IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

The Wild Shore - Chinese birds EP

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:23:26 -0700

A new 3-song EP from The Wild Shore, the current band of Jimmy Ottosson (ex-Torpedo/The Je Ne Sais Quoi/Will Gambola Sing) and Arvid Engström (ex-Wired for Mono).

Splendour signs Siinai

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:55:14 -0700

Norwegian label Splendour (Casiokids, Harrys Gym) has announced the signing of Finnish "Krautpop" act Siinai, apparently a very popular sound these days (see: Torpedo, This Is Head and many many others). Look for the band's debut album "Olympic games" to be released this summer and/or check out the video for the tune "Anthem part 1&2" right here: http://youtu.be/COIM2NJk8B0

Torpedo - Islands in eternity

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:52:13 -0700

Torpedo's newest single "Islands in eternity", now streaming in full. Direct link: http://soundcloud.com/flagstone/sets/torpedo-islands-in-eternity

Torpedo's WE now streaming

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:24:58 -0700

The world may end tomorrow, but at least you can listen to the apocalyptic pop of Torpedo's new album "WE" in the meantime: http://torpedoband.com/we/
Said record is officially released in GAS on April 22, elsewhere on April 27. The band will head on the road to support it starting in late May -- dates at the aforementioned link.

MP3: Hexvessel - Wayward confessor

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:40:44 -0700

Not to diss on Torpedo, but when I imagine the soundtrack to the end-times, I tend to think of Apocalyptic Folk or the "metaphysical black'n'roll" of Okkultokrati. Hexvessel fit into the former category and provided a perfect soundtrack for my apocalyptic/disaster-prep book club meeting last night where we discussed the first half of the anthology "Brave New Worlds: Dystopian Stories". Amongst other similar artists, naturally, many more of which I will be listening to as I await the coming drift of the radiation cloud headed now for the Pacific coast.

Torpedo's last 20 days

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:23:58 -0700

Torpedo is counting down the day to the apocalypse (and the release of their apocalyptic new album "WE"): http://torpedosweden.tumblr.com/
I had serious doubts that Torpedo could pull off such a grandiose concept piece, but my first few listens has me convinced that they mostly succeeded.

New Torpedo album gets release date

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:43:43 -0700

The new Torpedo album "We" is confirmed for release on April 22 in GAS, April 29 everywhere else.

Torpedo - Waiting for the fall (video)

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:10:02 -0800

The video for the new Torpedo single "Waiting for the fall" is now streaming at Gaffa: http://gaffa.se/tv/clip/622

MP3: Torpedo - Waiting for the fall

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:36:26 -0800

Not that O-Zone has a monopoly on the whole "Mai ai hee" chant, but it is funny to hear it compared against Torpedo's new single "Waiting for the fall" since the two songs are world's apart. Or are they?

Top tens for 2010: Rasmus Kellerman (Tiger Lou, Araki)

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:14:05 -0800

The Best Songs of 2010

01. Massive Attack "Girl I Love You". My favorite song from the best album of 2010. Horace Andy's voice will haunt my life forever.

02. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse (feat. Flaming Lips) "Revenge". This song epitomizes the tragic circumstances surrounding the "Dark Night of The Soul" project.

03. Against Me! "Because Of The Shame". Reminds of everything that was good about growing up. The person I was, the people I knew, the bands we had together.

04. Angus & Julia Stone "Big Jet Plane". A friend played me this and it blew me away. Very subtle and very stoned.

05. The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio". Perhaps their best song yet.

06. How To Dress Well "Ready For The World". I don't know anything about this guy, but this track is the most inspiring I've heard all year.

07. Ryan Bingham "The Weary Kind". The movie was great, but this song transcends anything a movie could ever convey.

08. Kings Of Leon "Pyro". I loves my Kings. They speak to me in the most guttural way. The best track from a so-so album.

