10. De Press - Block to block
09. Röyksopp - Melody AM
08. Jan Garbarek, Keith Jarrett, Palle Danielsson, Jon Christensen - Belonging
07. deLillos - Suser avgårde
06. The Aller Værste - Materialtretthet
05. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Juba Juba
04. Kjøtt - 12"
03. A-ha - Hunting high and low
02. A-ha - Scoundrel days
01. Radka Toneff/Steve Dobrogosz - Fairytales

For the full list, including various individual contributors' selections, go here: http://mbtopp100.no/category/listen/
If you have Spotify, listen to album #1 right here.

Honorary Award: A-ha
Newcomer of the Year: Kvelertak
Producers of the Year: Stargate
Electronica: Lindstrøm og Christabelle
Metal: Enslaved
Open Class: Jaga Jazzist
Pop group: Kråkesølv
Jazz: Elephant9
Female artist of the Year: Ingrid Olava
Popular music composer of the Year: Susanne Sundfør
Male artist of the Year: Thom Hell
Spellemann of the Year: Karpe Diem

More here: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2011030713200940182650

One of the biggest pleasures for the ear in this year of 2010 was the beautiful "Majakanvartijan Uni" by the Finnish singer-songwriter Ville Leinonen. The album is so atmospheric, warm and cozy that you could live there. Unfortunately, there's a lack of information about this artist in English so Ville kindly agreed to answer some questions, thus the interested reader can know more about him and his music.

Hello, Ville!

Hei! Siistiä, englanninkielinen haastattelu on harvinaista herkkua! Thrilled to answer your questions.

Please tell some things about "Majakanvartijan Uni (The dream of the Lighthouse Keeper)". Is there the connection with any actual lighthouse and what does N 61° 28' 16.95" E 23° 47' 7.24" stand for?

"Majakanvartijan Uni" is a musical story of a lonely lighthouse keeper who seems to be the only human survivor after the massive destruction of Earth's ecosystem in the year 2067. It all came down when the oil company Lotion Da Vies president Lord Verneux went totally mad and started to blow up his own oil pipelines around the seas of the world.

The lighthouse keeper is badly wounded but stayed alive in his isolate tower in the center of the black poisonous ocean, and somewhere between his imagination and this realism of apocalypse, the story begins. He collects radiowaves and remains of all wwws trying to puzzle what happened, and if there's anybody else living on the planet still. Sadly, all he can find seems to be just pieces of old broadcasts and advertisements, and he's getting weaker.

N 61° 28' 16.95" E 23° 47' 7.24" are the original coordinates of the supernatural event that made the whole album appear to me in December 2008. It suddenly just appeared full and finished one night like a light out of the sky. I just captured it. [note: The original demoversion of the whole album is going to be released soon! About that DVD later...]

Tell about people who helped you make the album. I heard that Islaja took part.

If you buy "Majakanvartijan Uni" the album (CD or white vinyl) you can find a list of people who play on it. I asked my friend Janne Lastumäki to produce the album. Janne, being a multi-instrumentalist, plays a lot of different instruments there. Of course I do too. And then there are lots of musicians who I think are the best in Finland. On solo albums I always liked to ask the best to collaborate with. Yes, Islaja is one of the best of the best.

Parts of the making/recording process are filmed and can be viewed as several short promo-videos on Vimeo. In one video, where the recording of "Mal Du Soley" takes place, there are papers with musical notation -- and people sing according to it. When did you learn notation? Did you already understand it when you recorded "Raastinlauluja" or you decided to learn it later?

I have studied music since I was little, so notation is quite natural language for me. "Raastinlauluja" was my first album (or actually a cassette) made in 1997. I made some notations then too, when rehearsing live shows of that material in Savonlinna (my original home town).

The making of "Majakanvartijan Uni" film is going to be released soon also. It's my first film direction. The note papers you mentioned are the ones that Rakkauden Äänet (Voices of Love) used when making the backing vocals on the album.

"Majakanvartijan Uni" was released on Sound of Finland. Why don't you continue to release your solo albums through Fonal Records?

Fonal Records is musically the best Finnish label, no objections to that, but all my albums that Fonal have released have originally been released by other labels first. I have been a Poko Rekords artist since 2000. Sound Of Finland is a new label by the same Poko staff. SOF has a wide distribution in Finland and I sing in Finnish, so simply that's it.

Your vocals sound strong, clear and free -- different from how it was on "Raastinlauluja". Maybe it was made rough intentionally since that record is experimental, but anyway, did you do anything later to train your voice or did it happen naturally, getting better with practice?

Thank you for saying so. (Ville smiles)

Well, it seems that singing develops just by singing. Playing and singing in front of the audience is the best school for it. When I recorded "Raastinlauluja" I was a 21-year old (young) drummer and I never thought that I would really be a vocalist, especially I never thought about singing live. It was more just like an art form to explore mental moods, and somehow I also had to find ways to introduce my poetry that time. I actually thought I was going to be a poet... ha haa -- so original when you're in your twenties and start to be psyched about love, death and everything.

What's your attitude on easy and free file-sharing? What do you think about the fact that people can download your music for free: stealing or a great opportunity for music to find its listener?

It is absolutely horrible that people share music freely in the web and are not buying records anymore. It should be every artist's own decision to put music there for free, not some pirate nerds' choice. I'm trying to support my family by making music. It's not just a hobby for me. Same thing goes for Madonna also.

Good, we'll buy everything you advertise here! Do you remember your first experience as a musician?

I was born in a musicians' family. I really had no choice. I started to play drums seriously when I was 5 or 6. I remember rehearsals, gigs and traveling on a bus from very early on. First I joined a local marching band of 20 different aged children. Then I suddenly became a drummer of Savonlinna Big Band. So playing all kinds of legendary standards of jazz, military music, old hit tunes, folk music, classical and children music was a normal part of my childhood. I also started to do some restaurant dance music gigs for money when I was 12. Of course, that time rock'n'roll hit me. At first it was Kiss. Then became bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and all kinds of heavy metal genres but at the same time I also found my mother's favorites of 50's and 60's pop and folk music. So I'm a mixture of all that. I'd like to do music where you can find all those elements at the same time. That's my quest.

You played drums in Office Building, took part in recording of some Risto albums (drumming also), and currently you're a member of Teemu Elon Puhuvat Eläimet (backing vocals and synths). Are there any other projects you're involved?

Well, I played drums in O.B. 1999-2003 and in Risto-band 2005-2008. At this moment I take part only in Puhuvat Eläimet (Talking Animals) from Pori, and then there's my own band Majakan Soittokunta. But I have different kinds of projects that come and go all the time. One current project is an album of songs made by 10 year-old kids from schools of Tampere (town where I live nowadays). I'm a producer and a musician on that one. And then the reggae album will be out next year...

Are you into listening to music of other artists? Do you collect records, spending a lot of time listening to music or you rather concentrate on making your own thing? Could you name your favorite artists/bands?

I listen to music a lot but it's very rare that I find anything especially new. The best things going on in Finland right now are M.A. Numminen, Islaja, Pekko Käppi, Omfalos Renaissance, Circle, Rättö & Lehtisalo, Joose Keskitalo. On the other hand I have started to dig some finnish hip hop and rap like Asa, Jätkäjätkät, Raappana and Paleface.

My all time favorites are Leonard Cohen, Einstürzende Neubauten, David Bowie, Kiss, Priest, Samhain, A-Ha, Scott Walker, Alice Cooper... There's so much perfect music in the world! I love also all kinds of horror movie soundtracks and strange ethnic soundscapes, Indian, Asian...

Question about "Hei!" album. What was the criterion of choosing songs for making this cover album?

