IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

EL-SD A contract (video)

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:29:08 -0700

The blog Birds Need Feed is premiering EL-SD's brand new video "A contract": http://birdsneedfeet.blogspot.se/2012/05/watch-el-sd-contract-official-video-bnf.html

EL-SD - A debt

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:31:36 -0700

A just-posted, previously-unreleased alt-take of the track "A dept" from EL-SD's excellent "Repeating patterns" 7" EP.

Clubnight show review

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:52:09 -0700

Festivalrykten has a review of Friday's Clubnight show with Vånna Inget, Gamla Pengar and EL-SD: http://www.festivalrykten.se/vanna-inget-pa-hemmaplan/ (in Swedish)

It's a Trap! Clubnights 3/16: Vånna Inget + EL-SD + Gamla Pengar

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:42:31 -0700

Friday! Gamla Pengar + EL-SD + Vånna Inget at Debaser Malmö! Be there! The FB evite: https://www.facebook.com/events/317358944978351/

It's a Trap! Clubnights 2012 update

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:09:10 -0800

I am thrilled to announce that in addition to the previously announced It's a Trap! Clubnights gigs with We Are the Storm/Helsinki Poetry (this Friday! holy shit!) and Caotico (April 13!), we will be welcoming Millencolin/The Peepshows indierock sideproject Franky Lee plus Tiger Bell to the stage of Debaser Malmö on February 17. And that's not all: we've also got Vånna Inget, EL-SD and Gamla Pengar coming down on March 16 and you know that one is gonna rule! Wish I could be there personally, but hey, maybe I'll make it over this coming summer.

EL-SD - A contract

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:45:12 -0800

A second track off of EL-SD's excellent new 7" EP "Repeating patterns".

EL-SD - A will (video)

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:46:08 -0800

New from Kvalität, a clip from the very-excellent EL-SD. Also: note that the bassist is wearing a t-shirt from similarly quality act The Nature.

MP3: EL-SD - A will

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:43:19 -0800

Falling way behind on all the music I want to post, but a promise is a promise and I'd be seriously remiss if I didn't talk up the new EL-SD because they are absolutely one of my favorite bands right now. I kid you not, I've been jamming their demo tracks on the regular for over a year now and it's well past due I had something to share so, at long last, here is the lead track from the band's new 7" EP "Repeating patterns", due out November 30 via Atlas Rec/Peace Attack. So if you're like me and you dig so-called "angular" guitar rock with discordant leads and a sharp-edged rhythm section, you'll definitely dig this. And if you're in Stockholm, you should check out the record release show at Walla Scen in Årsta on December 3 with Estroboscorpio. I know I'd be there if I could.

Atlas to release EL-SD 7"

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:24:56 -0700

Premium Swedish noiserockers EL-SD have officially joined forces with Atlas Records (Traktor) for the release of an upcoming 4-song 7" EP. No exact release date has been set yet, but they say to expect it around October and, if the rough mix samples I've heard so far are any indication, it will seriously rule all.

Martin Senter - På tal om allting + EL-SD news

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:03:54 -0800

As with all proper singles, Martin Senter's new track "Elak" has a flipside: http://soundcloud.com/martinsenter/pa-tal-om-allting
And speaking of Martin, he told me recently that his band EL-SD will begin recording an album in January with the esteemed Carl Vikman, a very talented producer/engineer who should send me the new Lukestar album despite what that band's management says. Anyhow, there's no agenda or label associated with EL-SD at this point, but I should hopefully be able to share some demos or something at some point soon.

MP3: Martin Senter - Elak

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:23:44 -0800

I don't mean to be one of those sites who leaves you bereft of fresh content during the holidays, at least not yet, but the truth of the matter is that I've actually been working too damn much. As in dayjob work; the stuff that pays the bills. So while I have a rather large backlog of news item waiting to be posted that will still have to wait until another day, let me share with you a new solo track from Martin Senter called "Elak". It's got the bounce of his Per Egland remix, but it's also got the same sort of indie/electronic quirk as that other solo track of his I posted awhile back. Either way, it's good stuff and it'll be interesting to see what he does with a full album and I do believe one is coming. Whether it'll beat EL-SD to the punch, I dunno, but I'm looking forward to both.

