Could it be that Les Big Byrd (nee Big Byrd), the all-star Krautrock-ish sideproject of Jocke and Nino from Caesars with Frans of Fireside, is reactivated? I haven't heard any news, but there's a slew of new video clips on Vimeo posted under Patrik Instedt's account.

Drums, bass and sax = Kriget, a new combo featuring Per Nordmark (Fireside, Britta Persson, etc.), Crille Roth (Monster, Hets) and Gustav Bendt (Moneybrother, Club Killers) respectively. Download the band's debut record "What a day" for free/donation: http://www.kriget.com/

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.

01. TALK 1
02. Honey Is Cool - Bolero
03. Beyond Dawn - Addictions are private
04. Commando M Pigg - Baby doll
05. TALK 2
06. Kent - If you were here
07. Fireside - Let Rasputin do it
08. CMX - Ainomieli 97
09. Docent Död - Bensin i blodet
10. TALK 3
11. Bitch Boys - Automobile
12. Nicolai Dunger - This town
13. Broder Daniel - I'll be gone
14. Starmarket - Ten seconds
15. TALK 4
16. Madrugada - Beautyproof
17. Breach - Black sabbath
18. Silverbullit - Thank you Mr.
19. Camouflage - Syster sol
20. TALK 5
21. Entombed - Lights out

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. Next week's show will feature tunes from my top 10 albums of the year.

Breach's final album "Kollapse" came out in 2001 towards the end of a period when I was intensely seeking out Norrland indie/hardcore. I don't remember my first connection, but that's how I got into KVLR, Fireside, Him Kerosene, Starmarket, Carpet People, Isolation Years and many other neighboring acts. Many of those bands remain favorites today and Breach is definitely near the top of the list, with their swansong record being an absolute classic. Nothing sounds like it, not even any of the band's other records. As for posting it today, it's mere luck they happen to have a song with a title fit for the occasion.

01. Håkan Hellström
02. Jens Lekman
03. Anna Ternheim
04. Fireside
05. The Big Pink
06. Loney, Dear
07. Mew
08. Hello Saferide
09. Bon Iver
10. The xx

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

01. Hello Saferide
02. A Camp
03. Frida Hyvönen
04. Fever Ray
05. Anna Ternheim
06. Fireside
07. The Soundtrack of Our Lives
08. Loney, Dear
09. Håkan Hellström
10. The Bear Quartet

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

01. Pascal - Längtar efter dig
02. TALK 1
03. Division of Laura Lee - Central Park
04. New Decade - While tonight still is
05. Abduktio - Uutisia rintamalta
06. TALK 2
07. Echo Is Your Love - Lion tamer vs tigers
08. Fireside - Silver muscle car
09. Him Kerosene - Ladybugs
10. TALK 3
11. NEI - New morning
12. The Bear Quartet - All your life
13. Park Hotell - Dead ringers
14. KVLR - Spit
15. Electric Retard - Skate girl
16. TALK 4
17. Samuraj Cities - Ugly kids are alright
18. Barra Head - Iron to skin
19. Death By Kite - Himmelfahrtskommando
20. TALK 5
21. Blithe - Haven
22. Starmarket - You can't come
23. Lukestar - White shade
24. Monkeystrikes - Tahonga take away
25. TALK 6
26. Voices Break the Silence - This awful friend

Reminder: My show on Sirius Left of Center (channel 26) airs Sundays at 11pm ET with repeats on Monday at the same time.

"Whatever gets you by" isn't quite a ballad, but it is one of the more downtempo tracks on their masterpiece album "Start. Stop." (1997/Telegram Records). As is typical for bands from the far north, the music is seeped in heavy melancholy and resignation, though the huge guitar melodies provide a triumphant counterpoint to the sadness. The way the guitar lines twist and turn around each other is absolutely incredible. And the rhythm section is sharp too, like the album title implies, starting and stopping on a dime. I actually have a different HK track lined up for tonight's show, but they're such an amazing band, I feel compelled to share more. Too bad Warner (Telegram's parent company) hasn't been interested in doing a reissue or keeping the album in print. It's a lost gem.

Atatlas
SOUNDS LIKE: The band's own description of "Washington DC" is apt, but I also hear strong elements of Swedish noiserock ala early KVLR, Fireside, The Price of Ink and so on. It's a shame if it's true that they've thrown in the towel, but hopefully we'll see them emerge again in similarly awesome new bands.
HIGHLIGHTS: Malthus dilemma, 4yearnightmare
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/atatlas

Clark Nova
SOUNDS LIKE: Loud instrumental rock with spacey, fuzzed-out, repetitive riffage. Stoned Krautrock, perhaps?.
HIGHLIGHTS: John Wayne, God for nothing, Timur lenk, Ourobouros - anything off their latest album essentially.
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/clarknovamyspace

Hymsk
SOUNDS LIKE: How can music be both simultaneously annoying and yet so intriguing? Like The Residents before them, this is art music made for (and by?) fringe weirdos.
HIGHLIGHTS: Both tracks are worth hearing
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/hymsk

Jong Pang
SOUNDS LIKE: Kitchen sink indie/electronica/whatever you wanna call it. Pop structures and melodies, but orchestrated in new, exciting ways.
HIGHLIGHTS: New order, Small cut sensations
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/jongpang

Lip Service
SOUNDS LIKE: Heavy, trance-inducing industrial/EBM. Alternates between the big beat of Nitzer Ebb and the dark pop of early Depeche Mode.
HIGHLIGHTS: Velvet machine, Two worlds collide, Trace the 14 lights
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/lipservicetheband

Suklaatehdas
SOUNDS LIKE: Finnish tango! Because myspace isn't all about cutting-edge indierock, y'know.
HIGHLIGHTS: Irma, Seireenni
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/suklaatehdas1

01. Peter Morén - This is what I came for
02. TALK 1
03. Entombed - Hollowman
04. King Of All The Animals - Concrete skyline
05. Jettie - The lay up
06. TALK 2
07. Happy Trash Culture - Frisky pet
08. Josse - You had a plan
09. Ondo - Sleep
10. TALK 3
11. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - This room seems empty without you
12. Håkan Hellström - För sent för edelweiss
13. Marvins Revolt - Deliberate deeds
14. Marybell Katastrophy - Hey Frank
15. TALK 4
16. The Bear Quartet - Mvh contempt
17. Lögnhalsmottagningen - Snacka gär ju
18. Ghost Brigade - Based on you
19. TALK 5
20. September Malevolence - I shut doors and windows
21. The End Will Be Kicks - Ass of a friend
22. Anna Leong - Battered, bruised and cold
23. TALK 6
24. Bright Oak - On the list
25. Tape - Moth wings
26. Axewitch - Hot lady
27. TALK 7
28. Nationalteatern - Jack the Ripper
29. Tsukimono - Heart beater
30. Zeigeist - Bunny
31. TALK 8
32. First Floor Power - The jacket (Karin Dreijer remix)
33. No Hope for the Kids - Angels of destruction
34. Docenterna - Popmusik
35. Vapnet - Skorpan
36. TALK 9
37. Björn Kleinhenz - Olis
38. Fireside - Ambulance
39. Looptroop Rockers - Living on a prayer
40. TALK 10

01. Figurines - The wonder
02. TALK 1
03. CS Nielsen - Happy
04. Superfamily - Teens of the 70s
05. Winter Took His Life - Oh
06. TALK 2
07. Frivolvol - Out come the knives
08. Bogus Blimp - Untitled jazz no. 1
09. Firefox AK - Pushing
10. TALK 3
11. Disfear - Get it off
12. Biker Boy - March song (Kalle J remix)
13. Eskju Divine - Darkness all around
14. TALK 4
15. Dogday - New romance
16. Mew - Am I wry? No
17. Det Är Jag Som Är Döden - Hello!
18. TALK 5
19. Familjen - Huvudet i sanden
20. Darkthrone - Skald av Satans sol
21. Caesars Palace - (I'm gonna) Kick you out
22. TALK 6
23. Lack - Behead
24. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake your beauty
25. Hebosagil - Old prophet
26. TIAC - OTW
27. TALK 7
28. Marybell Katastrophy - Hip
29. Strip Music - Never die
30. The Social Services - Electric brae
31. TALK 8
32. At the Gates - All life ends (live)
33. Fireside - Jupiter
34. Ulver - Funebre
35. Paper - They're gonna keep me
36. TALK 9
37. Convoj - Cultural legacy
38. Maia Hirasawa - Still June
39. Silverbullit - Run
40. TALK 10
41. Massgrav - Vuxenliv

Disc two however, is where things become problematic. Swedish punk in the 90s was a mixed bag, to say the least, and I'm sure there's all sorts of folks out there who bristle at the inclusion of many bands here. C'mon, I love Fireside, but to call them classic Swedish punk is stretching things. Sure, they evolved from the right place, but to hear them followed by Skitsystem is quite a transition.

Anyhow, all issues of personal taste set aside, this collection does deliver a decent overview of the Swedish punk scene for novice listeners. The intro essay by Mikael Sörling gives the music historical context and the extra notes for each track (all på Svenska 'natch) are a most welcome touch, especially considering that they are sorely lacking from other collections in the Klassiker series. Of course, in an ideal world, we'd have a double-disc collection for each decade, but it still succeeds well enough as-is to earn a reserved recommendation.]]> Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/21537 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/21537 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/21537#comments "Great Northern Recordings compilation nr. 3", the latest edition of the short-run comp series focusing on some of Sweden's best experimental indie acts, is confirmed for release on March 1. This new one features eight previously unreleased tracks from the bands Nei (members from Breach, Fireside, Brick, The End Will Be Kicks), Giant Boar (members from Seven Feet Four), White Knives (members from Skull Defekts, Cut City) and Happiness (members from Tar... Feathers, Fuglesang) and will be amazing, no doubt. Hand-numbered, 167 copies and yes, I'll definitely be getting a few for resale. Celebrate the release with Nei's debut show at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm on March 1.

I have a hard time to describe the sound of Britta Persson, as found on your last album, "Top quality bones and a little terrorist", with this new album, "Kill Hollywood me", being no different. How would you describe it yourself?

Well, I've been trying to describe the record quite a few times by now. I think it sounds kind of straight forward and a little tricky, but it's hard to tell. The new record sounds both petite when it at the same time sounds very large. We've been working alot with the production on this one, and this time around I knew that I was going to work with lots of different people, including Per Nordmark (Fireside, Hets) who plays the drums. This affected my way of writing music, where I used to write songs which I knew I was going to perform by myself, guitar and voice only, I could now write songs and leave parts where the drums could take over for instance.

"Top quality bones and a little terrorist" and "Kill Hollywood me" differ quite a lot from your earlier releases, why is that and what kind of reactions have you received so far?

