IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

New music from Kite

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:16:26 -0700

Swedish webzine Djurtube has posted live footage of brand new material from the excellent Swedish synthpop act Kite: http://www.djurtube.com/kite-ny-lat/
The visual quality is only so-so, but the sound is good.

MP3: Kite - I just wanna feel

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:45:40 -0700

Now that I'm no longer preoccupied with site development I hope to spend a lot more time writing up actual editorial content. Y'know, stuff that goes beyond the day-in/day-out newsfeed that already takes up way too much of my time. Besides, I've been hugely remiss in talking up an overwhelming majority of the stuff I've actually been listening to in my free time. A glaring example: Kite's latest (and greatest!) EP "IV" -- I've had this in steady rotation going on 6+ months now with no sign of slowing; it really truly is that good. And while they've certainly achieved greatness before, I could easily gush about any of the five songs here. So for no particular reason other than that it's the first track, here's "I just wanna feel". Listen to the rest via Spotify.

Top 10s for 2011: It's a Trap!

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

The prospect of whittling down my list of 2011 favorites to a standard top 10 or even 20 just didn't seem quite so appropriate this year so I've opted instead to break up my selections into a few compartmentalized and highly subjective niches. When I reflect back on the year just passed, this is the method that makes the most sense to me, and besides, music is not a contest and many of these records simply cannot withstand side-by-side scrutiny. Hopefully you'll agree, but if not, there's always the comments section.

BEST ROCK/POP

For lack of a better signifier, here are a few of my favorite releases that don't fit neatly into a clever subgenre.

Peter Bjorn and John - Gimme some
I feel bad for everyone who can't move beyond "Young folks". PB&J has always been and continues to be a fantastic powerpop band and their latest album might just be their best.

Penny Century - Friends and family
A grower, not a shower. I found myself returning to this record time and time again, discovering new things to appreciate almost every time. A deeply nuanced work masquerading as sweet indiepop.

Cut City - Where's the harm in dreams disarmed?
A fitting swan song that their final release should be a perfect encapsulation of modern goth/pop/postpunk.

Kaka - The two
Brilliant, addictive and secretly subversive once you start digging into the lyrics.

BEST SCENE: Black Hole Crew/Nekromantik Norway

Excellence in consistency, consisently excellent. While no one release blew me away quite like Okkultokrati's "No light for mass" or Haust's debut LP "Ride the relapse", the Oslo horde has been regularly churning out some of the finest punk/metal/hardcore in the world today.

Key selections:
Dark Times - s/t CS
Årabrot - Solar anus
Årabrot/Okkultokrati - split 12"
Okkultokrati - Ingen veit alt 7"
Okkultokrati/Haust - Black Hole X-mas 7"
Problems - 2011 CS

ALSO SEE: Hubro & HOOB Records

Allow me to step outside my confort zone a moment to also recommend to you the not-exactly jazz labels Hubro and HOOB Records, based in Norway and Sweden respectively. Both are delivering an amazing array of excellent genre-breaking music and, while I may not be intimately familiar with the circles they travel in, I can confidently say that almost every single release they've put out is well worth investigating.

Key selections:
The Splendour - Delphian palace
Thus:Owls - Harbours
Splashgirl - Pressure
Huntsville - For flowers, cars and merry wars
1982 - Pintura

BEST INSTRUMENTAL/SOUNDTRACK

Matti Bye & Mattias Olsson - Elephant and castle
Wheezing vintage organs and the clatter of clever percussion combine to create one of the most satisfying and creepy albums of the year.

BEST METAL

Execration - Odes of the occult
Much in the same way that Obliteration's "Nekropsalms" stood head and shoulders above the rest back in 2009, Execration's "Odes of the occult" expands on the same template established by their countrymates and adds a hefty does of epic doom to their filthy death metal, thus easily enabling them to (ahem) obliterate the competition.

ALSO SEE:
Dödsvarg - Livet är en dödsorsak
Mr. Death - Descending through ashes
Rising - To solemn ash

BEST EPs

2011 was an amazing year for EPs and many of these titles I have listed make up my absolute favorite releases of the year.

Grande Roses - Hide
Hands down, the best rock record of the year. Vital and passionate in an era when so many feign indifference or hide behind irony, no one else comes close.

Kite - IV
Even if you think that they'll never write another song as good as "Ways to dance", or even if you think they already did, Kite has never had a 100% fully satisfying release until this. Five songs, all synthpop anthems.

