I know I've written about a lot of bands on Denmark's PonyRec, but it's only because they're so good. It's hard not to be impressed when a label's catalogue is so diverse, yet so high quality. Anyhow, today's featured band is Tenderloud whose album "Shadow red hand" was the label's second release back in October 2004. As I've said before, it's amazing how well Danes play Americana and it's only made that much more obvious when you hear these guys. If I had never heard 16 Horsepower before I'd probably be even more blown away by this band, but they're still damn good even if they might be tad derivative. 16hp is/was the be-all-end-all for grim, American gothic-style country, so whenever I hear someone else doing something similar, it's impossible not to compare them. On the other hand, the few tracks on the album where Tenderloud embrace their own personality and turn up the pop sensibilities a notch are simply great and show amazing promise. Today's selection, the unlisted bonus track, is one of those pieces. I've got high expectations for their next album.

NOTE: All IAT mailorder requests received after 5pm PST today will not be sent out until next week as all stock is being packed for my move to Washington. Thanks for your understanding.

Famed Norwegian avant music label Rune Grammofon says that the upcoming Supersilent DVD should be ready for release in August. "1 hour and 49 minutes of prime Supersilent, captured to 16mm film in glorious black and white, directed by Kim Hiorthøy."

Also on the way from Rune Grammofon is an album featuring 22-year old guitarist Anders Hana together with drummer Morten Olsen. Look for that to come out in late autumn.

Some new live dates for Logh:

07/17 - Dour Festival, Dour (BEL)
07/26 - Cafe Trauma, Marburg (GER)
07/27 - Komma, Esslingen (GER)
07/28 - Winston, Amsterdam (NL)
07/29 - Minirock Festival, Olmen (BEL)
07/30 - Römer, Bremen (GER)
08/25 - Malmöfestivalen, Malmö (SWE)

Updated European dates for The Jessica Fletchers:

08/05 - Trinkhalle, Rheine (GER)
08/06 - Krach am Bach Festival, Beelen (GER)
08/07 - Shwimmbad Open Air, Herzberg (GER)
08/08 - Gleis 1, Eisenach (GER)
08/11 - Prager Frühling, München (GER)
08/12 - Kuckucknest, Berchtegaden (GER)
08/13 - Sublime, Aflenz (AUS)
08/15 - Old place new sound festival, Haimburg (AUS)
09/28 - Gaswerk, Winterthur (SWI)
09/30 - Abc Mixx, Luzern (SWI)
10/01 - Kulturfabrik Kofmehl, Solothurn (SWI)

Ikaros is looking to tour Europe from late August until mid-September. If you think you might be able to help out, get in touch with their booker Kevin from Underground Revolution at kevin@underground-revolution.com.

Swedish piano-based trio Eskju Divine has posted a bunch of new full-length sound samples on their website: https://www.eskjudivine.com/
Their most recent EP "Struck by the halo" is quite nice, so I'd definitely recommend checking them out if you haven't already done so.

David Sandström has a confounding new website: https://www.david-sandstrom.com/

Stylus reviews the Paal Nilssen-Love/Lasse Marhaug collaboration "Personal hygiene": https://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3138

Here's this week's MTVe UpNorth video chart:

01. DAD - Scare Yourself
02. Darin - Why Does It Rain
03. Hellacopters - Everything's On TV
04. Robyn - Be Mine
05. Midnight Monkeys - Monkeys On Attack
06. Looptroop - Fort Europa
07. Lene Marlin - How Will It Be
08. Ane Brun / Ron Sexsmith - Song No. 6
09. Jori Hulkkonen - Lo Fiction
10. Paris - 60 Minutes
11. Håkan Hellström - Dom Kommer Kliva På Dig Igen
12. The Maryonettes - Make My Last
13. Span - The Outside
14. London MC - What Is My Name
15. Jim Stärk - Going Down That Lonely Road
16. Soak The Sin - Hands Up
17. Beezewax - I'm Not Where I'm Supposed To Be
18. Cheek - Liiku
19. Amerika - Big City Boy
20. Maria Arredondo - Cross Every River

Go here to vote for your favorite.

Tenderversion recording artists Audrey enter the studio today with producer Paul Bothén to begin work on their debut full-length. Look for it this coming fall.

Tenderversion also reports that Once We Were just wrapped up a recording session with Mathias Oldén (Logh) at Mission Hall. Six songs were recorded and the band plans to lay down some more acoustic/electronic/beat-based stuff on their own to pad the material for use on their forthcoming album.

The video for the new Alice in Videoland single "BadBoy" has been posted online: https://www.aliceinvideoland.net/video/aliceinvideoland_-_badboy.wmv

Download a radio rip of the brand new Opeth track "The grand conjuration": https://www.firecoker.com/music/Opeth%20-%20The%20Grand%20Conjuration%20%28ripped%20from%20Sirius%29.mp3