I think people like this new sound, I like it for sure. You gradually get better and better on what you do, of course, and I'm really proud of the production on this record and the fact that I've written these songs. So, for me it only feels natural to move on, and hopefully people will like it. From what I've heard, they do so far.

You made one of your first public appearances to a wider audience on Kristofer Åström's "Loupita" (2004), where the two of you sang "The wild" together. A start of a very successful companionship one might say. How did you get to meet Kristofer in the first place?

It feels like a really long time ago now, but it all started when I asked him to sing together with me on one of my songs, and he agreed. As a return of favour he asked me to sing together with him on one of his songs, and I agreed.

A lot has happened since then; the Britta Persson singing and playing on "Kill Hollywood me" sounds like a person with not only great songs, but also lots of courage and self-confidence. Yet when I've gone to one of your concerts, you tend to seem a little... timid.

I've been playing live for so long now, I've been playing so many shows, one might think that I would've gotten used to it by now... Some people are made to be on a stage and some just ain't. Let me put it this way; the stage is not an idealistic place for me to be, even though I like playing live. But this time around I will be bringing a whole band with me, things tend to become a lot easier when you're not all alone up on the stage.

The title, "Kill Hollywood me", what do you mean? What is a "Hollywood Me"?

First of all, there is a song on the record called "Kill Hollywood me". That song is just really a song among many others on the record, when I wrote it I felt like the title, Kill Hollywood Me, was a way of saying that I should stop taking myself so seriously all the time. The grass is not always greener on the other side. One shouldn't be so dramatic all the time, one should be happy!

But I wouldn't say that it sums up me as a person entirely, it's a title on one song and that title went on to name the whole record. It's just one thing of many things that I want to do.

When I've spoken with other artists living in Stockholm they sometimes describe something like a "Hollywood Me"-atmosphere around the clubs and music scene, say when it comes to which bands get to play on the popular venues, which people to talk to and such. Is this something you have experienced yourself?

That might be true, this town is like... sometimes I feel that it's very nice just to stay at home for instance, to write a song maybe, but you tend to forget such things when it's very hectic, as it tends to be most of the times.

You've got lots of guests on this record, Christian Kjellvander and Markus Krunegård from Laakso to name a few, but not Kristofer Åström. How come?

I wanted to make the best possible record that I could make, in order to do that I decided to get some help from all the necessary people I thought could help me with my mission. The reason for Kristofer not being on the album is purely coincidental. He lives in Göteborg these days, and he's away playing with his own band most of the time; there just wasn't an opportunity for him to swing by the studio. Which I'm sure he would have done, had he had the time. But we'll surely work together sometime in the future again; no worries.

In the video for "You are not my boyfriend" pink paint starts running from your nose, colourful paint being a theme for the video. What's your take on the visual part of your music?

I usually let the directors do their thing, even though I still get to have my say and the right to discard ideas I don't like or think will work. But I don't usually look upon myself as an artist in that way, I feel more like a songwriter and musician than an artist. I have somewhat of a phobia of motion picture and music; I think it's silly, but I still try my best.

Both "Top quality bones and a little terrorist" and "Kill Hollywood me", together with the videos for the singles, create something abstract that I directly connect with "Britta Persson". Is this image-making something you need to do in order to survive in the music business?

You need to create good music, but of course, you also need to have some kind of concept or big picture where everything fits as well. I only work with people whom I think do a really good job and whose results I really like. But in the end, it all comes down to the music, good music will always find ways to flourish.

LINK: http://www.brittapersson.com/
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/brittapersson

01. Fireside - Let Rasputin do it
02. TALK 1
03. Britta Persson - You are not my boyfriend
04. Hyacinth House - Lucky stranger
05. The Bear Quartet - Sailors
06. TALK 2
07. Jennie Abrahamson - In this life to live
08. Margaret Berger - Seek I'll hide
09. Heroes & Zeros - The foolproof
10. TALK 3
11. Folie - Strum
12. Ellen Beach - The widespread acclaim
13. The Indecision Alarm - Where every fucking dream is killed
14. TALK 4 (INTERVIEW)
15. Torpedo - From Russia with love
16. Rupesh Cartel - Comes the hour comes the man
17. TALK 5 (INTERVIEW)
18. Torpedo - Hospital
19. Tiger Lou - Until I'm there
20. TALK 6 (INTERVIEW)
21. Simon Ryman - Walk with me instead
22. Fanny Risberg - Stay with me forever
23. Lack - Deserters
24. TALK 7
25. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Manic panic
26. Hebosagil - Slightly confusing
27. Dieter Schöön - The harbour's cold
28. TALK 8
29. Lukestar - White shade
30. Fun - Hold it close
31. The Skull Defekts - The secret
32. TALK 9
33. Laakso - Great times underground
34. CS Nielsen - Black spots
35. Knugen Faller - Lugna favoriter
36. TALK 10
37. Säkert! - Allt som är ditt
]]> Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:40:54 -0800 news sirius http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25720-column-a-postcard-life-3 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25720-column-a-postcard-life-3 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25720-column-a-postcard-life-3#comments Autumn is my favorite season, though it has not always been the kindest one. With the days growing shorter and colder, and with summer bleeding out so beautifully in the yellows, oranges, and reds of the decaying leaves, I often find myself looking inwards and backwards over the past year, examining its successes and failures, and tallying up all of those missed opportunities and regretted memories. Some years this is a more difficult process than others. The future seems much further off with scarves wrapped around our necks and layers of clothing attempting the stave off the sharp teeth of impending winter. These are the times when music becomes necessary for our mental stability and survival, and can assist in properly facilitating and strengthening those introspective rambles into the layers of experience that make us the individuals we are. The end of the year is indeed a good time to take stock of where we are. By doing so we increase the likelihood that once spring hits, we know where we want to go as the momentum of another year starts up. And what medium better to guide our hands than music, specifically creations from the Scandinavian states - a people who know all too well the darkness of autumn and winter.

While my first winters in Stockholm were difficult - those first days of near perpetual darkness, combined with the cold and quiet, the snow absorbing so much of life's clamor - they pale in the face of what the robust souls of Norrland face every year. This might be why there is such presence to their music in these festering months of a lost year.

The Bear Quartet have quite the catalog to peruse in these moments, though I'd probably fall into "Angry brigade" and "Personality crisis" at this early stage of the decay, saving "Gay icon" for when summer becomes something that is coming, not a string of events that have just passed. "Vi kommer att d� samtidigt" from S�kert!'s self-titled album will also help bridge that twilight period between autumn and winter.

The Perishers' "Let there be morning", and even this year's "Victorious", will funnel themselves into my headphones as October overtakes my present and the sun starts to ignore this northern hemisphere. "My heart" and "Come out of the shade" are near perfect examples of songs that traverse those strange corridors between hope lost and hope rediscovered. Compositions like these thrive as winter's influence starts to win out over the summer's optimism and as life slows to a less frantic pace. Upbeat melodies will fit certain days of chilly sunlight, but building landscapes of softer tones and less buoyant themes seem more apt as calendars reach the end of their tenure on our walls.

And while I am not as familiar with groups like KVLR, Isolation Years, Fireside, and Carpet People, the tracks I have heard present further evidence of Norrland's artists' ability to purposefully color the passing moments of autumn and winter. But, bands from Sweden's more populated south are not to be ignored.

"Howl howl gaff gaff" has a few tracks that fit the coming months, but the Shout Out Louds' sophomore effort "Our ill wills" has the malleability to be just as relevant in November as it was for me in May, and will easily survive in its relevance as 2008 comes more clearly into focus. "Normandie", "You are dreaming", and "Impossible" have risen to the upper echelons of my favorite Scandinavian compositions, exemplifying that strange exploration of loss and potential salvation that Scandinavian musicians have perfected over the past few decades.

While I enjoy this year's "Mother, am I good looking?", and agree that it has some of Laakso's best material to date (especially "Worst case scenario" and "Norrk�ping"), it is "My gods" that is the more solid and focused record overall, a record that constantly unveils new strata, especially when viewed through the different lenses provided by shifting phases of the year, and thematically more compatible with the liminal period of cold and darkness before next year's thaw.

Kent have a plethora of songs that fit well into any autumn playlist, and their seventh studio album "Tillbaka till samtiden" is due out October 19. Jens Lekman's most recent effort will undeniably play some role in distracting me from the cooler temperatures and from my own pressing concerns. And pushing from Sweden into Denmark, The Kissaway Trail's striking debut album will gather some inertia as yellow and brown leaves cover the once green lawns of our neighborhoods, CS Nielsen's leading effort will take on a slightly heartbreaking tone, and I've never been one to dismiss Figurines' ability to bring a little cheer into the gloomiest moments.

This list could go on for quite some time, which quite succinctly sums up the state of Scandinavian music, especially compared to more populated countries such as America, Canada and Great Britain. I never even got to touch upon Norway's or Finland's musical contributions, and could probably create an entire column devoted to that one purpose alone, nor was I really able to go into much depth or cover all the bands I'd have liked to.

