IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Hybris signs Big Fox, Azure Blue

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:10:57 -0700

Hybris has announced the signing of the new artist Big Fox, aka Malmö-based artist Charlotta Perers, and will be releasing her debut single "Saturday" b/w "Cut you out" on May 25. More about her here, including a stream of said single: http://bigfox.se/
In other news, Hybris has also signed Azure Blue, the solo project of Tobias Isaksson of Labrador Records vets Irene and Laurel Music. His debut single "The catcher in the rye" is out today and can be previewed here, while his forthcoming album "Rule of thirds" will be out in September.

Eardrums Music on Azure Blue

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:12:07 -0700

Eardrums Music on Azure Blue, the new solo act from Irene frontman Tobias Isaksson: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2010/10/06/azure-blue-new-solo-project-from-the-singer-of-irene/

Irene - Catcher in the rye

Fri, 14 May 2010 14:14:25 -0700

Swedish blog Tram7 has a new demo tune from Swedish indiepop act Irene: http://www.tram7.se/2010/05/13/irene-the-catcher-in-the-rye/

This week's Last.fm chart

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:44:59 -0800

Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:

01. Frida Hyvönen
02. Hello Saferide
03. Anna Ternheim
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Kristofer Åström
06. The Radio Dept.
07. Moto Boy
08. Montt Mardié
09. Isolation Years
10. Irene

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/

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:34:54 -0800

Swedish indiepop act Irene will tour Spain in late February.

Irene Long gone since last summer Labrador

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

A year after their first long-player "Apple Bay", Irene have delivered their second, disappointingly slower album "Long gone since last summer". Having enjoyed the songwriting and tempo of their first album, as well as this album's lead single "By your side", I was a bit shocked to see the tempo grind to a halt. Most of the songs are slower, and frankly, for their sound, I don't find it to be the most successful method of the band organizing their ideas. They tend to resemble Motown ballads as opposed to the swinging pop that brought "Apple Bay" to life. I think it's because "Long gone since last summer" has such an autumn feel too, but when compared to the bleak sounds of others, Irene just seems a tad overwrought.

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Speaking of Irene, here's their upcoming tourdates:

09/12 - Woody West vardagsklubb @ Pustervik (release party), Göteborg (SWE)
09/14 - Klubb Igloo @ Debaser Malmö, Malmö (SWE)
09/22 - Club Feber, Trollhättan (SWE)
09/28 - Klubb Desired @ Bolanche, Rockfickan, Borlänge (SWE)
09/29 - Boom Goes The Dynamite! @ Kalmar Nation, Uppsala (SWE)
10/05 - Lost Music Presents @ Brixton Jamm, London (UK)
10/06 - Popklubb @ The Dog And Parrot, Newcastle (UK)
10/18 - John Doe @ Herrgårn, Linköping (SWE)
10/20 - Falling And Laughing @ Debaser Medis, Stockholm (SWE)
11/17 - Klubb Populär @ Storan, Göteborg (SWE)

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Absolut Noise talks to Labrador Records act Irene: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2007/09/interview-irene-bobby.html

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Irene's new video for "By your side" is now online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loc0g7TmIQk

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Pitchfork has the new Irene single "By your side" for free download: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/44487-irene-by-your-side-mp3stream

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The new Irene single "By your side" is streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ireneswe

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Twentyseven Records has will be handling a US release of Swedish indiepop act Irene starting off with an EP entitled "Baby I love your way" in August and the album "Apple Bay" soon thereafter.

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Irene's new album "Long gone since last summer" is finished and confirmed for release on September 12 via Labrador Records. Look for the first single "By your side" to be made available as a download very soon.

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish indiepop act Irene on tour in Spain:

04/27 - La Lata de Bombillas, Zaragoza
04/28 - Neu!Club, Madrid
04/29 - Sala BeCool, Barcelona

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Labrador will release new full-length albums from Irene, The Radio Dept. and Sambassadeur this coming fall in September, October and November respectively.

