2nd single from Norwegian prog/indie act Do You Love Melena?, a new act featuring members from Pow Pow and Rumble in Rhodos. Look for the band's self-titled debut "Marathon" to be released on April 20 via Fysisk Format. RIYL Mew, Mars Volta and/or maybe Muse.

Can't say that I agree with the "post rock" genre designation, but let's not be too picky -- this is a decent example of expansive, melancholic rock from Finland that should appeal to fans of Mew and the like. Look for All Will Be Quiet to release their debut album "On the first day" this coming May via Lionheart Records.

1. Am I wry? No
2. Snow brigade
3. Introducing palace players
4. Beach
5. Silas the magic car
6. Wheels over me
7. Saliva (new mix)
8. She came home for Christmas
9. Sometimes life isn't easy
10. Do you love it
11. Eight flew over, one was destroyed
12. 156
13. Special
14. The zookeeper's boy
15. Comforting sounds

At a festival that's one of Scandinavia's most music business-oriented, awash with press and promoters, the rabid enthusiasm of the crowds here came as a pleasant surprise. At SPOT this weekend there was an unbridled this-is-the-best-show-ever vibe at gigs ranging from the metal of Kellermensch to the hip-hop of Specktors and the ethereal indie of singer-songwriter Moto Boy. Ginger Ninja (bad name, good band) were tearing it up, too.

But it's Iceland's FM Belfast who have to take the top prize when it comes to audience participation. They persuaded an entire auditorium to hide, crouched on their haunches, to create the illusion of an empty concert hall before popping up again when the beat dropped. The Sunday night set featured the incourageable Icelanders' partaaaay-style take on everything from "Welcome to the jungle" (by "Guns n' Motherfucking Roses" they reminded us) to "Pump up the jam" by Technotronic and RATM's "Killing in the name of" (released as their single "Lotus").

- Sophy Grimshaw

01. Consistency: Releasing and touring with our second album was a relief. We're not a one record band after all!!

02. Border breaking: We got the new album out in Germany, Switzerland (and with the beginning of 2010 also in Poland, Hungary, Norway, Finland, and possibly Australia, New Zealand and China). Supporting Who Made Who in Germany has been great fun.

03. Green Future: We're in the middle of Hopenhagen right now, and there's a lot of big words getting tossed around, but if just some of them will land on a piece of paper that a majority of the worlds current leaders will sign, then we might not only see a healthier development of the human civilization, but also a more fair development on a global economical level.

04. Family: Morten's younger brother had a son named Otto and our stand-in keyboardplayer Peter Olsen had a son called Hugo. Welcome to the world!

05. Colleagues: When Saints Go Machine's debut album "Ten makes a face" is on our top 5 of best albums in 2009, and we've had the great pleasure of playing with them many times over the year and watching them develop as a live act. And a bunch of great Danish acts are doing well abroad, Oh No Ono, Mew, Raveonettes, and Quadron who (I hear) is negotiating with a big LA label.

06. Collaboration: Joker heard Jkamata & 2000F's remix of "Something or nothing", and when we called him to ask if was interested in doing something together, he immediately agreed. First out is his widely blogged remix of "Trouble is", but we have more things in stall. Apart from that, we also did a cover of an old Danish 80's hit which was broadcast on national TV. Great fun.

07. Getting drunk again, and again, and again.

Last three are reserved for unpleasant discoveries of 2009

08. Hangovers (surprise every time)

09. The cost of touring internationally: Including the ever tightening baggage and overweight/oddsize rules of various airlines

10. Mindless r'n'booty and sugar dripping Pop is still topping the charts everywhere. And cover bands are still the highest paid and most frequently booked bands in Denmark.

---------------------------
Turboweekend released their sophomore album "Ghost of a chance" in 2009 which, as stated above, will be receiving a far wider release in 2010.
http://www.turboweekend.com/
http://www.myspace.com/turboweekend

01. Mew - No More Stories...
02. Nephew - DanmarkDenmark
03. Jens Unmack - Dagene Løber Som Heste
04. Troels Abrahamsen - WHT
05. Balstyrko - Jagten På Noget
06. Nikolaj Nørlund - Tid Og Sted
07. Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control
08. Selvmord - Selvmord
09. Cody - Songs
10. Mikael Simpson - Slaar Skaar

And the single list:

01. Nephew - Va Fangool!
02. Mew - Introducing Palace Players
03. Mikael Simpson - Inden Du Falder I Søvn
04. Raveonettes - Last Dance
05. Cody - Down In The Dark
06. Medina - Kun For Mig
07. The Rumour Said Fire - The Balcony
08. Mew - Repeaterbeater
09. Balstyrko - Intet Stopper Helt
10. Medina - Velkommen Til Medina

International picks and the full top 20 single list is here: http://www.gaffa.dk/nyhed/36018

Journalist Sophy Grimshaw recently interviewed Mew singer Jonas Bjerre about the band's new album "No more stories...". Jonas discussed the band's change of direction, the impact of bassist Johan Wohlert's departure, how he writes lyrics and passing out on stage.