Many things become less cheerful as the year becomes less of a youthful cry and more of an echo, but there are soundtracks to elevate us above these dark currents, or allow us to plunge fully into them - and a sickening number of the most powerful of these are created in Scandinavia. There is a great deal of hope to be taken from that statement, more than enough to get me through until next spring.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson]]> Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 articles column http://www.itsatrap.com/n/249 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/249 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/249#comments Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna
02. TALK 1
03. José González - Down the line
04. Anna Ternheim - Girl laying down
05. The Bear Quartet - The supremes
06. TALK 2
07. New Decade - I guess you ran from something
08. Commando M Pigg - Allt genast
09. Mikkel Metal - Bano
10. TALK 3
11. Johan Hedberg - Nygubbe4
12. Mikko Singh - Toisella puolella
13. Mimas - Thought discuss
14. Fattaru - 100:-
15. TALK 4
16. Sista Sekunden - Jag är aldrig nöjd
17. E.S.T. - Tuesday wonderland
18. Syster Lycklig - Drömgränd
19. TALK 5
20. The End Will Be Kicks - Ass of a friend
21. The Grizzly Twister - Tigers made of paper
22. Samuel Jackson Five - Easily misunderstood
23. Grande Roses - Dead town
24. TALK 6
25. Thomas Dybdahl - B A part
26. Njurmännen - Cold meat industry
27. Tobias Hellkvist - Moment at ven
28. TALK 7
29. David Sandström Overdrive - Here's for summer
30. Randy - Freedom song
31. Kalle J - Vart stack du?
32. The Flaming Sideburns - Bad trip
33. TALK 8
34. The Bell - I am history
35. Lack - Pessimist poetry
36. The State of Floral Beings - Andy
37. Fireside - Problem (to you)
38. TALK 9
39. Firefox AK - Love to run
40. Manes - Cinder alley
41. Lukestar - Untitled
42. TALK 10
43. Oskar Schönning - S]]> Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/569 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/569 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/569#comments Christian Kjellvander is currently in the studio working on his new album "I saw her from here/I saw here from her". Expect an October release via Startracks. Check out a clip of him performing a new song in his car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8WsK1aG2BM#GU5U2spHI_4
Be sure to peep the "more from this user" tab for a ton of other Startracks videos from the likes of Fireside, Tiger Lou and more.]]> Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/973 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/973 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/973#comments Check out New Sport, the solo project of Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside): http://www.myspace.com/newsport
Sounds a lot like old Starmarket - a very good thing IMO.]]> Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27707-mp3-marit-bergman-sweatbead http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27707-mp3-marit-bergman-sweatbead http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27707-mp3-marit-bergman-sweatbead#comments Matt Giordano asked me about this song earlier this week so I figured, what the heck? Why not make it this week's Friday post. Marit Bergman has done a lot of fun covers for b-sides throughout the years - X-Ray Spex ("Oh bondage, up yours!"), AC/DC ("Highway to hell"), etc. - but it's her cover of fellow Swedes Fireside and the song "Sweatbead" that stands out. There's also a nice Moneybrother duet on the same disc (2003's "From now on" single) making it even more worthwhile to track down. Anyhow, Marit does away with Fireside's post-hardcore syncopation and gives the big chorus hook to the horn section, wholly making it her own. It's a really sweet song when you get down to it and I think that Marit does a great job of bringing that out, especially with the way she expands the song's dynamic range. Sometimes b-sides are obviously the tracks that weren't good enough for the album, but this most certainly is not.]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25871-kristofer-Astrom-rainawaytown-startracks-v2 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25871-kristofer-Astrom-rainawaytown-startracks-v2 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25871-kristofer-Astrom-rainawaytown-startracks-v2#comments Kristofer Åström release is always something I make a mental note of, as he has long been a sentimental favourite of mine, Fireside being the band that really got me into Swedish music. "RainawayTown" may come as a bit of a surprise, as this is the first full-length to be recorded without his long-time backing band Hidden Truck. To compare this album to one of his peers, It would be safe to say the consistency prevalent on this album, his first full-fledged alt-country venture, is that which Ryan Adams has been searching for, as this surpasses his excellent "Cold roses". After the stellar (and very indie) "So much for staying alive", I wasn't sure what Kristofer Åström had in his bag of tricks, but I'm very glad that he'd still got a lot in there.]]> Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1395 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1395 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1395#comments My special guest on my radio show this week was Ola Frick of the Moonbabies. Here's what we played:

01. Johndoe - Kjøtere
02. TALK 1
03. Mixtapes & Cellmates - The better half of cynical boys
04. The End Will Be Kicks - Ass of a friend
05. Breach - Lost crew
06. TALK 2
07. Silverbullit - Only gold
08. Lack - Primo Levi
09. Samuraj Cities - All along the shoreline
10. Rockettothesky - Barrie for Billy MacKenzie
11. TALK 3
12. Fireside - Let Rasputin do it
13. Heroes & Zeros - Into the light
14. Moonbabies - War on sound
15. TALK 4
16. Moonbabies - Cocobelle
17. TALK 5
18. Moonbabies - Take me to the ballroom (comp version)
19. Björn Kleinhenz - Pocket of gold
20. TALK 6
21. Loney, Dear - Saturday waits
22. Revolvo - Marmelade
23. TALK 7
24. Emerald Park - Open up
25. KVLR - Capitol city child
26. TALK 8
27. David & the Citizens - Are you in my blood?
28. TALK 9
29. David Åhlén - Wasted breaths
30. Maia Hirasawa - Still June
31. TALK 10
32. Moonbabies - Sun A.M. (outtake version)
33. TALK 11
34. Moonbabies - Don't ya know?

Not only did Ola reveal that he used to be a member of the Mercyful Fate fanclub, but it also looks like he'll be recording the next David & the Citizens record. Excellent!]]> Sat, 19 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27731-mp3-t-s-t-no-government http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27731-mp3-t-s-t-no-government http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27731-mp3-t-s-t-no-government#comments This week, Jonas Appelqvist is taking us back to 1982:

Last night it dawned upon me that I in fact own one song with T.S.T. (a band that's been a subject of discussion in the message board for quite some time now). They're represented on the compilation "Vägra raggarna benzin – punk från provinserna 78-82 vol. II" with "Väktarnas värld" along with Asta Kask, TT Reuter and Unter Den Linden. The reason for the discussion is that someone wanted to know who originally wrote the song "Oh, I'm so alone" which Fireside recorded back in 1997. And yup, you guessed it; it was the songwriters in this band, Nandur Hegedüs and Jarmo Mäkkeli. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down that song but, boy, do I have goodies for you! Let me present a song taken from their self-titled debut released in 1982, "No government". Being ahead of their time, this is what I imagine that Mr. Brett and Greg Graffin from Bad Religion and Bob Mould from Hüsker Dü would use as preference to their own songwriting at the time.
This punk band from Västerås released two albums, a few EPs and contributed to a bunch of compilations over the years. I can warmly recommend the "Varning för punk"-comp, in which most of the Swedish punk elite are represented, a triple CD that sums up the eighties punk scene in Sweden in a great way.
FYI, being born and raised in a town that was a big punk scene during that period with great bands such as Nyx Negativ and, mentioned above, Unter Den Linden, I almost feel obliged to do mp3-posts on those bands as well. Hell, you can't miss out on that!
But for now, enjoy your T.S.T.!]]> Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25912-kristofer-Astrom-live-skylten-linkoping-04-26-07 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25912-kristofer-Astrom-live-skylten-linkoping-04-26-07 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25912-kristofer-Astrom-live-skylten-linkoping-04-26-07#comments Kristofer Åström. The front man from legendary swedish emo/rock band Fireside has had a very special place in my heart ever since. Perhaps that's why I'm so disappointed tonight. Expectations are dangerous things. "RainawayTown" is the name of the new Kristofer Åström album, the gig in Linköping being the second stop on the Rainaway-tour. One major change in the live lineup of 2007 is that The Hidden Truck now is but a memory, with The Rainaways (including members from Nationalteatern, among others) filling up the void. The result is... below my expecations. Even though "RainawayTown" might be the best album since "Northern blues", or perhaps even better, the songs have problems transfering from record into live format. Sadly, I'd say it's mostly because of Kristofer himself, he seems quite out of shape this evening. He forgets lines, rearranges the setlist to everyones confusion, and seems generally unfocused. Then again, this is only the second gig ever with The Rainaways - I'm sure everything will run much smoother a couple of more gigs into the tour.]]> Wed, 02 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2514 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2514 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2514#comments The video for Johndoe's new single "Hardt som faen" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1UtvoxrJmY
The clip was filmed live by fans at a show in Oslo and the live sound was mixed by Swedish producer/engineer Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside, The Hives, etc.). The track is the third single from "Dødvinkel", one of my favorite records from 2006.]]> Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2663 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2663 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2663#comments In other Dolores news, Jocke and Nino from Caesars have a new band with Frans from Fireside called Big Bird and they will be releasing their debut EP on the label in March. As for Caesars, they are working on a new record with Björn Olsson for release this fall.]]> Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27831-mp3-the-sound-o-e-new-bankruptcy http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27831-mp3-the-sound-o-e-new-bankruptcy http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27831-mp3-the-sound-o-e-new-bankruptcy#comments One of the big things that got me deeper into Swedish/Scandinavian rock way back when was explosive, guitar-heavy indierock. Fireside, Starmarket, Him Kerosene, KVLR - these are the bands that caught my interest and had me pouring through liner notes looking for more names to track down. Sadly, that scene is nowhere near as strong these days though there are a few who keep the fire burning: The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four, Aerial Convoj plus young upstarts like Traktor and today's post subjects The Sound O.E. The band has been lurking in the shadows for a couple years now, but it wasn't until very recently that they seemed to rise above and the new three-song EP "Me and Laureline" proves it. The screechy sprechstimme delivery of the verses might be a bit much for some, but remember that what they're doing is essentially sloganeering - the words are meant to be heard loud and clear. It's call & response; a call to action. When the harmonies of the chorus come in, the intentions are indisputable. The Sound O.E know exactly what they're doing. I think the arrangement could still be tightened up a bit, but I like what they're doing and definitely look forward to hearing more.]]> Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3216 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3216 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3216#comments Norwegian label Dead Letter Records has signed The Rooph and will be releasing their debut album "The rats of October philharmonics" on January 29. The band is described as Fireside with a touch of Placebo or Interpol. Listen here for yourself: http://www.myspace.com/therooph]]> Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25661-top-10s-for-2006-iisole http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25661-top-10s-for-2006-iisole http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25661-top-10s-for-2006-iisole#comments Highlights from 2006, in no particular order:

The birth of the love affair between iisole and Jezebel recordings.

Our first encounter with the Norwegian crust scene. Lesson learned: 'Norway sucks, buy a t-shirt.'

Itsatrap.com. Most dedicated person around.

The start of a new musical era. In other words, the construction of Studio Nilsson.

The ten year jubilee of the album "Do not tailgate" by Sweden's finest: Fireside.

When living in such a stressful environment as Stockholm, we sometimes miss the tranquil isolation of Dalarna. The music of Anders Persson gets us thru.

Drunk & Naked Tour 2006: Schnuskpunk vol 1 & 2, vegan delights and pig stew meals, the tour bus and the endless singing, intoxicating and lack of sleep, all the D.I.Y shows for all the D.I.Y people… haha. And of course When We Fall, we love you... Änna.

Best concert 2006, attended by all of iisole, would undoubtfully be the Mogwai show at Berns. Take me somewhere nice…

Daniel Loefgren – "The Engine". Great album…. only took about five years. But hey, better late then sorry.

New haircuts in the band. 'Hey, I look like Conor'...


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

Iisole's debut full-length album will be out on Jezebel Recordings this coming spring.
www.iisole.com
www.myspace.com/iisole

]]> Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25654-top-10s-for-2006-staff-picks http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25654-top-10s-for-2006-staff-picks http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25654-top-10s-for-2006-staff-picks#comments Not everyone was able to get their lists in on time, but I think you'll find more than enough titles here well-worth investigating, whatever your tastes may be. Enjoy!

Jonas Appelqvist:

01. The Fine Arts Showcase – Radiola (Adrian Recordings)
When Christian released a kinda mediocre record, Gustav stepped up, delivered and restored the honour of the Kjellvander brothers.

02. C.Aarmé – Vita (Burning Heart)
Music for the gut, not the brain. Göteborg's finest punks just recently split up, it's a pity.

03. Hets – s/t (V2/Etikett: Hets)
I was a bit hesitative when I heard that members from Laakso, Fireside and Moneybrother formed a band. They proved me wrong.

04. Raised Fist – The sound of the republic (Burning Heart Records)
This long awaited full-length proved to be exactly what I hoped for. Uncompromising hardcore, this time with hooks!