I had been unable to write a new material for almost 4 years. I don't know why, but after I finished my band Valumo, I somehow lost interest in doing songs with that same formula I had done for ages. Year 2006 was a busy year. There was much going on that time. I moved away from Tampere where I had lived for six years and did a great amount of solo gigs around everywhere, not having a steady place to sleep. During one year I had small but peppery gigs around Finland and also some in England, Spain, France, Russia, Tanzania. I started playing drums in Risto-band, I toured with some other Fonal bands. Well, there was just no time for writing songs... and a huge lack of ideas. (Ville smiles)

I have always loved to add some good old 70' Iskelmä songs (Finnish and international) to my gig repertoire. So making a cover album at that point of my life was a foregone conclusion. That album ("Hei!") helped me to go further from rock and also indie-alternative music that Valumo represented. It was just fun being a "normal" pop singer for one year. After the album came out we made some very nice concerts with Chrisse Forever-band at big festivals in Finland. The version of the song "Pieni ja Lämpöinen" was played on the national radio stations regularly. So "Hei!" was a success, at least compared to anything I'd done before.

The songs were chosen on the basis of lyrics. I chose the ones which fit best to my life situation that period. All my albums are kind of diaries about their times.

There's a video on YouTube (poor quality though) where you perform "Old clock", a Russian song. How come that you covered Alla Pugacheva?

Ha haa! That's from my 2007 gig at Ikra-club in Moscow. For any Finnish songwriter it's absolutely great honour to be asked to play in Russia. Of course I added a few Russian songs for that gig, otherwise I would not have been writing signatures for beautiful Moscow girls the whole night.

Pugacheva is one of the brightest stars when talking about hit music internationally in the 70's. I have loved her music since I was a kid.

Question about Valumo band. On your myspace page it is said that "today it's dead and buried", haha. Why so brutally, you're not interested in playing rock music anymore or what?

Ville Leinonen & Valumo existed from 1998 to 2005. We did four studio albums and two live albums which are still quite good. It was a unique band, but I grew to realise that there has to be more than just one way to operate in music. I mean, my rockstar fantasies died when I turned 28. After that we still tried to "make it" for two years with Valumo. I don't want to go backwards never more. It's nothing against rock and loud electric guitars, vice versa. Actually, it is the character Iskelmäprinssi (and its side persons) that is dead and buried. If someday I wake up with ten new total heavy pop classic riffy melodic anthems which sound like pure Valumo, there's no way of stopping the comeback. [note: Valumo's last gig in autumn 2005 was recorded and it's available only on double vinyl, it's called "Alive II". It's probably the best album of that band.]

Well, if we take for example "Blue lagoon II" song from "Valloittaja", then it'll become clear why the band's records still sound good -- shamanic vocals with instruments going out of control closer to the end -- you can hardly hear this kind of rock music on the radio, it won't make you bored...

What do you do in life except music?

Mostly I'm at home with my daughter and wife, trying to keep myself fit and healthy. I read books a lot about history, art, war and politics. Then there's always music in all its forms. I try to write and compose, record and mix almost all the time. Right now when I'm writing this I also listen and mix some new songs. I'm on a train to pick up my new (old) guitar from maintenance.

Tell about your plans for 2011.

I'm doing solo gigs around Finland more than this year. So keep your eye on the gig calendar.

At the present I write lyrics for my next solo album. I hope it'll be ready by summer 2011. We have some gigs with Majakan Soittokunta coming. You don't want to miss those!

The reggae album "2 Leijonaa" with the other male singer Niko Ahvonen will be out next February. There will be some concerts with that project also. Then I'm thinking about making a fairytale album for children soon. We are editing my first DVD with Sami Sänpäkkilä. It will be ready in two or three months. It contains fresh live material, demoversions and documentary material about "Majakanvartijan Uni" year 2010. With SOF, we have to make new websites which would contain possibilities to download new music that is not available anywhere else. For example, the latest ambient album "Camp Crystal Lake" for the price of an empty C-cassette.

Picture by Ninni Luhtasaari

Kiitos paljon Ville, it was so interesting!

Спасибо! И холодной зимы!

You can listen to the single "Tyttö" from the forthcoming reggae album on YouTube.

Yeah, there's also strange bits and pieces of my music on YouTube from past years, shot with mobile phone cameras on various events. But actually Valumo-era is not presented at all. All the VHS-material is still not digitalized. There's also a famous ice-hockey player named Ville Leino and a Neurology Doctor named Ville Leinonen in Finland. Anyway, have a good safe surfin' Finlandia!

Interview by Alex Kudryavtsev.

01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Rundt neste sving
02. Madcon - Contraband
03. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
04. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
05. Odd Nordstoga - November
06. Hans Rotmo - Vårres Jul 2
07. Ole Ivars - Stjerneklart
08. Sissel - ...til deg...
09. Ida Maria - Katla
10. Sigvart Dagsland - Bryllups- og Begravelsesorkester
11. Malin & Celine - Julekonserten
12. Trine Rein - Seeds Of Joy
13. Tone Damli Aaberge - Cocool
14. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
15. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
16. Didrik Solli-Tangen - Guilty Pleasures
17. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
18. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
19. A-ha - 25
20. Skambankt - Søvnløs

01. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
02. Madcon - Contraband
03. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
04. Odd Nordstoga - November
05. Ole Ivars - Stjerneklart
06. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
07. Knut Anders Sørum - Prøysen
08. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
09. Sigvart Dagsland - Bryllups- og Begravelsesorkester
10. Trine Rein - Seeds Of Joy
11. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
12. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
13. Tone Damli Aaberge - Cocool
14. Celine - Jentekveld
15. Didrik Solli-Tangen - Guilty Pleasures
16. Skambankt - Søvnløs
17. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
18. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
19. A-ha - 25
20. Kvelertak - Kvelertak

01. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
02. Odd Nordstoga - November
03. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
04. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
05. Ole Ivars - Stjerneklart
06. Sigvart Dagsland - Bryllups- og Begravelsesorkester
07. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
08. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
09. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
10. Tone Damli Aaberge - Cocool
11. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
12. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
13. Knut Anders Sørum - Prøysen
14. Various Artists - Hjertestups
15. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
16. Skambankt - Søvnløs
17. Leif Ove Andsnes - Rachmaninov Piano Concertos no 3 & 4
18. Madcon - Contraband
19. A-ha - 25
20. Röyksopp - Senior

01. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
02. Odd Nordstoga - November
03. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
04. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
05. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
06. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
07. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
08. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
09. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
10. Vamp - I Full Symfoni 2
11. Skambankt - Søvnløs
12. Various Artists - Hjertestups
13. Veronica Akselsen - Blod og Ild
14. Röyksopp - Senior
15. Filmmusikk: - Splitter pinne - Reinspikka hits fra knerten filmen
16. Publiners - Herlig
17. Diverse artister - Go'natt
18. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War
19. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
20. A-ha - 25

01. Henning Kvitnes - For Sånne Som Oss
02. Odd Nordstoga - November
03. Ida Jenshus - No Guarantees
04. A1 - Waiting for Daylight
05. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
06. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
07. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
08. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
09. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
10. Skambankt - Søvnløs
11. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
12. Filmmusikk: - Splitter pinne - Reinspikka hits fra knerten filmen
13. Röyksopp - Senior
14. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
15. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War
16. A-ha - 25
17. Veronica Akselsen - Blod og Ild
18. The Moving Oos - The Return of Moving Oos
19. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
20. Olav Stedje - Ikkje Utan Deg