Sophy Grimshaw tells IAT: "I interviewed Jonas for a magazine article, while he was at a friend's studio making clay-mation graphics to show on stage. There was much of the raw transcript that I didn't use in my article, but that I thought some fans might be interested to read online, unedited. It's great to have access to a blog like IAT where Scandi music geeks like myself can get into more detail... I even had a go at getting Jonas to tell me what the song title "156" means, the great Mew mystery. He declined of course, but sweetly."

Bo (Madsen, guitarist) said he sees this new album as a more colourful, and varied record. Is that how you feel also?

Yeah definitely. I think it's a more playful record, too. "Kites" (previous album "And the glass handed kites") was very experimental for us as well, but there was something about "Kites" where it was very dark and gloomy and cold sounding. That was what we wanted to do at the time, but I think it was a little bit, not depressing, but kind of a tough record to make. It was more enjoyable making this one because it had more colour and it was more uplifting as a whole.

It even goes a little bit tropical in places, not bad for some Danes...

No, exactly!

Was there any literal travel that had inspired you?

No, it was more a question of escapsim, the image of a beach. There were no beaches where we recorded in Manhattan. It was more like a getaway in our imagination, a paradise. We've never been to Hawaii and we have a song called Hawaii. It's a dream of some place you have yet to go.

Bo was also discussing the fact that the lyrics are less dense and dreamlike than on previous Mew albums, and easier to understand?

Yeah. I was thinking a lot about my way of writing. Most of the time when we come up with a new piece and I come up with the melody in the practice space I often just sing whatever comes to and I write it down and it's like a stream of consciousness thing. Then sometimes I'll sit and deliberate over a lyric for months and it'll be really hard for me to finish it. I would it's say 50/50; those are the two methods I'm using.

But I wanted this time to have at least passages in each song that really make sense and have a direct meaning and narrative. Just because you shouldn't always hide behind beautiful imagery. Sometimes you just need to really say something directly.

You mention Silas and Bo by name in one new song, which probably surprised a lot of Mew fans.

Right, I think they [Silas and Bo] were kind of surprised too. I think I was just thinking about the band and thinking about the future. It was the idea of experiencing nostalgia sometime in the future when we get older and thinking back to this time when we're actually out there doing it, doing what we dreamed of doing when we were kids. It's happening right now.

Sometimes you don't really appreciate the time you have now because you keep thinking, I gotta get this stuff done for that deadline. You keep thinking about the future deadlines. You forget to look around and think, "this is amazing." We're travelling the world, we're playing to thousands of people. It's a wonderful gift to have. I'm probably going to look back on it a lot when I get older. I'm probably going to glamorize it a lot when I get older, how much fun it was.

What has been the impact on Mew of Johan (Wohlert, founding bassist) leaving the band?

In many ways Johan was the most mature person in the band. He was often the voice of reason when we had discussions about things. I think because he was missing all of a sudden, we've had to grow up and be more reasonable as people. Especially me and Bo. We used to have these discussions for hours and hours about minor details in the music. Johan would say "look guys, it's probably not going to make much of a difference anyway." We'd say "yeah, you're probably right," and find some kind of a compromise and we've had to do that ourselves now, me and Bo, so we had to grow up.

It's very psychological. It's not only that you're missing an instrument in the writing session or on tour. It's a lot more than that. It's a human thing. It had a huge impact when he left and in the lyrics on this album there's a lot of hints at that.

Would he ever rejoin?

I think he left the band partly because of having his kid and that he couldn't really see himself travelling as much, and partly I think it was just he wanted to move in a different direction musically. He was just in a different place of mind creatively and he's really happy with what he's doing now and it's probably a good thing that he got to do his own stuff.

You have to hit some very high notes again and again on tour. How do you protect your voice and keep up your stamina?

I take care of myself, get enough sleep, I eat healthy food and I don't drink too much. As long as I do those things I usually don't have problems. What can be a problem is if I get sick. That can be a huge pressure. It forms a kind of neurosis in any singer. You just know that if you get sick it's going to be so much harder to do what you do. I've gone on stage sometimes with a really high fever and I actually passed out on stage one time. The show just has to go on. And I've had shows where I was really sick, but it was still a great show.

What words do you tend to use to describe Mew's sound?

I used to tell people it was quite emotional, but now I am afraid people will think of the whole 'emo' genre, which we don't really fit into. So I don't know. I think we're quite adventurous about sound and music and we experiment. Um, I don't know. What would you call our sound?

Um. Experimental rock? Even though that doesn't always sound right.

Right, like you mean you don't want people thinking it's like avant-garde, completely haphazard noise. Ha ha.

Ha. Although that has its place, of course.

Of course! I think that we combine pop music with something that's much more experimental, in our own way. I don't think I would even try and describe it. It's difficult.