05. Insurgent Kid – Paranoia (Wasted Sounds)
Just recently released and it went straight into this list. The punkrock on this disc is, in fact, all I ever need.

06. Khoma – The second wave (Roadrunner)
I always knew something good would come out of Plastic Pride.

07. Aerial – Black rain from the nombing (Nomethod)
Epic and almost instrumental post-rock from Sandviken that moved me big time.

08. Tar... Feathers – Make way for the ocean floor to fall to the surface (Release the Bats!)
Self-willed indiepop that sounds like Modest Mouse mixed with Xiu Xiu at times.

09. Darkthrone – The cult is alive (Peaceville)
Pioneers that released their most interesting record since "Total Death". Black-metal with one hell of a punkrockattitude!

10. Cult of Luna – Somewhere along the highway (Earache)
One of the records I've listened to the most in 2006 and it's still intriguing.

Top 3 non-scandinavian records of 2006:
Converge – No heroes (Epitaph)
Electric President – s/t (Morr Music)
Cursive – Happy hollow (Saddle Creek)

Nancy Baym:

01. Hell On Wheels - The odd church (Hybris/PlayRec)
It's catchy, it's quirky, it's consistently strong. And it's interesting too.

02. Skywriter - Where both worlds never meet (Iceberg Records)
The slow ones drag a bit, but the fast songs are a sublime mix of sexy, cool, driving and restrained.

03. Consequences - s/t (BOW/Groover Recordings)
Puts the "infection" in infectious pop. I can't stop listening to it and really don't want to either.

04. Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's block (V2/Wichita)
Not as good as last year's "Falling out", but an okay Peter Bjorn and John record is still better than most.

05. Pelle Carlberg - Everything. Now! (Labrador)
He's thoughtful, he's sensitive, he's twee, but most of all he's the perfect mix of soothing and beautiful. Frazzled nerves be gone!

06. The Phonies - Gran tourettes (Money Laundry Records)
Inconsistent record from Finland's Phonies, but it's best songs are exhuberant enough to carry the rest.

07. Billie the Vision & the Dancers - The world according to Pablo (self-released)
While I'm From Barcelona gets all the buzz, I prefer this. It's kind of mellow, a little dark, sort of conceptual if you bother to figure it out, but most of all, it just sounds good.

08. David & the Citizens - Stop the tape! Stop the tape! (Bad Taste)
David Fridlund's a melodic genius and the music may be better than ever, but Fridlund's angst runs too close to whining too much of the time.

09. Starflower - Moment in the sun (Music Is My Girlfriend)
Tranquil and poppy, youthful and tuneful, it's a gentle little debut from a band I hope will diversify its sound in releases to come.

10. The Charade - Real Life Drama (Skipping Stones)
Half of this is too sweet for me, but the rest is charming as all get out, and "September" easily wins the award for catchiest sugar pop song of the year.

Honorable Mentions:

Sivert Høyem and the Volunteers - Exiles (Hektor Grammofon)
It's not out yet and I've only heard 2 songs, but given his track record with Madrugada and his last solo record, it's guaranteed a spot in my top 10 when I do get to hear the rest.

Tiger Lou - The loyal (Startracks)
It came out in 2005 but now I've finally heard this record. It's got such a cool consistent vibe, such a unique sound, and I'm under it's spell completely.

Matt Giordano:

01. Peter Bjorn and John - Writers block (V2/Wichita)
After last years excellent "Falling out" I expected a great album, but this release just floored me.

02. Loney, Dear - Sologne (Dear John)
Yes, this is technically a re-release, and yes, it's that good.

03. The Fine Arts Showcase - Radiola (Adrian)
This is the new album I listened to most this year, and a it was quite a leap artistically for Mr. Kjellvander.

04. Hell On Wheels - The odd church (Hybris)
This one sat in my room for about a month until one day I brought it in the car with me, and to say the least, I was impressed.

05. Vapnet - Jag vet hur man väntar (Hybris)
"Thoméegränd" instantly hit me with pure pop genuis, and this album is so textured and deep, it has yet to be fully realised.

06. Firefox AK - Madame, madame! (Razzia)
It took me a while, but I have finally realised how genius this album is.

07. Nicolai Dunger - Sjunger Edith Södergran (EMI)
I believe this is Mr. Dunger's most cohesive album to date, and perhaps his most intimate.

08. Sibiria - Inom familjen (Hybris)
Martin A and Martin H put out two stellar albums in one year. Gorgeous.

09. The Knife - Silent shout (Rabid)
This album is both bleak and enchanting.

10. David & The Citizens - Stop the tape! Stop the tape! (Bad Taste)
This album is so solid, and it should silence all of the naysayers.

Other:

Best 2005 release of 2006:
El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar (Memphis Industries/The Control Group)
Gorgeous, that is the only way to describe the songwriting of Sarah Assbring, and it's good to see the rest of the world catching on.

Top three non-Scandinavian releases:

Tom Waits - Orphans (Anti)
This is absolutely essential.

Nobody & Mystic Chords Of Memory - Tree colored see (Mush)
Another post-Beachwood Sparks work of excellence, now I'm only wishing for Beachwood Sparks to reunite.

My Morning Jacket - Okonokos (RCA)
America's best current live band, and this is their document.

Top ten songs of 2006*
01. Montt Mardié - "My girlfriend is in the Grand Prix finals" from "Science" (Hybris)
02. Peter Bjorn and John - "Paris 2004" from "Writers block" (V2)
03. Kristofer Åström - "So much for staying alive" from "Black Valley" (Startracks)
04. Loney, Dear - "The city, the airport" from "Sologne" (Dear John)
05. Tom Waits - "Bottom of the world" from "Orphans" (Anti)
06. Vapnet - "Thoméegränd" from "Jag vet hur man väntar" (Hybris)
07. The Velvet Teen - "Gyzmkid" from "Cum laude" (Slowdance)
08. Nicolai Dunger - "Lyckokatt" from "Sjunger Edith Södergran" (Dolores)
09. Loose Fur - "The ruling class" from "Born again in the USA" (Drag City)
10. Islands - "Don't call me Whitney, Bobby" from "Return to the sea" (Equator)

*These songs, as well as 31 others appear on my "Best of 2006" mix, which I have made 20 copies of as a double-disc set to give away to the readers of It's A Trap! Here's the deal, the first twenty people to email me at matthew dot giordano at macys dot com with their name and postal address will receive a copy (as well as tracklisting) in the mail. Enjoy.

Kevin Renick, in alphabetical order:

01. Ampop - My delusions (Dennis Records)
Balancing the epic and the emotive is an increasingly dicey proposition as more and more groups on both sides of the Atlantic sacrifice one or the other in the process. Iceland's Ampop gets the blend just right with these 11 surgingly powerful, yet fragile tunes. .

02. El Perro Del Mar - s/t (Memphis Industries)
Possibly the most bubbly, infectious, melodically rich, beautifully sung sad album ever made.

03. Sofia Hardig - The need to destroy (Filthy Records)
An adventurous electronica foray in which Sofia makes an art out of distorted vocals that are nonetheless emotionally wrenching. Dark, machine-laden grooves that grip the soul.

04. The Knife - Silent shout (Brille Records)
By any standard, one of the year's boldest and most significant records, especially for a spooked, tech-savvy, mask-wearin', brother-sister dance-tronica act.

05. Lampshade - Let's away (Glitterhouse)
The sophomore release by this fabulous Swedish/Danish group is just as good as the debut; RebekkaMaria and company fuse primal rock and Scandi sensuality together in a thoroughly compelling manner.

06. Mew - And the glass-handed kites (Sony BMG Music)
A continuously flowing, continuously melodic and dazzling production that got many satisfying spins on my car stereo in 2006.

07. Monty's Loco - Man overboard (NONS)
Take a female vocalist who's like a tougher Emiliana Torrini, add equal parts acoustic/electronic instrumentation, throw in a few dollops of inspired weirdness and mix/produce well. Result: a grabber of an album that tickles the sonic taste buds..

08. Britta Persson - Top quality bones and a little terrorist (Amigo)
I like my Scandinavian music to be a little tart. Britta's debut CD is positively lemony from start to finish, a real standout in a year filled with great records by Scandi girls.

09. Patrik Skantze and the Free Souls Society - Fiction at first view (Mimo Sound)
A master class in inspired prog songcraft, superb guitar playing and the art of channeling diverse influences into your own lovingly prepared recipe.

10. Sonores - Elefanten (Structures Sonores)
As a long-time fan of both atmospheric ambient and mournful female vocals, this texturally absorbing disc had me at "eftermiddag".

Best EP: Detektivbyrån - Hemvägen (Danarkia)
Best CD to reevaluate your life to: Es - Sateenkkarisuudelma (K-RAA-K)
Best reasons to have faith that the spirit of weirdness lives on in Scandiland: The Bear Quartet, Sir Eric Beyond, and Tar...Feathers

Simon Tagestam:

01. Vapnet – Jag vet hur man väntar (album / Hybris)
Vapnet lived up to all my expectations and delivered a fantastic album

02. Moneybrother – De vet ingenting om oss (single / Hacka Skivindustri)
This song came totally unexpected and instantly floored me.

03. Lo-Fi-Fnk – Boylife (album / La Vida Loca)
Very exciting album from Sweden’s new dance kings, now TTA gone all new age.

04. Mattias Alkberg BD - Ditt hjärta är en stjärna (album / A West Side Fabrication)
Third and best album from this Bear Quartet member.

05. Taxi Taxi – Old big trees (song on myspace)
Killer song. Got high hopes for these young twins.

06. I'm From Barcelona - Let me introduce my friends (album / Dolores)
Hate them live, but still love their music.

07. Juni Järvi - Wherever thou art (album / Everlasting)
The surprise hit of the year, a collection of some magnificent songs.

08. [ingenting] - Mycket väsen för ingenting (album / Labrador)
An album that deserved much more attention and praise than it got.

09. Juvelen – Watch your step (song on myspace)
Sounds exactly like Prince when he was at his best. Pretty damn good that is!

10. Sir Eric Beyond and the Avant-Garde - s/t (album / Flora & Fauna)
Weirdest and most wonderful gig at Emmaboda this year where 'Sir Eric', even though he's Swedish, only talked in English in-between songs. He also released a fine record.

Three amazing songs from albums that I wasn't too keen on:
Fattaru – 100 spänn
Hello Saferide – The quiz
Peter Bjorn and John – Young folks


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

Jonas Appelqvist is in the works of completing the first fullengthrecord with Blinders On, indierock based in Malmö. The band is, as I write this, finished with the mixing and the mastering of the album entitled "Obsolete music", so we should expect a release in January. The 17th, to be precise. More on that after New Year's Eve.

Nancy Baym can be found happily blogging away at Online Fandom and digging music at Last.fm.

