IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Trust album confirmed

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:00:50 -0800

Play/Rec has confirmed that Trust's full-length debut "From light into mass" will be released on January 31. I managed to listen to about 2/3rds of it last night and it's pretty cool; definitely well worth checking out for anyone into the label's other releases (Menfolk, Obstacles, etc.) or heavy math-rock in general. The band will also be touring Europe in February and you can get dates here: http://playrec.dk/default.aspx?section=schedule

MP3: Menfolk - Skeletons

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:34:57 -0700

Do you like Menfolk? Want a copy of their latest LP "Beast one/man nil"? I'm holding a single copy for resale and will part with it for $20 ppd (in the US, slightly more for foreigners). And as you can see from the pic, it includes a Dropcard for a full album download too. Email mailorder@itsatrap.com to hook it up.
Further enticement below, my current favorite track from the album.

Sirius playlist week #37

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:23:53 -0700

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

01. Night Minutes - Sweetheart of the funeral
02. TALK 1
03. Korova Station - Come on come on
04. Okkultokrati - Stench of life
05. Johan G Winther - Chasing kingdoms
06. Kimono - Vienna
07. TALK 2
08. SONMOI - The man with no flesh
09. Phonophani - Neverdal
10. Kausal - The conquistador
11. TALK 3
12. Vowels - oiaå
13. The Bear Quartet - We're not gonna make it
14. Säkert! - Rotary
15. Slöa Knivar - Stay dirty
16. TALK 4
17. Slöa Knivar - Hjärtat
18. Menfolk - Skeletons
19. Asha Ali - Hurricane
20. Tiger Tape - She is fiction
21. TALK 5

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

Sirius playlist week #34

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

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

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

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

Sirius playlist week #26

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:17:09 -0700

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

01. C.Aarmé - M.P.P
02. TALK 1
03. Abcess Exil - Havsluft
04. MF/MB/ - The big machine
05. Magnus Pelander - You have got no friends to turn to
06. TALK 2
07. The Bear Quartet - We're not gonna make it
08. Nidingr - Hymiskvitha
09. Kopfer Kat - Planet noise
10. No Hope for the Kids - Gasangreb
11. TALK 3
12. Jasmine Kara - Try my love again
13. The Goner - Strong interactions
14. Jesper Norda - Gentle and slow with a new sharp edge
15. TALK 4
16. Menfolk - Heart and sling
17. Andreas Söderlund - Hawaii
18. Hebosagil - Big sun
19. 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.

Menfolk Beast one / Man nil PlayRec

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:33:15 -0700

There's nothing at all conventional about this Danish quartet and it's for this reason that they will appeal to pretty much anyone who likes their music to force them to think once in a while. It's not that Menfolk are overly complex, or even that they're difficult to understand; rather they are just quirky as hell right across the board. Odd song structures benefit from an odd overall sound, and this is mainly down to the band's ability to think outside the box in all aspects of their craft. Norway's maestros of all things bizarre -- Virus -- spring to mind on occasion, although Menfolk don't offer quite the David Lynch-type headfuck that Czral and his cohorts manage to muster. Instead they combine the essence of that eerie complexity and blend it with a more simplified structure akin to Rage Against the Machine and Fugazi. A simplified complexity, if you will. That might sound like a bit of a contradiction in terms, but after one spin of "Beast one / Man nil" it all makes sense. Sort of. Hell, these guys don't even approach instrumentation in a conventional way, opting to bookend the crunchy drive of one guitar with the pummelling detonation of two basses. It definitely works wonders for the sound which, while hinting at the aforementioned acts, comes across like a punked-up Primus meets a funked-up Fudge Tunnel. While the musicianship is spot on the money, this is quite a noisy release, where guitar feedback, although kept in the background, serves as a deliberate structural component. If there's one gripe about this album though, it's that the passages where single notes (rather than chords) are played on the guitar sound a bit too watery. It's a shame, since the chords are absolutely monstrous. A great second album with little in the way of flaws and heaps in the way of punk attitude.

Menfolk - Rubato (con song)

Tue, 25 May 2010 17:33:54 -0700

PlayRec have added another new track from Menfolk to their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/playrec
"Rubato (con song)" might just be my favorite song from their upcoming record "Beast one/man nil".