09. The Gaslight Anthem "We Did It When We Were Young". It awakens the dreams of a life that went by too fast.

10. Four Tet "Angel Echoes". Kieran always creates magic, but this is extraordinary even for him!

---------------------------
During 2011, Rasmus Kellerman, will continue to work full time as a graphic designer.
In his spare time he will produce a song for Firefox AK, a remix for Torpedo, write new songs for the sophomore albums of Araki and Rasmus Kellerman, collaborate with Zoo Brazil and release a live DVD with Tgr Lou.
http://www.rasmuskellerman.com/
http://www.tigerlou.net/

Presenting: The Wild Shore (feat. members from Torpedo, Wired for Mono, Hari & Aino)

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:04:19 -0700

Check out The Wild Shore, a brand new Stockholm 4-piece featuring Jimmy Ottosson (ex-Torpedo/The Je Ne Sais Quoi/Will Gambola Sing/etc) on guitar, Arvid Engström (ex-Wired for Mono) on vox, Robert Klaesson (Hari & Aino) on drums and Krister Sund on bass: http://www.thewildshore.com/

Torpedo - An invention

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:51:23 -0700

Torpedo's new Justin Timberlake-produced single "An invention" is now streaming in its entirety at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Torpedo + Justin Timberlake (video)

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:25:33 -0700

Check out an excerpt of a new song from Torpedo plus footage of them in the studio with Justin Timberlake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ERKCGovaA0
Look for the band's new single "An invention" (as heard in the video) to be officially released on September 13.

The Je Sais Quoi unveil new album

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:34:37 -0800

Swedish indie/punk/funk act The Je Ne Sais Quoi will release their new album "Transparent for you all" on April 5 via the band's own label Family Affair and will only be available either as a digital download or vinyl. This will be the band's first recordings with new drummer Pontus Levahn (Tiger Lou, Torpedo, etc.) and you can hear a few sample tunes (and read more about it) at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thejenesaisquoi

Torpedo + Justin Timberlake

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:47:12 -0800

MI reports that Torpedo recently collaborated with Justin Timberlake on an ad campaign for Audi: http://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/1525/Torpedo_i_samarbete_med_Justin_Timberlake.html (in Swedish)
My only take on that is "cha-ching!" Good for them!

Sirius playlist week #8

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:39:06 -0800

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

01. Agent Side Grinder - The screams
02. TALK 1
03. Susanne Sundfør - The brothel
04. The Skull Defekts - Millions
05. Torpedo - Accelerate
06. TALK 2
07. Donkeyboy - Ambitions
08. Haust - Skate rock
09. Ikons - The hawk
10. Dyno - Deliverance
11. TALK 3
12. Monzano - Waterways and altitude
13. Moto Boy - The heart is a rebel
14. The Graviators - Back to the sabbath
15. Sonic Ritual - (Don't wanna) Feel alright
16. TALK 4
17. Oskar Schönning - Farsan

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

Torpedo - Accelerate

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:43:02 -0800

Torpedo has a new website where you can download their latest single "Accelerate": http://www.torpedo.se/

New Torpedo tunage

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:33:58 -0800

Torpedo has a new song in an Audi promotion: http://microsites.audi.com/a1onlinespecial/html/popup.html

Adore signs Jonas Schwartz

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:20:53 -0800

Adore Music (Torpedo, Kusowsky) has announced the signing of new artist Jonas Schwartz and will be releasing a trio of singles from him over the course of 2010. Preview here: http://www.myspace.com/jonasschwartz

Torpedo working on new stuff

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:11:42 -0800

Torpedo, the Swedish band that features/-ed everyone from Tiger Lou except Rasmus, report that they are in the process of recording new material.