I bet you won't tell me this, but what does 156 mean?

(Laughs) Yeah... No... Maybe... No. (Laughs)

Would you have to kill me if you told me?

Yeah, exactly. It's our little mystery. I might put it in my will so that it can be made public when we die. But if you found out what it means, it's not actually that exciting, I think people would be disappointed. I think you'd be disappointed if you knew. It wouldn't open a gateway to another world. (Laughs)

OK, so it's not a code I can punch in to open something?

No, exactly!

But in a nice way it is the code for something -- because it's the code I type in to listen to the track.

Yeah, exactly!

That's good enough for me.

Cool.

11/30 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
12/01 - Constitution Hall, Washington DC w/The Pixies
12/02 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
12/04 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
12/05 - Cabaret Du Musee Juste Pour Rire, Montreal, QC
12/06 - Mod Club, Toronto, ON
12/07 - Metro, Chicago, IL
12/10 - Neumos Crystal Ball Room, Seattle, WA
12/11 - Venue, Vancouver, BC
12/12 - Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, OR
12/13 - Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
12/14 - Henry Fonda, Los Angeles, CA

Some people are saying "No more stories" is Mew's 'happy' record. Is it?

I wouldn't say I see this record as happy, no, in places it's really not. But it's definitely a more colourful record. We tried to paint with a lot of different colours and this record has a really wide variety of emotions and moods and elements. We've also always liked songs that incorporate change somehow, to be able to change direction during the course of the song. But then sometimes you find a guitar part that's really fun just to grind away at for a while.

The song "Silas the Magic Car" has lyrics that mention you and Silas by name. That's quite different from other Mew songs, where the lyrics are often more surreal?

Yeah we tend to use vocals as another instrument and often the songs don't have a narrative. When you're writing a book you need a story and a narrative and you're building drama, but songs aren't like that. You don't need to have a story about someone: they went to the bakery and then they fell into the lake... We use words in quite a non-logical way, like using them as different colours. So I always shy away from explaining the stories behind songs.

Is it true "New terrain" plays a different song if you play it backwards?

Yes it will play another song, called "Nervous". We played some sounds backwards in the studio when we were making "New terrain" and we liked the way it sounded, so we decided to record another track onto it backwards. If you buy the vinyl version of the album it has "New terrain" as the first song and "Nervous" as the last song. We really liked the idea of beginning and ending the album with the same song.

The band is a bit media shy at times but you also seem to really enjoy communicating with your fans online?

I do have a private life that I want to keep for myself, just like Jonas does, but we also enjoy being able to talk to our fans and we see that as important. Music is about trying to communicate and to connect with something in other people. The live show is an interaction with the audience and they are part of it for us just like we're doing something for them. Together we're like a family, a family of Frengers.

Interview by Sophy Grimshaw

11/03 - Wulfrun, Wolverhampton
11/04 - Academy, Dublin
11/05 - ABC, Glasgow
11/06 - Academy 2, Manchester
11/07 - Metropolitan University, Leeds
11/09 - Anson Rooms, Bristol
11/10 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London

01. Taken By Trees
02. Frida Hyvönen
03. The Mary Onettes
04. The Soundtrack of Our Lives
05. The xx
06. Little Dragon
07. Mew
08. Håkan Hellström
09. Kent
10. The Hidden Cameras

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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. Mew
02. The Bear Quartet
03. Hello Saferide
04. Frida Hyvönen
05. Anna Ternheim
06. Håkan Hellström
07. Grizzly Bear
08. The Big Pink
09. Yo La Tengo
10. Taken By Trees

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01. Miss Li
02. The Tough Alliance
03. Mew
04. Håkan Hellström
05. The Bear Quartet
06. Broder Daniel
07. Fever Ray
08. bob hund
09. Tiger Lou
10. Logh

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08/22 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
08/24 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
09/01 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
09/04 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
09/10 - Vive Cuervo Salón, Mexico City
09/11 - Teatro Estudio Cavaret, Guadalajara, Jalisco

01. Mew
02. Jenny Wilson
03. Kristofer Åström
04. Kent
05. Håkan Hellström
06. Montt Mardié
07. Love Is All
08. JJ
09. Sally Shapiro
10. The Bear Quartet

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10/28 - Grünspan, Hamburg (GER)
10/29 - Lido, Berlin (GER)
10/30 - Gebäude 9, Cologne (GER)
10/31 - Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg (LUX)
11/01 - Botanique, Brussels (BEL)
11/03 - Wulfrun, Wolverhampton (UK)
11/04 - Academy, Dublin (UK)
11/05 - ABC, Glasgow (UK)
11/06 - Academy 2, Manchester (UK)
11/07 - Metropolitan University, Leeds (UK)
11/09 - Anson Rooms, Bristol (UK)
11/10 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London (UK)
11/11 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
11/12 - Maroquinerie, Paris (FRA)

