IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O unveil single, album coming in June

Fri, 20 May 2011 18:42:22 -0700

Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O, the new band featuring ex-members of Madrugada/My Midnight Creeps/Ricochets, have just released their debut single "Next" and have confirmed that their debut album will be released on June 10.

André Holstad - Corporation

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:47:01 -0700

André Holstad, an NRK Urørt winner from a few years back, will be releasing a new album on Universal Music later this year and here's the first sample: http://soundcloud.com/booking-26-1/corporation
Kinda reminds me of a Ricochets tune.

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:39:13 -0800

Norwegian act Rumble in Rhodos will be going into Athletic Sound Studio in Halden to begein recording a new album with producer Kai Andersen (Madrugada, Ricochets, Saint Thomas, etc.). Assuming all goes according to plan, expect an April 28 release via Black Balloon Records in Norway with an international release to follow soon thereafter. The band will tour Europe with fellow Norwegians Dominic starting in late March with homeland dates to follow in May.

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:47:25 -0800

The playlist for this week's radio show, an all-winter theme:

01. Ricochets - Cold outside
02. TALK 1
03. Shining - Winterreise
04. Britta Persson - Winter tour
05. Svenson - In the snow
06. Weeping Willows - Christmas in prison
07. TALK 2
08. The Tiny - No money (for X-mas)
09. Kompjotr Eplektrika - Blikktztunddonner
10. The Knife - Reindeer
11. TALK 3
12. Hello Saferide - iPod X-mas
13. January Jaunt - Stuck in glaziers
14. Darkthrone - Too old, too cold
15. TALK 4
16. Sällskapet - Nordlicht
17. E.S.T. - Strange place for snow
18. Sort Mel - Det grønne flesket
19. Notre Dame - A scrooge tale
20. TALK 5
21. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - Winter moment
22. Syster Lycklig - Bilden till snöstorm
23. The Book of Daniel - 3rd of December
24. TALK 6
25. Samuraj Cities - Cold feet
26. Amandine - Silver bells
27. Logcabin - View of frost
28. Silverbullit - Winter coat
29. TALK 7
30. In Flames - December flower
31. Viktor Sjöberg - On a winters day
32. The Bear Quartet - Blizzard
33. TALK 8
34. Brick - Gray day
35. Laakso - Merry Christmas
36. Strayfolk - Another year before the mast
37. TALK 9

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)".

My Midnight Creeps Histamin MMC Records/EMI

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

My Midnight Creeps are fronted by the dynamic duo of Robert Burås from Madrugada (here going by the name Bobby Cagehill) and Alex Kloster-Jensen from the Ricochets. That's a great deal of guitar power, and they put it to good use on their second record, which is a considerable improvement on their strong debut. They make no pretenses to originality. To the contrary, they offer a familiar take on swampy, bluesy, dark and heavy rock'n'roll. The old blues singers of the Deep South meet the British 60s, wind their way through 1970s Detroit and 1980s LA, and land in Norway, bringing some touches of Scandi guitar psychedelia with them. They swagger through songs about women, having the blues, and being wronged. It's big, it's bombastic, it's meant to be played loud, and it covers no new territory. But it's so very well done. The musicianship is stellar, and the band seems to be having such fun playing that it's hard not to feel good listening. Then there are passages in these songs - mostly instrumental - where they achieve that rare wall of surging atmosphere that transcends everything else and makes you stop whatever you're doing just to revel in it. Big bombastic rock'n'roll fun interspersed with moments of rock'n'roll perfection? Play it loud.

Sat, 05 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Friday's Sirius Blog Radio playlist:

01. The Alpine - Mondays look the same
02. TALK 1
03. Gravy - Back with the nerds
04. Giant Robot - Best match
05. Jomi Massage - A detail
06. TALK 2
07. Broder Daniel - Shoreline
08. The Grand Opening - Don't drop off
09. Moonbabies - Take me to the ballroom
10. Britta Persson - Oh how wrong
11. TALK 3
12. Lemonator - Would you die for me?
13. Trapdoor Fucking Exit - Short ends
14. Billie the Vision and the Dancers - Overdosing with you
15. TALK 4
16. Folie - Rocin
17. Robyn - Handle me
18. Laakso - Norrköping
19. TALK 5
20. Magnet - I walk the line
21. Isolation Years - Albino child
22. KVLR - Construction work
23. TALK 6
24. Anna Leong - 61
25. Tigerbombs - One giant leap
26. Motorpsycho - Hyena
27. TALK 7
28. Oskar Schönning - Other birds
29. Pan Sonic - Rähinä II / Mayhem II
30. Mercyful Fate - Evil
31. TALK 8
32. Ricochets - Come around over
33. Ghost Brigade - Based on you
34. Smalltown - The music
35. Popface - In the night
36. TALK 9
37. Circle Six - 1

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

Norwegian rockers The Grand have posted their new single "Traveling bound" for listening on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thegrandspace
Reminds me of the Ricochets or My Midnight Creeps, 'cept with a little more boogie to it.

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Ricochets will go on indefinite hiatus once again following the show at Raumarock in Åndalsnes, Norway on August 4. Whether or not the band will return after said hiatus remains to be seen.