Asha Ali update

Thu, 28 May 2009 18:58:25 -0700

Asha Ali says that she is planning to release her new album in August. Also, Pontus Levahn from Tiger Lou/Torpedo has been enlisted as her new drummer.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:22:44 -0700

Adore Music (Torpedo, Killerchaps) has announced the signing of Swedish act Vipe Out and will be releasing their debut album this coming fall. Preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/vipeoutswe

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:15:34 -0700

Updated Torpedo tourdates:

05/02 - Projekt 7, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER)
05/03 - Uncle Sally's party @ Magnet, Berlin (GER)
05/05 - Objekt 5, Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER)
05/06 - Gleis 22, Münster (GER)
05/07 - Steinbruch, Duisburg (GER)
05/08 - Nexus, Braunschweig (GER)
05/09 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
05/10 - Cobra, Solingen (GER)
05/11 - Bla, Bonn (GER)
05/15 - Moby Dick, Madrid (ESP)
05/16 - 12 & medio venue. Benicassim festival show, Murcia (ESP)
05/17 - Sala Becool, Barcelona (ESP)
06/01 - Primavera Festival (ESP)

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:52:58 -0700

Torpedo will tour Northern Europe in May and preliminary dates can be found at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:42:04 -0800

Torpedo's latest single "Time machine" is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:00:29 -0800

Torpedo will do a couple dates in London in mid-February:

02/19 - Bardens Boudoir
02/20 - Punk

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:29:49 -0800

Have you been following our daily top 10s? Today's guest is Pontus Levahn from Torpedo/Tiger Lou and over the last few days we've featured contributions from Henrik von Euler, Magnus Öberg, Winter Took His Life and Karin Ström. Lots more to come, so keep checking back!

Top 10s for 2007: Pontus Levahn (Torpedo)

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

01. The rebirth of Torpedo
Maybe cheesy to put your own band as nr 1 but without the release of our debut album and all the touring this year wouldn't be worth mentioning in my memoirs. I love you guys!

02. Last episode of Sopranos
What an excellent way to end the best TV-show in history.

03. My drivers license
Finally. No more after-parties though...

04. The National - Boxer
Took me a long while to really see the greatness in this album, but when that happened I was knocked out.

05. The summer house tour
Went to more peoples summer houses than ever. Stuga for life!

06. Animal Collective - Strawberry jam
Fucked up brains makes fucked up music. Beautiful!

07. The Torpedo/Dia Psalma tour
The weirdest combo in history!
If had known 13 years ago that I was to go on tour supporting Dia Psalma, I would be king of the schoolyard. My guest appearance on "Balladen om lilla Elsa" must be one of my proudest moments this year.

08. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Rhythm
The most talented band in Sweden.

09. TV On The Radio - Live at Accelerator

10. The big plans for 2008

---------------------------
Torpedo's debut full-length "In the assembly line" is out now on Knievel Records.
www.torpedo.se
www.myspace.com/torpedo

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:52:10 -0800

Torpedo's MTV Phaser performance (and interview) is now available on-demand: http://www.mtv.se/overdrive.php?StoryId=115&action=search&keyword=torpedo
You can also now hear the track "Hospital" on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Stockholm Perspectives #1: Norma

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

I spent years reading about definitive moments in people's lives, often sitting outside the window of my shared boarding house room, huddled with a book on the bit of roof that extended from under the aperture, smoking a cigarette, watching the light soften and fade as afternoon became evening, as daylight transitioned into twilight and eventually darkness. Already a distant and asocial young expatriate, consistently reading about these moments made me feel even more removed from the spontaneity and vehemence of life. I began to regard those profound, life-changing experiences as works of fiction, accompanying true love and happy endings in some dark masquerade which most of us would never be invited to.

In 2002, I took my first breath of Swedish air and moved into a beautiful villa just across from the Tunnelbana tracks in Kärrtorp. I remembering smiling widely as Ella and Judy Torkelsson helped me with my things across the Arlanda parking lot into their blue Volvo station wagon. It wasn't so much that I was so desperate as to accept any weak breeze as the winds of change, my last year in British boarding school is saturated with many of my most treasured moments, and I grew and matured quite a bit as my A-Levels loomed, came, and passed. There was a genuine moment as I exited the airport into that grey day, the first definitive moment I'd ever had.

Over the coming months, I fell progressively more in love with Sweden, Stockholm in particular. While Ella was in school, I would walk down to the center of Kärrtorp, take the train into T-Centralen, and walk along the water, through the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan, and the parks of Södermalm. I started to feel less like a stranger or a voyeur observing the city around me. As the year wore on, I started to make friends, many of whom I am still in frequent contact with today, and began the life that I am now thoroughly involved in.