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800

PopFrenzy has licensed Irene's album "Apple bay" for release in Australia on February 19.

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

New European tourdates for Irene:

01/23 - Trabendo, Paris (FRA) w/I'm From Barcelona
01/24 - Academy 3, Manchester (UK) w/I'm From Barcelona
01/25 - ULU, London (UK) w/I'm From Barcelona
02/19 - Nachtcafe, Kiel (GER)
02/20 - Grüner Jäger, Hamburg (GER)
02/21 - Schocken, Stuttgart (GER)
02/22 - tba, Berlin (GER)
02/23 - Ilses Erika, Leipzig (GER)
02/24 - Atomino, Chemnitz (GER)

Look for Spanish tourdates in April to be confirmed soon.

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Swedish twee-poppers Irene have posted their new X-mas single on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ireneswe

Irene Apple Bay Labrador

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Self piteous, at times pathetic, insipid guff. Irene passed by HQ first time around, and while it was not obvious then, it sure is now on second album serving. Irene was a dinner lady. She wore thick tan tights, and a swirl pattern apron. She made drab pies and runny custard and everyone was obliged to like it. This is cousin Irene, but on record. Sometimes there is cabaret about the songs; it's the skipping/hop-scotch brigade-pat-a-cake of tweeness, blended with horrific language pronunciation. The linguistic delivery almost as bad as Billie the Vision and the Dancers, yet those guys have a positive message and a clear canvas to it all - this is simply weak. About as good as it get is all trumpets and doo-doo-doo's on "Little things (that tear us apart)". This is not kitsch cool like the old dinner lady; it is cheesy, and bad.

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Erasing Clouds interviews Irene as part of their 100 bands project: http://www.erasingclouds.com/wk2506irene.html

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Irene's new album "Apple Bay" can be streamed in its entirety at Last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/Irene/Apple+Bay

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Aftonbladet has the video for the new Irene single "Little things (that tear us apart)": http://www.aftonbladet.se/atv/player.html?catID=2672

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group top 10 albums of the week:

01. The Radio Dept. - Pet Grief
02. The Knife - Silent Shout
03. The Knife - Deep Cuts
04. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
05. Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites
06. The Postal Service - Give Up
07. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
08. Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins
09. Tiger Lou - The Loyal
10. Hot Chip - The Warning

Top 10 tracks for the week:

01. The Rapture – Pieces Of The People We Love
02. Irene – Little Things (That Tear Us Apart)
03. Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks
04. Marit Bergman – No Party
05. The Plan – Walk for gold
06. Laakso – High Drama
07. Mando Diao – Killer Kaczynski
08. The Knife – Silent shout
09. The Radio Dept. – It's Personal
10. Isis – Dulcinea

Want to make your own playlist count? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Labrador has posted the new Irene single for downloading: http://www.labrador.se/mp3/irene-little_things.mp3

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish twee indiepop act Irene has posted a new song on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ireneswe

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Irene's new 3-song single "Little things (that tear us apart)" has been confirmed for an August 30 release. The b-sides include the song "Baby blue" and a Mike Downey remix of the the title which, by the way, can be heard on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ireneswe

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish indiepop act Irene has posted a new track on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ireneswe

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish tweepop act Irene will contribute the song "Stardust" to a comp being released by UK club/label How Does It Feel To Be Loved?. More details to come.

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Updated release schedule for Labrador Records:

07/19 - The Legends - Lucky star CDS
07/26 - Irene - tba CDEP
09/06 - The Legends - Facts and figures CD

Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish twee act Irene has confirmed that their upcoming debut album will be called "Apple Bay", after the beach on the Swedish west coast.

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Irene will play at Sounds of Sweden at RAFA Club in Glasgow on May 12.

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Swedish indiepop act Irene will make their UK debut at How Does It Feel To Be Loved? at The Windmill in Brixton on May 11.

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Photo: Henrik was recently updated with new pics from Irene, Pascal and The Kid: http://www.photohenrik.com/

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Labrador recording artists Irene have announced that their debut full-length will be called "Apple Bay". Look for a new EP in June with the record to follow around August/September.

