London-based Scandinavian clubnight Ja Ja Ja has announced that XFm DJ John Kennedy has been selected to curate their Christmas party on December 17 and the acts picked are: Bloodgroup (Iceland), Harrys Gym (Norway) and Sofia Talvik (Sweden).
Swedish metal-punks Sonic Ritual are now up on Bandcamp and streaming two tracks off their new 12" EP "mother hearse", a reissue of the band's first demo cassette: mp.com/" target="_blank">https://sonicritual.bandcamp.com/
Under Byen have cancelled all upcoming live engagements to concentrate on finishing their fourth album, due out February 8 via A:larm music.
Norwegian act Grand Island are streaming their new single "Angelila" at myspace: myspace.com/thegrandisland" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/thegrandisland
The band's new album "Songs from Östra Knoll 122" will be released on January 25, 2010.
Bureau B is offering a track from the new Hearts No Static album as a free download: m/HNS_for_free.php" target="_blank">https://bureau-b.com/HNS_for_free.php
Recommended!
Antipati plans to record a new album in December, this time with the lyrics in Swedish. Expect a Q110 release.
Peter Bjorn and John and... Andrew WK? See: m/index.php?/blog/comments/peter_bjorn_john_andrew_wk_it_dont_move_me/" target="_blank">https://www.nickydigital.com/index.php?/blog/comments/peter_bjorn_john_andrew_wk_it_dont_move_me/
marit Bergman has a new song posted for free download: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=32829527&blogId=518024880" target="_blank">https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=32829527&blogId=518024880
Swedish artist Children, aka the solo project of Linus Lutti from Idiot Kid, has a couple new tracks posted on myspace including a Tom Waits cover performed with Andreas Söderström (ASS) and another song featuring magnus Granberg (Skogen) and Per Eklund (Taken By Trees, El Perro Del mar): myspace.com/boevell" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/boevell
Pitchfork reviews the new mary Onettes album "Islands": m/reviews/albums/13657-islands/" target="_blank">https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13657-islands/
The latest Warmer Climes mixtapes: mer-climes.blogspot.com/2009/11/warmer-mixtapes-59-by-david-kyhlberg-of.html" target="_blank">David Kyhlberg (The morning Paper/Sail A Whale), mer-climes.blogspot.com/2009/11/warmer-mixtapes-60-by-leonard-kaage-of.html" target="_blank">Leonard Kaage (Leonard Kaage and The Kin) and mer-climes.blogspot.com/2009/11/warmer-mixtapes-61-by-maja-milner-of.html" target="_blank">maja milner (makthaverskan).
MolokenWhile moloken's wonderful debut release "We all face the dark alone" showcased a band with the potential to deliver high-quality, sludgy metal, it only hinted at the abundant genius held within the ranks of this Swedish quartet. Only a year later this ingenuity has been fully realized in "Our astral circle" as we find an outfit that has honed their songwriting skills to as damn near perfect as is humanly possible. moloken have demonstrated that post-metal doesn't have to be a one-dimensional entity, and they've done it with such style that they have created a versatile body of work that defies genre convention. There's everything on offer here, from the ethereal uneasiness of "Untitled II" to the metal savagery of "my enemy" to the doomed despair of closer "11"12". There's also a certain looseness about this album, as if the band have felt their way in the studio rather than laboring over every minor detail, but that's not to say that this is a sloppy recording. Far from it, in fact. To have this music any tighter or, indeed, cleaner would render it simply good rather than great. Integral to this characteristic is a superior production, which allows the nuances of each instrument to shine through and affords "Our astral circle" a genuine, warts-and-all, quality. In the realm of moloken diversity is king; delicate passages punctuate abrasive walls of sound and everything comes together to produce an album that is central to this band's ethos: semper heavius maximus!
- John Norby
Kning Disk grows as a label and so do its artists. maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention, but prior to "The valleys" I had never considered Rickard Jäverling to be a folk artist. After all, my first introduction to his work was through his split 7" with Oskar Schönning & Co. on Jezebel Recordings, a recording that I guess could be considered postrock, though I suppose the barebones label of "instrumental" would be sufficient. Beyond that, I see his name in the credits on many records I love (David Åhlén and Johan Heltne, to name two artists he has worked with), but who knows how that reflects on the man's own work? And now, on his new record? His music still drifts with gradual crescendos, but now there are vocals and, yes, even a few small nods to pop convention. On some of the tracks at least; the folk tag is less troubadour than historian. Anyhow, he's still at his best in pure composer mode and this particular track I've got for you today is an absolutely gorgeous collaboration with fellow musical traveller Andreas Söderström (ASS). The mood is crucial, it's what ties him to the other artists I mentioned above and what sets them apart from their peers. Pastoral like labelmate Erik Enocksson can be, but hazy as if filtered through the memory of a dream. It's in the way the notes quiver and, even before the waves and seagulls come in, I see an ocean.
Rickard Jäverling - The wedding ring
Gorilla vs Bear has uncovered that the new JJ video posted by Sincerely Yours earlier today is a cover of "Baby" by Lorentz and m. Sakarias: m/2009/11/new-jj-baby.html" target="_blank">https://gorillavsbear.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-jj-baby.html
Danish indiepop act Champagne Riot is back, reinvigorated as a two-piece, and are streaming three new tracks at myspace: myspace.com/champagneriot" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/champagneriot
If you were into their EP on Shelflife or are interested in anything Labrador-related, you should definitely check these guys out.