Sirius playlist week #20

Mon, 17 May 2010 11:29:53 -0700

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

01. Enforcer - High roller
02. TALK 1
03. Robyn - Dancing on my own
04. The Amazing - And it looks like today
05. Årabrot - End of first chant: II
06. TALK 2
07. The Bombettes - Cherry shot
08. Underachiever - No rain (arson)
09. Lapko - Kiss 'n' cry
10. TALK 3
11. The Howard Way - Runaway
12. Familjen - Socker
13. Deathchain - The crawling chaos
14. Lågkonjunkturen - Den här låten handlar om...
15. TALK 4
16. Anna von Hausswolff - Track of time
17. Marit Bergman - Free falling
18. Jennie Abrahamson - I lost my heart
19. TALK 5
20. Menfolk - Rubato (con song)

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 #18

Mon, 03 May 2010 11:49:34 -0700

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

01. Kråkesølv - Skredder
02. TALK 1
03. Lama - Curses and broken glass
04. Underachiever - No rain (arson)
05. Originalljudet - The oral solution (with pear)
06. Lögnhalsmottagningen - Lumpettrick
07. TALK 2
08. Masshysteri - Låt dom hata oss
09. Den Svenska Tystnaden - Reaktor
10. Simian Ghost - Star receiver
11. Kobert - Recipe
12. TALK 3
13. Traktor - Where water goes
14. Disco Ensemble - Protector
15. Hooded Menace - Night of the deathcult
16. TALK 4
17. Menfolk - From the horse's mouth
18. Mattias Alkberg - Nerverna
19. Khoma - Osiris
20. TALK 5
21. Baby Alice - Piña colada 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 #17

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:06:41 -0700

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

01. Okkultokrati - Ragnarokian
02. TALK 1
03. Menfolk - Matador
04. Newkid - Gör det för
05. Rasmus Kellerman - Five years from now
06. TALK 2
07. The Tarantula Waltz - Synthetic sun (feat. Ebba Forsberg)
08. Kommun - Death of a CEO
09. Far from Tellus - Far from Tellus
10. TALK 3
11. Moddi - Stuck in the waltz
12. Faster Katt - Death song
13. Blowback - Fool
14. TALK 4
15. Nils Bech - Don't worry
16. Familjen - När planeterna stannat
17. Banjo - You and the sun
18. NEI - A wonderful day
19. TALK 5
20. Junip - Rope and summit

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.

Menfolk - From the horse's mouth

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:58:20 -0700

Finally, new music from Danish noiserockers Menfolk now streaming: http://www.myspace.com/menfolk
The band's long-awaited new album "Beast one / Man nil" comes out May 31 via Play/Rec and will available on LP or as a paid download (both as mp3 or 24-bit audio).

Menfolk sent for mastering

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:06:13 -0800

The upcoming Menfolk album "Beast one / Man nil" is currently being mastered by the illustrious Bob Weston (Shellac) at Chicago Mastering Service.

New Menfolk album in spring

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:52:39 -0800

It's been a long while since we've heard anything new from Danish noiserock behemoths Menfolk, but Play/Rec reports that they will finally relase the new album "Beast one / Man mil" this spring. Samples soon?

Top 10s for 2009: Play/Rec

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Ten reasons for Play/Rec to wake from the dead

Brilliant bands all around us:
1 - Marvins Revolt
2 - Adam McCormack
3 - Menfolk
4 - Trust
5 - Obstacles, Rising, Bjørst, Chainsaw Eaters, Snake, Bongo & Friends and many others

Chaos all around us:
1 - Bank Account has hit the floor
2 - Babies screaming in our homes
3 - Need legitimate reasons to go out more often
4 - Will have to stay active to get invited to Roskilde Festival next year.
5 - We can't help doing it.....