The Psyke Project - Ebola
As said before, forget the other half of this split -- it doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned. The Psyke Project is brutality personified; every time you think they couldn't get any heavier, they do.

In These Woods - s/t
Technically a late 2010 release, but who is really paying attention to anything new in late December? Classic Swedish indie guitar-rock is saved from extinction yet again.

Alouatta - DIY
Melodic mid-tempo punk played by dudes who are old enough to know better, but also old enough to do it just right.

FOREIGN JUNK

Not appropriate to waste words on these here, in this forum, but these records are all excellent and well worth checking out:
Austra - Feel it break
Charles Bradley - No time for dreaming
The Devil's Blood - The thousandfold epicentre
Royal Headache - s/t

Kite - Step forward (video)

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:17:38 -0800

Kite's latest video, now available on YouTube. Recommended!

Kite - Step forward (video)

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:51:02 -0800

Gaffa has the premiere of Kite's brand new video for "Step forward": http://gaffa.se/tv/clip/1000

Kite - Stand back (live video)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:09:42 -0700

The sound is a little muddy, but Kite has a really cool and unique lighting setup that's worth checking out. And the song is great, too!

MP3: Moto Boy - Love is the one thing you can't pretend

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:16:11 -0700

Most of my summer listening this year has been revisiting old favorites, partially because there's been few 2011 releases that have stuck with me, but also just because that's what summer is for. Also, as mentioned yesterday, I've also been listening to a lot of pop lately and there hasn't been much in that department that's blown me away recently except for maybe Kaka. And the new Kite, but we'll get to that eventually. What interests me most though, are the artists that didn't make a huge splash with me the first time around; instead, they lingered on the periphery until they eventually work their way into my permanent playlist. For instance: Moto Boy. I've always liked Moto Boy, but three years on I've finally realized that yes, I kinda actually do really love him/his music. The best pop music is always about the grand gesture and Oskar Humlebo's sweeping falsetto is a case study. Dunno why it took me so long to come around, but Moto Boy has staying power, a rarity in the endless stream of mediocrity.

New Kite EP gets release date

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:25:16 -0700

Kite's next EP, cleverly entitled "IV", is confirmed for release on September 21 via Progress Productions and will be available on both CD and 12" vinyl.

Kite teaser

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:12:39 -0700

A preview of what's the come from Swedish synthpop duo Kite.

Kite - Stand back

Tue, 17 May 2011 11:49:40 -0700

New music from the excellent Malmö electronic pop act Kite on the occasion of them being confirmed for this year's Arvika Festival as a so-called "Slammer Act". Read more: http://www.arvikafestivalen.se/news/kite_%C3%A5rets_slammer_ny_l%C3%A5t_och_spelning

Kite III Progress Productions

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:17:47 -0800

Kite's first EP is spot on -- on that effort, their particular brand of pop is so delicately run along electro-pop avenues that many others can't seem to navigate as deftly, and "My girl and I", that first effort's brilliant detour, has continued to haunt me ever since my first listen. Fast forward a to "III" and Kite are still doing it like no one else. "Jonny Boy" is about as captivating an offering as one could ask for; "A little more time" does so much with relatively little, its seeming effortlessness and efficiency in stark contrast to the crude mass of messy, overly ambitious electronic music out there; and closer "Castle of sand", Kite's fatalistic anthem -- "Everyone gets what I don't understand, so I keep building my castle of sand" -- rounds out a solid outing. While there isn't a weak track on the record, this release doesn't quite get out of the shadow of that first unrivaled offering, yet that speaks more to the strengths of that record, not to weaknesses on "III".

Sirius playlist week #41

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:10:30 -0700

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

01. The Scrags - In the devil's hands
02. TALK 1
03. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Desolate view
04. Johnossi - Roscoe
05. Kimono - Tomorrow
06. TALK 2
07. Fun - Here comes the ugly man
08. Kite - Hexx
09. Mother of the Forest - Bränna broar
10. Mother of the Forest - Vid berget
11. TALK 3
12. Non Tiq - QUiet
13. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - I could have sworn I heard them SING
14. Enslaved - Raidho
15. TALK 4
16. Säkert! - Riot
17. Kristofer Åström - Devil
18. Sweatmaster - Calling Satan, let me in
19. Mercyful Fate - Black funeral
20. TALK 5
21. Lighthouse Project - Lust for lie