01. Odd Nordstoga - November
02. Röyksopp - Senior
03. Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
04. Kari Bremnes - Fantastisk Allerede
05. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
06. Elin Gaustad - Whole New Beginning
07. Christel Alsos - Tomorrow is
08. Skambankt - Søvnløs
09. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
10. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
11. Tommy Tokyo feat Starving for My Gravy - Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War
12. a-ha - 25
13. Filmmusikk: - Splitter pinne - Reinspikka hits fra knerten filmen
14. Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
15. Linda Kvam - Anything For Love
16. Inger Lise Rypdal - De beste jeg vet
17. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
18. Bjørn Johan Muri - Airwaves
19. Jan Garbarek/The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium Novum
20. The Respatexans - Hellbilly Heaven

01. Röyksopp - Senior
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
03. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
04. Jan Garbarek/The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium Novum
05. Skambankt - Søvnløs
06. A-ha - 25
07. Bjørn Johan Muri - Airwaves
08. Contrazt - Ser på verden
09. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
10. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
11. Major Parkinson - Songs from a solitary home
12. The Respatexans - Hellbilly Heaven
13. Diverse artister - Go'natt
14. Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge
15. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
16. Harrys Gym - What was ours can't be yours
17. Tove Bøygard - Tove Bøygard
18. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
19. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
20. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina

01. Röyksopp - Senior
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
03. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
04. Jan Garbarek/The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium Novum
05. Skambankt - Søvnløs
06. A-ha - 25
07. Bjørn Johan Muri - Airwaves
08. Contrazt - Ser på verden
09. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
10. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
11. Major Parkinson - Songs from a solitary home
12. The Respatexans - Hellbilly Heaven
13. Diverse artister - Go'natt
14. Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge
15. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
16. Harrys Gym - What was ours can't be yours
17. Tove Bøygard - Tove Bøygard
18. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
19. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
20. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina

01. Röyksopp - Senior
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
03. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
04. Jan Garbarek/The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium Novum
05. Skambankt - Søvnløs
06. a-ha - 25
07. Bjørn Johan Muri - Airwaves
08. Contrazt - Ser på verden
09. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
10. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
11. Major Parkinson - Songs from a solitary home
12. The Respatexans - Hellbilly Heaven
13. Diverse artister - Go'natt
14. Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge
15. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
16. Harrys Gym - What was ours can't be yours
17. Tove Bøygard - Tove Bøygard
18. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
19. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
20. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina

01. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
02. Skambankt - Søvnløs
03. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
04. Harrys Gym - What was ours can't be yours
05. A-ha - 25
06. Contrazt - Ser på verden
07. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
08. The Respatexans - Hellbilly Heaven
09. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
10. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
11. Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge
12. Elg - Storm
13. Diverse artister - Go'natt
14. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
15. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
16. Torbjørn Egner - Samlede CD-er
17. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina
18. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
19. Motorpsycho - Timothy's Monster
20. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. A-ha - 25
03. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
04. Contrazt - Ser på verden
05. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010
06. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
07. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
08. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina
09. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
10. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
11. Diverse artister - Go'natt
12. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
13. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
14. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
15. The Brigade - Dead man's gold
16. Torbjørn Egner - Samlede CD-er
17. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
18. Tristania - Rubicon
19. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
20. Elg - Storm

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
04. A-ha - 25
05. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
06. Guren Hagen - Takke Meg Tel
07. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
08. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
09. Motorpsycho - Timothy's Monster
10. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
11. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina
12. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
13. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
14. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
15. Diverse artister - Go'natt
16. Stage Dolls - Always
17. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
18. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
19. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
20. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Vestlandsfanden - Livets Glade Plommer
04. A-ha - 25
05. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
06. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
07. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
08. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
09. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
10. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
11. Jan Toft - Alle e aleina
12. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
13. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
14. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
15. Celine - Jentekveld
16. Ingeborg Selnes - Heartcore
17. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
18. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
19. Elg - Storm
20. Diverse artister - Go'natt

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
04. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
05. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
06. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
07. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
08. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
09. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
10. Roy Lønhøiden - Tilbake i tid - de beste sangene
11. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
12. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
13. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
14. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
15. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
16. Diverse artister - Go'natt
17. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
18. Celine - Jentekveld
19. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
20. A-ha - Hunting High And Low

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
04. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
05. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
06. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
07. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
08. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
09. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Knutsen & Ludvigsens beste
10. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
11. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
12. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
13. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
14. Diverse artister - Go'natt
15. Celine - Jentekveld
16. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
17. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
18. A-ha - Hunting High And Low
19. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
20. A-ha - 25

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Contrazt - Ser på verden
03. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
04. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
05. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
06. Guren Hagen - Alle de beste
07. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
08. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
09. Madrugada - Industrial Silence
10. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
11. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
12. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
13. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
14. Celine - Jentekveld
15. Divin' Ducks - Best Of
16. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
17. A-ha - Hunting High And Low
18. StMorritz - Tusenvis av ting
19. A-ha - Scoundrel Days
20. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min

01. Hellbillies - Leite etter lykka
02. Madrugada - Industrial silence
03. Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
04. Kvelertak - Kvelertak
05. Karpe Diem - Aldri Solgt En Løgn
06. Aasmund Nordstoga - Friaren
07. Tre Små Kinesere - Kjærlighet på tunga
08. Alexander Rybak - No Boundaries
09. Celine - Jentekveld
10. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
11. Lars Vaular - Helt om natten, Helt om dagen
12. Gitarkameratene - Kanon! Gitarkameratenes aller beste
13. Liv Marit Wedvik - Solid Ground
14. Knutsen & Ludvigsen - Dum og Deilig - Knutsen og Ludvigsen
15. Venke Knutson - Smiles - The Very Best Of
16. A-ha - Hunting high and low
17. Steff Nevers - Ain't no bad life
18. Diverse artister - Go'natt
19. Trond Granlund - Sanger jeg lærte av faren min
20. A-ha - Scoundrel days

01. Donkeyboy - Caugh in a Life
02. Bjørn Eidsvåg - De Beste
03. Jonas Fjeld feat Henning Kvitnes - Den Gamle Veien
04. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
05. Herborg Kråkevik - Kvar Ein Dag
06. Ole Ivars - Femten Ferske
07. Nilsen/Aalberg - Call Me a Dreamer
08. The Blacksheeps - Blacksheeps
09. Anne Nørdsti - Livet er nå
10. Kråkesølv - Trådnøsting
11. Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored, Returned
12. Malin - Malin
13. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
14. Diverse artister - Go'natt
15. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
16. Alf Prøysen - De kjente og kjære sangene
17. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
18. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
19. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
20. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea

01. Donkeyboy - Caugh in a Life
02. Bjørn Eidsvåg - De Beste
03. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
04. Jonas Fjeld feat Henning Kvitnes - Den Gamle Veien
05. Anne Nørdsti - Livet er nå
06. The Blacksheeps - Blacksheeps
07. Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored, Returned
08. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
09. Herborg Kråkevik - Kvar Ein Dag
10. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
11. Diverse artister - Go'natt
12. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
13. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
14. Bjølsen Valsemølle - Mohammeds Cafe
15. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
16. Minor Majority - Either Way I Think You Know
17. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
18. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
19. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
20. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!

01. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
02. Jonas Fjeld feat Henning Kvitnes - Den Gamle Veien
03. The Blacksheeps - Blacksheeps
04. Asbjørn Ribe - Ornand Vet Hvordan
05. Minor Majority - Either Way I Think You Know
06. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
07. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
08. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
09. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
10. Anne Nørdsti - Livet er nå
11. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
12. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
13. Tommy Tee - Studio Time
14. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!
15. Immortal - All Shall Fall
16. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Minna Som Eg Har
17. The Cumshots - A Life Less Necessar
18. Adjagas - Mànu Ràvdnji
19. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
20. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement

01. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
02. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
03. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
04. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
05. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
06. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
07. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
08. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!
09. The Cumshots - A Life Less Necessar
10. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Minna Som Eg Har
11. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement
12. Yoga Fire - Fuck You Eller Penga Tilbake
13. a-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
14. Jan Garbarek Group - Dresden - In Concert
15. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
16. Röyksopp - Junior
17. Askil Holm - Rolling The Slow Bus Home
18. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
19. Christina Bjordal - Warrior Of Light
20. Stavangerensemblet - Samlekasse

01. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
02. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
03. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
04. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
05. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!
06. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
07. Jan Garbarek Group - Dresden - In Concert
08. Ghost Dog - First Book of Samuel
09. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
10. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Minna Som Eg Har
11. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
12. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement
13. Stavangerensemblet - Samlekasse
14. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
15. Röyksopp - Junior
16. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
17. Bjørn Berge - Fretwork
18. Hilde Heltberg - Elske Fritt
19. Contrazt - Uten Kart og Kompass
20. Eriksen - De aller beste

01. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
02. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
03. Jan Garbarek - Dresden
04. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
05. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement
06. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
07. Ghost Dog - First Book of Samuel
08. Contrazt - Uten Kart og Kompass
09. Stavangerensemblet - Samlekasse
10. a-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
11. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
12. Superfamily - Guns Tonight
13. Ulf Risnes og Øyvind Holm - Safe and Sorry
14. Röyksopp - Junior
15. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
16. Bjørn Berge - Fretwork
17. Valkyrien Allstars - To måner
18. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
19. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
20. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste

01. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
02. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
03. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
04. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
05. Petter Carlsen - You Go Bird
06. Contrazt - Uten Kart og Kompass
07. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
08. Sibbe - Best Of
09. Röyksopp - Junior
10. Susanna & The Magial Orchestra - 3
11. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
12. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
13. Finn Wang - Boots, Balls & Velvet
14. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
15. Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future
16. Trøste & Bære - Drita full før Drøbaksundet
17. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
18. Stavangerensemblet - Samlekasse
19. BigBang - Edendale
20. Jens Carelius - The Beat Of The Travel

01. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
02. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
03. Röyksopp - Junior
04. Sibbe - Best Of
05. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
06. Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future
07. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
08. Trøste & Bære - Drita full før Drøbaksundet
09. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
10. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
11. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
12. Jens Carelius - The Beat Of The Travel
13. BigBang - Edendale
14. Noora Noor - Soul Deep
15. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
16. Randi Tytingvåg - Red
17. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
18. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
19. Terje Formoe - Hiv o'hoi - Kaptein Sabeltanns beste
20. Erik og Kriss - Tabu

01. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
02. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
03. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
04. Motorpsycho - Child Of The Future
05. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
06. Sibbe - Best Of
07. Röyksopp - Junior
08. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
09. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
10. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
11. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
12. BigBang - Edendale
13. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
14. Trøste & Bære - Drita full før Drøbaksundet
15. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
16. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
17. Datarock - Red
18. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
19. Terje Formoe - Kaptein Sabeltann og den forheksede øya
20. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen

01. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
02. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
03. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
04. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
05. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
06. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
07. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
08. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
09. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
10. Röyksopp - Junior
11. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
12. BigBang - Edendale
13. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
14. Vømmøl Spellmannslag - Vømmøl'n
15. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
16. Trøste & Bære - Drita full før Drøbaksundet
17. Eriksen - De aller beste
18. Datarock - Red
19. Terje Formoe - Kaptein Sabeltann og den forheksede øya
20. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen

01. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
02. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
03. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
04. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
05. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
06. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
07. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
08. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
09. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
10. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
11. Eriksen - De aller beste
12. BigBang - Edendale
13. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
14. Aasmund Nordstoga - Ein visefugg
15. Röyksopp - Junior
16. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen
17. Terje Formoe - Hiv o'hoi - Kaptein Sabeltanns beste
18. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
19. Datarock - Red
20. Vømmøl Spellmannslag - Vømmøl'n

01. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
02. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
03. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
04. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
05. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
06. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
07. Narum - Samma Hen Du Fær
08. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
09. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
10. Röyksopp - Junior
11. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
12. Eriksen - De aller beste
13. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen
14. Datarock - Red
15. Aasmund Nordstoga - Ein visefugg
16. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
17. BigBang - Edendale
18. Terje Formoe - Hiv o'hoi - Kaptein Sabeltanns beste
19. Vømmøl Spellmannslag - Vømmøl'n
20. Eva & The Heartmaker - Let's Keep This Up Forever

01. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
02. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
03. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
04. Narum - Samma Hen Du fær
05. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
06. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
07. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
08. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
09. Röyksopp - Junior
10. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen
11. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
12. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
13. Vømmøl Spellmannslag - Vømmøl'n
14. Eriksen - De aller beste
15. BigBang - Edendale
16. Lollipop - Lollipop - 50 beste
17. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
18. Aasmund Nordstoga - Ein visefugg
19. Datarock - Red
20. CC Cowboys - Morgen & kveld

01. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
02. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
03. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
04. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
05. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
06. D.D.E. - Ut av kontroll
07. Too Far Gone - Sola i ryggen
08. Röyksopp - Junior
09. Eriksen - De aller beste
10. Smurfene - Smurfeparty 2
11. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
12. Vømmøl Spellmannslag - Vømmøl'n
13. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
14. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
15. BigBang - Edendale
16. Datarock - Red
17. CC Cowboys - Morgen & kveld
18. Aasmund Nordstoga - Ein visefugg
19. Eva & The Heartmaker - Let's Keep This Up Forever
20. Skambankt - Hardt regn

01. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
02. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
03. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
04. Postgirobygget - Øyeblikk
05. Henning Kvitnes - Tid for latskap
06. Vømmøl Spellmannslag - Vømmøl'n
07. Too Far - Sola i ryggen
08. Aasmund Nordstoga - Ein visefugg
09. Terje Tysland - Lidderli gla
10. Eriksen - De aller beste
11. Reidar Larsen - Kom in te oss
12. Erik og Kriss - Tabu
13. Röyksopp - Junior
14. Tone Damli Aaberge - I Know
15. Datarock - Red
16. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
17. BigBang - Edendale
18. Tina Lie - Free Enough To Fall
19. Eva & The Heartmaker - Let's Keep This Up Forever
20. Anita Skorgan - Hele veien - 47 utvalgte sanger

11/02 - NIA, Birmingham
11/03 - MEN Arena, Manchester
11/04 - O2 Arena, London

01. Britta Persson - Cliffhanger
02. TALK 1
03. Death By Kite - Sweet M
04. KVLR - Traitors and thieves
05. Anna Ternheim - Today is a good day
06. TALK 2
07. Don Juan Dracula - Take me home (Johan Angebjörn remix feat. Sally Shapiro)
08. Amorphis - Weaving the incantation
09. Thomas Denver Jonsson - Dreams at the film club (feat. Nina Kinert)
10. TALK 3
11. Don't Be A Stranger - Lonely together
12. Madrugada - Tonight I have no words for you
13. Majessic Dreams - Have to go
14. TALK 4
15. Pavan - The bird
16. Bröderna Lindgren - Om en guldfisk (feat. Kristofer Åström)
17. The Tarantula Waltz - Where I end and you begin
18. Adam Tensta - They wanna know
19. TALK 5
20. Commando M Pigg - Mot stjärnorna
21. Gravy - Rock scientists
22. Jonas Game - ADHD
23. TALK 6
24. Linus Larsson & John Roger Olsson - In the shadow
25. Idiot Kid - Go to sleep
26. Mats Öberg - Cool water - på Den Gyldene Freden
27. TALK 7
28. Pascal - Längtar efter dig
29. The Bear Quartet - I would be poor
30. Peloton - Aranburu
31. Royal Downfall - Lightning strikes twice
32. TALK 8
33. Made In Sweden - Winter's a bummer
34. Erik Enocksson - The state the sea left me in
35. Asha Ali - Coward heart
36. TALK 9
37. A-ha - Celice