08/26 - Terminal 5, NYC, NY
08/28 - Aragon, Chicago, IL
08/29 - Aragon, Chicago, IL
09/02 - Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
09/03 - The Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

Roskilde is undoubtedly the Holy Grail of Northern European summer festivals. It takes place close to the synonymous small Danish town, situated in the outskirts of Copenhagen. The festival opens its doors on the last Sunday in June with various warm-up gigs and events. The main programme kicks-off on Thursday and lasts until Sunday. More than 100,000 music lovers, volunteers, media, artists and merchants gather up in order to partake in this unique musical experience. The first-ever Roskilde took place in 1971 and was organized by two high school students and a promoter. Over the years it has grown so much it has become a point of reference in Scandinavia and one of the four largest festivals in the whole of Europe. Nowadays there are more than 170 bands playing on seven stages, of which the Orange Stage is the largest.

The weather this year was gorgeous, which had a direct impact on the mood of the hordes of aviator sunglasses-wearing, über-trendy Danes. Sun cream, Thai food and billions of liters of beer were consumed, while queuing up for attractions such as the "Human carwash"... The line-up consisted of names as big as Coldplay, Oasis, Pet Shop Boys, Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More and countless others. I am going to keep my lips sealed as far as these acts are concerned, since this is not the reason for which you are reading this website. Please look elsewhere if you really want to know about Chris Martin's improved Danish language skills!

Day One

Mew's gig at Arena, the second largest festival stage, is the one I was looking forward to the most at this festival. This is a great comeback after four years of silence since their critically acclaimed album "And the glass handed kites". Everybody is so eager and impatient to see them again on stage; there must be more than 15,000 people in the audience. And it is worth the wait. This is a smashing gig! They deliver glorious performances of "Am I wry? No", "Apocalypso", "156", "Circuitry of the wolf" and "White lips kissed" among others. They also give us a taste of what's yet to come with the new single "Introducing palace players". Magic atmosphere and gigantic sing-alongs, during the course of an easily won home game. The new album with the unusually long title – deep breath - "No more stories are told today, I'm sorry they washed away. No more stories, the world is grey, I'm tired, let's wash away", is out on August 25th and should be one of the most promising releases of the year.

Later on, DJ/producer Trentemøller is headlining the Orange Stage. This undisputed national hero successfully manages to please the masses with a longer-than-two-hour set. His performance is ranging from blatant mainstream to more peculiar sounds and mixed up tunes by Soft Cell, The Cure, Bruce Springsteen, Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Britney Spears and, in the spirit of times, Michael Jackson. His onstage guests include Steen Jørgensen formerly from veteran Danish rockers Sort Sol, blues starlet Marie Fisker and most notably, Mikael Simpson. A crowd of 50,000 engages in a massive techno dance on an unforgettable summer evening.

Day Two

The morning after I head down to Astoria to listen to Faroese Orka, drawn by the hype that has been created since their recent collaboration with French "Amélie" movie soundtrack composer Yann Tiersen. They are a very interesting offering indeed, since they construct their own instruments entirely out of power tools and farm equipment and subsequently channel the sound through samplers and effect pedals. Their music is imposing, enigmatic and lifting at the same time.

Young Swedish sisters First Aid Kit are next on the bill in Astoria. Their mix of folk/country melodies with perfectly pitched harmonies recently attracted international attention. Plain orchestration creates a very intimate atmosphere and proximity. Apart from their own numbers, they even do two covers: Fleet Foxes' "Tiger mountain peasant song" and unexpectedly Kiss' "I was made for lovin' you", dedicated to their younger brother. Generally they do OK, but I think their music would work much better in a smaller venue.

Tromsø duo Röyksopp easily rule the Arena on Friday night. The venue had simply exceeded its capacity before Torbjørn Bruntland and Svein Berge appeared onstage. The crowd is very familiar with all their experimental dance-pop material. The most defining moment of the set by far is Robyn performing "The girl and the robot". The crowd simply goes mad! "Happy up here" and "Eple" are well received too. Fellow Norwegian Anneli Drecker appears wearing a mysterious owl costume. Apart from her own "You don't have a clue", she is charged with delivering "What else is there?", "Tricky tricky" and "This must be it", sung on record by Karin Dreijer, who is appearing also at the festival as Fever Ray. Partly because of a no-show and partly because of the actual performances the results on these three songs are slightly disappointing.

Day Three

A big number of Swedes in their early twenties (maximum!) are gathered in front of the Orange Stage to see Gothenburg's drama king Håkan Hellström. His 60's influenced pop works well under a blazing afternoon sun. Restless and exceedingly expressive, he is roaming across the stage while conducting his one-man-show. A charmer, Håkan doesn't miss an opportunity to flirt with the crowd and embrace their love in a very Swedish Robbie Williams way. Every word of "Klubbland", "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg" and "För en lång lång tid" is sung religiously while confetti is thrown in the air.