Matt Giordano wishes everyone safe, yet wine-filled holidays and New Year's celebrations, and hopes those who'll be getting his "Best of 2006 mix" enjoy them. He also hopes Arsenal can pick up the pace in the premier league and that Scandinavian bands continue to release the world's best music. Here are the new releases he's looking forward to in 2007: two Laakso records, Kristofer Åström, Shout Out Louds, Via Audio, Christian Kjellvander, Spoon, Tiger Lou (I can hope), My Morning Jacket (I can hope), Nick Cave (I think it's about time for another), Moonbabies, Nicolai Dunger, and all Hyrbis releases.

Kevin Renick is exhausted from trying to pare down the list of favorites from a really great year in music.

Simon Tagestam is a regular contributor to IAT and he doesn't really have any plans for 2007, except some vague ideas concerning a Nintendo Wii, his mother's 60th birthday, more tattoos, and badminton.

]]> Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27890-mp3-nikola-sarcevic-love-is-trouble http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27890-mp3-nikola-sarcevic-love-is-trouble http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27890-mp3-nikola-sarcevic-love-is-trouble#comments I hereby decree that the 2006 most improved artist award goes to Nikola Sarcevic for his album "Roll roll and flee". The Millencolin frontman's first solo album "Lock-sport-krock" in 2004 sounded like little more than a few leftover songs from his main band, slowed down and performed acoustically. It felt much more like a vanity project as opposed to an artist struggling to break free from the expectations and constraints of his regular band. However, all that has changed with the new record - Nikola has finally discovered the nuance required to take his material to the next level. He sounds much more comfortable performing in a country/folk idiom, never forced or contrived. I can't say whether or not he'll have a strong solo career ahead of him like his peer Kristofer Åström (who released his first solo record "Go, went, gone" in 1998 after four albums with Fireside), but listening to songs like the one I've posted today, it's not hard to imagine. I'm impressed.]]> Tue, 17 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4446 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4446 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4446#comments Fireside claims to be working on new material: http://www.firesidemusic.com/news.asp?ID=194]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27941-mp3-kristofer-Astrom-and-hidden-truck-poor-young-mans-heart http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27941-mp3-kristofer-Astrom-and-hidden-truck-poor-young-mans-heart http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27941-mp3-kristofer-Astrom-and-hidden-truck-poor-young-mans-heart#comments Hard to believe that Kristofer Åström's debut solo album "Go, went, gone" is already eight years old. It's funny how the years just seem to slip away like that. It remains to be seen whether Kris will keep pushing on with Fireside - I suspect we have yet to hear the last of them - but we can rest assured knowing that his solo career will continue to be fruitful for many years to come. From his humble start as a mopey boy with his heart on his sleeve (as in today's mp3 pick), to his more recent and much darker and deeper work (see the "Black valley" EP), Kristofer Åström has firmly established himself as one of Sweden's most accomplished singer/songwriters. I know it's probably brutally hot everywhere else in the world today, but this somber song works nicely with the cool grey morning we've got going up here in the Pacific Northwest. Don't worry - it sounds just as good in the sunshine too.
Buy Kristofer Åström CDs and mp3s: [click here]
Extra credit: new (old) Kristofer Åström videos just posted at myspace: [click here]]]> Fri, 04 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5411 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5411 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5411#comments Absolut Noise does their Q&A thing with Fireside: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2006/06/interview-fireside.html]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5441 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5441 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5441#comments Finnish act Disco Ensemble is spreading their tentacles into Europe and has signed a worldwide deal (excluding Finland where they remain on Fullsteam) with Universal Records. They recently re-recorded four songs from the "First aid kit album with Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside, The Hives, etc.) and Michael Ilbert (The Hellacopters, Cardigans, etc.) in Sweden for a special European rerelease in August. The single "Black euro" comes out first on August 4 and the full-length follows on August 18. And that's not all - the band will also release "We might fall apart" as a 7" single in the UK on July 3 simultaneously with a release in their home country of Finland. For the record, "We might..." is probably my favorite DE song that I've heard, but that's not necessarily saying that much.]]> Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27985-mp3-fireside-not-in-my-palace http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27985-mp3-fireside-not-in-my-palace http://www.itsatrap.com/n/27985-mp3-fireside-not-in-my-palace#comments Having recently received a large box of Fireside classics for the distro (among other Startracks back-catalogue titles), I figure it's a good time to revisit the band. The band made a huge impression on me when I first heard "Elite" back in 2000 and I immediately went and devoured their entire discography. 1995's "Do not tailgate" was impressive enough that Rick Rubin signed the band to his American Recordings label and got them on the Lollapalooza tour. Unfortunately they never quite took off and were subsequently dropped, but that doesn't mean the album isn't worth listening to. Yeah, they were biting Quicksand's poppy post-hardcore sound pretty damn hard, but you know what? I think that Fireside did it better. They've also kept it up to this day, though sadly, to diminishing returns. This particular track I've posted today is the closer from "Do not tailgate" and is a perfect end-piece for the album. Utilizing recycled lyrics from earlier songs over droning waves of guitars, the song reflects back to the music that preceded it and forms it into something new and beautiful. It stands just fine on its own, even without hearing everything that's lead up to it.]]> Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 mp3s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5650 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5650 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5650#comments I got a nice big package of stuff yesterday from Startracks that I'll be adding to the store soon. Not only do I finally have the latest CDs from Tiger Lou (the "Nixon" CDS) and Kristofer Åström ("Black valley" EP), but I've also got a nice selection of back-catalogue stuff from the mighty Fireside and more! Sweet! Go shopping: [click here]]]> Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25578-profile-convoj http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25578-profile-convoj http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25578-profile-convoj#comments Name: Convoj

From: Göteborg, Sweden

Sounds like: Darkly-tinged indierock with driving post-punk beats, steamroller basslines and guitars like knives.

Listen: My timekeeping heart

Discography:
2005 - s/t EP (Chalksounds) [BUY IT]

Links:
www.convoj.se
www.myspace.com/convoj

2005 was a year of amazing debut EPs and Convoj's self-titled release was one of the best. With so many bands attempting to ape the oh-so-hot post-punk sound, Convoj stands head and shoulders above the rabble with their inventive duel guitar lines and pummeling bass sound. It's the sound of classic Swedish indie guitar-rock (Him Kerosene, Starmarket, Fireside, et al) made fresh.

Unfortunately the great promise of the band's debut has yet to be followed up. Their label Chalksounds was dissolved at the end of last year and they've yet to sign with someone new. The enlistment of manager Filip Wilén from Bud Fox (Shout Out Louds, El Perro Del Mar) is promising, so I'm sure it's only a matter of time until Convoj gets the attention they deserve.

Who are you and where are you from?
We are four boys and we live in Gothenburg.

What makes you special?
Don't know if there is anything that makes us special. We're something as nonexclusive as an indie-rock band from Sweden so... but we're pretty good, so that would separate us from quite a few similar acts.

If Convoj was an animal, what animal would you be?
Convoj share many similarities with a German Shepard. It isn't a wild animal but a disciplined breed with straight lines and a fetish for rules. It's the dog of choice for both police and aggressive alcoholics, in other words a little treat for everyone.

If you could instantly acquire one skill, what would you choose? How would you use it?
I think everyone in Convoj would like to become more skilled lovers. Except for the obvious, this skill would come in handy when exploring the Latin genre.

What fo you think is the most important or most prevalent emotional aspect of your music?
Well, the intention is to keep the music as emotionless as possible. But it's hard and emotions often leak through. I guess shame would be the prevalent one.

What's the most disappointing record you've ever heard?
As a Bruce fan, I got obsessed in the wait for "The Rising" due to the reuniting of The E-Street Band and all. Swedish crap-papers Aftonbladet and Expressen both gave it five out of five. Guess I should have known better, but I think I wanted to be seduced. When the record actually came I went into denial and it took about four months before I could admit to myself and anyone else that it really sucked.

What's the future of Convoj?
Well, we're almost done with writing songs for a full-length album. But since we're currently without a record-deal it's hard to say when anything will be released, except for that it will... maybe.

]]> Mon, 08 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 articles interviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26220-hets-live-debaser-stockholm-04-22-06 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26220-hets-live-debaser-stockholm-04-22-06 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26220-hets-live-debaser-stockholm-04-22-06#comments Hets are something of a Swedish indie "supergroup", with members from Laakso, Doktor Kosmos, Fireside and Moneybrother. With those bands in mind, you don't really expect Hets to play Swedish punk sung in Swedish, but that's exactly what they do. Everyone seems to mention Mattias Alkberg BD when they talk about Hets and I can see why, since Hets do sound like MABD (although I don't think MABD should be the only people allowed to make punk music sung in their native language). Living in London, it's not every day I get to witness a concert like this, so perhaps I'm overreacting slightly, but I really enjoyed this show and I think I will now look into getting my hands on Hets' album (I assume and hope that the punk ethos is reflected in the price of their CD).]]> Sun, 30 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6271 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6271 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6271#comments Swedish singer/songwriter Britta Persson reports that her debut full-length album "Top quality bones and a little terrorist" is done and will be released in August via Bonnier Amigo. The recording features many esteemed guests, such as Kristofer Åström, Per Nordmark (Fireside), Mattias Friberg (Logh) and more. Listen to three songs and help her choose the first single: http://www.brittapersson.com/]]> Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6837 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6837 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6837#comments Fireside has added a second show in Japan on March 3 at Eggman in Tokyo.]]> Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6852 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6852 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6852#comments The website for Swedish supergroup Hets is now open: http://www.hets.se/
As mentioned before, the band features Markus Krunegård (Laakso), Per Nordmark (Fireside), Henrik Svensson (Moneybrother) and Christoffer Roth (Monster).]]> Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6880 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6880 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6880#comments Atomic Swing are back and working with producer/engineer Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside, etc.) on a new album to be released on National later this year.]]> Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26288-the-soft-eyes-lets-dance-to-our-own-beats-instant-feelings-massproduktion http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26288-the-soft-eyes-lets-dance-to-our-own-beats-instant-feelings-massproduktion http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26288-the-soft-eyes-lets-dance-to-our-own-beats-instant-feelings-massproduktion#comments The Idle Hands. The Soft Eyes. I see a pattern here (that might have started with the The Talking Heads). Anyhow, The Soft Eyes are more my cup of tea than The Idle Hands, and they haven't got that much in common with The Idle Hands except their body parts band name. These fellows play alt-country that reminds me a bit of Elliott Smith. It also sounds like Kristofer Åström, although it never reaches the same levels as Mr. Fireside's songs do. Despite that, I like this, and I'm looking forward to listen to this album without having to think about it in 'reviewing terms'. Nevertheless, what a boring name!]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7024 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7024 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7024#comments New Swedish supergroup Hets will make their live debut at Popaganda this year. The band features Markus Krunegård (Laakso), Per Normark (Fireside), Henrik Svensson (Moneybrother) and Christoffer Roth (Monster) and you can hear some samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hetshts
Look for the band's debut album "Etikett: HETS" on March 29.]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7161 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7161 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7161#comments Fireside will play a one-off date in Japan at the Independence-D Festival in Tokyo on March 4, co-headlining the second stage with Akaline Trio. Japanese label Howling Bull recently released Fireside's back-catalogue over there to an enormous response, hence the special show. In other news, Fireside is currently working on new material for a brand new record due out this fall.]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7454 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7454 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/7454#comments Fireside is coming back in 2006? http://www.firesidemusic.com/news.asp?ID=186]]> Wed, 18 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25496-podcast-build-it-up-break-it-down-mess-it-up http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25496-podcast-build-it-up-break-it-down-mess-it-up http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25496-podcast-build-it-up-break-it-down-mess-it-up#comments DATE ADDED : 09.25.05
LENGTH : 53:48 min
DOWNLOAD : itsatrap_podcast_09252005.mp3 (37.8mb)
RSS : [click here]