30. Turboneger - Apocalypse Dudes
29. Tre Så Kinesere - 365 Fri
28. Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky
27. Madrugada - The Nightly Desease
26. Kung Fu Girls - This Is The Kung Fu Beat
25. Sissy Wish - You May Breathe
24. Lillemor - Lokkemann
23. Terje Rypdal - Bleak House
22. a-ha - Hunting High An Low
21. Thomas Dybdahl - That Great October Sound]]> Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1569 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1569 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1569#comments A-ha and The Raveonettes are the two lone Scandinavians acts contributing to the upcoming "Make some noise" John Lennon tribute compilation being put out by Amnesty International to benefit Darfur. Read more: http://www.a-ha.com/cparticle7836-417.html]]> Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1748 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1748 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1748#comments Last night's playlist for my show on Sirius Blog Radio:

01. Isolation Years - Yellow cross on blue
02. TALK 1
03. Johndoe - Nattskift
04. Montys Loco - Wasteland
05. Once We Were - Cut corners
06. TALK 2
07. [ingenting] - Mycket vasen for ingenting
08. Margaret Berger - Robot song
09. Namur - Marching
10. Lampshade - New legs
11. TALK 3
12. Maia Hirasawa - Gothenburg
13. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet
14. Fattaru - 100:-
15. Juvelen - Hanna
16. TALK 4
17. Säkert! - Allt som är ditt
18. Sonores - 16th of June
19. Detektivbyrån - E18
20. TALK 5
21. At the Gates - The swarm
22. Barra Head - Kill the lights
23. TALK 6
24. The Tough Alliance - Leg 7
25. Torpedo - My evil twin
26. Alog - Catch that totem!
27. TALK 7
28. Valley Days - 10k angels
29. A-ha - Celice
30. Victims - Who the fuck are we?
31. TALK 8
32. The Vicious - Alienated
33. Viola - Unreal life
34. Zweizz - Nowadays the only boring everything is so frustrating
35. Viktor Sjöberg - Winter guitars
36. TALK 9
37. Closer - The talker
38. Aerial - My god, it's full of stars!
39. The Kissaway Trail - La la song
40. Laakso - Italy vs Helsinki
41. The Psyke Project - Panic
42. TALK 10
43. C.Aarmé - We are the world

Next week: expect lots more killer jams including totally a brand new track from Closer and maybe even a spotlight set on post-rock/ambient music. Good times!]]> Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1758 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1758 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1758#comments Savoy, the sideproject of A-ha frontman Paul Waaktaar-Savoy together with his wife Lauren, will be releasing a 2xCD collection entitled "Savoy Songbook Vol. 1" to serve as introduction for the band abroad and as a best-of set back home in Norway. The tracklist includes many old favorites as well as new versions of old tracks and three completely new ones. Read more: http://www.a-ha.com/cparticle7818-417.html]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25684-interview-don-juan-dracula http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25684-interview-don-juan-dracula http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25684-interview-don-juan-dracula#comments I first heard the song "Run away with you" with Don Juan Dracula when I was working with a Norwegian music channel and I immediately took a liking to it. I found a couple more of their songs and, on a trip back to Scandinavia, went looking for their record. I had no luck in finding it and soon thereafter heard the band had split up and soon forgot about them as I went on with my life. I think the news that they were back together was posted on our very own itsatrap.com and it was also via this site I came in touch with their manager.
- Per Apelqvist

Don Juan Dracula, what does it mean?

Gentlemen.

You called it a quits and then returned with gigs in both Beijing and New York last year. Why did you quit and why did you come back?

Well, it's not always easy to play in a band for several years. After the YD2 tour in 2005 we where pretty tired of DJD and eachother. We had some disagreements about the band's direction. But mainly we had some deeper conflicts; instead of solving them we tried to ignore them. That didn't work out well, so we reached a point where we were unable to move forward.

With time away from each other we realized we needed to talk things through. We couldn't leave this great band as we have so much life left in us. The short break was good for us all. Then things became much clearer and basically all we wanted was to get back on stage where we belong. The whole process taught us a lot about each other and ourselves. We are now stronger and more inspired than ever.

What's with the white outfits?

Since they are white we need to wash the outfits after each show, so they all go in the laundry together.

If we had black outfits we wouldn't need to wash them at all, but then we would stink... and DJD doesn't stink. We are a clean cut band who loves to shower.

Who are your musical influences?

We all grew up in the 80's and our music taste is therefore naturally influenced by the popular music from back then, and we still love electronic bands like Depeche Mode, OMD, Duran Duran and Pet Shop Boys from that era. But everyone in the band is true music-lovers, so we listen to almost everything, ranging from metal to country music. Our influences are also very different and we think that is very healthy when making music. That is probably why Don Juan Dracula doesn't sound exactly like anything else...

How would you describe your music?

We play catchy and melodious pop music quite simply. It's basically guitar based pop music with a lot of electronic and synth packaging. We have a heavier sound when we play live than on our album, with live drums, bass, guitars and keyboards.

What images would you say your music conveys (I ask this because I am a big fan of your videos)?

Each song is very different and it's basically up to the listener to make up their own images.

When is your new album coming out and can you give us a short description of what it will sound like?

We are currently recording our next album. The record is far from being finished so it's a bit hard to tell. The sound will be quite different from our last album YD2. Hopefully we'll manage to add more of our live energy to it.

What would you say sets the Norwegian music scene apart from the rest of Scandinavia (if you feel there is a difference)?

From our point of view there are not many differences in the Scandinavian underground scene. Although each country has their own specialties, Sweden has historically been better at making and breaking pop bands. Norway still has a lot to learn from Sweden's music industry.

The Danish underground music scene has become much more interesting the last couple of years with great pop bands like Veto, Dúné, Superheroes, Spleen United and a lot more.

What Norway has been good in the last decade is of course the black metal scene. Also the more specific scenes like noise, jazz and electronic music has done quite well outside of Norway. With interesting artists like Lindstrøm, Jaga Jazzist, Noxagt, Kjetil Brandsdal and others making names for themselves outside the Country.

People can't seem to leave out A-ha when they talk about any new band coming out of Norway. How do you feel about being compared to that?

No other Norwegian artist has achieved the same level of success as A-ha internationally. So we do understand that people are comparing other Norwegian artists with A-ha. If you see similarity between DJD and A-ha we're of course flattered since A-ha has some really great albums. From our point of view DJD is far different to A-ha, because we're so much better and so much younger than the oldies in the 80s group A-ha.

People seem to really dig your live shows. Can you share the story about the rented helicopter?

We always put a lot of effort into our live shows. Rule number One for DJD performing live – play like it's your last gig ever. Unfortunately that has given us some headaches and challenges when irreplaceable equipment has been smashed or burned.

The helicopter... we did the opening gig at Øya festival 2005. We decided to spend all our gig money on the show because we wanted to give the crowd something special. Which resulted in DJD landing in a rented helicopter in front of the stage while our local marching band was playing Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries".

- Tons of pyrotechnics (fireworks) and lights

- A string quartet joined us playing "Into the sunset" while 50 pigeons where released from the stage

- Finally the marching band played the outro while we took off in the sky with our helicopter.

That is basically a brief for a perfect DJD concert.