The final Scandinavian act for me on Saturday evening and this Roskilde festival are Swedish jazz/fusion/acid/progsters Dungen playing on the Odeon stage. It's the music that counts here and not the show. They play a lot of stuff from their internationally well-received album "4". Tambourines, flutes, acoustic guitars and electric solos combined with brilliant basslines from Mattias Gustavsson are purifying for a tired and sleepless festival crowd. "Maleras finest" and "Det tar tid" are the best memories to take home with me. Thanks Roskilde.

Words and pictures by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos

01. Bob Hund
02. Håkan Hellström
03. Mew
04. The Soundtrack of Our Lives
05. The Radio Dept.
06. Moneybrother
07. Deportees
08. Britta Persson
09. Broder Daniel
10. Hello Saferide

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01. Håkan Hellström
02. The Legends
03. Mew
04. Kristofer Åström
05. Fanfarlo
06. Anna Ternheim
07. The Radio Dept.
08. Phoenix
09. Jonathan Johansson
10. Red House Painters

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It's been more than a year since The Late Parade released their debut EP. Now they have just finished the recordings of their first full-length and much-promising album "In chase of red beads". Their sound will please all Mew fans with darker tendencies and the instantly recognisable, falsetto-driven vocals of Rune Vigil add-up to the character of the band. They are currently on a mini-European tour that includes Belgium and some dates in Germany, followed-up by a couple of gigs in native Copenhagen. It's a Trap! attended the first gig of this tour in Brussels and had a chat with bassist Nicolai Qvindbjerg.

How does it feel having finished recording the record?

It's weird and amazing, because now you only want to get it out there and get people's response. We've been working on it for four months and initially we only planned it to be one month.

What happened?

I don't know. When you are in a creative mood and you have to rewrite something. You get a lot of ideas, so it always takes longer than you expect.

You're not using any samples. Have you got anything against them?

No, we haven't got anything against them. Up till now we had the idea that we wanted to play it, and not push a button. We discussed it though. We all agreed that we wanted to try to make the best of what we have. Sampling is not like cheating at all. A lot of bands use it and it's great.

How would you say your sound and the band have evolved over the years, especially with the addition of the new members?

We now got Troelz, our new keyboardist, he's been with us since we started the recordings of the album in the summer and it all has evolved really quickly to the better, we all think. Initially we started with not that many instruments, with no drummer. I think it's a normal and typical way that bands evolve.

How come you recorded your debut EP in a church? Whose idea was it? How did it feel recording in it?

In Denmark churches have become places were people can hold concerts and exhibitions and stuff like that and we always wanted to have a church tour. We always had this thing for big rooms and open spaces, so the recording in a church came vey natural.

How did it feel recording in it?

It was a very strange feeling actually. It was very difficult to control the big room. But I think we managed to get a unique result soundwise. It sounded great but with the new album we wanted to move to another place.

How did it feel when you found out that Gaffa thinks "you are going to be big in 2009"?

We actually applied for that a couple of times before! [Laughs] It was really great! Of course you like it when someone appreciates what you're doing.

How did it feel playing to a non-Danish audience?

It's actually weird, because it's kind of a relief not playing at home. People are more open-minded abroad I think… No one knows you and they either like you or they don't. They don't hide it I think. You get an honest opinion.

Have you played abroad before?

Only one gig actually. We played in Luxembourg during our recordings. Now we have some dates coming up, in Denmark as well, and we're really looking forward to it.

How did the record deal in Japan happen?

I think Japan happened through Myspace. It's almost like a cliché now. [Laughs]

Are you going to play there?

We are negotiating at the moment. We don't know yet, there might be something during the summer.

Talk to me about the "We will walk straight through this wall" video.

The two Danish guys who did it have made some works for other Danish bands before. They really liked the song and they had some stuff lying around, and they put together a teaser for us and we liked it.

What's the story in the video?

I would like people to figure it out themselves. Apart from having a naked girl on a video, there is stuff about loss and absence. You will have to look deeper into it. But I guess it's controversial, we won't get it on MTV.

What was its reception?

Well, there was all this writing about us not being allowed to be shown on Danish television, because of the naked girl and the masturbation and drinking and smoking and stuff like that. But the funny thing is that the video got a lot of publicity and people talked about it.

Why is the Danish music scene booming nowadays?

I don't know, maybe people got tired of the same old stuff on the radio. I don't think there's a simple answer for it.

Is there a typical songwriting procedure?

Rune, our lead singer, writes always the songs. He brings in an idea and then we develop it in the rehearsal room.

For the people that never heard of you and are reading this: why should they listen to The Late Parade?

We think our music has got something new to it. It's music that people either like or dislike. Rune's voice is quite characteristic and I encourage people to check us out.