People ask me what it is about Stockholm that left me feeling this way, and I've never been able to give them a satisfactory answer, not for myself anyways. It's like asking a true Yankees fan what it is about the Bronx Bombers that attracts their loyalty. There are obvious things you can point to - friends, a coffee shop, the public transportation, universal healthcare, etc. - but much of one's admiration and allegiance is wrapped up in wordless swells of sentiment, and excluding them seems to detract from the whole.

Having one of the more prolific and creative music scenes in the world (in many ways putting breath into those "wordless swells"), I thought I'd ask various musicians in Stockholm the same question that has been posed to me - namely, "What is it about Stockholm?", amongst other pressing inquiries.

The following is the first attempt to scratch below the surface, to paint various pictures of a multifaceted city in the music and words of some of Stockholm's most talented citizens. My thanks to Norma for being my first test subjects.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

How did Norma come about?

We're all kind of weird, in our different ways. I think that was what brought us together. Norma is all about us three. If you would exchange any of the members, the sound would be totally different. You could describe it as some sort of terrorbalance. We all have a lot of ideas going in different directions, but the result of the struggle is Norma.

Where in Stockholm do you guys rehearse? Where have you rehearsed in the past?

Right now, we actually don't have any place to rehearse. That is one of the biggest downsides of being a band in Stockholm, there are just no cheap dungeons for bands to evolve in. So for now, our apartment (Aron Sandell and Petter Bendelin's) will have to do. But you can't do live drums here, and if we continue like this, sooner or later our neighbours will come knockin'... In the past we've been in a couple of different shelters, but when your guitars start rusting and you have to do warm-up exercises for 30 minutes before you can play a song, you feel like there's just got to be a better way.

What inspirations are present on "1"?

Well, the songs that are on "1" all sprung out from sessions in a small shelter in Zinkensdamm in the summer of 2006. It was dark, humid, and kind of noisy because of the concrete walls. When we first came there, we didn't have an A-to-B plan of what we wanted to do, but because of the preconditions in the shelter, it was kind of hard for us to write proper 3 minute verse-chorus songs. So instead we ended up making 6-10 minute songs with non-traditional structures and few chords. You couldn't really tell if anyone changed chords anyway, so it was better to stick to as few as possible. Mentioning different bands as sources of inspiration is kind of boring, but everything from Pink Floyd and Neu! to Postal Service and Hot Chip inspired "1".

How much would you say living in Stockholm impacts you all as individuals and collectively as a band? Does Stockholm feel like home?

I think it impacts us a lot, both as a band and as individuals. Two of us are from the island Gotland which is a few hours by boat from Stockholm. There's a big difference in living on an island with 60,000 other people or in a city of almost 2,000,000. But I (Aron) would still say that I'm from Gotland and not Stockholm.

As for the band, I think it means a lot, too. Just look at the difference of bands coming from say Gothenburg compared with bands from Stockholm. A good thing about Stockholm is that everyone is really good at what they do, no matter if it's art, music, film or writing. So when people start to take notice of you here, you know that you've probably done something right.

Has Stockholm ever inspired a song - for good or ill?

"The storm" is a song inspired by life here, which of course is both good and bad.

Have any of you wanted to move away - and if so, where?

We've talked about moving to Germany because of the possibilities of getting ourselves a warehouse facility which is impossible here. Haven't made it there yet, but we'll see what the future holds.

What bars, coffee shops, dance nights, 'must see places', etc. would you recommend to a foreigner visiting Stockholm for a week or so?

I think all three of us would like to go out more, but there is little money and even less time, so none of us would be a great guide to Stockholm's club life. The classic, both as a concert venue and bar, is of course Debaser. All three of us have spent a lot of time there. Another favorite is Landet. Two of us used to live nearby. And AG, where we had the release party for "1", is cool. We mostly drink our coffee at home, or in the studio. And when it comes to must-sees, well Stockholm is more of a city that you have to experience by meeting people and hopefully learning where the greatest party of weekend is at.