I've gotten the impression that you are, besides very talented musicians, a fun bunch to be around. Can you share another fun story about Don Juan Dracula?

Yes, when the band is together we like to be social and meet lots of people. It is important to have a laugh and unwind. After a show we like to socialize with the crowd and we often find ourselves making new friends at after parties. We have tons of funny stories in the history of the band, but most of them will remain within DJD. There was a fun story from Beijing where we played darts at a local pub. After several beers, we realized they had a scene for pool dancing. After each DJD member had been through a sensual dancing session onstage – we were unfortunately kicked out.

I have heard you have recently been getting airplay at LIVE 105 in San Francisco. What are your plans for the future? Is breaking in America a goal for you?

We are very pleased with the response our music is receiving in the US. Live 105 in San Francisco and Popscene (San Francisco Club) have been very supportive which is great! Special thanks to Aaron Axelsen & DJ Omar. Also a major supporter is 'The Feast of Fools Podcast' in Chicago, thanks to the Hosts Fausto & Marc.

Online Blogs and Podcasts have really given us a huge boost and exposed us to an International audience. Our manager is working with labels to get our music released. The goal is to release our albums around the world. Breaking into the US sounds great of course, but we'll take one step at a time.

Finally, when will I see you in London?

We should have played in London a long time ago! So we will definitely play there when we promote the new album. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long!

Per Apelqvist is looking forward to the next Tack!Tack!Tack! in May.

Ed: Note that the DJD track "Run away with you" appears on "It's a trap! reader's companion volume two".

]]> Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 articles interviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2275 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2275 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2275#comments Magne Furuholmen of A-ha has a new website for his art projects: http://www.magnef.org/]]> Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27793-mp3-the-kissaway-trail-its-close-up-faraway http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27793-mp3-the-kissaway-trail-its-close-up-faraway http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27793-mp3-the-kissaway-trail-its-close-up-faraway#comments My god, "Smother + Evil = Hurt" is such an achingly beautiful song. It's the kind of song that grabs you right away, the very first time you hear it. And that longing, desperate vocal! It's a heartbreaker. But that's not the Kissaway Trail song I'm going to post for you today. By all means, go seek it out elsewhere, but I want to showcase the band's softer, more delicate side. They do the epic bombast thing very well, however it's songs like "It's close up faraway" that prove they have more to offer. That frail falsetto is gorgeous and the wordless refrain a perfect counterpoint. There are many obvious parallels to the Arcade Fire beyond them sharing the same cover artist and making good use of mandolin and banjo, the artist I'm reminded most of on this song is A-ha. It's that ineffable Nordic melancholy quality, I guess. The rest of the record leans more heavily towards the louder side of things, but the fact that they can pull off a piece like this shows them to be a force worth reckoning with. I would not be at all surprised if these guys blew up after SXSW.]]> Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3562 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3562 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3562#comments Listen to the new Furia single "Goodbye sweet sorrow", a duet with Paul Waaktaar Savoy of A-ha: http://odeo.com/audio/2940393/view]]> Mon, 27 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4427 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4427 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4427#comments A-ha will do a number of Russian and Ukraine dates this fall: http://www.a-ha.com/index.php?cat=2851]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25596-video-mix-a-ha-a-camp-fidget-vapnet-the-psyke-project-timbuktu-more http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25596-video-mix-a-ha-a-camp-fidget-vapnet-the-psyke-project-timbuktu-more http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25596-video-mix-a-ha-a-camp-fidget-vapnet-the-psyke-project-timbuktu-more#comments Thanks to the modern miracle of YouTube, we now have video on-demand twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No longer are Scandinavian music videos the sole domain of MTV Nordic, ZTV and the like. Now it's for everyone, everywhere, anytime. Hopefully this will be the first of many posts where we can share in the bounty just waiting to be discovered.

A-ha - Take on me

Certified classic. Great song made even better by an amazing video. An obvious first choice. (AR)

A Camp – I can buy you

I don't watch that many videos these days, but when this came out I lived with my parents (a time for sitting on the couch, watching MTV and drinking chocolate milk) and I remember being swept away by the cunning use of two polar opposite Ninas! Shame that the rest of the A Camp album wasn't as good. (ST)

Fidget - Living on video

Although the video does not come close to the original (Trans-X, 1982) it is still a grand cover. (PA)

The Knife - Handy-man

Despite the extremely bright colors and goofball lyrics, this video still totally creeps me out. (AR)

Teh funneh Immortal

Everything is better when it's set to the Benny Hill music. And I actually really like Immortal. (AR)

Vapnet – Thoméegränd
Here's another well made video with a nice little storyline. It's difficult to not be biased though, when the song is my favourite one of the year. (ST)

Refused - New noise

What's with the bunny suites? Anyway, this video makes me want to dance... (PA)

The Psyke Project - In the mist

There's no way that a video matching the brutality of the music would get aired anywhere, so we've got to settle for a performance clip on an empty soundstage. Works for me. (AR)

Timbuktu – The botten is nådd

This is Swedish hip-hop, which would mean nothing to you if you don't speak Swedish, but thanks to the brilliance of videos, everyone should be able to understand the message of hangover and regrets from the previous night, that this song by Timbuktu so masterfully conveys. (ST)

Tiger Lou - Sam

A brilliantly dark video from a brilliant artist. I feel so honored to be working with Tiger Lou on the "Until I'm there" 7" that I'm putting out. (AR)

The Embassy - Stage persona

Say what you will about the band, this video is brilliant! (PA)

Last Days of April – Playerin

An awful and shoddy video for a... no wait a minute, this is indeed a horrible video, but it's a great song and it features a guy running, something that the director of The Embassy's video obviously stole and made into a visual feast. (ST)

.:Who's who?

AR: Avi Roig
PA: Per Apelqvist
ST: Simon Tagestam

]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 articles videos http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5304 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5304 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5304#comments New international tourdates for Norwegian singer/songwriter Ane Brun:

07/03 - La Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA) w/Teitur
07/06 - Vestfoldspillene, Åsgårdsstrand (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet
07/18 - Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA w/Xavier Rudd
07/19 - Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA w/Xavier Rudd
07/20 - Bowery Ballroom, New York w/Xavier Rudd
07/22 - Dream Away Lodge, Becket, MA
07/25 - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI w/Xavier Rudd
07/26 - House of Blues, Cleveland, OH w/Xavier Rudd
07/27 - Southgate House, Newport, KY w/Xavier Rudd
07/28 - Park West, Chicago, IL w/Xavier Rudd
07/29 - Cabooze On West Bank, Minneapolis, MN w/Xavier Rudd
07/31 - Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO w/Xavier Rudd
08/03 - Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA w/Xavier Rudd
08/04 - Fillmore, San Francisco, CA w/Xavier Rudd
08/10 - The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
08/14 - Joe's Pub, NYC
08/25 - Lerkendal, Trondheim (NOR) w/A-ha
08/26 - Color Line Stadion, Ålesund (NOR) w/A-ha
09/08 - Logen, Bergen (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/10 - Stavangeren, Stavanger (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/11 - Gamle Logen, Oslo (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/14 - Björnsonhuset, Molde (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/15 - Studentersamfundet, Trondheim (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/17 - Kulturhuset Banken, Lillehammer (NOR) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/20 - Södra Teatern, Stockholm (SWE) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert
09/21 - Trägårn, Göteborg (SWE) w/DMF String Quartet, Nina Kinert]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6096 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6096 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6096#comments Updated tourdates for A-ha:

07/15 - Guilfest, Stoke Park, Guildford (UK)
07/16 - Summer Pops, Kings Dock, Liverpool (UK)
07/19 - Dock Rock, Royal Victoria Dock, London (UK)
08/25 - Lerkendal stadium, Trondheim (NOR)
08/26 - Color Line stadium, Ålesund (NOR)
10/27 - Sport Palace, Kiev (UKR)
10/29 - Sport Palace, Rostov-on-Don (RUS)
10/31 - MTL Arena, Samara (RUS)
11/02 - Ice Palace, Kazan (RUS)
11/04 - Sport Palace, Ekaterinburg (RUS)
11/07 - Sport Palace, Nizhny Novgorod (RUS)
11/08 - Sport Hall, Yaroslavl (RUS)
11/10 - Ice Palace, St Petersburg (RUS)
11/11 - Olimpiisky Palace, Moscow (RUS)]]> Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6573 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6573 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6573#comments A-ha has confirmed a bunch of dates for the UK and Russia later this year: http://www.a-ha.com/index.php?cat=2851]]> Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6769 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6769 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6769#comments Check out some pics from the video shoot of the new A-ha single "Cosy prisons": http://www.a-ha.com/cparticle6968-417.html]]> Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6889 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6889 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6889#comments A-ha will release a new version of the song "Cosy prisons" as their next UK single on April 10. It will be released in both CD and 7" picture disc format and a video will be filmed in March.]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7184 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7184 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7184#comments Check out the video for "Analogue" from A-ha: http://forum.a-ha.com/thenewsite/disco.php/video-analogue.html]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7185 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7185 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7185#comments Speaking of A-ha, they recently did a bit of Q&A on their website: http://www.a-ha.com/cparticle6783-417.html]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7390 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7390 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7390#comments Also at Stylus today is their review of recent singles including tracks from Nightwish, A-ha and Bodies Without Organs: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=2107]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25539-top-10s-for-2005-popsicle http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25539-top-10s-for-2005-popsicle http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25539-top-10s-for-2005-popsicle#comments Popsicle is run by Spinguy and Luke. We have such different taste in music that we decided to split the top ten list in two, so here it is, in no particular order...

Spinguy's picks:

01. Labrador - Instamatic Lovelife
This is a hands down no brainer for Scandinavian number one of the year. Everything we love about pop music from the past 40 years was distilled down into this album and made new again. What's more, he made that difficult feat seem effortless. A milestone.

02. Dive - Unfortunately Dead
I think this is the most brilliant new band about today and I cannot wait for the full length. Possessing the dark, jerky (yet poppy) flavour of Joy Division with a pained and unique vocal reminiscent of Johnny Rotten, who couldn't love this, besides Luke that is....

03. Acid House Kings - Sing Along With...
Again, despite having so much music under their belt already this band delivered another timeless classic. They appear to be the well that has no bottom, and God bless them for it as they are an all time indie treasure.

04. Girlfriend - Blue Sky Love Scene
The choices are starting to get crowded here but this set itself apart with some brilliant UK styled guitar work and genuinely classic songs. Yeah, it's been done, but rarely this good.

05. Charade - Best Is Yet To Come
From the ashes of the Shermans comes this debut which managed to be sugary without being sweet, and adult without losing it's ties to youth. On top of that it was full of classic pop tunes.

Honourable mentions:
Husky Rescue - Country Falls
Tiger Baby - Lost In You
Handsome Train - This Engine Should Do EP

Luke's picks:

01. Magnet - The Tourniquet
When I heard that SoCal pop maestro Jason Falkner was co-producing and playing all over the newest Magnet CD I almost peed my pants. It was like two of my favourite musical worlds colliding, and it didn't disappoint. The former Libido frontman goes from strength to strength on his third album, and as was the case with his last album, it's really not like anything he's done before. Where will this intrepid Norwegian go next? Be sure to check out Libido drummer Brighton Gay's London-based band Costar too.

02. A-ha - Analogue
Living in North America for the last 12 years (where these guys are considered 80's one-hit wonders despite releasing classic albums for 20 years) I had come to think of A-ha as something of a guilty pleasure that no one would understand. I was vindicated last night as I stood among 15,000 crazed fans at Wembley where they proceeded to blow everyone away. They were so good that we're going down to Brighton to see them again on Saturday. Oh, and the new album is killer from start to finish. Guitarist Paul Waaktaar's side-project Savoy also released their superb self-titled fifth album this year which I recommend in equal measure.

03. The Perishers - Let There Be Morning
I was just coming down off a period of extended over-exposure to their debut "From Nothing To One" when the follow-up was released. Granted, this was actually a couple of years ago, but I believe most of us outside Sweden count this as a 2005 release and it's a testament to the strength of this album that I am still playing it all the time going into 2006. If lilting melancholic balladeering is your thing, this album is for you. Ola Klüft has a beautiful voice and writes amazing songs...simple as that.

04. The Mopeds - Fortissimo
It's been four years since their last album and "Fortissimo" is a great return to form for this Malmö trio. They are studio wizards and this album is brimming with frenetic high energy power pop that bursts from the speakers from start to finish. My only complaint was the Pink Moon-esque running time of the CD. I would have thought that four years would turn up more than 32 minutes of album-worthy material!

05. Kate Bush - Aerial
OK OK, it's far from Scandinavian, but "Aerial" has been on daily rotation on my ipod since the day it was released and I can't imagine writing a 'best of year' list without it. I find more depth and substance to it with every listen. A rare and beautiful work of art.

Honourable mentions:
The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
Ane Brun - A Temporary Dive
Jay Jay Johanson - Rush

"Riot On An Empty Street" by Kings Of Convenience is one of those unusual albums that we both loved this year but it doesn't appear on either of our lists for reasons that are too petty and insignificant to go into!


---------------------------

Popsicle is a Scandinavian pop mailorder based in Canada that specializes in hard-to-find out-of-print titles and signed new releases.
www.indiespinzone.com/popsicle.html

]]> Fri, 23 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25529-top-10s-for-2005-its-a-trap http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25529-top-10s-for-2005-its-a-trap http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25529-top-10s-for-2005-its-a-trap#comments Top ten albums for 2005 (in alphabetical order):

01. A-ha - Analogue (Universal)
I'm not usually one to fall for big pop albums like this, but A-ha has the class, maturity and songwriting skills to pull it off right.

02. Alog - Miniatures (Rune Grammofon)
This Norwegian duo combines electronic music, found-sound and analog instruments in astounding ways. The tools are anything but new, but the sounds they create are brilliant.

03. Bear Quartet - Saturday night (A West Side Fabrication)
Sweden's leading indierock act promised a difficult album and they delivered. Very few bands this far into their career would continue to innovate and evolve like The Bear Quartet.

04. Det Gamla Landet - s/t (Aa)
The soundtrack to a spaghetti western that has yet to be made. Beautiful and Evocative. [BUY]

05. Hyacinth House - s/t (True Music Production)
The dark horse of my list. It's very rare that some unknown, unproven band makes such an impact on me, but HH was such a band. On the surface there isn't really anything too special about these guys: country/twang with a healthy dose of classic rock. Been there, done that, right? Wrong.

06. Isolation Years - Cover the distance (NONS)
While not the best album of their career thus far ("It's golden" is my current #1), this is still 1000x more satisfying than so many other records I heard in 2005. I know I'll be able to put this on five years from now and will still enjoy it just the same.