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

I'm not posting a new mp3 today because I have something even better for you, the tracklist for "It's a trap! reader's companion volume two". Behold:

01. HELLO SAFERIDE - If I don't write this song, someone I love will die (SWE)
from the album "Introducing: Hello Saferide" (Razzia)
02. RICOCHETS - Cold outside (NOR)
from the album "Isolation" (KongTiki)
03. VIOLA - Invisible revolution (FIN)
from the album "Anyone can stop us" (If Society)
04. BJÖRN KLEINHENZ - Pocket of gold (SWE)
previously unreleased
05. PLAIN FADE - Itä-Aure (FIN)
previously unreleased
06. THE BEAR QUARTET - Birds are singing deep within the greenery (SWE)
from the album "Saturday night" (A West Side Fabrication)
07. MOONBABIES - Take me to the ballroom (SWE)
from the as-yet-untitled forthcoming third full-length album (Moonbabies Music)
08. MUNCK//JOHNSON - Slavesong (DK)
from the album "Count your blessings" (PonyRec)
09. PHONOPHANI - I.F.A. (NOR)
from the self-titled album (Biophan [1998]/Rune Grammofon [2006])
10. MONEY.PAPER.THEPOLICE - Jim Morrison (SWE)
previously unreleased
11. DET GAMLA LANDET - När vi vaknar (SWE)
previously unreleased
12. THE FIRST MILES - The best one around (DK)
from the album "Aim for the heart, go!" (Little Bad Bear)
13. PARIS - Captain Morgan (SWE)
from the album "Secrets on tape" (Parismusic/V2)
14. THE END WILL BE KICKS - Medicine and airbags (SWE)
previously unreleased
15. DON JUAN DRACULA - Run away with you (NOR)
from the album "Young debutantes II" (Switch Off)
16. TIGER LOU - Nixon (SWE)
from the album "The loyal" (Startracks)
17. THE GRAND OPENING - Slow motion (SWE)
previously unreleased

Artwork is still being finalized, but if you head over to my myspace page you can see the cover art and listen to Björn Kleinhenz's track. Exact release date is still tbc, but I expect CDs in-hand by early April.

Top 10s for 2005: Sindre Ness (Bates Motel)

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Norwegian albums 2005 (alphabetical):
Adjágas - Adjágas
Helldorado - The ballad of Nora Lee
Hillstone Halos - Sunlit
In the Country - This was the pace of my heartbeat
Magnus Moriarty(tm) - Sky fi beatitude
My Midnight Creeps - MMC
Ricochets - Isolation
Samuel Jackson 5 - Easily misunderstood
Serena Maneesh - Serena-Maneesh
Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson - Unnoticable in a tiny town, invisible in the city

Foreign albums 2005 (alphabetical):
Ryan Adams - Jacksonville City Nights
Babyshambles - Down in Albion
Geoff Berner - Whiskey rabbi
Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah - Clap you hands, say yeah!
Richard Hawley - Coles corner
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
The Mainliners - Bring on the sweetlife
Sons and Daughters - The repultion box
Joakim Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
Travel by Sea - Shadows rise

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

Sindre Ness runs the excellent Norwegian music blog Bates Motel.
thelodger.blogspot.com

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Darin - Darin
02. Björn Afzelius - Björn Afzelius bästa
03. Ulf Lundell - Lazarus
04. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
05. Mauro Scocco - Herr Jimsons äventyr
06. Laleh - Laleh
07. Weeping Willows - Singles Again
08. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
09. Amy Diamond - This Is Me Now
10. Peter LeMarc - Sjutton sånger - LeMarc sjunger LeMarc
11. Louise Hoffsten - From Linköping to Memphis
12. Tommy Nilsson - Tiden Före Nu
13. Kent - Du & jag Döden
14. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten
15. Robyn - Robyn
16. Tom Levin - Me, My Band that I älskar
17. Musikal - Mamma Mia
18. Moneybrother - To Die Alone
19. Alf - Alfs andra
20. Ebba Grön - Samlingen

The website for Madrugada/Ricochets fuzz-rock sideproject My Midnight Creeps is now up and running with fall tourdays around Norway and a few songs for download: http://www.mymidnightcreeps.com/

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Check out the video for "I fell into a hole" from Norway's My Midnight Creeps: http://www.mymidnightcreeps.com/media/MMC-FDAH_accurate60.mov
The band features guitarists Alex Kloster-Jensen from the Ricochets and Robert Burås of Madrugada and have a dirty rock sound kinda like MC5 or The Sonics. (via)

MP3: Ricochets - No good

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

I've only had a chance to listen to the new Ricochets album "Isolation" a few times, but the song "No good" instantly jumped out at me. It's in a major key which is pretty much unheard of for these guys. Of course they still twist it around to bring out the anguish of the lyrics, but it still seems kinda... happy? Well, not really, but it is most definitely a change of pace from their usual downtrodden, noirish rock. What I like most about the tune is how epic it is - it reminds of Meat Loaf's bigger numbers. Not quite rock opera, but definitely dramatic. I approve.

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

The new website for Norway's Ricochets is now open: http://www.ricochets.net/
Be sure to check the 'Music' section for a track from the new album "Isolation".

Thu, 29 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Better late than never, Panorama.no lists their top picks from 2003:

Best Norwegian single:
01. Girls Keep Secrets in the Strangest Ways – Ephemera
02. Lay Lady Lay – Magnet feat. Gemma Hayes
03. Fuck the World – Turbonegro
04. Salt & Pepper – Kaizers Orchestra
05. Et Sunnhetstegn – Johndoe
06. Think Twice – Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band
07. Breaking news – Amulet
08. Skull EP – Martin Horntveth
09. You're the One that I Want – Jim Stärk feat. Claudia Scott
10. Lorraine EP – Lorraine

Best Norwegian album:
01. On Your Side – Magnet
02. The Ghost of Our Love – Ricochets
03. Waffy Town – Julian Berntzen
04. Evig Pint – Kaizers Orchestra
05. It's a Record – Sergeant Petter
06. The Perfect Cure – Lorraine
07. Scandinavian Leather – Turbonegro
08. Stray Dogs – Thomas Dybdahl
09. Hin Bordende Sod og Sø – Ásmegin
10. No Time Wasted – Jim Stãrk

Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Here's most of the nominees for the Spellemannprisen, Norway's answer to the Grammy:

Female pop soloist:
Lene Marlin - "Another Day"
Karin Park - "Superworldunknown"
Bertine Zetlitz - "Sweet Injections"

Male pop soloist:
Julian Berntzen - "Waffytown"
Thomas Dybdahl - "Stray Dogs"
Magnet - "On Your Side"

Pop group:
D'Sound - "Doublehearted"
Ephemera - "Air"
Number Seven Deli - "Falkner Street"

Electronica:
Snuten - "Welcome to the Jungle"
Ulver - "Teachings in Silence"
Xploding Plastix - "The Donca Matic Singalongs"

Rock:
Amulet - "Danger! Danger!"
Ricochets - "The Ghost Of Our Love"
Thulsa Doom - "And Then Take You To a Place Where Jars Are"
Turbonegro - "Scandinavian Leather"
We - "Lightyears Ahead"

Blues/Country:
Vidar Busk - "Love Buzz"
Amund Maarud - "Ripped, Stripped and Southern Fried"
Tumbleweed - "Once More, With Feeling"

Metal:
Dimmu Borgir - "Death Cult Armageddon"
Enslaved - "Below the Lights"
Old Man's Child - "In Defiance of Existence"

Hip-Hop:
Diaz - "Velkommen Hjem Andres"
Equicez - "State of Emergency"
Paperboys - "The Great Escape"

Jazz:
Atomic - "Boom Boom"
Toe Brunborg Quartet - "Gravity"
Karin Krog - "Where You At?"
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble - "Sofienberg Variations"
Håvard Wiik - "Postures"

Open class:
Anne-Lise Berntsen/Nils Asheim - "Kom Regn"
Hallvard Bjørgum & Co- "Free Field"
Motorpsycho/Jaga Jazzist Horns - "In the Fishtank"
Niko Valkeapää - "Niko Valkeapää"
When - "Pearl Harvest"

Music video:
Diaz - "Hvem er denne karen"
Folk og Røvere - "Utadæsjælåpplevelse"
Kaizers Orchestra - "Evig Pint"
Thomas Dybdahl - "Cecilia"
Bertine Zetlitz - "Girl Like You"

Best newcomer:
Julian Berntzen - "Whaffy Town"
Equicez - "State of Emergency"
Rebekka Karijord - "Neophyte"
Kurt Nilsen - "I"
Karin Park - "Superworldunknown"

Best song:
Maria Arrendondo - "In Love With An Angel"
David - "Wild At Heart"
Folk og Røvere - "Utadæsjælåpplevelse"
Lene Marlin - "You Weren’t There"
Kurt Nilsen - "She’s So High"

Go here for the rest: http://www.nrk.no/musikk/3399677.html

Top ten: 2003

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0800

Drum roll please! Here it is at last, the It's a trap! top 10 records of 2003...

10. Junior Senior - D-d-don't Stop the Beat (Crunchy Frog/Atlantic)
This record is 100% mindless entertainment and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially when it's done so well. For some reason, the geniuses behind the American version decided to tack on two bonus tracks and totally kill the way the album ends. I don't get it - it ruins the purpose of the fade out that runs back into the first song. Ridiculous.

09. Opeth - Damnation (Koch)
I've always been a big fan of Opeth's softer moments, so I eagerly anticipated the release of this record and was not let down at all. Besides being one of the better live shows I saw this year, this proves that the band can transcend the boundries of the metal genre into realms of prog and melodicism far beyond their peers. The fact that a number of my non-metal friends also consider this one of 2003's best proves it.

08. Kaizers Orchestra - Evig Pint (Broiler Farm)
Take the music of Tom Waits, add a dash of Sixteen Horsepower, throw in a heathy dose of Nordic/Eastern European folk, add some pump organ and metal percussion and you're just about there. The Kaizers manage to strike a great balance of huge pop hooks with a subtle dark and dangerous edge. Don't let the fact they sing in their native Norweigan tongue scare you off because you'd be missing out. I don't need to know what they're saying to know they're good.

07. The Knife - Deep Cuts (Rabid Records)
This is not your usual electropop. The brother/sister duo of Karin and Olof Dreijer use the same elements of others in the genre, but in the process they manage to craft something far more interesting and multifaceted. It may sound like simple dance music at first, but there is far, far more at work here. Karin's unique vocals may put you off at first, but trust me - they are just another part of what makes The Knife great. Give it time.

06. Isolation Years - It's Golden (MNW)
It took me all year to finally understand the qualities that make this record great. I decided to put this on during a drive through the pine forest while on vacation and suddenly it all made sense when combined with the scenery. Isolation Years is a great example of what I love about the Scandinavian scene, especially the bands from around Umeå. Their sound is so distinctive, yet I can't quite put my finger on it. I just know it when I hear it in their lyrics and melodies. So evocative.

05. José González - Veneer (Imperial Records)
This record was surrounded by so much hype I was ready to pan it just because of my contrary nature. But you know what? Sometimes there's tons of hype for a reason. Maybe not quite the second coming of Nick Drake like you may have been led to believe, but still damn good.

04. Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard (Chalksounds/Hidden Agenda)
I've said it before and I'll say it again - this is the pop record of the year. It's almost too flawless, it's so meticulously put together. If it doesn't grab you immediately, I'd check your pulse.

03. Beyond Dawn - Frysh (Peaceville)
Probably the only record this year from a band who followed up a previously great release (the amazingly titled "Electric Sulking Machine") with something even better, other than Logh (see #1). Beyond Dawn never ceases to amaze me as they grow and innovate. You can still hear traces of their doom metal past in their refined, modern sound, but they have moved into a realm beyond genres. Listen to their cover of Autopsy's "Severed Survival" and maybe you'll understand. It really is a crime how underappreciated this band is.

