "55 minutes of energy, synergy and Hammarby." It comes packaged in artwork by Thomas Ekelund (Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words) and will only be available in a limited edition of 500 copies, so you may want to preorder now if you want one.