Where do you guys typically hang out?

The new black is Kungsholmen, two of us just moved here. And then there's Söder, and the places I mentioned before.

On a Friday night, would you guys rather go out to bars/clubs, or to a house party?

We would rather go to our own house party than go out clubbing, because house parties tend to be more wild and you can play whatever music you feel like listening to. But, I mean, it's kind of tiring to clean up afterwards... So a little bit of both is a good recipe to a healthy and happy life.

What clubs have you played at in Stockholm? Which were your favorites and why?

Fritz's Corner, Ljummen i Gräset, Musik Scenario, and our release party. That's it. We've only made 4 appearances ever, if you don't count the ones a couple of years ago when we were experimenting a lot. My favorite was definitely Debaser, but all the gigs have been great. Norma live is awesome though, so hopefully we will hit the road soon.

The only show we ever did outside of Stockholm was on Gotland a couple of years ago; weird gig, we didn't have any finished songs, almost no lyrics, and the audience was really drunk... Did far better than you could expect under those circumstances.

Which bands inspired Norma? Are there any Stockholm-based bands that motivated you?

Our friends, Torpedo ( with Love Martinsen on synthesisers), Antennas and Existensminimum are all really great and huge sources of inspiration for us in many ways.

What does the future hold for Norma?

We're in the middle of recording our first album. Hopefully it will be released sometime this coming spring, and then following that there will probably be some kind of tour. We're improving every song we make, so we're already looking forward to making the next record, and then the next, and so on.

Norma is: Aron Sandell, Love Martinsen, and Petter Bendelin.

LINK: http://www.theamazingnorma.com/
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/theamazingnorma

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:40:54 -0800

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show, featuring special guest Pontus Levahn from the band Torpedo:

01. Fireside - Let Rasputin do it
02. TALK 1
03. Britta Persson - You are not my boyfriend
04. Hyacinth House - Lucky stranger
05. The Bear Quartet - Sailors
06. TALK 2
07. Jennie Abrahamson - In this life to live
08. Margaret Berger - Seek I'll hide
09. Heroes & Zeros - The foolproof
10. TALK 3
11. Folie - Strum
12. Ellen Beach - The widespread acclaim
13. The Indecision Alarm - Where every fucking dream is killed
14. TALK 4 (INTERVIEW)
15. Torpedo - From Russia with love
16. Rupesh Cartel - Comes the hour comes the man
17. TALK 5 (INTERVIEW)
18. Torpedo - Hospital
19. Tiger Lou - Until I'm there
20. TALK 6 (INTERVIEW)
21. Simon Ryman - Walk with me instead
22. Fanny Risberg - Stay with me forever
23. Lack - Deserters
24. TALK 7
25. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Manic panic
26. Hebosagil - Slightly confusing
27. Dieter Schöön - The harbour's cold
28. TALK 8
29. Lukestar - White shade
30. Fun - Hold it close
31. The Skull Defekts - The secret
32. TALK 9
33. Laakso - Great times underground
34. CS Nielsen - Black spots
35. Knugen Faller - Lugna favoriter
36. TALK 10
37. Säkert! - Allt som är ditt

MP3: Simon Ryman - Walk with me instead

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:08:06 -0800

I've got to make this quick due to family/holiday obligations, but I didn't want to let the day get away from me without posting something. Every time I do an interview for my radio show, I always ask my guest to pick a song or two to play. It's an easy conversation point and it's fun. One of my favorite things about doing my show is pushing my tastes on a new audience, so I fully expect everyone else to get the same sort of thrill when handed such an opportunity. This week's show features Pontus Levahn from Torpedo/Tiger Lou as my guest and one of his song picks is "Walk with me instead" from Stockholm-based artist Simon Ryman. Simon's name is vaguely familiar to me, but I don't think I had ever given him any serious attention before and that's got to change now because this track is fantastic. Like Pontus says on Simon's myspace page (and further expounds on in our interview), the songs are rooted in traditional singer/songwriter styles, but they also stretch beyond into new territory. It's a little bit like (older) Nicolai Dunger, maybe with a bit of BRMC. It's definitely got that same fuzzy, droning blues thing going on. Familiar, yet new. Check it out and if you're a Sirius subscriber, be sure to listen in to this week's show on Saturday (12 noon ET, replay at midnight).

