Amalie Riis
Safe and sound
Songcrafter Music

Safe and sound is right, this record takes no risks. Amalie Riis has a nice voice and I'm sure she's got a great heart, but her emotional resonance is close to nil. In a world filled with aspiring singer/songwriters, it takes much more to stand out from the pack and simply being "nice" is never enough. No amount of talent can make up for lack of creativity, though sometimes that can be overcome by force of personality or sheer energy. Sorry to say, her skills are not being put to good use. Which is not to say this album is entirely lacking highlights, it's just that they shine so dimly. I enjoy the ethereal Emmylou Harris-esque opener "Nothing you can do about it" and the John Prine homage "my heaven" is also decent (even if it is actually a Laurie mcClain song), but the rest passes by without leaving much of a wake. Perfectly pleasant, though also perfectly forgettable. Say no to mediocrity.
- Avi Roig

Premonition Records (The End Will Be Kicks) will be releasing a new 8-track CD from Umeå act BillyEd in the near future. Hear samples: myspace.com/billyedmusic" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/billyedmusic

Here's a video clip of Jonna Lee performing an acoustic version of the new track "The last night": m/watch?v=8rytOznrTCQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rytOznrTCQ

Finnish doom act Callisto is back in the studio with Jonas Olsson working on their third album.

Sahara Hotnights will tour Europe with Sugarplum Fairy as support to promote the international release of "What if leaving is a loving thing":

09/23 - matrix, Bochum (GER)
09/24 - Doornoosje, Nijmegen (NL)
09/25 - modernes, Bremen (GER)
09/26 - Reeperbahn Festival, Hamburg (GER)
09/27 - Sputnikhalle, munster (GER)
09/28 - Kamp, Bielefeld (GER)
09/29 - Burgerhaus Stollwerk, Cologne (GER)
10/01 - Colo-sal, Aschaffenburg (GER)
10/02 - ISC, Bern (CH)
10/03 - Kofmehl, Solothurn (CH)
10/04 - Orpheum, Graz (AUS)
10/05 - Rockhouse, Salzburg (AUS)
10/06 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
10/07 - Backstage, münchen (GER)
10/09 - Columbia Club, Berlin (GER)
10/10 - musikzentrum, Hannover (GER)
10/11 - melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)

New tourdates for Quit Your Dayjob:

09/18 - Tsunami, Köln (GER)
09/19 - Kulturladen, Konstanz (GER)
09/20 - Babalu, munchen (GER)
09/21 - Szene Wien, Wien (AUS)
09/23 - SO36, Berlin (GER)
09/24 - Chemiefabrik, Dresden (GER)
09/25 - Pretty Vacant, Düsseldorf (GER)
09/26 - Amp, münster (GER)
09/27 - Reeperbahn Festival, Hamburg (GER)

Swedish indierockers Artmade are streaming their new single "Ghost" at myspace: myspace.com/artmade" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/artmade
The band's new album "1614" will be out on August 15.

Danish pop act Alphabeat has added a bunch of new dates to their fall European tour itinerary: m/gigs" target="_blank">https://www.thisisalphabeat.com/gigs

Those Elias and the Wizzkids tourdates I told you about m/index.php?date=2008-07-07#23291">earlier this month are finally starting to come together: myspace.com/eliasandthewizzkids" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/eliasandthewizzkids

The Silent Ballet on the new Jeniferever EP "Nangijala": m/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/1596/Default.aspx" target="_blank">https://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/1596/Default.aspx

mutinyzine interviews Swedish rockers Alouatta: mutinyzine.com/interview80.html" target="_blank">https://www.mutinyzine.com/interview80.html

Swedish emopop act Kid Down report that their new album is now 100% complete. No word on a release date yet, but I'll keep you posted.

Adrian Recordings artist Dmitry Fyodorov continues their crustpunk/d-beat tribute with their latest free mp3 single "Wolfbrigade": m/wolfbrigade.mp3" target="_blank">https://www.adrianrecordings.com/wolfbrigade.mp3
I wonder how many techno heads out there realize what's up with these song titles...

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Anna maria Espinosa - Everyday
02. TALK 1
03. Tobias Hellkvist - Vintervarm
04. The Bear Quartet - Needs vs. facts
05. The Social Services - Baltic Sea
06. TALK 2
07. Kristofer Åström - The dark
08. Honey Is Cool - You're a horse
09. Reeperbahn - Hjälte
10. Voices Break the Silence - The way
11. TALK 3
12. Hebosagil - River
13. Pan Sonic - Lähetys
14. Silverbullit - Only gold
15. TALK 4
16. Josè González - Down the line
17. motorpsycho - Serpentine
18. NEI - Hello
19. Claws Costeau - Finnuggla
20. TALK 5
21. Hello Saferide - I thought you said summer is going to take the pain away

Reminder: my show on Sirius Left of Center (channel 26) airs Sundays at 11pm ET with repeats on monday.

Hederos och Hellberg, the duo of mattias Hellberg and martin Hederos, are getting back together to play at one of the many Way Out West club shows: https://www.luger.se/_nyheter.asp?PK_Id=953