Proof positive of the growing UK hype for José González: [click here]

This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:

01. The Decemberists
02. Death Cab for Cutie
03. Bright Eyes
04. The Arcade Fire
05. Håkan Hellström
06. Laakso
07. Belle and Sebastian
08. Mew
09. Antony and the Johnsons
10. Jens Lekman

Top tracks:

01. Håkan Hellström - Klubbland
02. Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body
03. Laakso - High Drama
04. Cat Power - The Greatest
05. Death Cab for Cutie - Marching Bands of Manhattan
06. David Sandström Overdrive - Get on with your life
07. Håkan Hellström - Jag Vill Ha Allting
08. Håkan Hellström - Precis som Romeo
09. Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
10. Håkan Hellström - Augusti I Helvetet

Want to see your favorites listed here? Join us! Go here to learn more: https://www.last.fm/help/

I'm not going to bother with a Friday track this week, but I do have the last two top ten lists for the year from IAT contributors Johanna Smith and Nick Levine. Thanks guys! Looking forward to working with you both in 2006.

The Knife has a new website: https://www.theknife.net/

Smalltown has posted a diary from their recent US tour: https://www.smalltownsweden.com/US_tour.html

Pelle Carlberg will be doing a lot of international touring in 2006: https://www.pellecarlberg.se/live.htm

Danish webzine Undertoner's top album picks for 2005: https://undertoner.dk/article/articleview/1759

New European tourdates for Kaizers Orchestra:

03/09 - Postbahnhof, Berlin (GER)
03/10 - Grunspan, Hamburg (GER)
03/11 - Patronaat, Haarlem (HOL)
03/12 - Effenaar, Eindhoven (HOL)
03/13 - tbc, Doornrosje (HOL)
03/14 - Stollwerk, Köln (GER)
03/15 - AB Club, Bruxelles (BEL)
03/16 - Batschkap, Frankfurt (GER)
03/17 - Alter Feuerwache, Mannheim (GER)
03/18 - Orpheum, Graz (AUS)
03/19 - Bierhubeli, Bern (SWI)
03/21 - Backstage, München (GER)
03/22 - Star Club, Dresden (GER)
03/23 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
03/24 - tbc, Stockholm (SWE)
03/25 - tbc, Uppsala (SWE)

Norwegian folk/rock act Gåte has officially broken up: https://www.nrk.no/musikk/5358176.html
It's quite disappointing news as I really enjoyed both of their full-length albums.

Head over to Eskju Divine's website to download a 'new' version of the song "Fears" and to check out some of the band's top memories for the year: https://www.eskjudivine.com/news.htm

Memphis Industries has licensed El Perro Del Mar for release in the UK and Europe. Details to come. Check out her newly designed, easier to read website: https://www.elperrodelmar.com/

Logh charts at #7 in the Indieworkshop top 50 for 2005: https://indieworkshop.com/articles/270/
Also note that Denmark's The Psyke Project came in #37.

Convoj's debut self-titled EP made a decent impact this past year and I think they are perfectly poised for when it comes time to release their full-length. You hear Norrland post-hardcore roots in the discordant melodies, but it's those dance-heavy beats that make 'em special. You like it? You should buy it.

Another two new top tens today from the good people at Sellout! Music and also Tomas Melinder of the labels Norsordo, AA and EK-KE. Actually, it's three lists since I got two from Sellout. Thanks everyone! Check 'em out on the right.

Pascal has posted a new song for download: https://www.kyssmig.com/sounds/pascal_forbi_fabriken.mp3