Words and picture by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos

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

01. Niccokick - The poet
02. TALK 1
03. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
04. David Sandström - Apropå det här med att finnas till
05. Mew - Why are you looking grave?
06. TALK 2
07. C.Aarmé - Rhythm
08. Dieter Schöön - Lot's of free Shoes but nowhere to run
09. Meshuggah - Pravus
10. TALK 3
11. Elin Ruth Sigvardsson - Antidote
12. The Bear Quartet - Volksblues
13. Ljudbilden & Piloten - Wedding
14. Lack - Naked girls
15. TALK 4
16. Don't Be A Stranger - Lonely together
17. Namur - Marching
18. NEI - Trip to Luleå
19. TALK 5
20. Printer - All right
21. Moto Boy - Beat heart
22. Christel Alsos - Come back to me
23. TALK 6
24. Promoe - Headache
25. Mustasch - Dogwash
26. Montt Mardié - Too many songs unwritten
27. Pascal - Smärtstillande
28. TALK 7
29. Pan Sonic - Virta 1
30. Pekker - Ass electro
31. Regulations - Police siren
32. TALK 8
33. Deud - Lördag
34. Linus Larsson & John Roger Olsson - Beyond the south tunnel
35. Barra Head - Undermine
36. TALK 9
37. Aerial - Kallisti
38. Paris - Office killer
39. Lukestar - The shade you hide
40. TALK 10
41. Jazkamer - Metal music machine

01. Radiohead – In rainbows
02. Sambassadeur – Migration
03. José González – In our nature
04. The Postal Service – Give up
05. Shout Out Louds – Our ill wills
06. Mew – Frengers
07. Beirut – Gulag orkestar
08. The Knife – Silent shout
09. Radiohead – OK computer
10. The Arcade Fire – Funeral

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

]]> Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:00:46 -0800 news charts http://www.itsatrap.com/n/19545 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/19545 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/19545#comments Eardrums profiles new Norwegian act Melody Marshals, a band they describe as a mix of Muse, Mew and Placebo: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2007/09/28/new-music-from-norway-melody-marshals/]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:16:39 -0700 news general http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25818-death-by-kite-s-t-quartermain http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25818-death-by-kite-s-t-quartermain http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25818-death-by-kite-s-t-quartermain#comments Death By Kite have the unique ability to exude all the confidence of influences Placebo, Mew, and Sonic Youth, whilst simultaneously enjoying a degree of forgiveness afforded by their youthful energy and honest approach. The end result is a record that feels at once familiar and novel, both responses enhanced by their diacritically juxtaposed counterparts. There's a strangely nostalgic quality to the music, fashioned from the band's influences and the lo-fi production, that also adds yet another touch of authority to Death By Kite's self-titled effort. If you've been looking for a record drenched in delayed guitars and vocals reminiscent of Brian Molkos' delivery, that concurrently radiates a record overlooked in the late 90s and an album combining the dirtier approaches of contemporary bands like Figurines with the wonderfully dark musings of Joy Division... look little further. The Swedish part of me hates to admit it, but these Danes really have done well.]]> Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1027 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1027 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/1027#comments Danish act Port Largo has two new tracks posted on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/portlargo
They were both recorded with producer Carsten Heller (Nephew, Spleen United, Broken Beats, etc.) and sound pretty cool, so go check it out. The first track "Breakdown into fiction" makes me thinkMew gone electro/post-punk.]]> Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2130 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2130 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2130#comments Largehearted Boy is starting to compile various live recordings from SXSW, including many Scandinavian artists such as Mew and Peter Bjorn and John: http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2007/03/2007_sxsw_live.html]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2558 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2558 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2558#comments Updated tourdates for Mew:

03/14 - SXSW (KEXP's Live from Austin City Limits show), Austin, TX
03/15 - SXSW (Brooklyn Vegan/Advanced Alternative Media party), Austin, TX
03/16 - SXSW (Under the Radar party), Austin, TX
03/17 - La Zona Rosa (SXSW), Austin, TX
03/20 - Black Cat, Washington, DC
03/22 - Irving Plaza, New York, NY
03/23 - Paradise, Boston, MA
03/26 - Mod Club, Toronto, Ontario
03/28 - Double Door, Chicago, IL
03/31 - Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
04/02 - Neumos, Seattle, WA
04/03 - Richard's on Richards, Vancouver, BC
04/04 - Aladdin Theatre, Portland, OR
04/06 - Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
04/07 - Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
07/03 - Quart Festival, Kristiansand (NOR)]]> Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2660 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2660 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/2660#comments Mew has posted the first in what they say will be a series of video journals: http://www.mewsite.com/journal.php]]> Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3332 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3332 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3332#comments Mew's major label debut "Frengers" will get a stateside release on January 23 via Columbia. I thought "And the glass handed kites" was good, but "Frengers" is way better.]]> Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news 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/25646-top-10s-for-2006-closer http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25646-top-10s-for-2006-closer http://www.itsatrap.com/n/25646-top-10s-for-2006-closer#comments 01. Tool (live in Gothenburg)