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:23:48 -0700

Rasmus Kellerman from Tiger Lou was my guest on this week's radio show and this is what we played:

01. TALK 1
02. Tiger Lou - The loyal
03. Sara Berg - Call me from below
04. Thomas Dybdahl - Maury the Pawn
05. Torpedo - Hospital
06. TALK 2
07. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Heroica
08. Paris - When I laid my eyes on you
09. Isolation Years - Nurse hands
10. Jennie Abrahamson - Songs we sing
11. TALK 3
12. Firefox AK + Tellevika - Eric
13. Winter Took His Life - Lucky star
14. Knugen Faller - Jag vill inte vara med
15. Favorita - Seven comforts
16. TALK 4
17. Mikael Jonasson - Can you dig this?
18. Lindeberg & Can - Forbidden romance
19. John Dahlbäck - Gas
20. TALK 5
21. Ozgur Can - Changed
22. Aril Brikha - Winter
23. TALK 6
24. Rupesh Cartel - Hide like this
25. Madrugada - Hard to come back
26. Mob - Wait for me
27. TALK 7
28. Tiger Lou - Functions

Torpedo Live @ Valhall, Skövde, 10/20/07

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700

It's always hard to play in front of a crowd that's not really your crowd, just ask the guys in Torpedo. As an opening act for the veterans in the reunited, or unpaused, folk punk band Dia Psalma, Torpedo could certainly have wished for better conditions tonight, but hey, it's a challenge, right? There's always someone out there ought to become a fan and hopefully buy the record. Speaking of the record, the debut album, "In the assembly line" will finally be released early in November, a record I've really been looking forward to. "Epic Indie Kraut", with "like-wind-sweeping-through-your-hair-guitars", where less is more does not exist; there you'll find Torpedo, according to themselves. I like the term "Epic Indie Kraut", and I like Torpedo. They truly give it all, their energy and presence is contagious, and the rhythm section is impressive. Especially in my all-time favourite "Hang me high" – it's a beast. Placed in the right environment, think; crowded, hot as hell and booze, Torpedo will definitely blow your mind. Placed in the wrong environment, think; small town, not so crowded and lots of booze, Torpedo puts on a good show, but I know things can get better. Next time I expect a full fledged knock out.

Torpedo In the assembly line Knievel Records

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The debut record by Sweden's Torpedo has already generated considerable buzz and not without reason. Half of the band are also found in Tiger Lou, and they share that band's dark hypnotic sound. In place of Rasmus Kellerman's low-key approach, however, these guys focus on quirky post-punk artiness. Often it works well, with odd angles complementing seductive grooves in ways both interesting and memorable. When they're good, they're extremely good. But at other times they seem to be trying way too hard for an angular cool and then it just gets annoying. It flows well, but repeated listenings make it more tiresome than revelatory.

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:48:30 -0700

New arrivals in ye' mailorder, now in-stock and ready to ship:

Torpedo - In the assembly line
Friday Bridge - Intricacy

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:50:21 -0700

Torpedo's video for the new single "From Russia with love" is now online: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=20771216