---------------------------
Recent releases from Play/Rec include the Marvins Revolt album "Patrolling the heights" and a series of digital EPs from Adam McCormack.
http://www.playrec.dk/
http://www.myspace.com/playrec

MP3: Menfolk - Hell is in Texas

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:02:44 -0700

Here's another one I pulled from the stacks recently. Has it really been four years since this Menfolk album came out? Shit ain't right I tell you. A new album is well passed due. Someone was telling me recently that the time is right for this sort of pummel-heavy indierock to make a comeback and I couldn't agree more, though I doubt it'll ever really happen. The new shambly noiserockers lack the Puritan work ethic required to create this racket. As I often say: prove me wrong! I challenge you. And don't tell me a Jesus Lizard reunion is proof positive; that's pure nostalgia, albeit very welcome as far as I'm concerned. As for this track, Hell really is in Texas and it starts next week. You know where I won't be.

Sirius playlist week #6

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:48:39 -0800

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

01. Franke - Exil riktas inåt
02. TALK
03. Cut City - Ulyssian widow
04. Montt Mardié - Names not forgotten
05. Strayfolk - I thought I had it down
06. TALK
07. Halph - New money
08. Kaizers Orchestra - Kontroll på kontinentet
09. Wardruna - Kauna
10. TALK
11. Dieter Schöön - Mary Jane
12. Holiday For Strings - Two of you
13. Menfolk - One is all
14. Lama - Raha
15. TALK
16. Bitch Boys - Sighsten H.
17. Regina - Saanko jäädä yöksi
18. Entombed - Parasight
19. Gåte - Snåle mi jente
20. TALK
21. Dyno - Emotional

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: Little Jimmy Reeves - Romance on drugs

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:49:52 -0700

Little Jimmy Reeves is the latest signing of Danish label Play/Rec and "Bring out the dogs" is their debut EP. The group's heavy rock sound doesn't totally jive with the post-hardcore scene I normally think of when I think Play/Rec (Lack, Barra Head, Menfolk), but when I remind myself that they've also put out records from bands like Monoton and Mt. Eerie it starts to make sense. And it's not as if LJR doesn't have an impressive resumé -- frontman Asger Techau plays drums for Kashmir, one of Denmark's biggest bands. Bassist Jan Damage Petersen plays in Gravy, another great Danish band. And drummer Johan Høyer is an accomplished audio engineer who was/is (?) also in Livaventura. Considering that pedigree, the picture gets clearer and the end result less surprising. And what would that result be? In a nutshell, I'd call it mid-tempo melodramatic rock with a rough edge. Melodic enough for curious Kashmir fans, but also imbued with a bluesy heaviness that band lacks. Overall, I'm not blown away by this release, but I do like the title track and this other song that I'm posting today. It's got a bit of those oh so crucial quietLOUDquiet dynamics ala The Pixies and the vocal harmonies in the chorus are a nice touch as well. Wholly unoriginal, but nice enough, y'know? Still, worth keeping an eye on. There's potential.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:41:02 -0700

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

01. Boys of Scandinavia - Worse than a girl
02. TALK 1
03. Markus Krunegård - Jag är en vampyr
04. Deathbed - Neon light fantasy
05. The Grand Opening - Dark dark dawn
06. TALK 2
07. The Bear Quartet - I have an itch
08. C.Aarmé - Dustin
09. Noxagt - Wall's end
10. TALK 3
11. Menfolk - Hell is in Texas
12. Detektivbyrån - Hemvägen
13. Folk&Røvere - Solveigs sang
14. TALK 4
15. Bobby Baby - Goodbye love
16. Häive - Raina: Yömyrsky
17. Peter Bjorn and John - All those expectations
18. TALK 5
19. Meleeh - Vittra
20. Rigas - The hardest pocket to pick
21. The Kid - Mayhem troopers
22. TALK 6
23. Cortex - Warrior night
24. Tiger Lou - The war between us
25. Sophie Rimheden - Stay the night (ft. Adam Tensta)
26. TALK 7
27. Moto Boy - Beat heart
28. Nina Ramsby & Martin Hederos - Kanske jag kommer hem
29. September Malevolence - Who watches the watchmen?
30. TALK 8
31. Säkert! - Sanningsdan
32. Paper - Before that day
33. Moonbabies - Walking on my feet
34. TALK 9
35. Susanne Sundfør - I resign
36. Stina Nordenstam - Trainsurfing
37. Red Moon - The height
38. TALK 10
39. Broder Daniel - When we were winning