02. Mew (band)

03. The Baritone (instrument)

04. MySpace (hack)

05. Converge - No Heroes (album)

06. God Damn Trio (band, www.goddamntrio.com)

07. Satyricon (live in Gothenburg)

08. Caché (movie)

09. Halloween (costume party)

10. Laleh (live on Swedish morning show Nyhetsmorgon)


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

Closer is officially booked to record their second EP during the first week of January. They are currently in the midst of rehearsing, preparing and arranging. It might get darker and even more intricate this time around.
www.closersounds.com
www.myspace.com/closersounds

]]> Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 articles top10s http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3477 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3477 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/3477#comments Aftonbladet reports that Kent is preparing a new album: http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,945339,00.html
The band recorded at Allaire Studios in New York with Danish producer Jon "Joshua" Schumann (Kashmir, Mew, Carpark North).]]> Mon, 04 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26087-animasola-doors-tainted-self-released http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26087-animasola-doors-tainted-self-released http://www.itsatrap.com/n/26087-animasola-doors-tainted-self-released#comments Animasola are really really influenced by the 80s stadium rock schtick. The two tracks showcased on this single feature the band heavily in awe of early U2 and Simple Minds. However, this isn't such a bad thing as the Animasola do a very convincing job of breathing fresh life into the genre alongside such contemporaries as fellow Scandinavians Mew. Now all they need is a video laden with crashing waves on a rain sodden day and they're sorted in terms of sending up the genre.]]> Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0800 reviews http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4015 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4015 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4015#comments Pitchfork talks to Mew frontman Jonas Bjerre: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39195/Interview_Mew]]> Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4278 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4278 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4278#comments Chromewaves is underwhelmed (and a bit weirded out) by Mew's live show: http://www.chromewaves.net/index.php?itemid=2352]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4318 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4318 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4318#comments This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group top 10 albums of the week:

01. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
02. The Knife - Silent Shout
03. Camera Obscura - Let's Get out of This Country
04. The Knife - Deep Cuts
05. The Postal Service - Give Up
06. Tiger Lou - The Loyal
07. The Killers - Hot Fuss
08. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
09. Mew - Frengers
10. Hello Saferide - Introducing...

Top 10 tracks for the week:

01. Marit Bergman – No Party
02. Britta Persson – You Are Not My Boyfriend
03. Marit Bergman – Sun Goes Down
04. Marit Bergman – Mama, I Remember You Now
05. The Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
06. I'm from Barcelona – We're From Barcelona
07. The Knife – Heartbeats
08. The Knife – Neverland
09. Britta Persson – Winter Tour
10. Yo La Tengo – Beanbag Chair

Want to make your own playlist count? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4574 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4574 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4574#comments 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/]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4635 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4635 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4635#comments Mew will return to the US in September for a batch of support dates with Kasabian:

09/17 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
09/20 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
09/21 - Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
09/24 - Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH
09/26 - Club Soda, Montreal, Quebec
09/27 - Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
09/29 - St. Andrew's Hall, Detroit, MI
10/02 - Metro, Chicago, IL
10/03 - The Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
10/05 - Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
10/07 - Gothic Theatre, Denver, CO
10/11 - The Fonda, Los Angeles, CA
10/13 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
10/15 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC (headline)
10/16 - Neumos, Seattle, WA (headline)
10/17 - Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR (headline)]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4661 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4661 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4661#comments Indieworkshop.com interviews Mew: http://www.indieworkshop.com/interviews.php?id=151]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4666 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4666 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4666#comments This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group top 10 albums of the week:

01. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
02. Tiger Lou - The Loyal
03. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
04. The Postal Service - Give Up
05. The Knife - Silent Shout
06. Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites
07. Radiohead - Kid A
08. The Radio Dept. - Lesser Matters
09. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
10. Camera Obscura - Let's Get out of This Country

Top 10 tracks for the week:

01. Marit Bergman – No Party
02. Tiger Lou – Until I'm There
03. Thom Yorke – harrowdown hill
04. Timo Räisänen – Fear no darkness, promised child
05. Kasabian – Empire
06. Tiger Lou – The Loyal
07. Tiger Lou – Nixon
08. Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
09. The Lovekevins – Happy Happy
10. Mew – Apocalypso

