Download some tracks from Finnish ambient guitar/drone act Cahier: m/ill/toygeneration/co.html" target=_blank>https://www.angelfire.com/ill/toygeneration/co.html
Despite the Angelfire web address, this is some good stuff ImO. Think shoegazer rock minus a rhythm section.

Swedish darkwave act Arcana will contribute two tracks to an upcoming Dead Can Dance tribute on Projekt Records entitled "Summoning of the muse". Other artists contributing include Dark Sanctuary, Autumn's Grey Solace, Black Tape for a Blue Girl and more. Details: m/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00173" target=_blank>https://www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00173

I almost decided not to post a new track today. Not only is there nothing new that excites me, but I just finished reading "Our band could be your life" and it thoroughly depressed me. The book chronicles the careers of a number of 80s indie rock pioneers and it's so damn depressing to think about how promising the scene was at the beginning compared to how awful it is today. It was supposed to be about more than music. I'm not that old, but I do still remember back when you'd see a fellow punk-rocker on the street and give 'em a nod because you knew you were on the same team. Today? Yeah, right. There's still a good number of people out there who treasure what true "independent" music means, but they are in the minority. It almost enough to make me want to throw in the towel. Anyhow, enough of my ranting. On to the damn song.

It's not a secret that I'm no fan of twee-pop. I've tried my best to understand the appeal, but I just don't get it. So it's quite rare that I do find a band in said genre who I don't give up on right off the bat. melpo mene sure knows how to push my buttons, especially considering the "Star wars" lyrical theme, but I have to admit that they've got lots of charm. And man, I really do absolutely hate the cult of "Star wars", but I don't hate this. That's saying something. The song takes obvious cues from labelmate José González with its bossa-nova feel, but it's nowhere near as dark. Does this mean I'm softening up? Hell no, I'm still listening to tons of thrash, honest! It's not Scandinavian, but the new municipal Waste album on Earache is killer. On the other hand, I also know that it's important to have a balanced musical diet. But what I really need to do is go home and go through all the CDs that I know are piling up and waiting for me. Can't wait, right?

Novoton Records (Antennas/Existensminimum/Black Belt) has announced the signing of Pascal. Look for their debut album to be released this coming fall.

Swedish garage-rockers De Stijl will release a new single and video in September. Their most recent album "Details" was released in march.

Achordian is currently recording their new album "Wind in my sail" at Kävlinge Grammofon Studio. Twenty songs total, one of which will feature Norwegian singer/songwriter Sgt. Petter.

New US dates for mando Diao:

10/01 - Coney Island (Across the Pond Festival), NYC, NY
10/03 - Troubadour, LA, CA
10/04 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
10/07 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
10/08 - T.T. The Bear's, Cambridge, mA

There are new videos from Swedish hip-hop artists Peshis and Nadamas over at m/" target=_blank>www.dj-silence.com. (m/" target=_blank>via)

Nicolai Dunger will be releasing a new album entitled "Nicollide And the Carmic Retrebution" sometime this coming fall. more info soon? mickeorgel.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>via)

Stylus reviews the new album from VVV aka mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen (Pan Sonic) together with Alan Vega (Suicide): magazine.com/review.php?ID=3286" target=_blank>https://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3286

Dark Essence Records will rerelease Taake's "Helnorsk svartmetall" and "Nordens doedsengel" demo and rehearsal recordings on August 29. A second edition will follow later this year.

Adrian Records finally issued an official confirmation of the signing of Gustaf Kjellvander and his solo act The Fine Arts Showcase. Astute readers will note that I first posted about it m/index.php?story_id=759">a month ago. The forthcoming album "Radiola" will be mixed in October and the first single should be out in November.

Denmark's Campsite made the cut for the latest edition of Deep Elm Records comp "This is indie rock: The best bands you've never heard" which I guess is their new series to take over from where the "Emo diaries" left off. The label picked the selected artists from over a thousand band submissions. The disc comes out on November 8 and you can get the full tracklist here: m.com/sum/449_sum.html" target=_blank>https://www.deepelm.com/sum/449_sum.html

Plugged Records subsidiary Plug or Die has signed Swedish "flower-power metal" band Rise and Shine and will be releasing their third album which is currently being recorded. Listen to a sample clip of the group here: mp3" target=_blank>https://www.plugged.se/noise/break.mp3

European tourdates for Swedish dancepunks The Je Ne Sais Quoi:

08/23 - magnet, Berlin (GER) w/Das Oath, The Panthers
08/24 - muK, Giessen (GER) w/Das Oath, The Panthers
08/25 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
08/26 - Hall of Fame, Tilburg (NL) w/Das Oath, The Panthers
08/27 - Ieper Fest, Ieper (BEL)
08/28 - Rote Flora, Hamburg (GER) w/Lack