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Photo: Henrik is updated with new pics of Irene and Pascal: http://www.photohenrik.com/

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

The latest top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (04) Dub Sweden - "We're so loud"
02. (03) Arctic Monkeys - "When the sun goes down"
03. (16) Firefox AK - "Madame, Madame!"
04. (NY) Hard Fi - "Cash machine"
05. (NY) Danko Jones - "Baby hates me"
06. (NY) Depeche Mode - "Suffer well"
07. (ÅT) Maxïmo Park - "I want you to stay"
08. (06) Youngblood Brass Band - "Nuclear summer"
09. (02) Timo Räisänen - "Fear no darkness promised child"
10. (10) Architectures In Helsinki - "lt'5"
11. (01) Martha Wainwright - "Bloody mother f***ing a**hole"
12. (09) Sandy Mouche - "Spiderweb suit"
13. (14) SwingFly - "Something got me started"
14. (NY) The Concretes - "Chosen one"
15. (11) Cat Power - "The Greatest"
16. (05) We Are Scientists - "The great escape"
17. (08) Alf - "Manchester man"
18. (NY) Robyn - "Crash and burn girl"
19. (NY) Graham Coxon - "Standing on my own"
20. (NY) I'm From Barcelona - "We're From Barcelona"

Leaving the chart: Mylo, The Bravery, Tim Neu, Stars, Irene, Loney Dear, Hello Saferide and Sway.

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (ÅT) Martha Wainright - "Bloody Mother F***ing A**hole"
02. (03) Timo Räisänen - "Fear No Darkness Promised Child"
03. (04) Arctic Monkey - "When the Sun Goes Down"
04. (01) Dub Sweden - "We're so Loud"
05. (NY) We Are Scientists - "The Great Escape"
06. (NY) Youngblood Brass Band - "Nuclear Summer"
07. (NY) Mylo - "Muscle Car (Sander Kleinenberg remix)"
08. (02) Alf - "Manchester Man"
09. (20) Sandy Mouche - "Spiderweb suit"
10. (07) Architectures in Helsinki - "lt'5"
11. (NY) Cat Power - "The Greatest"
12. (NY) Tim Neu - "If U Let Me Go"
13. (10) Stars - "Your Ex-lover is Dead"
14. (ÅT) SwingFly - "Something Got Me Started"
15. (NY) The Bravery - "Fearless"
16. (NY) Firefox AK - "Madame, Madame!"
17. (ÅT) Irene - "Baby I Love Your Way"
18. (NY) Loney Dear - "The City, the Airport"
19. (NY) Hello Saferide - "Long Lost Pen Pal"
20. (NY) Sway - "Little Derek"

Leaving the chart: Christian Kjellvander w/Nina Persson, Whyte Seeds, Belle & Sebastian, Damian Marley w/NAS, The Go Team!, Dilated Peoples, Matiyashu, Novastar, Håkan Hellström, The Sounds, Death Cab For Cutie, Mattafix and Monastir.

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Here's the latest Swedish student radio top 20 chart:

01. (01) Dub Sweden - "We're so Loud"
02. (09) Alf - "Manchester Man"
03. (NY) Timo Räisänen - "Fear No Darkness, Promised Child"
04. (08) Christian Kjellvander w/Nina Persson - "Roaring 40's"
05. (02) Arctic Monkeys - "When the sun goes down"
06. (06) Whyte Seeds - "Bold as Love"
07. (NY) Architecture In Helsinki - "It'5"
08. (05) Belle & Sebastian - "Funny Little Frog"
09. (17) Damian Marley w/NAS - "Road to Zion"
10. (11) Stars - "You Ex-lover is Dead"
11. (NY) The Go Team - "Ladyflash"
12. (10) Dilated Peoples - "Back Again"
13. (NY) Matiyashu - "King Without Crown"
14. (NY) Novastar - "Never Back Down"
15. (ÅT) Håkan Hellström - "13"
16. (07) The Sounds - "Song With a Mission"
17. (13) Death Cab For Cutie - "Crooked Teeth"
18. (NY) Mattafix - "To & Fro"
19. (NY) Monastir - "So Defeated"
20. (NY) Sandy Mouche - "Spiderweb Suit"

Leaving the chart: Martha Wainright, SwingFly, Irene, Absentee, Maxïmo Park, Beth Orton, Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, Ashanti and Daddy Yankee.