Want to make your own playlist count? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/]]> Mon, 28 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4717 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4717 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4717#comments With all the attention Mew has been getting recently, it's no surprise that the band's 1997 debut "A triumph of man" will be getting the reissue treatment. It comes out on September 18 and will include a bonus disc of demos and acoustic tracks. I haven't heard it myself, but would recommend anyone who is enjoying "And the glass handed kites" to pick up "Frengers", the album considered by many (including myself) to be their best work.]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4727 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4727 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4727#comments Frank at Chromewaves is impressed by Danish acts Mew and Under Byen: http://www.chromewaves.net/index.php?itemid=2311]]> Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4744 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4744 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4744#comments Download a live recording of Mew performing four songs acoustic for AOL: http://aolradio.podcast.aol.com/aolmusic/The_Interface_Mew.mp3]]> Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4842 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4842 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4842#comments Mew reports back from their US tour: http://www.mewsite.com/journal.php]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4915 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4915 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4915#comments Pitchfork bestows it's coveted 'recommended' tag upon Mew: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/37708/Mew_And_the_GlassHanded_Kites]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4931 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4931 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4931#comments Stylus reviews Mew's latest: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/mew/and-the-glass-handed-kites.htm]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4932 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4932 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/4932#comments This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Radiohead
02. Kent
03. Sufjan Stevens
04. The Knife
05. Peter Bjorn and John
06. Franz Ferdinand
07. The Pipettes
08. The Smiths
09. Death Cab for Cutie
10. Mew

Top 10 tracks for the week:

01. Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks
02. Peter Bjorn and John – Let's call it off
03. Thom Yorke – And it rained all night
04. Tiger Lou – Nixon
05. Lily Allen – Smile
06. Peter Bjorn and John – Paris 2004
07. The Postal Service – Such Great Heights
08. Thom Yorke – The eraser
09. Thom Yorke – Analyse
10. Thom Yorke – The clock

Want to make your own playlist count? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5009 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5009 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5009#comments Indieworkshop on the US release of Mew's latest: http://www.indieworkshop.com/music.php?id=2622]]> Mon, 31 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5131 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5131 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5131#comments This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group most-played artist chart:

01. The Knife
02. Radiohead
03. Death Cab for Cutie
04. Kent
05. Belle and Sebastian
06. Thom Yorke
07. Hello Saferide
08. Mew
09. Franz Ferdinand
10. Sonic Youth

Top 10 albums (new!) for the week:

01. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
02. The Knife - Silent Shout
03. Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
04. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
05. Hello Saferide - Introducing...
06. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
07. Camera Obscura - Let's Get out of This Country
08. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
09. Radiohead - OK Computer
10. Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street

Want to make your own playlist count? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5694 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5694 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5694#comments Danish epic rock act Mew will finally come to the US for a few dates supporting Bloc Party:

07/28 - Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
07/29 - McCarran Pool, Brooklyn, NY
08/01 - The Grove, Anaheim, CA
08/03 - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
08/04 - Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
08/09 - Warehouse Live,Houston, TX
08/10 - Stubbs BBQ, Austin, TX]]> Mon, 22 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5889 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5889 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/5889#comments Via Eardrums comes word that Magnus Robot Børmark and Sveinung Sundli of the Norwegian avant-goth/folk act Gåte have a new band called 22. Can't get much more Google-unfriendly than that! Anyhow, you can listen to a few songs at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thisis22
Reminds me a bit of Mew 'cept with more of a caterwauling/Jeff Buckley-esque singer.]]> Tue, 09 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6054 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6054 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6054#comments This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group most-played artist chart:

01. The Radio Dept.
02. Death Cab for Cutie
03. Radiohead
04. Belle and Sebastian
05. The Knife
06. The Flaming Lips
07. The Smiths
08. Mew
09. Håkan Hellström
10. Sufjan Stevens

Top 10 tracks for the week? All Radio Dept.:

01. The Radio Dept. - A window
02. The Radio Dept. - Pet grief
03. The Radio Dept. - Tell
04. The Radio Dept. - Every time
05. The Radio Dept. - Sleeping in
06. The Radio Dept. - Always a relief
07. The Radio Dept. - South side
08. The Radio Dept. - It's Personal
09. The Radio Dept. - Gibraltar
10. The Radio Dept. - I wanted you to feel the same

Want to see your favorites listed here? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6219 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6219 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6219#comments Bassist Johan Wohlert has decided to leave Mew due to his impending fatherhood. Read the full statement from the band and from Johan himself: http://www.mewsite.com/]]> Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6324 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6324 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6324#comments Mew is now offering up streams of all their latest b-sides: http://www.mewsite.com/news/news.php]]> Tue, 04 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6380 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6380 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6380#comments The video for the new Mew single "The zookeeper's boy" is now online: wmv / rm / qt]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6427 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6427 http://www.itsatrap.com/n/6427#comments This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group most-played artist chart:

01. The Knife
02. Belle and Sebastian
03. Death Cab for Cutie
04. The Concretes
05. Radiohead
06. The Strokes
07. Morrissey
08. Tiger Lou
09. Håkan Hellström
10. Mew

Top 10 tracks for the week:

01. Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
02. José González - Heartbeats
03. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
04. The Radio Dept. - The worst taste in music
05. The Strokes - Heart in a Cage
06. Morrissey - The Youngest Was The Most Loved
07. Le Sport - it's not the end of the world
08. The Concretes - Chosen One
09. The Strokes - You Only Live Once
10. José González - Crosses

Want to see your favorites listed here? Please join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/]]> Tue, 28 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 news