07. Logh - A sunset panorama (Bad Taste/Hydrahead)
As with Isolation Years, this album is not Logh's best work, but it's still damn good. They took a brave, high-minded concept (recording live in the studio with almost zero overdubs) and pulled it off. [BUY]

08. Plain Fade - Lies, sanctions and cruise missles (Punos Sound)
I knew from the very first moment I heard Plain Fade that they were something special. After months of waiting for the debut CD to arrive, I was able to confirm it. [BUY]

09. The Psyke Project - Daikini (CPH-Sound)
As Aversionline said, "this is one of those rare instances where all of the typical "skull-crushing", "paint-peeling", "face-ripping", "ear-shredding" analogies do indeed apply." The finest heavy record I've heard in ages. [BUY]

10. Tiger Lou - The loyal (Startracks)
What don't I love about Tiger Lou? Every new release improves upon the last and of course the latest record is no exception. [BUY]

Honorable mentions:

Hello Saferide - Introducing... (Razzia)
I didn't really get behind this album at first because it's just so... nice. I usually tend towards edgier stuff, y'know? But my wife, bless her heart, kept playing it and it kept growing on me.

Moneybrother - To die alone (Burning Heart)
Even though it didn't make my final top 10 list, I know this is probably the #1 Swedish pop album for a lot of people. Of all the majorly hyped acts this year, Moneybrother truly deserved it.

Monkeystrikes - You hate my beautiful love (Dust Music)
Another album that I learned to love through repeated listenings by my wife. Seriously underappreciated.

David Sandström Overdrive - Go down (Mofab Teg)
Another strong contender for the top 10 that just didn't quite make it. Just like Isolation Years, this will still sound just as satisfying in years to come.

The End Will Be Kicks - s/t (Chalksounds)
Long awaited and much anticipated. Thank god it lives up to expectations. Nobodoy does noisy Norrland indierock like Niklas Quintana. [BUY]

Notable EPs:

Convoj - s/t (Chalksounds) [BUY]

Firefox AK - What's that sound (Razzia/Combat Disc) [BUY]

I'm From Barcelona - Sing!! (self-released)

Seven Feet Four - To kill is easy (Hysteri/Tenderversion) [BUY]

Torpedo - Declare despair (Strange Fruit)

]]> Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25530-podcast-best-of-2005 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25530-podcast-best-of-2005 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25530-podcast-best-of-2005#comments DATE ADDED : 12.15.05
LENGTH : 39:22 min
DOWNLOAD : itsatrap_podcast_12152005.mp3 (27.7mb)
RSS : [click here]

Tracklist:
01. Tiger Lou - Nixon
02. Logh - A sunset knife fight
03. A-ha - Don't do me any favours
04. The Bear Quartet - Today I will dress up
05. Hyacinth House - Perplexed on blue pills
06. Alog - Pesce spada
07. Isolation Years - Cover the distance
08. Det Gamla Landet - Dom väntar bakom kullen
09. Plain Fade - Blue skies ahead
10. The Psyke Project - Som soldater

]]> Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 articles podcast http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7925 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7925 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7925#comments The latest Norwegian top 10 album chart:

01. Sissel - Nordisk vinternatt
02. Maria Arredondo - Min jul
03. Ane Brun - Duets
04. Erik Bye - Høvdingen - De aller beste 1
05. Oslo Gospel Choir / Mia Gundersen - Lys i mørket
06. A-ha - Analogue
07. Vamp - Siste Stikk
08. Tone Damli Aaberge - Bliss
09. Maria Mena - Apparently unaffected
10. Halvdan Sivertsen - 40 +]]> Tue, 13 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/8132 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/8132 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/8132#comments New mp3 today from Brighter Death Now. No, I'm not trying to atone for last week's A-ha post, but I do admit that it's quite a contrast. BDN's skull-rattling throb is about as far away from pop as you can get. Which is not to say that you can't enjoy both - I had 'em on shuffle in my car over the weekend and had nary a problem. But enough of my jabbering, this post belongs to Simon Thibaudeau:

Roger Karmanik has been doing noise, or power electronics as he likes to call it, since the early eighties. Since then, his vision never wavered: Creating challenging music for the forward thinking mind. With the harsh debuts of Lille Roger to diverse Brighter Death Now, his violent and dark world has evolved and refined to the point where now, Roger Karmanik is a cult figure in the genre. His frustration in releasing music lead to the creation of Cold Meat Industry records, a label that has concentrated on various denominations of Swedish dark electronic artists, since 1987. Although the label did a few forays in Norway and created sublabels for international artists, the base of this operation has been Sweden and the artists that adhere to his vision. The quality of the music released is such that I would gladly take a subscription to his label to get everything he releases. Anyway, here is a song off his latest record as Brighter Death Now, "Kamikaze kabaret". "Testing" has more crossover appeal than anything he released in my opinion, at least the music I have heard. Enjoy this song from a master of noise.]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/28085-mp3-brighter-death-now-testing http://www.itsatrap.com/n/28085-mp3-brighter-death-now-testing http://www.itsatrap.com/n/28085-mp3-brighter-death-now-testing#comments New mp3 today from Brighter Death Now. No, I'm not trying to atone for last week's A-ha post, but I do admit that it's quite a contrast. BDN's skull-rattling throb is about as far away from pop as you can get. Which is not to say that you can't enjoy both - I had 'em on shuffle in my car over the weekend and had nary a problem. But enough of my jabbering, this post belongs to Simon Thibaudeau:

Roger Karmanik has been doing noise, or power electronics as he likes to call it, since the early eighties. Since then, his vision never wavered: Creating challenging music for the forward thinking mind. With the harsh debuts of Lille Roger to diverse Brighter Death Now, his violent and dark world has evolved and refined to the point where now, Roger Karmanik is a cult figure in the genre. His frustration in releasing music lead to the creation of Cold Meat Industry records, a label that has concentrated on various denominations of Swedish dark electronic artists, since 1987. Although the label did a few forays in Norway and created sublabels for international artists, the base of this operation has been Sweden and the artists that adhere to his vision. The quality of the music released is such that I would gladly take a subscription to his label to get everything he releases. Anyway, here is a song off his latest record as Brighter Death Now, "Kamikaze kabaret". "Testing" has more crossover appeal than anything he released in my opinion, at least the music I have heard. Enjoy this song from a master of noise.]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/8204 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/8204 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/8204#comments At the risk of losing whatever cred I've built up, I'm just gonna come right out and declare it: the new A-ha album "Analogue" is fantastic. It's exactly the kind of big, mature pop album that career bands of A-ha's status are supposed to make. Y'know, the kind of record that you'd expect from lifer acts such as REM or U2. The kind of record that bands like Kent so desperately want to make. Even if you haven't heard A-ha since "Take on me", their sound is instantly recognizable and oh-so catchy. It's also worth noting what it lacks - the pathetic pandering to younger audiences that so many older acts fall susceptible to. This is just A-ha doing what they do and doing it well. The darker-tinged melodies of the first track "Celice" are what hooked me in, but I'm finding that I'm loving the entire album the whole way through, moreso every time I listen anew. Along with Tiger Lou's "The loyal", this is one the best new records I've heard this fall.]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/28088-mp3-a-ha-celice http://www.itsatrap.com/n/28088-mp3-a-ha-celice http://www.itsatrap.com/n/28088-mp3-a-ha-celice#comments At the risk of losing whatever cred I've built up, I'm just gonna come right out and declare it: the new A-ha album "Analogue" is fantastic. It's exactly the kind of big, mature pop album that career bands of A-ha's status are supposed to make. Y'know, the kind of record that you'd expect from lifer acts such as REM or U2. The kind of record that bands like Kent so desperately want to make. Even if you haven't heard A-ha since "Take on me", their sound is instantly recognizable and oh-so catchy. It's also worth noting what it lacks - the pathetic pandering to younger audiences that so many older acts fall susceptible to. This is just A-ha doing what they do and doing it well. The darker-tinged melodies of the first track "Celice" are what hooked me in, but I'm finding that I'm loving the entire album the whole way through, moreso every time I listen anew. Along with Tiger Lou's "The loyal", this is one the best new records I've heard this fall.]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 mp3s