02. Carpet People - More Bad Weather Coming Out of the Rain (Chalksounds)
The perfect companion soundtrack for a long northern winter. The utterly fearless way they let the songs expose themselves by stripping down the instrumentation is stunning. So sparse, somber, striking and dark, but yet so starkly beautiful at the same time.

01. Logh - The Raging Sun (Bad Taste Records)
I can barely think of where to begin here, this album is just too good. Logh never ceases to amaze me with everything they do. Every release of theirs in another gem in their crown and I'm thoroughly convinced at this point that they can do no wrong. Another band who epitomizes what I love about Scandinavian music and whose sound conjures up images of cold Swedish landscapes.

Other notables/honorable mentions:

Cult of Luna - The Beyond & s/t reissue (Earache)
Crushing doom in the vein of Neurosis and Isis, but with a touch of something else that separates them from the rest of the imitators. Hopefully these guys will tour the US because I bet they kill live.

Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Bud Fox)
Broder Daniel - Cruel Town (Dolores)
These are two of the best Swedish indiepop records this year and I think I actually like the former a bit more than the latter. Broder Daniel has some better songs when taken on their own, but the Shout Out Louds made a better album. I was hoping the latest Bad Cash Quartet would rate too, but it was a huge disappointment.

Zyklon - Aeon (Candlelight)
Ex-Emperor guitarist Samoth proves he can move on and still make quality music. One of the few black-metal releases this year that really caught my interest. Either the scene is stagnant or I've lost interest, not sure.

Motorpsycho & Jaga Jazzist Horns - In the Fishtank (Konkurrent)
It's about time the rest of the world was exposed to these guys. I can do without that one awful funk track, but the rest of this is great stuff. Hopefully the increased international profile of this release will help them get their own music recognized and appreciated.

Randy - Welfare Problems (Burning Heart)
I don't listen to much punk-rock these days, but Randy always delivers. Looking forward to the US tour in February.

The Cardigans - Long Gone Before Daylight (Stockholm Records)
I was really put off by the mellow 70s vibe at first, but once I got over it I found out there were some pretty great songs here. Definitely not what I was expecting, but worth a second glance if you passed it over before.

Ricochets - Ghost of Our Love (White Jazz)
Tiger Lou - Trouble And Desire (Startracks)
Mustasch - Ratsafari (Majesty/Capitol)
Seven Feet Four - Departure/Arrival (Coalition)
Four solid releases from four very different acts. Nothing life changing here, but all still quite good and definitely worth investigating.

Jaga Jazzist - The Stix (Smalltown Supersound)
Supersilent - 6 (Rune Grammofon)
v/a - Money Will Ruin Everything 2xCD + Book (Rune Grammofon)
Norway is really a hotbed for experimental genre-expanding music right now and these three releases are a great place to start. You won't find that elusive "next big thing" here, just music that will make you think. Both Smalltown Supersound and Rune Grammofon are labels to keep an eye on.

US/non-scand records:

Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye (Tzadik)
If Radiohead played heavy music and had a far more orchestral bent, they might sound something like this. So amazingly intricate. I hear something new every time I put it on.

Khanate - Things Viral (Southern Lord)
Brutal doom that's so heavy it feels like the sky is going to collapse and suffocate you. Not for everyone, that's for sure.

Johnny Cash - Unearthed (Sony/American)
Merle Haggard - Like Never Before (Hag)
Two American icons of country music, both classic. Johnny Cash may have passed on this year, but his legacy is unbeatable. As for Hag, he's one of those rare artists who keeps getting better as he gets older. "Like Never Before" is his newest and it's full of the kind of wisdom and maturity that just can't be faked.

Should've made last year's list:
EST (Esbjörn Svensson Trio) - Strange Place for Snow (Diesel/Sony)
This year's release "Seven Days of Falling" is pretty good, but it's no match for last year's product. Even my jazz-hating wife likes this album and will listen to it over and over. The way this group combines the classic with the modern is so wonderfully inspired it's no wonder they are one of Europe's top rated acts in the genre.

Thank goodness for filesharing:
Pan Sonic live bootlegs
Somehow the subtleties and excellence of Pan Sonic's minimalist music is transformed into something far greater when amplified and distorted. There's some great recordings floating around out there.

Next year:
So far, I'm looking forward to new releases from Kristofer Åström, Cobolt, C.Armeé, Sahara Hotnights, Soundtrack of Our Lives, Tiger Lou, Weeping Willows and of course, KVLR to name a few. There's also an album in the pipeline from The Hives that's sure to be hyped beyond belief. And then there's the international promotion of José González and The Concretes to look out for, as well as who knows what other flavor-of-the-month they might try to sell you. As always, you know where to come if you want to hear about it first.

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0800

Other notables/honorable mentions:

Randy - Welfare Problems (Burning Heart)
I don't listen to much punk-rock these days, but Randy always delivers. Looking forward to the US tour in February.

Tue, 16 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0800

It's not too dissimilar from the Dagbladet list (see 12/09), but here's the top 21 records of the year from Norway's Aftenposten:

01. Equicez - "State Of Emergency"
02. Magnet - "On Your Side"
03. Thomas Dybdahl - "Stray Dogs"
04. King Midas - "Romeo Turn"
05. Vidar Busk - "Love Buzz"
06. Turbonegro - "Scandinavian Leather"
07. Ephemera - "Air"
08. Rebekka Bakken - "The Art Of How To Fall"
09. Tord Gustavsen Trio - "Changing Places"
10. Supersilent - "6"
11. Enslaved - "Below The Lights"
12. El Corazón - "El Corazón"
13. Karen Jo Fields - "Chase The Blue"
14. St. Thomas - "Hey Harmony"
15. Dimmu Borgir - "Death Cult Armageddon"
16. Bertine Zetlitz - "Sweet Injections"
17. Kaospilot - "Kaospilot"
18. Cloroform - "Hey You Let's Kiss"
19. Kaizers Orchestra - "Evig Pint"
20. Jaa9 & OnklP - "Bondegrammatikk - The Mixtape"
21. Ricochets - "The Ghost Of Our Love"

Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0800

Nominees for Norway's Alarm awards:

Rock:
Turbonegro - Scandinavian Leather
King Midas - Romeo Turn
Ricochets - The Ghost Of Our Love
Amulet - Danger! Danger!
Sgt. Petter - It's A Record

Pop:
Julian Berntzen - Waffy Town
Magnet - On Your Side
Ephemera - Air
Thomas Dybdahl - Stray Dogs
Karen Jo Fields - Chase The Blue

Metal:
Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
El Caco - Solid Rest
The Cumshots - Norwegian Jesus
Enslaved - Below the Lights
Thulsa Doom - ...And Then Take You To A Place Where Jars Are Kept

Hip-hop/Rap:
Paperboys - The Great Escape
Equicez - State of Emergency - Generation Equiz
Jaa9 & OnklP - Bondegrammatikk - The Mixtape
Spetakkel - Spetakkel
Diaz - Velkommen hjem, Andres

Electronica:
Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - A Special Album
Pleasure - Pleasure
Xploding Plastix - The Donca Matic Singalongs
Tøyen - Did You Bring
Erlend Øye - Unrest

Jazz:
Atomic - Boom Boom
Supersilent - Supersilent 6
Come Shine - With The Norwegian Radio Orchestra In Concert
Håvard Wiik Trio - Postures
Paal Nilsen-Love / Ken Wandermark - Dual

Song:
Ephemera - Girls Keep Secrets In The Strangest Ways
Equicez - Barnslig
Ricochets - The Ghost Of Our Love
King Midas - Romeo Turn
Turbonegro - Fuck The World

Live:
Turbonegro
Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band
King Midas
Equicez
The International Tussler Society

The Alarm awards aren't quite as respected as the Spellemannprisen, Norway's version of the Grammy, but are considered more of a stepping stone for young artists. Go to the Alarm site to vote for your favorites: http://www.alarmweb.org/2003/

Thu, 03 Jul 2003 00:00:00 -0700

The Rasmus have announced they will play the Popkomm music industry conference/festival in Cologne, Germany on August 15. Other Scandinavian acts set to appear at various events during the festival include Si Begg, Silver, Ricochets, Helldorado, x.lover, Luomo, Covenant, The Gathering, Xploding Plastix, St. Thomas, Boomhauer, Thee Ultra Bimboos, and Screamin’ Stukas. More info: www.popkomm.de

Mon, 30 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Here's the updated tour schedule for the Ricochets:

07/03 - Quart Festival, Kristiandsand (NOR)
07/11 - Arvika Festival, Avrika (SWE)
07/25 - Måne Festival, Fredrikstad (NOR)
07/26 - 71 Graders Nord Festival, Laksekv (NOR)
08/02 - Slottsfjellet, Tønsberg (NOR)
08/05 - Ordlands Musikkfest Uke, Bodø (NOR)
08/06 - Øya Festival Kick Off / Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
08/09 - Malakoff Festival, Nordfjordeid (NOR)
08/13 - tba, Hamburg (GER) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/14 - Underground, Cologne (GER) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/15 - tba, Berlin (GER) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/16 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/21 - Kroa , Bø (NOR)
08/22 - Bjørnegilde, Oslo (NOR)
08/29 - Ørsta Festival, Ørsta (NOR)

Tue, 24 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Some of the bands set to play the Slottsfjell Festival in Tønsberg, Norway on August 1-2: Madrugada, Bjørn Rosenstrøm, Nils Petter Molvær, Saybia, Equicez, Surferosa, Mohammed, Don Juan Dracula, Baby Woodrose, Ricochets, Amulet, Johndoe, JR Ewing. More info: www.slottsfjellfestival.no

Tue, 20 May 2003 00:00:00 -0700

CD Maxi
01. You're The Storm
02. Hold Me
03. You're The Storm (Sandkvie Session)
04. You're The Storm (El Cortijo Session)

Outbreak will be having a record release show at Etrea in Eskilstuna, Sweden on May 22. The new album "Information Overload" comes out May 26 on Rockstar Records and you can download a couple preview tracks here. Crystal Committee and The Sound OE will also play.

The complete program for Norway's Norwegian Wood festival has been released. Check it:

07/12 - Number Seven Deli, Dandy Warhols, Counting Crows
07/13 - The Rasmus, The Sounds, Linkin Park
07/14 - Dadafon, Jim Stärk, Tom McRae, Ricochets, Dum Dum Boys
07/15 - Fireside, Skin, Gåte, Hellacopters, Audioslave

Read this for more information, band links, the Underwood schedule and tickets.

Göteborg rock band The Mugshots recently put up a new website along with a bunch of mp3s for you to download.

In honor of the French holiday Fete de la Musique comes the Stockholm Musikfest this weekend. Scheduled to appear are Charlie's Magazine, Kajsa Grytt, David Lindh & Hail Marys, Evolver, Jamie Meyer, Paragon, Ison & Fille, Parker, The Sonnets and much more. Admission is free.

Some of the new bands added to the Augustibuller lineup: Fireside, Gusto, Surferosa, Paris, Stabb, Sweet Addiction, Kingston Airforce and Outbreak.

There's going to be a new, small rock fest on July 5 in Kalmar, Sweden called the Slammerfestival featuring 69-Hard headlining along with The Nifters, The Stuckups, The Ghoulies and more.

Wolf has booked time at Abyss Studios with producer/engineer Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy) beginning on June 18 to record their third album. They expect to have it out around October on No Fashion Records.