MP3: Korova Station - Come on Come on

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:47:40 -0800

Hard for me to think of these dudes as something other than the little siblings of EL-SD, but that probably has more to do with which band I heard first than anything else. Anyhow, that dude Pontus is a beast on the kit no matter how you look at it, googly eyes or not. And yeah, support your (local) noiserock band!

Sirius playlist week #34

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:36:59 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Särkyneet - Huono nainen
02. TALK 1
03. Masshysteri - Masshysteri del två
04. Interment - Eternal darkness
05. Cut City - The sound and the sore
06. Fireside - Lovecar
07. TALK 2
08. Moto Boy - Early grave
09. V. Sjöberg New Jazz Ensemble - Start at the finish
10. The Goner - Lost summer
11. TALK 3
12. The World - Roybgiv
13. Familjen - Det var jag
14. STYGG - Sleep
15. TALK 4
16. EL-SD - Hille
17. Menfolk - Column 79
18. Camouflage - La la la
19. Grande Roses - The astronaut
20. TALK 5
21. Donkeyboy - Ambitions

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: EL-SD - Hille

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:27:52 -0700

I haven't been posting too many mp3s lately because there hasn't been too many releases that I'm really excited about. Of course I could keep on posting negative reviews of stuff I dislike, but that's extremely depressing, not to mention needlessly tedious. I still have to listen to the stuff, y'know? So what I'm going to do is what I've been doing (more or less) which is post more tracks from bands I've already talked up. I pretty much have only been listening to the same dozen-plus bands anyway, so it logically follows that my playlist here reflects that. Anyhow, EL-SD impressed me a lot with their side of their Axe split from a few months back and the group is now working on a full-length album. I've been lucky enough to receive a few preproduction samples and lucky for you, I've been given permission to share one. "Hille" doesn't differ much from the template on display in "Walking sideways"; they're still building walls of discordant noiserock anchored by a heavy rhythm section, but oh man, do they have hooks too! I wouldn't think it possible with such weird vocals, but they pull it off exceptionally well. I guess you could say that weird = memorable in this case. I'm told the band is currently seeking label support and though I'm not optimistic for them, I'm eager to be proven wrong. Personally, I'd go DIY in the face of so few indie labels putting out actual indierock, but hey, like I said, I'm happy to be refuted on the subject. Don't let my negativity rub off on you. Spread the word/music.

Sirius playlist week #25

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:26:02 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Baby Alice - Piña colada boy
02. TALK 1
03. CEO - Come with me
04. Faster Katt - The girl and the crow
05. EL-SD - Walking sideways
06. Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höra musiken
07. TALK 2
08. Champagne Riot - The champagne anthem
09. Khoma - In it for fighting
10. Dear Euphoria - Rescue
11. Haust - Anti-reproductive
12. TALK 3
13. This Is Head - 0011
14. Familjen - Det var jag
15. Mikkel Meyer - Tunge (feat. Non)
16. TALK 4
17. Rasmus Kellerman - The greatness & me
18. Grande Roses - The astronaut
19. We Live In Trenches - White knuckles
20. The Amazing - And it looks like today
21. TALK 5

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #21

Mon, 24 May 2010 11:41:17 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Elephant9 - Fugl fønix
02. TALK 1
03. Håkan Lidbo - X-Bot-DXC vs MC-Monstrux - EuroAsian Warzone Cronicle
04. Disco Ensemble - Protector
05. Kausal - Evac
06. TALK 2
07. Smoke Mohawk - Murder attempt
08. Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höre musiken
09. MF/MB/ - The big machine
10. Chicagojazzen - VI
11. TALK 3
12. Monty - Seglaren
13. Sweatmaster - Turnover
14. The Aches - Count slowly to ten
15. Dismember - Misanthropic
16. TALK 4
17. Camouflage - Syster sol
18. EL-SD - SÖSJÖ
19. Darkthrone - Those treasures will never befall you
20. TALK 5
21. Deathbed - Black sky

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Lågkonjunkturen - Den här låten handlar om...