Lack Saturate every atom PlayRec

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Lack is easily one of the more interesting indie rock acts out there right now. Going from clarity to clarity, I thought that "Be there pulse" (2005) was an excellent display of Fugazi-sounding hard-hitting rock, they now release a breathtaking album of furious and melodic punk-/indie rock. In fact, the Danes have found what I've been looking for in their previous albums; a delicate mix of hardcore and hooks. Not many bands accomplish that, At the Drive-In, Refused, Drive Like Jehu and Shellac did it, and here are the Danish heirs. Clocking in under an exemplary 30 minutes "Saturate every atom" offer its listeners a concise journey where Denmark's asylum policy, male domination, among others are matters of discussion and as an old hardcore dude, my eyes are filled with tears. It's been a long time since something this compassionate sounded this good. Produced by Per Cnöeldh (Menfolk), mixed by Lack in true DIY-style and mastered by none other than Bob Weston from Shellac, the simple, yet powerful sound gives the band justice. And speaking of justice, nothing would be more unfair if this doesn't lead to further recognition. It is that good. Try it, you'll like it!

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:04:01 -0800

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

01. The Bombettes - I wanna
02. TALK 1
03. Anna Järvinen - Helsinki
04. Leütenhaven - Still life (trompe l'oeil)
05. Pay TV - Fashion report
06. TALK 2
07. Timo Räisänen - My valentine
08. Jonna Lee - And your love
09. José González - Killing for love
10. The Bear Quartet - It only takes a flashlight to create a monster
11. TALK 3
12. Kristofer Åström - The dark
13. Munck//Johnson - The streets
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Draggin' me down
15. Dieter Schöön - Warm hearts
16. TALK 4
17. Superfamily - The radio has expressed concerns about what you did last night
18. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Ashen like the sky
19. Kazakstan - Song to the past
20. TALK 5
21. Marvins Revolt - Bugs in time
22. Menfolk - Ghosts
23. Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
24. TALK 6
25. Sambassadeur - Subtle changes
26. Stina Nordenstam - So Lee
27. Tobias Hellkvist - Abomination
28. TALK 7
29. Marybell Katastrophy - Slabiak
30. Sinikka Langeland - Høstnatt på Fjellskogen
31. David Åhlén - Wasted breaths
32. Printer - Minds out
33. TALK 8
34. Montys Loco - Wasteland
35. Lampshade - Fjäril
36. NEI - Trip to Luleå
37. Laakso - Hang me in the Christmas tree
38. TALK 9
39. Honey Is Cool - Drums and boys

Don't forget to vote for Sirius Blog Radio at the Plug Awards! Vote here: http://www.plugawards.com/general_vote.php
We are nominated under the category "Media (Obsessive) > Specialty Show Of The Year (Commercial Radio)".

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Danish hardcore act Lack began recording their third album this week with engineer Per Knold, the gentleman responsible for recording most every Play/Rec artist nowadays and also the drummer in Menfolk. Kenneth Andersen, the live sound engineer for fellow Danes Figurines and I Am Bones and guitarist for Beta Satan, will mix.

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Kaizers Orchestra - Ompa til du dør
02. TALK 1
03. Logh - Thieves in the palace
04. Élodie - At the end of the line
05. Beem - Ducker
06. TALK 2
07. Hell On Wheels - Alexander
08. Isolation Years - Albino child
09. Honey Is Cool - Bolero
10. TALK 3
11. Mob - Wait for me
12. Skywriter - For heaven's sake
13. Menfolk - Zero is also a number
14. TALK 4
15. Plain Fade - Datura
16. Division of Laura Lee - Dirty love
17. Det Gamla Landet - Det heliga landet
18. TALK 5
19. Elope - Black eyed citizen
20. Fontän - You, me & a tree
21. Gehenna - Touched and left for dead
22. TALK 6
23. Mustasch - I hunt alone
24. Cobolt - The Atlantic Ocean takes her back
25. Blinders On - Blinders are on
26. Madrugada - Higher
27. TALK 7
28. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - I could have sworn I heard them SING
29. Notre Dame - Into the coven
30. TALK 8
31. The Motorhomes - The man