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

Sirius playlist week #38

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:25:13 -0700

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

01. The Radio Dept. - The new improved hypocrisy
02. TALK 2
03. Slidin' Slim - Right wing blues
04. Faråker - Den sista fajten (via är på väg)
05. We Live in Trenches - Male damage
06. Kite - If there's an if in us
07. TALK 3
08. First Love, Last Rites - Slow wind
09. Tomas Halberstad - Add to all noise
10. Last Days of April - America
11. TALK 4
12. C.Aarmé - Golden retriever
13. Far from Tellus - Norwegian fairytale mix
14. Bäddat för Trubbel - Kungen heter Jandek
15. Vidderna - Villfarelser
16. TALK 4
17. Rasmus Kellerman - The 24th
18. Mindy Misty - Inertia
19. Regulations - In the shadow of the mall
20. TALK 5
21. The Bear Quartet - Silent film

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.

Kite - If there's an if in us

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:32:45 -0700

I posted the first single "Jonny Boy" the other day, but you can also now hear another new Kite track at SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/progressproductions/kite-if-theres-an-if-in-us

Sirius playlist week #36

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:23:55 -0700

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

01. TALK 1
02. Mindy Misty - Slippies
03. Fatboy - Bad news from pretty red lips
04. Viola - Puppies in the rain
05. Kite - Jonny boy
06. TALK 2
07. Code 64 - Progenitor
08. Familjen - Det var jag (This Is Head version)
09. Ved - Question for L Ron
10. TALK 3
11. Hope I Die Virgin - At crude garbage falls
12. Vidderna - Utanför
13. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Domedeijla mosse
14. TALK 4
15. Roll the Dice - Into the ground
16. Muxika77 - The mountain
17. Den Svenska Tystnaden - Afasi
18. Elmo - Young love
19. TALK 5
20. Bedroom Eyes - (Here's one for you) Underdog

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

MP3: Kite - Jonny Boy

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:27:01 -0700

A drumbeat and a whistling melody cribbed straight from Adam and the Ants, the perfect setting for a song so seeped in nostalgia such as this. Sure, the past tense in this case is only "last night," but the wistful feeling remains all the same. "Jonny boy" is the first single single from Kite's forthcoming EP "III", due out September 22 via Progress Productions, and it is a fantastic continuation of their winning streak thus far.

Sirius playlist week #32

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:34:53 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU, an all-Swedish synth show (aside from the new Säkert! single of course):

01. Säkert! - Fredrik
02. TALK 1
03. The Knife - Girls' night out
04. Optic Nest - Thirst
05. Dmitry Fyodorov - Thinking of space
06. TALK 2
07. Strip Music - Oh my god
08. The Kid - Transient dance
09. Universal Poplab - I could say I'm sorry (Zeigeist remix)
10. TALK 3
11. Pearl Fiction - The ruby fever
12. Adolf Filter - 1982
13. Agent Side Grinder - Life in advance
14. TALK 4
15. Adolphson & Falk - Blinker blå
16. Ståålfågel - Stålfågeln
17. Kite - Ways to dance
18. TALK 5

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

Kite will release a new EP

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:58:27 -0700

Swedish electro duo Kite have confirmed that they will be following up their previous two EPs with... yet another EP. And with the extremely imaginative title of "III". Regardless, I'm excited to hear it -- they're a great act.

Sirius playlist week #14

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:39:06 -0700

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

01. TALK 1
02. Robyn - Fembot
03. Monty - Orden
04. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Bye bye pianotie
05. Palpitation - What if
06. TALK 2
07. The Tallest Man on Earth - Burden of tomorrow
08. Dyno - Don't speak love
09. Margaret Berger - Will you remember me tomorrow?
10. Holiday for Strings - Shelter Island
11. TALK 3
12. Tutankamon - Have you ever been in love?
13. Kråkesølv - Skredder
14. The Tiny - Last weekend
15. Asha Ali - The time is now
16. TALK 4
17. Monzano - Yes, we can't
18. Donkeyboy - Ambitions
19. Kite - Ways to dance
20. Bertine Zetlitz - 500
21. TALK 5
22. Makthaverskan - German boy

