Datarock's video for their new single "Give it up" is now online: m/watch?v=SmNR21tY-Vm&fmt=18" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmNR21tY-Vm&fmt=18
The band's new album "Red" will be out September 1 via Nettwerk.
Norwegian jazz artists Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Håkon Kornstad will be performing selections from their critically acclaimed folk/freejazz album "Elise" in Brooklyn, NY on April 10 at monkey Town. If that's not enough, Kornstad will also be doing a second set with guitarist Brandon Seabrook and drummer Christine Bard that same night. more details: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=127219457&blogId=482182900" target="_blank">https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=127219457&blogId=482182900
A West Side Fabrication recently sneaked out a new Swedish-language comp called "Svenska ord från A West Side Fabrication" featuring two exclusive cuts from mattias Alkberg, among others. Check it here: m/westside/releases/various/svenska-ord-fran-a-west-side-fabrication" target="_blank">https://www.klicktrack.com/westside/releases/various/svenska-ord-fran-a-west-side-fabrication
Check out Scraps of Tape performing "Linear optics" live in malmö at their record release show: meo.com/3976716" target="_blank">https://www.vimeo.com/3976716
This isn't the best song Shoot the Breeze has written, but it's definitely the best sounding. I've always felt like weak recordings were the one thing holding them back, so it's great to finally hear them sounding as powerful as I imagine they would/could. Producer/guitar hero Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT) did a great job helping them realize their potential; it's just a shame that "Feel as a victim" leans closer towards Nickelback-style overly-sensitive post-grunge arena-rock mediocrity than the classic hardrock they're so good at. I know they've always had those impulses though, so I'm not totally surprised. They've still got a strong sense of melody and the solo section is fantastic. Definitely a kind of 80s-throwback shredder thing, but kept short and sweet and it really does fit the song near-perfectly. I still get bummed by the excessive half-time parts though, that won't ever change, but I love hearing this band continually progress over the years. Looking forward to what comes next!
Shoot the Breeze - Feel as a victim
Lip Service's new single "Silent empire" is now streaming at myspace along with two b-side remixes: myspace.com/lipservicetheband" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/lipservicetheband
Aversionline on Icelandic death metal act Beneath: m/blahg/2009/04/09/beneath-2009-demo/" target="_blank">https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2009/04/09/beneath-2009-demo/
Örnsbergmagnus Carlson sure is whoring himself out these days; I don't know how else to explain his various appearances on records such as Trummor & Orgel's "Cannonball sessions" and now this. Whatever happened to less is more? At least magnus' voice raises the level here as opposed to that other example (let us never speak of it again). His contribution to "Weekend lights" is a highlight on this decent, but ultimately forgettable record. Örnsberg (aka artist Johan Ragnarsson) strikes me as a slightly less-indie The Tough Alliance: similar mid-fi techno, but without the art-school hangups and West Coast vibe. He's got good songwriting instincts and an okay voice, but he lacks character and attitude and that's something TTA has in spades (for better or worse). Too cool, too reserved and just way too Stockholm.
- Avi Roig
Finnish pop act Tigerbombs are back in the studio working on their next record.
Finnish psych act Plain Ride is now streaming their new album "House on the hill" via myspace: myspace.com/plainride" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/plainride
Popmatters reviews I Was A King's self-titled international release: matters.com/pm/review/72109-i-was-a-king-i-was-a-king/" target="_blank">https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/72109-i-was-a-king-i-was-a-king/
Here are the dates for that Victims East Coast tour with Black Breath and Trap Them:
05/22 - Sonar (maryland Death Fest), Baltimore, mD
05/25 - Lit Lounge, New York, NY
05/26 - Webster Underground, Hartford, CT
05/27 - Great Scott, Boston, mA
05/28 - Westcott Center, Syracuse, NY
05/29 - Forward Hall, Erie, PA
05/30 - Howards Club H, Bowling Green, OH
05/31 - Borg Ward, milwaukee, WI
06/01 - Triple Rock, minneapolis, mN
06/02 - Subterrenean, Chicago, IL
06/03 - Warsaw Arena, Cincinnati, OH
06/04 - TBA, Birmingham, AL
06/05 - Hi Tone, memphis, TN
06/06 - Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
06/07 - Park, Charleston, SC
06/08 - Brewery, Raleigh, NC
06/09 - Hideaway, Johnson City, TN
06/10 - Talking Head, Baltimore, mD
06/11 - Charleston, Brooklyn, NY
06/12 - The Barbary, Philadelphia, PA
I don't normally hype US acts here, but Black Breath are kiiiiller. Don't snooze on this one!
Cokemachineglow reviews the new Andreas Tilliander ambient album "Persona" released under his mokira moniker: machineglow.com/record_review/4429/mokira-persona-2009" target="_blank">https://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/4429/mokira-persona-2009
Watch Peter Bjorn and John perform a 5-song live set for Spinner: m/2009/04/08/peter-bjorn-and-john-rock-the-interface/" target="_blank">https://www.spinner.com/2009/04/08/peter-bjorn-and-john-rock-the-interface/