Tracklist:
01. I'm from Barcelona - Treehouse
02. Det Gamla Landet - Utan precis som innan
03. Soviac - The halte jick
04. Kompjotr Eplektrika - Destrukkt (excerpt)
05. Seven Feet Four - Leave your cell
06. Firefox AK - Keep it up
07. Plain Fade - Chips falling where they may
08. Robyn - Robotboy
09. Silverbullit - Once upon a time
10. The Psyke Project - Fimbul
11. The Idealist - A single pistol shot VS. Pan Sonic - Puhdistus VS. Kompjotr Eplektrika - Dialears
12. Magyar Posse - Singlesparks are spectral fires
13. Fireside - Cisco heat
14. Viola - Kiss and break up (Verneri Lumi remix)
15. Bear Quartet - I have an itch
16. Junip - Turn to the assassin
17. David Sandström Overdrive - Leni Leni

]]> Sun, 25 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700 articles podcast http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9304 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9304 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9304#comments Today's oldie classic comes from Him Kerosene, one of my all-time favorites. Seriously, this is the kind of stuff I live for: huge walls of discordant guitars, dissonant melodies and a heavy rhythm section. What more do you need? This is the post-hardcore/indierock sound that got me hooked on the Norrland scene. From early Fireside, Starmarket and Brick to other bands like KVLR, Breach, Convoj and Seven Feet Four (not from the North, I know), Him Kerosene helped define and establish what I consider to be my favorite sound. And let's not forget HK frontman Niklas Quintana's newest band The End Will Be Kicks, also featuring ex-HK drummer Tomas Turunen. Today's selection comes from the sadly out-of-print magnum opus "Start.Stop", first released back in 1997 on Telegram/Warner, but it must be said that all of their releases are brilliant and worth tracking down even if they aren't quite so readily available. It's worth it, trust me. You want to start a band that I'm enthusiastically endorse, here's your blueprint.]]> Fri, 26 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9592 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9592 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9592#comments I figure I might as well keep with the theme of the most recent podcast and post another fine track from Starmarket. I was considering trying to track down some Shredhead mp3s, but I get the feeling that those dudes probably don't want that stuff distributed online so prominently. Anyhow- Starmarket, as you can probably infer, are another fine band from Umeå in Northern Sweden. Their sound is part mid-90s noisepop mixed with a bit of post-hardcore, kinda like Fireside who I featured on a Friday classic post two weeks ago. This track happens to be one of the more tender numbers from the band's early period. It's incredibly melodic, but rhythm section keeps things heavy and powerful. The band is still kicking around nowadays, but they've gone through quite a few member changes over the years. Magnus and Johan went on to form KVLR (one of my absolute favorite bands), Patrik plays with Family Music and Fredrik also does The Crystal Committee. There's probably tons more too, but really - who needs to read through their entire incestous musical family tree? Not gonna happen. Just download the track whydoncha?]]> Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9739 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9739 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/9739#comments Today's Friday classic tune comes from Fireside, one of my long-time favorite bands. They're one of the main reasons I got excited about Scandinavian rock in the first place - I knew from the very first time I heard them that I needed to track down their entire discography and have been following them ever since. I bought all of Kristofer's solo albums. I started tracking down all of the albums that guitarist PMA recorded that I could find and got introduced to even more great stuff. And so on and so forth, right? My level of infatuation has calmed down quite a bit since then, but I still love the music. I even adore the much-maligned "Elite" record, but I'll save that for a different post some later day. Today's track first appeared on the 1996 EP "Left rustle" which I believe is long out of print, but it can still be found on the "Hello kids" EP and b-sides comp. Check it out.]]> Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26519-britta-persson-found-at-home-startracks http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26519-britta-persson-found-at-home-startracks http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26519-britta-persson-found-at-home-startracks#comments Britta perform at Vinterviken in '04, and still do every time "I search in you, you search in me" from "Demo 2" is played. So with great anticipation "Found at home" was initially welcomed here at review HQ. So lest not beat about the bush: much of Persson's attraction is her relationship to the KÅ/Hidden Truck/Fireside/Startracks family, and the natural interest which that brings. This is singer/songwriter Persson's first a "real" release. It has a fuller more complete sound, thanks perhaps largely to bedfellow Kristoffer Åström's backing vocals, production, and guitar playing. Åström guests from on "A dad for you" and again on track 4 "The past is not for real". This is a predominately two chord, slightly folkesque song (in her voice there is a Irish lilt, sometime shrill, in his a gruff hung over tone!). Neither a bad thing, because I want to rave about this release. But it is hard. Persson sounds like Cranberries singer O'Rioden or Sinead O'Conner (read again: Irish lilt) just a bit too often for my tastes. Sad, it would seem because Persson is definitely doing something... although the songs are lyrically naive. This EP somehow falls short of the virgin feeling created on her own self released EPs from 2004. The positive effect of considered production seems, in my ears, to detract from the former urgency held on the DIY demos. Next question: When will this singer try out a backing band? It might be the progressive step she needs.]]> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10514 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10514 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/10514#comments Before there was The Knife, before Håkan Hellström embarked on a solo career or joined Broder Daniel, there was Honey Is Cool. Today's Flashback Friday mp3 is a Swedish indierock classic from the year 1999 off of HIC's second and final album "Early morning are you working?". Love it or hate it, Karin Dreijer's voice is unmistakable, no matter what band she's singing with. I had a bear of a time trying to decide what track to post today as the band's sound is all over the place, often within the same song. I figured I might as well go with the second album's lead single since it's a good introduction to band seeing as how it's probably the most polished thing they ever did, for better or worse. Well, they did have Pelle Gunnerfelt (Fireside) and Jari Haapalainen (Bear Quartet) working on the album, both producing and playing a little guitar. As always, very recommended. Especially if you're interested in hearing the roots of The Knife.]]> Fri, 13 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26619-david-fridlund-amaterasu-adrian-recordings http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26619-david-fridlund-amaterasu-adrian-recordings http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26619-david-fridlund-amaterasu-adrian-recordings#comments David & the Citizens I shall hereby save you a minute or two by informing you that David Fridlund's solo album sounds like David & the Citizens and it's as good. So stop reading and go and buy it now, thank you very much. For all you other people who have never heard David & the Citizens, here you go:

It seems to be quite a trend to release solo albums lately in Sweden, but whereas usually these solo outings take on a completely different form than how the artist's band sounds like (e.g. Fireside's Kristofer Åström, International Noise Conspiracy's Dennis Lyxzen's Last Patrol, or Millencolin's Nikola Sarcevic), David's solo album sounds in fact quite a lot like a D&tC's first album (only a bit slower and less energetic). Even though it would have been interesting with an album that sounded completely different from D&tC, "Amaterasu" is so good that one quickly forget the initial disappointment and such before mentioned speculations, because by calling this just "another D&tC album" what that really equals is "another excellent album."

Another expectation on solo albums is of course for the lyrical content to deal with more personal issues, but if you've heard D&tC you know that their lyrics hardly can be any more personal and intimate. It should also be said that David Fridlund writes excellent lyrics and often manages to come up with lines that cunningly drill themselves into your brain, set root, and refuse to leave (such as "Rub your allergic eyes and look at me" from "Satellite", which is one of the best songs on the album). In the beginning of their career numerous people compared D&tC to Bright Eyes, and that comparison is still valid although "Amaterasu" is not as angst-driven as most of Bright Eyes' material. It's also a quite long album, but it's so varied it hardly ever becomes repetitive, but it's not really amazingly accessible either and it took quite a few listenings before I really got into it.]]> Tue, 15 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11875 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11875 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11875#comments Hey everyone, I'm back and I've got an mp3 of the brand new Kristofer Åström single "The good you bring". To say that this is one of my most anticipated new releases would be an understatement - I've been a fan of Kristofer both solo and with Fireside for a long time and he has yet to disappoint me. Of course, this song and the new album are no exception. I've yet to listen to "So much for staying alive" more than a few times since getting back into town, but this track really jumps out. It may be the second song in, but it's so obviously single-worthy material from the get-go. I must say I was also quite surprised how country it is. Just listen to that phaser-heavy rhythm guitar and the insistent drums pushing the beat. Then there's that clanky piano line chasing the guitar melody! So, so great. Very recommended of course.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11894 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11894 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/11894#comments New live pics of Fireside and The Change up at Rockfoto.nu.]]> Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25446-top-10s-for-2004-racingpaperplanes http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25446-top-10s-for-2004-racingpaperplanes http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25446-top-10s-for-2004-racingpaperplanes#comments Top 10 events of 2004:

01. Elephant Micah - ...And the palmyra palm

02. Elephant Micah - ...And the loud guitars

03. Getting tickets to the Iron Maiden show due in Gothenburg 2005.

04. Having a kidney stone attack made me feel alive.

05. Having a kidney stone attack made me drink less coffee (well, a little less).

06. Having a song featured on the Will Oldham tribute.

07. Knowing that Kristofer Åström, like me, too got tinnitus from Fireside. (Fireside must be destroyed :))

08. Yngwie Malmsteen humorously names his coming album "Unleash the Fury" (You should know about the "unleash the fookin fjoory" incident to find this amusing)

09. Buying the Nirvana Box Set.

10. Making a lot of new friends.

On a side note: Trying to become a "Glöggalkoholist" failed! It's too damned sweet in taste.