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

Sirius playlist week #11

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:33:31 -0700

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

01. Laakso - Worst case scenario
02. TALK 1
03. Du Pacque - Walk straight
04. Pascal - Tutti frutti
05. Nirvana 2002 - The awakening of...
06. Lapko - I shot the sheriff
07. TALK 2
08. The Floor is Made of Lava - The bigger picture
09. No Balls - Guilt blocker
10. Obliteration - Styxerian path (into darkness)
11. Next Life - Anti matter
12. TALK 3
13. Ikons - Imperiet
14. The Skull Defekts - Habit
15. Familjen - När planeterna stannat
16. TALK 4
17. Meleeh - Sun and moon
18. Kite - I give you the morning
19. Ef - 401 Lwa
20. TALK 5

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

MP3: Kite - I give you the morning

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:38:47 -0800

Here is Kite covering "I give you morning", one of my all-time favorite ballads. Like a lot of people who read this site, I suspect we all first heard the song when Weeping Willows covered it, though of course it's been a longtime Swedish evergreen from way back when Fred Åkerström first did it på Svenska ("Jag ger dig min morgon") in 1972 on the album "Två tungor". And of course Håkan Hellström did it as well on his "visor" EP "Luften bor i mina steg". There's probably more versions out there, but let us not forget the original by Tom Paxton which I believe originally appeared on 1969's "The things I notice now" (and was rerecorded for 1982's "Even a gray day", an LP I have in my collection). Now, as far as ranking them goes, I consider the OG and WW versions to be my favorite, but this new one by Kite is pretty darn good, but even better: it's different. Reverence is for the weak; let's give it up for Kite's pulsating synth version!

Sirius playlist week #9

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:47:15 -0800

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

01. TALK 1
02. Shining - Healter skelter
03. Beem - Manka
04. Dmitry Fyodorov - Simcoe
05. TALK 2
06. Björn Kleinhenz - Dackes drabanter
07. Kråkesølv - Pirvat regn
08. Holiday for Strings - Favorite flavor
09. TALK 3
10. Disco Ensemble - White flag for peace
11. Trinacria - Make no mistake
12. House of Tomidas - The letter
13. TALK 4
14. Kite - Looking for us
15. Mikkel Meyer - Dyreryg
16. Susanne Sundfør - The brothel
17. TALK 5

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

MP3: Agent Side Grinder - The screams

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:45:04 -0700

To borrow the lexicon of the financial pages: I am downgrading Cold Cave to a Sell¹ while upgrading my rating on Agent Side Grinder to Strong Buy. I believe that Cold Cave's market has reached saturation and become overvalued while Agent Side Grinder has nowhere to go but up, especially considering the upcoming Q4 release of both "Irish recording tape" and "The transatlantic tape project" (via Enfant Terrible, vinyl-only). The former is of primarily interest to me, as it shows tremendous growth over last year's self-titled release and I must also commend them for the recruitment Alexander Blomqvist (on live bass) as he appears to have brought many new strengths with him to the executive team. The fine qualities that first caught my attention when I rated them a Buy (ie, the driving, dirty industrial beats) are still very much in place, only now far more refined and developed. I expect 2010 to be a very good year for Agent Side Grinder and don't expect them to face much serious competition for market share.
Now as for other companies in this sector, I'm downgrading Cut City from Buy to Hold as their stock appears to have stagnated recently, but am bullish on both Kite and Tamaryn.

¹ I really am selling Cold Cave. If you want a mint first-press copy of "Where trees grew and emotions died", give me a shout.

Kite confirm new EP

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:39:29 -0700

Kite, the excellent Swedish synthpop duo featuring Nicklas Stenemo (Melody Club, The Mo) and Christian Berg (Strip Music, Yvonne), will release their sophomore EP "II" on October 16 via Progress Productions and once again, it will be available on both CD and vinyl. Details here: http://progress-productions.com/kite2/
You can also hear a couple new tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/progressproduction

Three more Andreas Tilliander remixes

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:35:05 -0700

Adrian Recordings is celebrating Morrissey's 50th birthday today by giving away three new pop-ish remixes of Andreas Tilliander:

Andreas Tilliander - Caught in a riot (feat. New Moscow) (Vapnet remix)
Andreas Tilliander - Caught in a riot (feat. New Moscow) (Kite remix)
Andreas Tilliander - Caught in a riot (feat. New Moscow) (Data80 remix)

Sirius playlist week #16

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:19:43 -0700

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

01. Sonic Ritual - Take the edge off
02. TALK 1
03. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
04. Elenette - Att göra en hit
05. Maskinen - Bränner
06. TALK 2
07. The Skull Defekts - Habit
08. Grave - Into the grave
09. Murmansk - Moth
10. TALK 3
11. Kite - My girl and I
12. Laakso - Worst case scenario
13. Samtidigt Som - Denna sida mot fienden
14. TALK 4
15. David Åhlén - We sprout in thy soil
16. Knife and Ape - Buck teeth
17. Existensminimum - 1993
18. Cut City - Departure in particular
19. TALK 5
20. Masquer - Hanging garden

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.

