Efterklang guitarist Frederik Teige is going solo and will be giving away his debut album "Body god" via Bandcamp beginning on January 14. Check out the single "Invisible vampires" here: mp.com/track/invisible-vampires" target="_blank">https://frederikteige.bandcamp.com/track/invisible-vampires
Download a free live track from Norwegian singer/songwriter Ingrid Olava: m/#/more/gifts" target="_blank">https://ingridolava.com/#/more/gifts
has picked up Kolbotn death metal masters Obliteration as well as fellow Norwegians Insense. Look for a new record from the former in the fall, the latter this coming spring.
Pitchfork reviews the new JJ mixtape "Kills": m/reviews/albums/14971-kills/" target="_blank">https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14971-kills/
FredrikHaving blossomed into a three-piece, with Anna moberg making her debut on "Origami", Fredrik's newest effort builds on the dreamscapes explored on the collected EPs of "Trilogi". The introduction of a new member often changes a group's sound, for the better in Fredrik's case, but it's subtle; the "Origami" EP could have been included alongside the three collected in "Trilogi" without feeling forced or tacked on. The same ethereal quality remains, but the first two tracks on "Origami", "Dance of the peacock phantom" and "White on white", feel more focused than many of the efforts on "Trilogi", all without seeming divorced from the contemplative nature of that record. The layering on these first two tracks is wonderful, creating a lush soundscape that doesn't feel rushed through despite the relatively short lengths of the songs, and yet unveils new aspects with each listen. Closer "ABC", clocking in at almost seven minutes, is gorgeous: meditative without meandering, the constant percussion driving the airy instrumentation along, giving a sense of tangibility to the abstract composition. If this is a taste of what's to come, I'm excited to see what Fredrik have planned for 2011.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
PSL has posted another great live performance from Britta Persson: musik-med-britta-persson-2/" target="_blank">https://psl.svt.se/psl/2011/01/05/musik-med-britta-persson-2/
The third (and final?) video from Lapko's latest. So sayeth the band: "This zany video tells a story of Racewalker's run to his obvious home. Lapko's debut as film directors captures the first music video about athletic walking ever made." Direct link: meo.com/18452800" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/18452800
will be releasing a 4-song self-titled EP from new signees It's a bird! It's a plane! on Feburary 4 on both digital and 10" vinyl and no, I don't remember seeing them on m/n/36150-scandinavian-highlights-in-the-annual-onion-worst-band-name-list">The Onion's annual worst band name list, though they definitely qualify. Preview at myspace: myspace.com/itsabirditsaplane" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/itsabirditsaplane
Niki and the Dove (me.com/photos/20-bands-you-need-to-hear-in-2011/201222/1/1#8" target="_blank">#8) and Oh Land (me.com/photos/20-bands-you-need-to-hear-in-2011/201222/1/1#13" target="_blank">#13) make NmE's list of "20 bands you need to hear in 2011" which probably means that the hype of these probably overrated acts will be deafening.
Every moment has me falling further and further behind. The list of music that deserves coverage grows longer by the day and I can barely keep up, to say nothing of everything else I've got going on. One such title I've been meaning to talk up for awhile now is mack Johansson's solo debut "New Sweden", so here's a great uneasy ballad from said disc. Perhaps a few of you will recognize mack as the frontman for the very excellent Hyacinth House, one of my absolute favorite dark country acts and a band I've done my best to talk up for multiple years now, so no surprise that I find myself mentioning his work yet again. However, mack's work under his own name is a slightly different beast: similar twang, but definitely far less dark/more overtly pop. Not necessarily a bad thing when done right, but a sidestep that took me a bit off-guard. So I'm approaching this cautiously, optimistic that it'll win me over eventually, much in the same way that Hyacinth House's last record "Black crows' country" took time to grow on. For now I'm favoring the slower, more gentle tunes such as this; we'll wait on the rest.
Scandinavian bands I recognize from The Onion's annual worst band names list: The Lovable Tulips, Apoptygma Berzerk, Kyklooppien Sukupuutto. I'm probably missing a few, but no way am I clicking through each and every one to find out where they're from. Anyhow, check out the rest of the list here: m/articles/2010-the-year-in-band-names,49559/" target="_blank">https://www.avclub.com/articles/2010-the-year-in-band-names,49559/
The first release of 2011 for will be mF/mB/'s new 5-song EP/single "Seconds away". The official release date is January 18.
The final 12 nominees for the first annual Nordic music Prize have been announced:
Dungen - Skit i allt
Paleface - Helsinki – Shangri-La
Frisk Frugt - Dansktoppen møder Burkina Faso i det himmelblå rum hvor solen bor, suite
Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
Robyn - Body talk
Jónsi - Go Do
Efterklang - magic Chairs
Serena maneesh - S-m 2: Abyss in B minor
The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a scheme
Ólöf Arnalds - Innundir skinni
Kvelertak - Kvelertak
First Aid Kit - The big black & the blue
The winner will be announced during by:Larm in Oslo February 17-19. more here: musicprize.com/" target="_blank">https://nordicmusicprize.com/
has signed Swedish instrumental horror act Anima morte and will be rereleasing the group's debut album in march with bonus tracks.
"Kovasikajuttu" ("The Punk Syndrome") is an upcoming documentary on Finnish punk act Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät which will premiere in 2012. This is merely a preview of the awesomeness to come. Direct link: meo.com/18119323" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/18119323