Rune Grammofon on the new release of "Oak or Rock", the third album from Phonophani:

The title "Oak or Rock" refers to mysterious connections between material things, and the album is all about rediscovering the great mystery of music. Through dissecting the sound of ordinary or 'real' instruments such as cello, vibraphone, guitars and the human voice and dissolving melodies into their elementary particles, Espen Sommer Eide seeks to excavate the 'ur' music itself. Instruments are often sampled and manipulated using software designed and made by himself, being a keen programmer who prefers this to the so-called industry standards, giving the album a personal and unique sound. Maja Ratkje is appearing on one of the tracks.

Blastitude on Finnish experimental label Lal Lal Lal: https://blastitude.com/17/LALLALLAL.htm

Finally, here's a complete list of upcoming international tourdates for The Concretes:

10/01 - Bommens Salonger, Göteborg (SWE)
10/02 - Garage, Oslo (NOR) w/Stars
10/03 - KB, Malmö (SWE)
10/11 - Lee's, Toronto (CAN)
10/13 - TT's, Boston, MA
10/14 - Bowery Ballroom, NYC, NY
10/17 - Neumos, Seattle, WA
10/20 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
10/22 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA

Mp3 blog Fat Planet celebrates their one-year anniversary today with the release of a downloadable comp featuring some of their picks for the best music in the world. Of course that means quite a new Nordic acts are featured, such as Lars Horntveth (NOR), Erik Levander (SWE) and Jab Mica och El (DK). Check it: https://www.fatplanet.com.au

Check out the video for "You are the light" from Jens Lekman: https://www.srvice.com/light.html

Quit Your Dayjob have recorded a cover of "Broken face" by The Pixies for an upcoming tribute album coming out in October from Düsseldorf Recordings. Other bands contributing are Hell on Wheels ("The Holiday Song"), Hamell on Trial, Nathan Larson (ex-Shudder to Think), David Fridlund (David & the Citizens) with Sara Culler, Doktor Kosmos and more.

Umeå's Klubb Modos has confirmed their schedule for the next couple months: https://hem.bredband.net/b285927/modosflyerweb.gif

See the video for the new WE single "Catch Electrique": low / high
In case you didn't notice, this track is one of the many fine tunes that will appear on the upcoming "It's a trap! reader's companion volume one" compilation that I'm putting out.

Here's a short video clip of Division of Laura Lee playing at the Junkyard Skateboard party in Trollhättan, Sweden last weekend: https://www.divisionoflauralee.com/movies/junkyard.mov

Det Gamla Landet has announced that their new album is recorded, mixed and sent off to be pressed. It should be out around late September.

Sanctum promises to do something special to celebrate the group's tenth anniversary on September 10: https://www.ratblast.net/cc/node/view/54

MIC Norway does another focus article on electropop sensation Annie: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004083014402241466697

Norwegian industrial metal act Red Harvest will unleash their new album "Internal Punishment Programs" on October 5. A video for the song "Anatomy of the Unknown" has been filmed and should be airplay around mid-October.

Check out the video for the new Europe single "Got to have faith": https://qstream-wm.qbrick.com/00862/noje/0408/m0no040827europe.wmv

Logh will be recording their new album in September and plans to track the entire thing live in four days, including vocals. Seeing as how most every live recording I've heard from these guys is just as good as their albums, I have no doubt that it will be amazing. So does that mean a late fall or early 2005 release?