Podcast: Top songs of 2008

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

DATE ADDED : 12/16/08
LENGTH : 36:28 min
DOWNLOAD : itsatrap_podcast_12162008.mp3 (34.2mb)
RSS : [click here]

Tracklist: (select text to view or just listen to the narration)
08. Fredrik - 1986
07. Tiger Lou - The less you have to carry
06. Kite - Ways to dance
04. Frida Hyvönen – Dirty dancing (tie)
04. Sigur Rós - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur (tie)
03. The Fine Arts Showcase - Friday on my knees
02. Hello Saferide - Anna
01. Markus Krunegård - Jag är en vampyr

Kite s/t EP Lyckan/Progress Productions

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Nicklas Stenemo's (The Mo, Melody Club) voice, an instrument that functions like a fuller, more masculine translation of Karin Dreijer's vocal style, elevates this fine record, one that would be perfectly capable of garnering strong reviews without Stenemo's captivating utterances, to something well beyond the run-of-the-mill renditions of 80s electronica. Christian Berg's (Yvonne, Strip Music) love of authentic 80s synth sounds combined with Stenemo's pop sensibility and voice converge so fluidly, bringing to mind acts like New Order, but it's merely a reference point. Opener "Ways to dance" is a distinctly Scandinavian electronic pop song: driving, punctuated by oscillating drum fills à la The Knife; "Say it ain't so" relaxes its hold on the throttle, settling into a layered, paced rhythm; and closer "Learn to like it", a mesmerizing, melancholic track, puts on display much of the aptitude demonstrated on the EP: the intricate levels of synths and voices, the pitch-perfect structure of the songs - never meandering, never going on too long, and merging the measured step of "Say it ain't so" with the unhurried, ethereal expanse that is "My girl and I", my personal favorite. Kite have been fine company on long, cold walks home through streets lined with dying leaves, while reading Ellis' "Less Than Zero", and during the final hour before heading out into the city; the fact that Kite can offer so much in four songs gives the thought of a future full length effort enough weight to push me through what looks to be a bitter winter. I just hope it's not too long a wait.

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:17:56 -0800

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

01. Detektivbyrån - Partyland
02. TALK 1
03. Björn Kleinhenz - At night we die
04. Hjertestop - Illegalt signal
05. Idoru - Chase
06. TALK 2
07. Fever Ray - If I had a heart (instrumental edit)
08. Champagne Riot - Scandinavian warfare
09. Caesars Palace - Only you
10. José González - How low
11. TALK 3
12. Alarma Man - Nightwolf
13. Adolf Filter - 1982
14. Brick - Ha ha ha
15. TALK 4
16. Auton - El Dorado
17. Gutted String - Feeling small
18. The Bombettes - It ain't me babe
19. Tiger Lou - Trust falls
20. I'm from Barcelona - Headphones
21. TALK 5
22. Kite - Ways to dance

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

MP3: Kite - Ways to dance

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:57:48 -0700

I doubt the coldwave/industrial revival will ever go mainstream, but I'm enjoying that more and more bands are embracing dark analog synths. Kite is as close as we'll get to a crossover act though, if only because they've experienced some success before with former acts such as Yvonne and Melody Club. At the very least, it gives them a head-start over the competition. Whatever happens though, I'm just glad to hear this kind of music being kept alive and done well, especially with a stripped-down, minimalist approach. It's so easy to overdo it. Now I know "Ways to dance" isn't actually dismal enough to be considered coldwave (wait 'til tomorrow's track for that), but think of it as getting your toes wet. If you dig this (and you should - it's a fantastic pop song above everything else), perhaps you can go darker, more underground, or, at the very least, into the past. When Bruce Springsteen is covering Suicide, it's time you started paying attention.