Tue, 13 May 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Trapdoor Fucking Exit's updated tour itinerary:

06/04 - 1000 Fryd, Aalborg (DK)
06/05 - Volxbad, Flensburg (DE)
06/06 - Störtebeker, Hamburg (DE)
06/07 - tba, Cologne (DE)
06/08 - Le Marignan, Athus/Aubagne (BE)
06/09 - tba - Netherlands
06/10 - Alhambra, Oldenburg (DE)
06/11 - Occii, Amsterdam (NL)
06/12 - tba, Caen (F)
06/13 - tba, Rouen (F)
06/14 - P-Werk, Blieskastel (DE)
06/15 - tba - Germany
06/16 - Juz Degerloch, Stuttgart (DE)
06/17 - tba, Germany
06/18 - tba, Austria
06/19 - The Red Hole, Budapest (HU)
06/20 - K4, Nürnberg (DE)
06/21 - Kafé Kult, München (DE)
06/22 - tba, Germany
06/23 - tba, Germany
06/24 - Az Conni, Dresden (DE)
06/25 - Chekov, Cottbus (DE)
06/26 - tba - Berlin (DE)
06/27 - tba
06/28 - tba
06/29 - Baracke, Münster (DE)
06/30 - Frontline, Gent (DE)
07/01 - tba
07/02 - tba
07/03 - tba

They also posted a bunch of new pictures over at their website for those that may be interested.

Pitchforkmedia.com reviews JR Ewing's latest today and actually like it. Will wonders ever cease?

MTV Germany will air a one-hour special on Turbonegro this coming Monday, May 19 at midnight. It will feature interviews, clips, and live footage from the Hamburg performance.

Dub Sweden will release a new single for the track "Ice My Fire" on May 26 featuring a previously unreleased track as the b-side.

The Venue have finished posting their tour diary from their recent trip to the US. Sorry I missed the Oakland show guys, but I was dead tired that night.

Ariel Kill Him has posted three mp3s from their latest album "In the Pyramid" over at mp3.com.

Thearkworld.com has posted a live video of The Ark performing "Echo Chamber" in Stockholm from April 30.

Another episode in the ongoing US media of The Sounds: here's a feature on the band from Teen Vogue Magazine. Really now, how many times do we need to hear a Swedish band compared to Abba or gummi fish?

NME reports that Røyksopp are set to play two shows at Somerset House in London on July 10-11, just one in a series of special summer shows at the venue. The group's new single "Sparks" drops on June 16.

P6's Sounds Nordic (SONO) has announced that the next program will feature "hits from the Swedish singles chart, tap into your spiritual side at a spooky art exhibition , and meet our guest Dilba." Go here to listen after it airs.

Stockholm Records artists Kwan and The Klerks have been confirmed for OKEJ-dagen in Göteborg on May 23.

Miss Universum is going on tour in support of the new album "Selfelected":

05/15 - Linköping, Herrgårn
05/29 - Stockholm, Popaganda
06/6-7 - Skärholmen, Satelit
06/12-14 - Hultsfred, Festivalen
07/18 - Norberg
07/31 - Östersund, Storsjöyran

Swedish death-metal acts Merciless and Dismember will play a special gig on May 27 at Klubben in Fryshuset, Stockholm that will be recorded for a DVD to come out in the future.

Surferosa, Madrugada, El Caco, Thulsa Doom, Ricochets, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band and DumDum Boys have been confirmed to play the Ekstremsportveko (extreme sport week) in Voss, Norway from June 22-29. Read more.

The Norweigan Wood 'Underwood' fest winners have been announced. Check out the list of acts that will be playing. (in Norweigan)

P3 Musikjournalen reports that User is getting ready to release their debut album in September. The new single "Do You" comes out in June and they expect to tour this summer.

Moneybrother is the band of the week over at MTVE.com. Head on over for an interview and video. He also has a couple dates coming up in the near future:

05/14 - Göteborg, Bengans
05/15 - Örebro, Najz Prajz
05/16 - Stockholm, Mega

Though not really of much note, Backyard Babies have checked in via their maillist to say that they are still hard at work writing songs for the new record. They hope to put pictures up from the session on their website and will be making an announcement concerning a producer very soon.
UPDATE: They have reportedly selected Joe Barresi for the job. His previous credits include bands such as Pennywise, Buckcherry, QOTSA and Kyuss.

Bad Taste Records has put up the video for "The Contractor and the Assassin" from Logh. Check it: high / mid / low (Real Player)
The label also has a bunch of new stuff in their webshop like new Logh and Last Days of April shirts for those that may be interested.

C.Aarmé report that they will begin recording their full length debut for Car Crash Records in July. In the meantime, check 'em out on the road:

05/17 - Viva dLTD, Restaurang Minus, GBG w/The New Mess, Cut City
05/21 - Café MIC, Vänersborg w/Alarma man
05/23 - Ungdomens kulturhus, Gislaved w/Alarma man
05/24 - Le Club Suburbia, STHLM w/Alarma man
05/25 - Distro GBG, Meeths unga salonger, GBG

Mon, 28 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0700

In case you missed it, I had a guest review published on Dagensskiva on Saturday.

The Rasmus have now been confirmed for both the June Rock im Park and the June Rock am Ring fests in Germany on the 6th and 8th respectively.

Puffball has a new 7" coming out on Stereodrive! Records, the label of record store Green Hell Records in Münster. "Outlaw" is the a-side title track and "Hornet Rider" is the b-side along with a cover of Merle Haggard's "Momma Tried". And from Southspace webzine, here's a short interview with the band.

Via the band's webiste, here's a review of Logh from NME written by James Jam:

..."Every time..." is a record so fucking dull, so fucking uninspired, that nme finds itself looking for a chainsaw and pricing up cheap flights to Sweden. In the words of the high priest of rock'n'roll fun, Iggy Pop, seek out and destroy.