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Danish label Play/Rec has announced the tracklist for their five-year anniversary comp, entitled cleverly enough "Five years". The disc features everyone from their roster covering one of their mates and the results is as follows:

01. Barra Head - If It Ain't Broke (The Unit)
02. The Unit - Simonix/Deserters (Lack)
03. Lack - Kill The Lights (Barra Head)
04. Menfolk - Chilblain Heart (Monoton)
05. Monoton - The Storyteller's Been Up All Night (The Violet Hour)
06. The Violet Hour - Are We Enemies? (Menfolk)
07. Mount Eerie - Not Too Fancy (Janosch)
08. Janosch - Wooly Mammoth’s Mighty Absence (Mount Eerie)
09. The Kind Of Bitter - The Beat Up Blues (The Magic Bullet Theory)
10. The Magic Bullet Theory - Dead Fight (The Kind Of Bitter)

Seeing as how Play/Rec is one of my favorite labels, I can't wait to hear it! There will be a record release showcase at Roskilde tomorrow (see link for details, PS free beer!) and the official release date for stores is July 3.

MP3: Barra Head - Overseas

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

This week's Friday flashback mp3 post comes from Barra Head, a band who I had never really heard much of before this week until I got their 2004 album "We are your numbers" in-stock on both CD and LP. A risky proposition perhaps, but when a label has other amazing bands like Lack and Menfolk, you learn to trust their ears. Barra Head takes obvious cues from Fugazi and other DC hardcore acts (or HarDCore, as it were), but ups the ante with huge syncopated riffs. Whereas Fugazi's rhythm section often dabbles in dub and reggae-inspired beats, Barra Head's bassist often takes a stronger melodic lead when he's not slamming down chords and locked in precise time with the drums. I've said it before, but I don't think it's often enough: this is some of my favorite kind of music. The fact that there aren't more bands doing this sort of stuff is baffling.

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Menfolk Colossus PlayRec

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

Here is something lacking in this world: any band that is able to bring the energy and intelligence of Minor Threat. Something else: bands that like the DC hardcore sound enough to try to bring it somewhere else, like Fugazi did. Ian MacKaye obsessed? Perhaps, but you have to admit that those two rocked pretty solidly. Menfolk almost give both my wishes a reality. Menfolk take the DC sound and add aggression, technicality and interesting syncopation in a move that reminds me of what Dillinger Escape Plan did to metalcore. It is not enough to drop me on my ass but it certainly rock enough for repeated listens.

MP3: Menfolk - Nine

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

New mp3 today from Denmark's Menfolk. Let me tell you: this is the shit. Heavy, angular indierock ala Shellac, Jesus Lizard and Cop Shoot Cop. And just like the latter of those three, they've got two bass players for extra bludgeoning power. I can never understand why there aren't more bands like this because I love this stuff. C'mon, why wouldn't you embrace a genre sometimes referred to so lovingly as "pigfuck". This isn't as antagonizing as some of that scene's early practitioners (Big Black, Pussy Galore, etc.), but that sound! I can't get enough. The double low-end attack is the icing on the cake. Give me more!

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Podcast: It's been a long time... too long

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

DATE ADDED : 12.11.05
LENGTH : 31:24 min
DOWNLOAD : itsatrap_podcast_12112005.mp3 (22.1mb)
RSS : [click here]

Tracklist:
01. Ane Brun - Rubber and soul (ft. Teitur)
02. Anja Garbarek - Sleep
03. Es - Sateenkaarisuudelma i
04. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - White night (Martin Vogel remix)
05. My Enemy - My time coming (Claudia's shoegazer remix)
06. Brighter Death Now - Oh baby
07. Alice in Videoland - Ladykiller
08. Menfolk - Simplicity of not knowing
09. Boys of Scandinavia - Why do you love me
10. I Love You Baby! - Dolls start small
11. José González - Send someone away (live)

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Check out the microsite for the new album "Colossus" from Danish act Menfolk: http://www.playrec.dk/colossus
The band's double-bass attack sounds like a heavier, more brutal version of Shellac, so of course I love it.