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:08:18 -0700

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

01. Small - Sunshine lover
02. TALK 1
03. Prince of Assyria - What ever you want
04. Necrovation - Putrid evocation
05. Division of Laura Lee - LAX
06. TALK 2
07. Tomas Halberstad - Travel as I wait
08. Sophie Zelmani - Yeah, okey
09. Kite - Ways to dance
10. TALK 3
11. Thomas Denver Jonsson - Light of love
12. The Tapirs - My violet you
13. E.S.T. - Leucocyte (Ad initio)
14. TALK 4
15. Enslaved - Vertebrae
16. Imagine I Had Hands - Hellbent on holding out
17. Melpo Mene - Kling klang clock
18. TALK 5
19. Puffin - A dream it seems

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

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:32:48 -0700

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

01. Hello Saferide
02. Frida Hyvönen
03. Håkan Hellström
04. Loney, Dear
05. Billie the Vision & The Dancers
06. The Radio Dept.
07. Kite
08. The Bear Quartet
09. Vapnet
10. Le Sport

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/

MP3: Prince of Assyria - What ever you want

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:10:22 -0700

Following up today on a recommendation I received from Silverbullit guitarist Andreas Nilsson in his interview not too long ago. Kite, the band I ended up posting, is actually someone I was already familiar with (I've played their single "Ways to dance" on my radio show), but Prince of Assyria was an entirely new name to me, so of course I had to investigate. Not that I discovered much so far to be honest, but his music is quite good from what I can tell, even if it isn't the sort of thing I normally associate with Gbg-based label Kning Disk. Along with iDEAL, Komplott and Compunctio, Kning Disk is one of Sweden's best labels for exciting, forward-thinking music though Prince of Assyria sounds downright contemporary compared to some of their other artists, such as The Skull Defekts or even Erik Enocksson. This is pure pop balladeering, anchored by a deep, rich voice and an expansive arrangement. However, though it might not be avant-garde, it's still exciting. As always, good music is good music. Definitely looking forward to hearing more when the full-length album is ready this fall.

MP3: Kite - My girl and I

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I already posted a track from Silverbullit as part of our ongoing Göteborg Spotlight Series, but today I'm happy a present an interview with guitarist Andreas Nilsson, an artist who's also well known for his phenomenal video work. Madrugada, José González and The Knife are just a few of the names of artists he has collaborated with. Andreas may no longer be a Gbg resident, but his contributions to the city's music and art scene are numerous. Read on...

First off, my standard intro question: how long have you lived in Gbg? What brought you there and what keeps you in town?

I moved here at age 17 to go to artschool. Lived here for 17 years, so half my life... I live in another town now, but I miss the sort of underground musicscene that Koloni, Kning Disk and Ideal bring to Gothenburg. It's amazing that a town of Gbg's size has such a big scene for this kind of stuff.

You seem to be working more visually these days as opposed to sonically - which medium would you say is your strong point? How often do the two overlap? If someone asks "so, what do you do?" how do you answer?

The way that I work is a cluster of things that I barely understand the logic of myself. But I try to overlap as much as possible. It's an ok place to be in, the twilight zone.

If someone asks me what I do, I lie and tell them I'm a horsewhisperer or something.

How was Way Out West? Were you satisfied with Silverbullit's set? See anything of note?

Playing with Silverbullit again was great. Always fun to see Simon play keyboardsolo in his patented rapestyle and we were touched by all the people that showed up.

But I didn't have time to see much else at the festival. The Bug had a great stomach-turning bass. My big festival moment this year was My Bloody Valentine at Roskilde. It was so loud that I experienced a physical reaction in my nose that I had never experienced before. It was kind of buzzing and humming the day after, very strange.

I understand you managed to get Freddie Wadling to make a guest appearance - who's idea was that? Was it a matter of mutual appreciation or did it take more wrangling to get it together?

We've been working on a track that Freddie gave us as a demo. The idea of playing together came to us in a DHL-package.

What current projects are you working on? What can we expect to see/hear from you in the next six months or so? What are the chances of a new Silverbullit album?

Just finished a video for a British band called White Lies. The track is called "Death". Today I'm in Gothenburg working at the Stadsteatern. I'm working on a play called "Butterfly Kiss" together with director Malin Stenberg. A dark and surreal text about a dysfunctional family with an urge to kill. It premiered 19th Sep for all you culture vultures out there.

Finally, got a song you would like to share, either from one of your own bands or from a local act you admire? Tell me about it!