Logh's response? "James has been bought a planeticket to Sweden. we´re waiting anxiously." Brilliant. In other Logh news, the band reports they are finishing up work on the new video and should have it done next week.

The Norweigan paper VG recently published a long interview with Morten from A-ha. Here's a nice English synopsis plus a link to the article itself.

St. Thomas will be putting out a limited vinyl edition of "Hey Harmony" in mid-May. 300 copies, 180 gram vinyl. He'll have it for sale at the May 10 Rockefeller show in Oslo. He'll also be playing quite a few shows around Europe coming up soon, with more to be announced for June:

April 30 Ålesund - TBC
05/01 - TBA
05/02 - Trondheim Blæst
05/03 - TBA
05/07 - Molde, TBC
05/08 - Sogndal, Meieriet
05/09 - Hønefoss, Alfreds
05/10 - Oslo, Rockefeller
05/14 - Stavanger, Checkpoint Charlie
05/15 - Kristiansand, TBC
05/16 - TBA
05/17 - Skien, Brekkeparken
05/21-23 Sweden, TBA
05/24 - Hamburg, Echochamber im Phonodrom
05/25 - Berlin, Roter Salon
05/26 - Muchen, Club Zwei festival in Atomic
05/28 - TBA (Frankfurt or Koln)
05/29 - Roskilde Gimle Cafe
05/30 - Copenhagen, Loppen
05/31 - Århus, Spot festival
07/18 - Feierwerk Festival, Munich August 8 or 9 Øyafestivalen

Here's some pictures from Randy's show at Groez Rock in Belgium on April 26.

Johan Bergqvist along with Crying Bob Records is putting together a new festival tour called Bobbyfest. The established goal of the tour is to "give you the best independent music there is, for a good price." Sounds good to me. The line-up is Leftlane, The Virtues, Johan Bergqvist, Moody Alan, and Moll Flanders and so far there's just two dates set for May with more set to come in the fall. Details as of now:

05/03 - Mondo, Stockholm
05/17 - Diezel, Halmstad

A day in the life with The Ark: http://www.thearkworld.com/day.htm

It's about friggin' time. Startracks in association with Simba Records has put out a Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck compilation in America called "Plastered Confessions". Five songs from the previous albums, plus a Steve Earle cover. Better than nothing, I guess. More info here or here.

Green Carnation's upcoming album will be called "A Blessing In Disguise" and it comes out June 16 in the UK, June 17 in the US from Seasons of Mist. In case you were wondering, Green Carnation features various members of In the Woods along with Tchort who did time in Emperor.

Burnitblue.com reviews Jaga Jazzist - "The Stix". It's been out for awhile in the band's home country of Norway, but comes out May 6 in the UK.

DigitalMetal.com reviews Opeth's new album "Damnation".

Sweden's Centinex has announced they will enlist the help of Per Gustafson from Cult of Luna to do the artwork on their new CD "Decadence - Prophecies Of Cosmic Chaos". Timo "The Eyeless" Ketola will handle the layout. Recording begins June 23 at Black Lounge Studios and they expect to have it sometime in October on Candlelight Records.

NRK has finally made Immortal's performance from the Inferno festival available for viewing: http://nrk.no/magasin/upunkt/musikk/inferno_2003/2713354.html

Sweden's buzz-band of the moment Radio Dept. release their debut 7" for "Liebling" b/w "We Would Fall Against The Tide" in the UK today on Rex Records. They'll also be playing their first shows over in London this weekend:

05/02 - The Spitz, 109 Commercial Street, Old Spitalfields Market, E1. w/Apples In Stereo and The Loves
05/03 - The Arts Cafe, 28 Commercial Street, E1., w/Kicker and Sportique

Norway's Sondre Lerche got himself a short feature interview on CNN: 'Sondre Lerche: Sunny sounds from Norway'

Mattias Alkberg of Bear Quartet is working on a solo project called "Begravning" and you can download a sample here.

Here's the winners of this year's Swedish Hip-Hop awards:

Best Album: Looptroop - The Struggle Contuines
Best Song: The Narcissists - Fanatik R.I.P.
Best MC: Timbuktu
Best Producer: Embee
Best Vinyl Release: Highwon - Beats, Rim & Gendish
Best DJ: Confuze
Best Download: Snook - Mognare Än Oss
Best Newcomer/Demo/Self-Released: Frotté - Den Stora Daldansen
Hip-Hop Culture Award: Aerosol/Graffiti: Unik
Hip-Hop Culture Award: B-boy: Hammer Hill B Boys
Crossfade Video Award: Ison and Fille - Fakka Ur
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ken

And speaking of Swedish hip-hop, the latest edition of Sounds Norway (SoNo) is a special on the subject: "everything you need to know about it; and meet a couple of old-timers who think hiphop is the perfect way to air all their grumbles." Check it out.

Some of the new bands confirmed for Avrika fest: Gåte, Kaizers Orchestra, Ralph Myerz & the Jack Herren Band, Shout Out Louds, Paris, JmyHaze Beatbox, Homy, Ricochets, Sparks of Seven, Peter Dolving Band, Thulsa Doom, JR Ewing, Alice in Videoland, Totalt Jävla Mörker and Slagsmålsklubben.

