IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

New label: Father Figure Records

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:42:03 -0700

Father Figure Records is a new Danish label, home to Icelandic artist Dad Rocks! (aka Snævar Njáll Albertsson of Mimas), and wholly devoted to Creative Commons music licensing: http://fatherfigurerecords.com/
Dad Rocks!' debut album "Mount modern" will be released on November 8 with the labels Paper Garden Records (US), Big Scary Monsters Records (UK) and Kimi Records (ICE) each handling it in their respective territories.

Festival report: SPOT Festival 2011

Tue, 31 May 2011 13:20:54 -0700

This year's SPOT Festival (May 27-28, 2011 in Aarhus, Denmark) was another successful industry showcase for Danish and Scandinavian music.

After a sun-baked SPOT last year, skies were gloomy for the 17th annual SPOT festival, but a splattering of rain didn't dampen the mood of the international delegates and local crowds. This is primarily an indoor festival anyway, spread across a handful of Aarhus' cultural venues and some additional tented stages.

(Speaking of Aarhus' skies, on the Saturday a rainbow-inspired installation by the artist Olafur Eliasson, whose works play with the idea of manufacturing the weather, opened on the roof of the Aros contemporary gallery. The permanent work is called "Your Rainbow Panorama", and from now on anyone who comes here for the SPOT Festival can also walk inside it to experience colourful 360 degree views of Aarhus below. For more info on that, see www.aros.dk)

Among the most talked about new bands at SPOT this year was Just A Number 05272011, with a sound garnering comparisons to Fever Ray and The Knife. The band played their first ever public gig here, having previously only been heard online.

Ahead of the show the act was shrouded in mystery, with some people believing Just A Number to be a male solo artist from the Isle of Man, as mischievously implied on their SoundCloud site. Some journalists told me they had sought interview, and been turned down.

The show didn't feature any Knife-style masks or disguises though, and revealed them to be a mixed-gender band, fronted by a female singer. I'm told by someone who works with them that they are Danes, despite one of the two festival programs listing them as Swedes. They played a great, innovative set, realising dance music through live instrumentation. If you want to check them out, here's a link: http://soundcloud.com/just-a-number-05272011

Female performers seemed to dominate this year's most packed-out SPOT shows, in the shape of acts like Denmark's Our Broken Garden a vehicle for the beautifully spooky vocals of Anna Bronsted. She and her band played an intimate show in the city's cathedral the night before the festival, and on the Friday night were the final act to play the main Musikhuset venue.

Two very different sirens of Danish pop/rock, Fallulah and Oh Land, each drew big crowds and kept them dancing. Oh Land's strength and vigour as a live performer allowed her show to transcend its wilfully dippy lyrics about dream and rainbows.

Less full, but brilliant, was a show by Norwegian indie rockers Harrys Gym. Fun fact: singer Anne Lise Frøkedal is apparently the sister of The Megaphonic Thrift's bassist Linn Frøkedal.

Sweden's Jenny Wilson is a woman who has transformed her music and herself since her time fronting the band First Floor Power, finding inspiration in R&B and funk. She played her SPOT show on Friday night in the main Musikhuset, with the Tensta Gospel Choir. Nina Kinert, a cult Swedish indie star in her own right, added flute and saxophone. Wilson seemed to be on a Grace Jones tip in a daring black cat suit and 'statement' hat, and fans were out in force to cheer her on.

SPOT wasn't all about the girls, though. Vinnie Who returned for a show that was packed out in seconds, and the festival would have felt incomplete without Treefight For Sunlight, Danes who now have an increasingly international fanbase thanks to support from the label Bella Union.

It was also a special festival for Alcoholic Faith Mission, who were upgraded this year to playing the main Store Sal hall of the Musikhuset venue, and whose pre-stage jitters (their manager says they were very nervous) were rewarded by a standing ovation at the end of their set.

For those who came looking for Icelandic sounds, there were shows by Dad Rocks!, the solo project of expat Snævar Njáll Albertsson from Mimas; 'Icelandic Elvis' Mugison; and the bands Ham and Dikta. Dikta's single "Thank you" recently became the most-played song in the history of Icelandic radio, for what that's worth.

Acts who seemed to win new fans included chirpy Danish sisters Pil and Liv and, gaining a lot of attention, the rather lovely and eccentric Danish band Raised Among Wolves.