Tue, 11 May 2010 17:02:40 -0700

"This song is about..." Who cares! It's summer project time! Martin Senter (EL-SD, Seven Feet Four, etc.) started a new punk band "just for the fun of it," which really, is the only reason to do music in the first place. Anyhow, the band is just him playing all the instruments and Isabella Sundell screaming out the words and I think it sounds great. Certainly goes well with the new Lögnhalsmottagningen 7" that just showed up today. Hopefully he'll pull something together and will take it to the stage because that's, as much as love punk singles (not really), that's the best place to experience this kind of music.

EL-SD get new guitarist

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:36:37 -0700

Swedish noiserockers EL-SD have recruited Fredrik Degerman aka Degis of The Sound O.E as their new guitarist. He will make his live debut with the band on May 5 at Lilla Hotellbaren in Stockholm where they will be playing with like-minded fellows Traktor.

Sirius playlist week #16

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:21:23 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Masshysteri - Dom kan inte höra musiken
02. TALK 1
03. David Sandström Overdrive - How the story feels
04. Ludwig Bell - Jag är en idiot
05. Faster Katt - Strange candy
06. TALK 2
07. Zombiekrig - Döden
08. Vorum - Eyes burning red
09. Okkultokrati - No light for mass
10. TALK 3
11. Björn Kleinhenz - Dackes drabanter
12. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Transparent for you all
13. EL-SD - Sösjö
14. Robert Svensson - Beat
15. TALK 4
16. The Aches - Something to die for
17. Meleeh - Trauma
18. Grande Roses - Hell's own trial
19. Underachiever - Keep an eye
20. TALK 5

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Axe - Harm

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:14:39 -0700

Might as well follow up my last mp3 post with something from their split-mates Axe before the record release show tonight. Axe are more spastic than EL-SD, more dense too. Every note is played like it's trying to hold on for dear life as they get tossed into the maelstrom. A clattering din held together by tightly-wound vocals. Reckless, anxious and angry; they're calling you out: "Hey! You're full of bologna!" Well... are you?

MP3: EL-SD - Walking sideways

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:01:20 -0700

Noisy Swedish indierock is always my go-to scene and now you can add EL-SD to the list of current acts making a successful go at it. "Walking sideways" is a new track from the band that's not yet available on any release, but they've got a split 7" with fellow like-minded act Axe (remember?) that comes out tomorrow and you can celebrate with them both (+Soviac) at SugarBar in Stockholm. Expect a full review of that record in the not-so-distant future, meanwhile enjoy this fine slice of sharp, discordant rock.

Sirius playlist week #13

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:42:13 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Brothers of End - Beats for you (Rasmus Hägg remix)
02. TALK 1
03. Haust - A final effort
04. Rasmus Kellerman - Five years from now
05. Echo Is Your Love - Playlist song
06. EL-SD - Walking sideways
07. TALK 2
08. Axe - Harm
09. Khoma - From the hands of sinners
10. Zeigeist - Bunny
11. C.Aarmé - Assuan
12. TALK 3
13. The Fine Arts Showcase - This is the day
14. Sonic Ritual - Early graves
15. Death By Kite - Pills
16. Susanne Sundfør - O master
17. TALK 4
18. Simian Ghost - Star receiver
19. Moloken - Untitled III
20. Darkthrone - I am the graves of the 80s
21. TALK 5

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: Per Egland - Merkurius brinner