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

The Swedish student radio top 20 chart is back from vacation:

01. Dub Sweden - "We're So Loud"
02. Arctic Monkey - "When the Sun Goes Down"
03. Martha Wainright - "Bloody Mother F***ing A**hole"
04. SwingFly - "Something's Got Me Started"
05. Belle & Sebastian - "Funny Little Frog"
06. Whyte Seeds - "Bold as Love"
07. The Sounds - "Song With a Mission"
08. Christian Kjellvander w/Nina Persson - "Roaring 40's"
09. Alf - "Manchester Man"
10. Dilated Peoples - "Back Again"
11. Stars - "Your Ex-lover is Dead"
12. Irene - "Baby I Love Your Way"
13. Death Cab For Cutie - "Crooked Teeth"
14. Absentee - "Weasel"
15. Maxïmo Park - "I Want You to Stay"
16. Beth Orton - "Conceived"
17. Damian Marley med NAS - "Road to Zion"
18. Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins - "Rise Up With Fists"
19. Ashanti - "Still on it"
20. Daddy Yankee - "Rompe"

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:

01. Death Cab for Cutie
02. Cat Power
03. The Strokes
04. Tiger Lou
05. Bright Eyes
06. Håkan Hellström
07. Belle and Sebastian
08. The Arcade Fire
09. The Postal Service
10. Kent

And the less-interesting top 10 tracks for the week:

01. Irene - Stardust
02. Irene - Baby I Love Your Way
03. Irene - Baby I Love Your Way
04. Cat Power - The Greatest
05. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
06. Cat Power - Could We
07. José González - Heartbeats
08. Pet Politics - Provence
09. Cat Power - Love & communication
10. Cat Power - The Moon

Want to see your favorites listed here? Please join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:

01. Håkan Hellström
02. Kent
03. Jens Lekman
04. Coldplay
05. Sufjan Stevens
06. The Postal Service
07. Death Cab for Cutie
08. The Arcade Fire
09. The Knife
10. The Strokes

Colplay?! Egads, man! Anyhoo, here's the top 10 tracks for the week:

01. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
02. Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
03. Irene - Baby I Love Your Way
04. Cat Power - The Greatest
05. Håkan Hellström - Jag Vill Ha Allting
06. The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
07. The Postal Service - Sleeping In
08. Death Cab for Cutie - Your Heart Is An Empty Room
09. Tiger Lou - All I Have
10. Mew - Apocalypso

Want to see your favorites listed here? Please join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Labrador has confirmed the release dates and tracklists for two new upcoming CDs:

Irene - Baby I love your way CDS - 01/11/06
01. Baby I love your way
02. To be with you

Acid House Kings - Everyone sings along with Acid House Kings CDEP - 02/08/06
01. Magnus Carlson - Will you love me in the morning?
02. Les Très Bien Ensemble - Ce coeur est de pierre
03. Lasse Lindh - Jag skyller allt på dig
04. Montt Mardié - Do what you wanna do
05. Don Lennon - Tonight is forever

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Bedroom Records has announced that the new Happy Go Luckys EP "The snowball parade" is done and will be ready for release soon. Also on the way is a new EP from Holding a Peach and the final edition of the All Of My Brother's Girlfriends seasonal series with a blowout double-album on one CDR with two covers. Bedroom will also reissue AOMBG's 2nd cassette-only album on CDR with new artwork by Tommy, the same guy who did the art for the Mexicos. Lastly, Erik Halldén is working on a new album called "Memories, oh, the memories" with pianist/composer André Inge and Irene will be releasing a debut album soon, too.