To check out the full list of musicians who played SPOT this year and hear their music, visit www.spotfestival.dk

- Sophy Grimshaw

Mimas to tour UK in October, offer new track for download

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:33:57 -0700

Mimas will be back in the UK in October:

10/20 - tba, (UK)
10/21 - Swn Fest (BSM Showcase), Cardiff (UK)
10/22 - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich (UK)
10/23 - Brainwash Festival (afternoon show), Leeds (UK)
10/23 - The Head of Steam, Newcastle (UK)
10/24 - The Captains Rest, Glasgow (UK)
10/25 - The Harley, Sheffield (UK)
10/26 - Luminaire, London (UK)

Get a new track from the band here: http://www.tweetforatrack.com/Mimas

Mimas to get UK release in October

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:40:11 -0700

Mimas will have their new album "Lifejackets" released in the UK on October 24 via Big Scary Monsters Records. Look for coinciding tourdates to be announced soon.

Mimas in Germany

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:26:20 -0800

Mimas will be heading to Germany for a few days at the end of the month:

03/31 - Bang Bang Club, Berlin
04/01 - Exhause, Trier
04/02 - Hafen 2, Offenbach
04/03 - Bois des Isles, Marbehan
04/04 - Astra Stube, Hamburg

Mimas live in Reading

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:37:01 -0800

Check out a live concert video of Mimas performing in Reading: http://www.beatcast.tv/page/mimas-1

Mimas back to the UK in October

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:00:59 -0700

Mimas will be back in the UK in October:

10/09 - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
10/10 - Royal Park Cellars, Leeds
10/11 - The Captains Rest, Glasgow
10/12 - City Screen Basement, York
10/13 - tba, Sheffield
10/14 - The Flapper, Birmingham
10/15 - The Chameleon Arts Cafe, Nottingham

Mimas on tour

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:48:07 -0700

Danish postrockers Mimas are leaving on tour today:

06/08 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
06/09 - Live At Dot, Berlin (GER)
06/10 - Studio 672, Köln (GER)
06/11 - The Grand Wazoo, Amiens (FRA)
06/12 - L’escalier, Liège (BEL)
06/13 - Mécanique ondulatoire, Paris (FRA)
06/14 - Radio Planet Claire Session, Paris (FRA)
06/15 - The Boschbar, Zurich (CH)
06/17 - D:Qliq (LUX)
06/18 - The Captain Tavern, Rouen (FRA)
06/19 - Cafe Du Clain, Poitiers (FRA)
06/20 - Le Sambre, Rennes (FRA)
06/21 - Fête De La Musique, Nantes (FRA)
06/23 - Le Cri De La Mouette, Toulouse (FRA)
06/24 - Localypso II, Pau- Lons (FRA)
06/25 - Fotomaton, Madrid (ESP)
06/26 - Sala El Vermell, Barcelona, Manrese (ESP)
06/27 - Sala InCivíc Zone, Barcelona (ESP)
06/28 - The Sonic, Lyon (FRA)

The Silent Ballet reviews 'The worries'

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:04:24 -0800

The Silent Ballet reviews the latest Mimas album "The worries": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2052/Default.aspx

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:48:18 -0800

Danish postrock act Mimas has signed with French indie label Distile Records and will see their latest album "The worries" released throughout Europe this coming February, excluding the UK and Denmark where it is already available via Big Scary Monsters. Expect tourdates to follow.

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:59:11 -0700

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

01. Mimas - Cats on fire
02. TALK 1
03. Martin Vogel - Pick A D
04. Jonna Lee - The light
05. Abalone Dots - Over Georgia
06. TALK 2
07. Tobias Hellkvist - Ships of the North Atlantic
08. Lapko - Killer whales
09. The Social Services - The Baltic Sea
10. TALK 3
11. Hello Saferide - I wonder who is like this one
12. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Cecta
13. C.Aarmé - Tu puta mi casa
14. TALK 4
15. Pay TV - Fashion report
16. The Goner - The last folk song
17. Tomas Halberstad - Travel as I wait
18. Darkthrone - Raised on rock
19. TALK 5
20. Commando M Pigg - Att kasta spjut

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

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:14:58 -0700

Mimas' new video for "Cats on fire" is now posted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGLVDbYx_jo

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:00:28 -0700

The 405 calls the new Mimas album "The worries" a "masterpiece": http://thefourohfive.com/2008/09/15/mimas-the-worries/

MP3: Mimas - Mac, get your gear

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:29:53 -0700

Mimas traffics in postrock textures and timbres, but their music really draws more on post-Radiohead style melancholy alt-rock for inspiration. Which is postrock in a way, as they abandon all typical verse-chorus structures, but the music is still very, very rock. That's actually why I like them -- so many postrock bands tiptoe around actual heaviness or take so long to get there it barely matters, but Mimas actively embraces large outbursts of explosive distortion. They are also quite good at arranging vocals, another critical postrock shortcoming. If I have to endure another bout of soft whispered poetry, please kill me ok? I was sick of it by the time Indian Summer put out their 2nd 7". Anyhow, Mimas still have room to grow, but they show promise and, most importantly, are brimming with enthusiasm. I like that.