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:26:38 -0700

9 out of 10 times I delete every remix track that hits my inbox before listening because they are almost always invariably: 1) worthless 2) boring 3) awful or 4) all of the above. I can't be bothered; I already spend way too much time listening to music I don't like and I honestly would rather listen to something that's obviously terrible than some mediocre retread of a song I didn't care about in the first place. At least then I have the good sense to turn it off 30 seconds in rather than wait fruitless in hopes it might get good. There are always exceptions though and this reworking of Per Egland's "Merkurius brinner" ("Mercury is burning") as done by Martin Senter (Seven Feet Four, EL-SD, Talking to Drake, etc.) works quite well because it completely reinvents the tune. Honestly, the original (listen at myspace) isn't all that; a fine, but ultimately unfulfilling upbeat dirge. Senter's take kicks the tempo way way up and turns it into something far closer to Gbg-style indiepop than I thought was possible. From bummer to summer, this is the way to do it.

MP3: Martin Senter - Ingenting förlorat

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:37:46 -0800

Martin Senter is a veteran of many bands - Seven Feet Four, EL-SD, Talking to Drake, maybe more -- but now he's decided to break out on his own and work on a solo EP. "Ingenting förlorat" is the first, fully realized sample of what he's done so far and it's pretty decent. Definitely in the vein of quirky guitar + electronics indie ala early Samuraj Cities (or maybe Niels Nielsen) with the added benefit of strong energy and a decent ear for clever vocal arrangements. The track does go on a little long however, but whatever, it's a demo. Gotta hear it back before you can work the quirks out. Hear some more stuff at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/martinsenter

Axe, EL-SD & Karpis Live @ Snövit, Stockholm, 10/24/09

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:32:19 -0700

There's a nice noise-hardcore-scene vibe going around Stockholm with some amazing bands gigging in basements and bars and such, under the radar of -- or underestimated by -- the established clubs; these bands are getting their gigs by themselves and getting together a group of friends in a hole in the ground serving beer. Anyone paying attention will recognize that most members tonite are the usual suspects and this one featured, among others, members of Traktor, Emerson Fittipaldi, Seven Feet Four and Bruce Banner, on stage and in the audience.

Axe kicked off the night with some ferocious hardcore-noise-punk in the vein of Brick and that old hardcore band from Sigtuna that I can't remember the name of right now. They were really cool. They've got hooks! Check out their myspace and you'll see what I mean (the song "Firmafest" is an amazing stand-out!). They also are not afraid to go mid-tempo for some noise-intensity. The live-experience was great, yet lacking some volume and conviction, but hopefully they'll iron this out. If they do, this band will be a force to be reckoned with.

EL-SD were a bit more heady, recalling early Unwound, Sonic Youth, even early Quagmire (!) as well as sporting "Yank crime"-era Drive Like Jehu song lengths. I was blissing out ofc, with the amazing gzzz-ing and no-wave picking guitars of David Fried right in front of me and bumping into Frippe going crazy wielding the bass. Good shit, this.

Karpis went metal on me, taking noise-rock down drop-tuning with growling even. They were bringing it, but I was kind of done unfortunately, trying to flirt, drink beer and stuff instead. I'll catch more of your set next time guys, promise!

So, fellow travelers, when in Stockholm, I humbly suggest you forgo established venues, constantly applying the one-size-fits-all-indie-dancefloor after every damn concert, for the basement jovial hardcore-scene-experience. Get your promille up and cheer for your new-found favourite underground band! You can even pogo a bit if u'd like.

EL-SD to tour Europe

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:56:45 -0700

Swedish noiserock act EL-SD are heading out on a short European tour next week:

04/04 - Viadukt, Groningen (NL)
04/05 - Logement, Antwerpen (BEL)
04/06 - MC DAID'S, Le Havre (FRA)
04/07 - Kim's Bar, Paris (FRA)
04/08 - Le Cable, Epinal (FRA)
04/09 - Rang Teng Teng, Freiburg (GER) w/Tar...Feathers 04/10 - Lokal, Berlin (GER)
04/11 - Klub Adorno @ Lades, Copenhagen (DK)

New music from EL-SD

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:26:25 -0800

Swedish noiserockers EL-SD are streaming a new track at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hellelsd
Expect a new EP from the band in 2009.