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

Racingpaperplanes aka Richard Wilson is a singer/songwriter from Sweden. His latest album "Self Sleep Service" was released by US-based label Tract Records in October. As for 2005, he plans on either doing two EPs or a new full-length and will probably be coming to the US on tour sometime around May.
www.racingpaperplanes.com / www.tractrecords.com

]]> Mon, 27 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25429-top-10s-for-2004-kristofer-Astrom http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25429-top-10s-for-2004-kristofer-Astrom http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25429-top-10s-for-2004-kristofer-Astrom#comments 01. My dog Pricken and my girlfriend Johanna. Forever no.1

02. Our house, in the middle of the woods

03. Star Wars trilogy on DVD. Oh, how I have waited.

04. My custom made Sundberg guitar. www.sundbergguitars.com

05. Customs. Album by Joel RL Phelps & the Downer trio. Best album of 2004.

06. My trip to LA when I finally got to see the nice parts of the city

07. ipod. Gods gift to the traveller

08. I finally found ebay. Or maybe that's a bad thing?

09. The NHL lockout. We get to see our stars live.

10. I met Avi. Not a lot can top that!


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

Not only is Kristofer a suberb musician, but he also knows how to flatter. If you're lucky enough to live in Sweden, be sure to check him out when he goes on tour with Fireside in January.
www.kristoferastrom.com / www.firesidemusic.com

]]> Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12671 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12671 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/12671#comments I was told it wasn't going public until Monday, but the cat is out of the bag now that Dagensskiva has posted it. Serves me right for being a nice guy, eh? Anyhow the big news is that Fireside is going on tour in January and taking it back to their roots by playing as a four-piece again. I don't think they're planning on recording anything new yet, but it's good to see that they're keeping the band alive. Dates:

01/13 - Mejeriet, Lund
01/14 - Slippery People @ Pustervik. Göterborg
01/15 - Club Feber, Trollhättan
01/20 - Nebraska, Gävle
01/21 - Pipeline, Sundsvall
01/22 - Scharinska, Umeå
01/28 - Accelerator @ Debaser, Stockholm
02/12 - Hotell Fjället, Björkliden

Stockholm-based instrumental post-rockers Ellis the Vacuumchild are supporting.]]> Thu, 02 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25401-streaming-playlist-old-stuff http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25401-streaming-playlist-old-stuff http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25401-streaming-playlist-old-stuff#comments DATE ADDED : 08.16.04
LAUNCH : Real / Windows

Tracklist:
01. Honey is Cool - Bolero
02. Amorphis - My kantele (acoustic reprise)
03. Broder Daniel - Dark heart
04. The Hellacopters - Soulseller
05. Nicolai Dunger - What tomorrow
06. Him Kerosene - Whatever gets you by
07. In Flames - Moonshield
08. Fireside - Let Rasputin do it
09. Madrugada - Salt
10. Nine - Getting it out
11. Motorpsycho - Blindfolded
12. Silverbullit/Citizen Bird - Magnetic city
13. Giant Robot - S M L XL
14. Starmarket - You can't come
15. The Plan - Let's leave
16. Souls - Cello (where you were)
17. At the Gates - Cold
18. Weeping Willows - Louisa
19. The Motorhomes - Love
20. Bear Quartet - What I hate

]]> Sun, 15 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700 articles podcast http://www.itsatrap.com/n/14929 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/14929 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/14929#comments Kristofer Åström - There For / Loupita (Startracks)
Two new acoustic-based releases from the Fireside frontman. The "There For" EP is a mostly bare-bones affair with just a bit of string augmentation and not much more. Good stuff, but probably just for people who are already fans. Now "Loupita" is a different story. It's all acoustic as well, but it's much more fleshed out and features plenty of guest vocals from Britta Persson (see her demo review below) and beautiful slide guitar work from producer Mattias Friberg of Logh. The obvious point of reference is Iron & Wine for the style and instrumentation, but the recording quality is not nearly as quaint. Well, except for the one home-recorded instrumental track "Loupita #2". At first I was thinking this was going to end up more as a teaser for the upcoming full band album due out later this year, but it is more than capable of standing on its own. As always, the songs are great. There's no question about that, but it's the vibe that takes it to the next level. The atmosphere is so relaxed and comfortable that Kristofer breaks a string on the song "Devil" and they left it on the final CD version. That sort of touch brings an extra sense of humanity and intimacy to the music which is something that can't be manufactured with rack units, mixing consoles or the like. And unlike a lot of stuff I've been hearing lately, the CD gets better the deeper you get into it. The second half (including the Friberg-penned track "I collect knives") is absolutely sublime, right through the end with the closer "Just another lovesong". Highly recommended.]]> Mon, 31 May 2004 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26674-kristofer-Astrom-there-for-loupita-startracks http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26674-kristofer-Astrom-there-for-loupita-startracks http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26674-kristofer-Astrom-there-for-loupita-startracks#comments Fireside frontman. The "There For" EP is a mostly bare-bones affair with just a bit of string augmentation and not much more. Good stuff, but probably just for people who are already fans. Now "Loupita" is a different story. It's all acoustic as well, but it's much more fleshed out and features plenty of guest vocals from Britta Persson and beautiful slide guitar work from Mattias Friberg of Logh. The obvious point of reference is Iron & Wine for the style and instrumentation, but the recording quality is not nearly as quaint. Well, except for the one home-recorded instrumental track "Loupita #2". At first I was thinking this was going to end up more as a teaser for the upcoming full band album due out later this year, but it is more than capable of standing on its own. As always, the songs are great. There's no question about that, but it's the vibe that takes it to the next level. The atmosphere is so relaxed and comfortable that Kristofer breaks a string on the song "Devil" and they left it on the final CD version. That sort of touch brings an extra sense of humanity and intimacy to the music which is something that can't be manufactured with rack units, mixing consoles or the like. And unlike a lot of stuff I've been hearing lately, the CD gets better the deeper you get into it. The second half (including the Friberg-penned track "I collect knives") is absolutely sublime, right through the end with the closer "Just another lovesong". Highly recommended.]]> Mon, 31 May 2004 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/15565 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/15565 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/15565#comments David Sandström - The Dominant Need of the Needy is to be Needed (Mofab Teg)
This record perfectly balances the aspirations of art, folk and rock. Great music, great lyrics, great everything. I really had no idea what to expect with this, but I was totally impressed. Parts remind of Fireside's "Elite", others bring to mind Norrland indiefolk stuff like Isolation Years. David Sandström, ex-drummer of Refused? Naah, it's just David Sandström, successful solo artist. Definitely another one of the best records I've heard this year.]]> Sun, 18 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26694-david-sandstrom-the-dominant-need-of-the-needy-soul-is-to-be-needed-mofab-teg http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26694-david-sandstrom-the-dominant-need-of-the-needy-soul-is-to-be-needed-mofab-teg http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26694-david-sandstrom-the-dominant-need-of-the-needy-soul-is-to-be-needed-mofab-teg#comments Fireside's "Elite", others bring to mind Norrland indiefolk stuff like Isolation Years. David Sandström, ex-drummer of Refused? Naah, it's just David Sandström, successful solo artist. Definitely another one of the best records I've heard this year.]]> Sun, 18 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/15725 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/15725 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/15725#comments Fireside to support Kiss? So obviously not real: http://www.firesidemusic.com/news.asp?ID=180]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25396-streaming-playlist-singer-songwriters-pt-2 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25396-streaming-playlist-singer-songwriters-pt-2 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25396-streaming-playlist-singer-songwriters-pt-2#comments DATE ADDED : 02.08.04
LAUNCH : [stream no longer available]

01. José González - Hints
from the album "Veneer"
He's already taken Sweden by storm and it's only a matter of time before you see José's name everywhere. I thought I heard Nick Drake's ghost when I first heard this track on the "Crosses" EP. A prime example of there being truth to the hype: José's elegant fingerpicking and soft vocals are something special. The UK is next in line to fall under his spell and the US can't be too far to follow. Of all the artists covered, this is most definitely one of the top ones worth looking into.

02. Evil Tordivel - Where the sun never sets
from the album "A fine young man"
Norway excels at cultivating interesting artists like this. Evil Tordivel aka Petter Alexander Olsen resists all attempts to classify. Just when you think you've got him pegged, the next song comes on and throws you for a loop. He calls it "kaos and pop" himself and I think that might as well work. Sadly, his eclecticism also means his music can be a bit hit and miss, but never, ever boring. He's obviously very talented. Recommended for people who sometimes like their music to be quirky and maybe even a bit challenging.
This song shows Evil's more serious side and I think it's the kind of stuff that suits him best.

03. Tiger Lou - Sam, as in Samantha
from the "Trouble and desire" EP
Every new release from the Tiger aka Rasmus Kellerman shows tremendous growth as he gets stronger and stronger with his talent. Besides simply being an extremely charming individual, he's got a great ear for vocal arrangements. This track from his latest EP barely even scratches the surface of what he's capable of. That's why you need to hear his new album "Is my head still on?" Another one to keep your eye on.

04. Kristofer Åström - Leaving song
from the album "Leaving songs"
Kristofer was previously best known for fronting the indierock band Fireside before he branched out on his own. When he's doing his own thing, he gets to expose a whole different side of himself and his emotional vulnerability. Everything he does is very much in the fine Scandinavian melancholic musical tradition, especially the stunning "Northern Blues" album. He puts most so-called alt-country artists to shame. Most seem overly concerned with adhering to the stylistic trappings of the genre, but Kristofer has no use for such pretension. When listening to his music, you don't get the sense of someone trying to be something they're not or putting on airs. He simply is.

05. David & the Citizens - Glued to the light
live from P3
While they aren't strictly a singer/songwriter group, they are very much powered by frontman David Fridlund and his energetic, enigmatic vocals. This performance proves their inherent worth by stripping out everything except that which matters most: the lyrics and the song. My understanding is that the band truly shines in the live setting and while they're records are decent, the studio sessions have yet to truly capture them at their best.

06. Carpet People - A road leading into the sun
from the album "More bad weather coming out of the rain"
I won't rest until I feel like these guys get the respect they deserve. Another group that's not exactly under the singer/songwriter banner, but very much powered by the writing and vocals of frontman Anders Hellmans. While some bands build up walls of production between them and their audience, the Carpet People tear those barriers down so all you get is the raw, fragile emotional core. Their last album easily stayed in my top 10 all last year and I still think it's going to be a long time before I hear anything that can match it. At least until their next album.

07. Stina Nordenstam - So Lee
from the album "This is Stina Nordenstam"
I don't know how to go about summarizing the amazing talent of Stina Nordenstam. She's already pretty well known worldwide, but at the same time she really isn't. She doesn't perform live and she doesn't do interviews. All that we have is her fantastic music. I hear rumors of a new album on the way and I hope it's true.

08. Sergeant Petter - Urban dreams
from the album "It's a record"
Another dude from Norway who I confess I don't know much about, but I know this song is great. His latest album "It's a record" tends to be a bit too alt-country for my tastes, but fans of Wilco and such should definitely investigate further. And just like with Wilco, there's a couple exceptional songs that stand out and make Sgt. Petter an artist worth checking out. When he gets uptempo and lets himself rock out, it's unstoppable.