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:29:20 -0700

Danish postrock act Mimas has a song from their forthcoming record posted on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mimas

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:19:13 -0700

Danish art-rock act Mimas will release their debut full-length "The worries" via Big Scary Monsters on October 6 and they'll also be heading to the UK to do a full tour in support:

09/02 - The Barfly, London w/This Town Needs Guns, Pennines
09/03 - Moles, Bath
09/04 - The Cellar, Oxford
09/05 - Dog and Partridge, Bolton
09/06 - Dry Bar, Manchester
09/07 - The Rainbow, Birmingham
09/08 - tbc, Ashford
09/09 - The Hope, Brighton
09/10 - Talking Heads, Southampton
09/11 - The Swan, Ipswich
09/12 - Norwich Arts Center, Norwich w/Pennines

Hear samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mimas

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:47:50 -0700

The Silent Ballet has posted two new volumes of their postrock comp series for free download: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/
I'd highlight the Scandinavians for you, but Icelandic artists Olafur Arnalds and Mimas are the only ones I immediately recognize.

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:56:36 -0700

Gaffa reports that Danish "death-indie" act Mimas is finalizing negotiations with a Brittish label for the release of a full-length album this fall: http://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=22234
The band has previously done a split 7" with UK-based label Worst Case Scenario Records and has also contributed a song to a comp released by Big Scary Monsters Records.

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:49:02 -0700

The Silent Ballet reviews Danish/Icelandic postrock act Mimas: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/854/Default.aspx

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

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

01. Sahara Hotnights - Visit to Vienna
02. TALK 1
03. José González - Down the line
04. Anna Ternheim - Girl laying down
05. The Bear Quartet - The supremes
06. TALK 2
07. New Decade - I guess you ran from something
08. Commando M Pigg - Allt genast
09. Mikkel Metal - Bano
10. TALK 3
11. Johan Hedberg - Nygubbe4
12. Mikko Singh - Toisella puolella
13. Mimas - Thought discuss
14. Fattaru - 100:-
15. TALK 4
16. Sista Sekunden - Jag är aldrig nöjd
17. E.S.T. - Tuesday wonderland
18. Syster Lycklig - Drömgränd
19. TALK 5
20. The End Will Be Kicks - Ass of a friend
21. The Grizzly Twister - Tigers made of paper
22. Samuel Jackson Five - Easily misunderstood
23. Grande Roses - Dead town
24. TALK 6
25. Thomas Dybdahl - B A part
26. Njurmännen - Cold meat industry
27. Tobias Hellkvist - Moment at ven
28. TALK 7
29. David Sandström Overdrive - Here's for summer
30. Randy - Freedom song
31. Kalle J - Vart stack du?
32. The Flaming Sideburns - Bad trip
33. TALK 8
34. The Bell - I am history
35. Lack - Pessimist poetry
36. The State of Floral Beings - Andy
37. Fireside - Problem (to you)
38. TALK 9
39. Firefox AK - Love to run
40. Manes - Cinder alley
41. Lukestar - Untitled
42. TALK 10
43. Oskar Schönning - S

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

Swedish post-rockers Ef have announced that their new album will be called "Give me beauty... or give me death". Just a little dramatic, eh? See them live:

03/10 - Hugos, Norrköping (SWE) w/Kristian Anttila
04/26 - Sticky Fingers, Gothenburg (SWE)
05/20 - ViRi Festival, Eindhoven (NL)
05/22 - Carlo Levi, Liege (BEL)
05/23 - Club Keller, Frankfurt (GER)
05/24 - Az Conni, Dresden (GER) w/Mobile
05/25 - Béi Chéz Heinz, Hannover (GER) w/Delbo and Klez_e
05/26 - Asta Stube, Hamburg (GER)
05/27 - 1000fryd, Aalborg (DK) w/Mimas
08/07 - Formanova Festival, Fredricia (DK)
09/21 - The Grapes, Sheffield (UK) w/Alex Kid
09/22 - Catch 22, London (UK) w/UpCandDownC
09/23 - Tap N Tin, Chatham (UK) w/UpCandDownC