I think people should have a listen to the band Kite from Malmö. They have a beautiful song called "My girl and I". I also like Prince of Assyria who is releasing an album on Kning Disk this fall.

Both Kite and Prince of Assyria obliged by sending in tracks for posting, but since Andreas recommended a specific Kite track, that's the one I'm going with today. Stay tuned for more on The Prince- a recommendation from Andreas Nilsson does not go unnoticed!

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:56:02 -0700

Progress Productions have signed Swedish new-wave/electro duo Kite, the band of Christian Berg (Yvonne, Strip Music) and Nicklas Stenemo (The Mo, Melody Club). Look for a new EP soon.

Sun, 18 May 2008 11:55:24 -0700

Here's this week's radio show playlist:

01. Siena Root - Waiting for the sun
02. TALK 1
03. Cult of Luna - Eternal kingdom
04. Svartbag - Black Capricorn
05. Kite - Ways to dance
06. TALK 2
07. Eero Johannes - Finnrexin
08. Looptroop Rockers - The building
09. Holiday for Strings - Touch the tiger
10. TALK 3
11. Silverbullit - Magnetic city
12. Thomas Denver Jonsson - My wardrobe
13. Samtidigt Som - Constant in motion
14. Wolfbrigade - Feelings you don't want to feel
15. TALK 4
16. Johndoe - Piggtråd og piss
17. Sol Andersson - All is full of love
18. King of All the Animals - The snowflake song (I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper remix)
19. TALK 5
20. Last Days of April - You don't believe me (Monster & Maskiner remix)
21. Pacta Sunt Servanda - To claim your prize
22. The Goner - Spirit round-up
23. TALK 6
24. Tape - Altamira
25. Letum - Tallriksis
26. Zeigeist - Black milk
27. TALK 7
28. Knife and Ape - Semiotic dysfunction
29. Terveet Kädet - Message
30. Giant Boar - Chronic date
31. The Lionheart Brothers - Time river floaty
32. TALK 8
33. Echo Is Your Love - Lion tamer vs tigers
34. Agent Side Grinder - Lashes of flashes
35. Skitsystem - Solidaritetens sista utpost
36. TALK 9
37. Final Exit - Punk enough

Reminder: my show on Sirius Blog Radio runs Saturdays at 12 noon and midnight ET on channel 26 (Left of Center). My show is being preempted this coming weekend (05/24) for a special Memorial Day Block Party special, but I'll be back in full effect on June 7.

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:02:07 -0700

Steso Songs has signed with the label Lyckan and will be releasing her debut EP on May 23. Read more: http://www.lyckankommer.se/
As you will note from that link, Lyckan will also release a new EP from Kite featuring Christian Berg (Yvonne, Strip Music) and Nicklas Stenemo (The Mo, Melody Club) on the same date.

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:31:46 -0800

Norwegian act Kite is back from the dead and will play their first gig in a long while at by:Larm this coming February. Read more: http://www.kiteweb.net/kiteweb/iFrontpage.php?ID=45

Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Norway's Kite has posted an old previously unreleased track for free download: http://www.kiteweb.net/kiteweb/iFrontpage.php?ID=41

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Danish rockers Wild Evil Entertainment Dept. will tour the UK in August with Odd Shaped Head:

08/18 - Meze Lounge, Newport (UK)
08/19 - tbc (UK)
08/20 - Cellar Bar, Blackburn (UK)
08/21 - The Leopard, Doncaster (UK)
08/22 - Insanity @ The Exchange, Sunderland (UK)
08/23 - tbc, Newcastle, (UK)
08/24 - Dublin Castle, London (UK)
08/25 - Malster's Arms, Pontypridd (UK)
08/26 - Winnington Rec, Northwich (UK)
08/27 - tbc (UK)

In other news, bassist Lars Skov has left the band. His spot on the upcoming tour will be filled by Petter Sture of the Norwegian band Kite.

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Norway's Kite has parted ways with guitarist Reiten and is currently seeking a replacement. Read more: http://www.kiteweb.net/kiteweb/iFrontpage.php?ID=34

Tue, 23 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Kite has uploaded three new mp3 samples from their debut album "Bring out your dead" over at the "Noise" section of their website: http://www.kiteweb.net/

Wed, 22 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Kite's new album "Bring out your dead" has been delayed 'due to mysterious circumstances' and will finally be available at the band's record release show in Olso on September 27 and in stores on October 4.