09. Uncle's Institution - 2003 (so far)
from the "Everything a man can dream of" EP
Another young singer/songwriter from Norway with loads of charm and a quirky sense of humor. Uncle's Institution is Egil Olsen of Norway and he calls his music 'sweet n sour' which is pretty apt. Oft compared to Eels, he manages to emote feelings of both silliness and melancholy. Not everyone can write a song like "Santa Claus is gay", after all. This track shows his sweeter and more reflective side. Whether goofing off or doing a Beatles-esque ballad, it's all good.

10. Isolation Years - Preacher/songwriter
from the album "It's golden"
Okay, these guys aren't exactly singer/songwriters either, but it's lyrically on-topic at least.
It took me about a year to really get into this record, so I've taken it upon myself to champion it. It deserves a second chance. IY take the best elements of Northern Sweden melodic rock and combine it with a dose Nordic and Russian folk for something that's truly special in the end. Undeniably one of the best bands in Sweden today, if not the world.

]]> Sun, 08 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0800 articles podcast http://www.itsatrap.com/n/16829 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/16829 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/16829#comments The French release of Fireside's last album "Get Shot" has been set for February 24.]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/16958 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/16958 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/16958#comments Here are some of the nominees for the Swedish Grammies:

Best Pop Female:
Jill Johnson - Roots and Wings
Lisa Miskovsky - Fallingwater
Miss Universum - Selfelected
Pauline - Candy Rain
Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday Light Naive

Best Pop Male:
Magnus Carlson - Ett Kungarike För En Kram
Per Gessle - Mazarin
José González - Veneer
Peter LeMarc - Det Som Håller Oss Vid Liv
Mauro Scocco - Beat Hotel

Best Pop Group:
Alcazar - Alcazarized
Bo Kaspers Orkester - Vilka Tror Vi Att Vi Är
Da Buzz - More Than Alive
David & The Citizens - Until The Sadness Is Gone
The Knife - Deep Cuts

Best Rock Album (solo):
Eagle-Eye - Cherry Sub Rosa
Christian Kjellvander - Introducing The Past
Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
Moneybrother - Blood Panic
Thomas Rusiak - In The Sun

Best Rock Group:
Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight Prayer
Broder Daniel - Cruel Town
The Cardigans - Long Gone Before Daylight
Fireside - Get Shot
Randy - Welfare Problems

Best Songwriter:
Karin & Olof Dreijer
Per Gessle
Lisa Miskovsky & Joakim Berg
Peter Svensson
Moneybrother (Anders Wendin)

Best Lyrics:
Timbuktu (Jason Diakté)
Per Gessle
Peter LeMarc
Nina Persson
Lars Winnerbäck

Best Producer:
Joakim Berg/Simon Norberg
Karin & Olof Dreijer
Pelle Gunnerfeldt
Jari Haapalainen
C. Öfwerman, C. Lundquist & P. Gessle

Best Hip-hop/Soul:
Advance Patrol - Utskrivna
Kaah - Jideblasko
Ken Det - Bortglömda
The Latin Kings - Omerta
Timbuktu - The Botten Is Nådd!

Best Hard Rock:
Backyard Babies - Stockholm Syndrome
Evergrey - Recreation Day
The Haunted - One Kill Wonder
Mustasch - Ratsafari
Opeth - Damnation

Best Jazz:
E.S.T. - Seven Days Of Falling
Rigmor Gustavsson - with I Will Wait For You
Nils Landgren and The Fleshquartet
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - Plays Loud For The People
Oddjob - Koyo
Bobo Stenson/Lennart Åberg

Best Club/Dance Song:
Hundarna Från Söder - Hundarna Från Söder BAM
Koop - Waltz For Koop - Alternative Takes
Physics - First Flight NSD
Plej - Electronic Music From The Westcoast
Sophie Rimheden - Hi-Fi Mitek

Best Pop/Dance Band:
Barbados - Hela Himlen
Fame - Give Me Your Love
Jan Johansen - X My Heart
Jill Johnson - Discography
Lasse Stefanz - Det Här Är Bara Början

Go here for the full list: http://www.ifpi.se/02.images/01.top/02.subnav_pdf/08.grammis/pdf/Grammisnomineringar_2003.pdf]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17075 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17075 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17075#comments Japanese label Howling Bull will release Fireside's latest album over there next week with the videos for "All You Had" and "Follow Follow" added as bonus content.]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17124 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17124 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17124#comments Bad Taste Records will release the brand new Last Days of April record "If You Lose It" on February 23. The record was recorded at Mission Hall Studio and Gröndahl with Mathias Oldén and Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside). Per Nordmark from Fireside played drums on the record, too. The first single will be for the song "It's On Everything" and that comes out March 8. Besides an exclusive demo version of the title track, the CDS will also contain a cover of "Fallen Star" by the Hard-Ons.]]> Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17336 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17336 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17336#comments It's been awhile since we heard anything from them, but it seems that Kasual Records is on the comeback trail for 2004. Firstly, they'll be putting out the album "On Tahoe" from Norway's Beezewax in January. The record is said to be "a must-have for fans of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star, Buffalo Tom" and was recorded by Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside, The Hives, Sahara Hotnights). There's also quite a bit coming up for label mainstay Ariel Kill Him. As mentioned here before, the first record "In the Pyramid" is being licensed for a US release by NYC's Eyeball Records for March. The band will also be putting out a six-track all-exclusive EP called "Labyrinths" in February or March on Kasual. And that's not all - they've even got plans for a split EP with Greece's Relevant Box on Librarian Records in early 2004. Both bands will contribute three songs and one video each. Here's AKH's half:

01. The Money Shot (previously featured on the limited Kasual sampler)
02. So? (prev. unreleased)
03. Under the Influence (prev. unreleased)

There's nothing definitive set for the rest of the roster yet, but they say to watch out for new releases from Buck, Ides of Space, Jettie and The New Mess at some point next year.]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17577 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17577 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17577#comments Rockfoto.nu is updated with some nice pics of Fireside opening for BRMC at Cirkus in Stockholm.]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17601 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17601 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17601#comments Startracks passes along word that the Fireside song "All You Had" will featured on tonight's episode of "Tru Calling" on Fox at 8pm/7pm Central. Check local listings.]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17655 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17655 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17655#comments Here's a couple songtitles for the brand new songs that Starmarket has laid down for their new album: "Ship of Sorrow", "Antichrist" and "The Vanishing Gates". As mentioned before, guitarist Fredrik is filling for Pelle of Fireside on their upcoming BRMC support gigs, as he's busy in the studio with The Hives. Starmarket plans to finish recording when Fredrik returns and hopefully have it all wrapped up sometime before Christmas. Still no word yet on what label will release the finished product.]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17718 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17718 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17718#comments It has been confirmed that Fireside will be opening for BRMC around Europe. The dates:

11/17 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
11/18 - Cirkus, Stockholm (SWE)
11/19 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
11/20 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
11/22 - E-Werk, Cologne (GER)
11/23 - E.Montmarte, Paris (FRA)
11/25 - Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg (GER)
11/26 - Universal, Berlin (GER)
11/28 - Elserhalle, (D) Munich (GER)
11/29 - Abart, Zurich (CH)
11/30 - Alcatraz, Milan (ITA)

Guitarist Pelle Gunnerfeldt is currently too busy recording The Hives, so Starmarket's Fredrik Brändström will be filling in.

They have also posted the video for "Follow Follow", the third single from the group's most recent album "Get Shot". Check it.]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17956 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17956 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17956#comments Sahara Hotnights have posted some pics from their current recording session at Studio Gröndahl with producer/engineer Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside).]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17975 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17975 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/17975#comments Fireside's show at Debaser in Stockholm on October 10 is being recorded for a live DVD. No word on when it'll be released, but I would assume that Startracks will get it out sometime early next year at the latest.]]> Tue, 07 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18013 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18013 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18013#comments Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Bo Kaspers orkester - Vilka tror vi att vi är
02. Per Gessle - Mazarin
03. Lasse Stefanz - Det här är bara början
04. Carola - Guld platina & passion - det bästa
05. User - User
06. Pauline - Candy rain
07. Fred Åkerström - Freds bästa
08. E.S.T. - Seven days of falling
09. Mustasch - Ratsafari
10. Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight prayer
11. Anna-Lotta Larson - Tidlöst
12. Lars Winnerbäck & Hovet - Söndermarken
13. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
14. Bubbles - Bless
15. ABBA - ABBA Gold - greatest hits
16. Robyn - Don't stop the music
17. Pugh Rogefeldt - Pughs bästa
18. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Sub rosa
19. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
20. Kent - Vapen & ammunition

Parasol is now the official US outpost for all things Startracks. That means Tiger Lou (US tour in November/December), Kristofer Åström, Christian Kjellvander, Starmarket, Moneybrother, The Lost Patrol, Fireside and more we be readily available for purchasing domestically come mid-October. Jim, why don't you tell me these things before posting about them on the Parasol blog?]]> Fri, 03 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18071 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18071 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18071#comments Sahara Hotnights just entered Pelle Gunnerfeldt's (Fireside) Studio Gröndal to start work on their third album. They plan to take four weeks to track and promise to post updates on their website.]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18321 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18321 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18321#comments I posted the tracklist for the new Startracks comp way back on 06/24 but this message from label mainman Fredrik Holmgren is too good to pass up:

"Ok, I said for years it will never happen to me. Now I'm down at the level of Bad Taste and Burningheart...
I'm sorry, I am really!
The first label compilation ever is to hit the stores 24th of September. It had to be done and honestly I find it of healthy quality. It's priced as a single (even lower then Universal dared too go ! :) ). Here are the final set list, even a exlusive one with Mr. Åström. And yes it even by the bands on it looks like yet another Burningheart comp. Kids I found those artist, launched them some I even invented and then BHR cashed in. I'm for real kid!"

That tracklist again, to refresh your memory:

01. Fireside - Throw it away
02. Christian Kjellvander -Broken Wheels
03. Kristofer Åström & Hidden truck - One good moment
04. Tiger Lou - Nova Lee
05. Loosegoats - Days of black (nights are light)
06. Kristofer Åström - 8 long years (previously unreleased)
07. Songs of Soil - Page
08. The Lost Patrol - Stating the obvious
09. Revolvo - Moscow mule
10. Jaffa de Luxe - Don't forget about Raquel
11. Candysuck - Popcorn
12. Leiah - Cover Discover
13. Starmarket - Mexican summer
14. Moneybrother - Thunder in my heart
15. Buck - Rock dream
16. Monster - Don't answer the phone
17. Refused - Pump the brakes]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18537 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18537 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/18537#comments Besides playing the last two dates of the BHR Heart Attack tour with Fireside (08/29 in Malmö, 08/31 in Stockholm), Kirstofer Åström reports that he is hard at work writing material for his next solo album and should be entering the studio in November.]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0700 news