Norway's Animal Alpha is currently recordng at Radio Star Studios in Weed, CA with producer Sylvia Massy (Johnny Cash, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, etc.). Look for an EP to be released on June 6 to be followed by an album on September 5, both via Racing Junior Records. I guess they're playing tomorrow in SF at the Tongue and Groove, but I'm busy so I won't be there. And for everyone else reporting the news, Weed is not just outside of SF - it's at least a four hour drive.

Digfi has announced the six finalists for the Roland/SAMI Music Award 2005: Janina, Mingå, Baba Guesthouse, Jennie Abrahamson, Ted and 1978. Read more: https://www.digfi.com/default.aspx?id=7103

Indie Workshop approves of the new Soundtrack of Our Lives album: https://indieworkshop.com/reviews/1674/

PopMatters reviews Danish retro rockers The Blue Van: https://popmatters.com/music/reviews/b/bluevan-art.shtml

Clawfinger will be recording a new album this summer for release sometime around late fall.

Carnal Forge pokes fun at Children of Bodom for being unoriginal: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=35794

Trapdoor Fucking Exit reports that they are finished with their new album "Crooked life/straight world" and it's due to be released in the fall via No Idea Records. Hopefully they'll actually get it on time, too. In other news, there's a demo version of the track "DOA" up on their myspace page for those that are interested. A new recording of the song will appear on the new album.

Chromewaves gives praise to Douglas Heart: https://www.chromewaves.net/?itemid=1756

I don't know why I didn't mention it yesterday, but I have a new batch of reviews posted over there on the right: click here

The Suburbs Are Killing Us talks to Rune Grammofon act In the Country and includes a few sample tunes for good measure: https://www.christopherporter.com/2005/04/in-country-beaver-creek-how-to-get.html

Those boys in Torpedo are so nice that they posted a new track for download: https://www.torpedo.se/torpedo_from_russia_with_love.mp3
"From Russia with love" comes from the band's excellent debut EP "Anticlockwise", out now on Strange Fruit.

"Morning dancer" has been selected at the first single from St. Thomas' new album "Children of the new brigade" which comes out on August 20. The "Morning dancer" EP comes out June 13 and a video will be filmed in May while St. Thomas is in California.

The new Wan Light album "Carmaline" has been confirmed for a May 11 release on Labrador Records.

Peep the video for "Struck by the halo" from Eskju Divine: https://wse63955.ta22.talkactive.net/Struck_By_The_Halo.mov
Their new EP of the same name comes out May 18 via Imperial Recordings.

Check out the video for "60 minutes" from Swedish new-wave act Paris: https://www.parismusic.se/60min/paris_web.mov
I guess the band is on V2 now?