Sunride has confirmed their upcoming tourdates in support of their new album "Through the Red", out May 19 on People Like You Records:

05/01 - 45 Special, Oulu, Finland
05/03 - Pub Bastun, Mariehamn, Åland w/Endstand
05/08 - Klubi, Tampere, Finland w/Dozer
05/09 - Stella Star, Helsinki, Finland w/Dozer
05/10 - Lutakko, Jyväskylä, Finland w/Dozer
05/14 - Kino, Pori, Finland
05/16 - Bar 15, Seinäjoki, Finland
05/17 - Torvi, Lahti, Finland
05/24 - Mikrokosmos, Magdeburg, Germany
05/25 - Knaack, Berlin, Germany
05/26 - Rosenkeller, Jena, Germany
05/27 - Paradox, Ingolstadt, Germany
05/28 - 013, Tilburg, The Netherland

Cult of Luna reports that they have a new drummer - Thomas from The Perishers. I can't confirm it for sure, but my assumption is that Marco Hildén has accepted a permanent position with Logh and moved on. In case you didn't know, Marco has been filling in for them since their drummer Kristofer left recently mid-tour. As reported earlier, Cult of Luna just recently completed work on a new video and is now putting together plans for a full European tour this fall. Details when I get 'em.

It's not exactly new, but here's some pictures and captions from the Avanto '02 fest with Pan Sonic, Erkki Kurenniemi and more.

Burning Heart won't release the new Lost Patrol album until June 2, but you can download a preview mp3 now: Lost Patrol - "Going Going Gone"

Mon, 31 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800

Whyte Seeds will be on MTV Morning Glory playing live and being interviewed. It'll be aired Saturday 5/4 @ 10:00, Sunday 6/4 @ 10:00, and Tuesday 8/4 @ 19:00.

Magnus from The Cardigans on the new video:

Amir Chamdin who did "FWIW" will do "The storm" video. He has requested a lot bare chests and wet looks ! :-) We will shoot it around the 8:th of April in a secret but familiar place!

Scapesonik just put out a new demo. Email them if you're interested. The price is 30 SEK/$3/£2 plus postage.

Lullacry's new single out on April 28 will be for the song "Alright Tonight". A re-recording of the track "Sweet Desire" will be included as the b-side.

Gluecifer reports that they are indeed heading back to the US to tour in support a domestic release of "Basement Apes". No dates yet, but I'll be sure to let you know. As for their next album, they're still doing preproduction and writing and expect to have it done around August or September for a January 2004 release.

Askil Holm reports that the opening date on his tour went really, really well and he's getting great reviews. He's also got some more dates lined up for the future:

04/4 - Ålesund, Scena
04/5 - Kristiansund, No Name Bar
04/23 - Rørvik, Bryggas Fire Stuer
04/24 - Trondheim, Nidaros Bluesfestival
05/2 - Bergen, Ole Blues Festival
05/3 - Oslo, John Dee Rockefeller
05/5-17 - Norway, tba

Nicolai Dunger has got a couple gigs lined up for April and May:

04/01 - Köln, Gebäude 9
04/02 - München, Orange house
04/03 - Berlin, Knaack
04/17 - Vicar Street, Dublin w/The Frames
05/29 - Union Chapel, London w/The Frames

Dead Frog Records has signed Mary Celeste. Zero magazine describes them as dark pop music like older stuff from The Cardigans.

The Cardigans have been confirmed for this year's Quart Festival in July along with the Norweigan acts Ephemera, Surferosa, Ricochets, Exploding Plastix, Alpine Those Myriads!, Ralph Myers & The Jack Herren Band and Datarock.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
03. Mew - Comforting Sounds
04. Kwan - Shine
05. Roxette - Opportunity Nox
06. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
07. C21 - You Are The One
08. Winta - Emotions
09. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth
10. Sparkler - Tiger

Challengers:
01. Waldo - Face The Fact
02. Millencolin - E20 Norr
03. A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
04. Randi Laubek - In Port
05. Jonna - Tyytyväinen

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

ExMS has posted the "Swedish Music Update #2/2003" for viewing. Nothing really new if you follow this site, but maybe worth a look anyway.

Monastir's new album "The Modern Sound for a Loser Generation" comes out today, but you can also download the new single "Teenage Years" from their mp3.com page.

Now confirmed for Emmaboda fest: Dorotea, Hell on Wheels, Parker, Sparks of Seven and Surounded. Oh, and some other non-Scandinavian bands like Sleater Kinney and Mates of State are playing, too.

Franke's debut album "Optimismens Hån" comes out April 28. Look for 'em on the festival circuit this summer.

The new album from the Lars Vegas Trio "Viva Lars Vegas - Sverige Blev För Litet" comes out on April 22. The first single will be for the track "Låt Det Vara Kul" which will also contain a version of "Kom Hem" by Barbados.

Legendary prog-folk or whatever-you-wanna-call-em band Träd, Gräs & Stenar have lined up a couple of shows in Stockholm:

4/5 - Gustav Vasa Church, Odenplan w/Stefan Sundström, Sofia Jannok, + more. Read more.
4/8 - Lava, Kulturhuset w/Cul de Sac, Damo Suzuki (the singer from Can). Read more.

Sunride has posted mp3 samples of every song from their new album over at their website. "Through the Red" comes out May 19 and the band is also going out on the road to promote it. The dates:

05/07 - Säätämö, Turku, Finland w/Dozer
05/08 - Klubi, Tampere, Finland w/Dozer
05/09 - Stella Star, Helsinki, Finland w/Dozer
05/10 - Lutakko, Jyväskylä, Finland w/Dozer & Ass Cobra
05/14 - Kino, Pori, Finland
05/15 - tba, Finland
05/16 - Bar 15, Seinäjoki, Finland
05/17 - Torvi, Lahti, Finland
05/23 - Burgerweeshuis, Deventer, The Netherlands w/Hermano
05/24 - Mikrokosmos, Magdeburg, Germany
05/25 - Knaack, Berlin, Germany
05/26 - Rosenkeller, Jena, Germany
05/27 - Paradox, Ingolstadt, Germany
05/28 - 013, Tilburg, The Netherlands