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:21:28 -0700

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Boys of Scandinavia - Beautiful as a person
02. TALK 1
03. Don't Be A Stranger - Perfect problem
04. Timo Räisänen - Sixteen
05. Promise and the Monster - Sheets
06. TALK 2
07. Deathbed - When hope leaves a body
08. Closer - Sensing the wake
09. TALK 3
10. The Tarantula Waltz - Two arrows
11. Sambassadeur - Subtle changes
12. Anna Järvinen - Götgatan
13. TALK 4
14. Eric Malmberg - Slutet på en epok
15. Mustasch - Bring me everyone
16. September - Until I die
17. TALK 5
18. Leütenhaven - Still life (trompe l'oeil)
19. Frode Haltli - The latter
20. Lykke Li - Little bit
21. TALK 6
22. Downstairs - Peephole city
23. The Cardigans - Don't blame your daughter (Diamonds)
24. Paris - When I laid my eyes on you
25. TST - We are the kids
26. TALK 7
27. Ghost Brigade - Based on you
28. Mikko Singh - Palmun juurella
29. Audionom - Dc2
30. TALK 8
31. Ulver - Solitude
32. The Psyke Project - I get paralyzed
33. Silverbullit - Winter coat
34. TALK 9
35. Bodies Without Organs (BWO) - Let it rain
36. Icos - On my own
37. Torpedo - Hang me high
38. TALK 10
39. Graveyard - Satan's finest

FYI, in case you missed my announcement: next week will be a spooky Halloween-themed program.

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:59:07 -0700

Torpedo has posted the Jimmy O remix of "From Russia with love" on their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:18:29 -0700

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. TALK 1
02. Repoman - Chemically obsessed
03. Moder Jords Massiva - Vapen
04. Kornstad Trio - Intornette
05. TALK 2
06. Ghost Brigade - Autoemotive
07. Rather Sound Than Safe - The beat
08. September - My neighbourhood
09. TALK 3
10. Ebba Grön - 800°
11. Torpedo - My evil twin
12. Jonna Lee - Dried out eyes
13. TALK 4
14. Marvins Revolt - Bugs in time
15. Pimentola - Death is a secret
16. Nils Berg - Sailors fighting in the dance hall
17. TALK 5
18. Lampshade - By and by I come
19. Midnight Choir - Will you carry me across the water
20. Moonbabies - Walking on my feet
21. TALK 6
22. Candlemass - Elephant star
23. Front and the Factory Lies Beneath - Under a black sun
24. Cortex - Warrior night (live)
25. TALK 7
26. The Grizzly Twister - This city is a halo
27. New Decade - I guess you ran from something
28. The Grand Opening - Don't drop off
29. TALK 8
30. The Bear Quartet - I'm still her
31. Paper - My life is going under
32. Darkthrone - Wisdom of the dead
33. Detektivbyrån - Nattöppet
34. TALK 9
35. Mob - Ghost track
36. Fare You Well - Deceiving eyes
37. TALK 10

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:17:58 -0700

Torpedo will support Dia Psalma on tour in Sweden next month. The latter's new album "Djupa skogen" comes out October 10 and you can find more details at their website: http://www.diapsalma.net/

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo's forthcoming album "In the assembly line" has been licensed for release in GAS this December via Riptide Recordings. Look for a European tour in January as well.

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo has enlisted Martin Karlsson from Seven Feet Four as their new drummer. Not a huge surprise, especially considering that ex-member Jimmy O is probably too busy with his main band The Je Ne Sais Quois and their upcoming record release.

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Timo Räisänen - My valentine
02. TALK 1
03. Torpedo - From Russia with love
04. Desert Planet - Breakout button
05. Ebba Grön - Mamma pappa barn
06. TALK 2
07. The End Will Be Kicks - Don Johnson
08. Skywriter - Where both worlds never meet
09. Skull Defekts - The secret
10. TALK 3
11. Tsukimono - Tokyo OEast
12. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Trying to get home
13. Enemy Alliance - Government subsidized ghetto
14. TALK 4
15. The Indecision Alarm - Where every fucking dream is killed
16. Dismember - Soon to be dead
17. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Moments
18. TALK 5
19. Kristofer Åström - All in
20. Pan Sonic - Virta 1
21. Ulver - Of wolf and fear
22. TALK 6
23. Mainliners - Olivia
24. 120 Days - Let me come down
25. Universal Poplab - 60 is the new 40
26. TALK 7
27. Dag Vag - Popitop
28. The Bombettes - Lust is the new black
29. Breach - Big strong boss
30. TALK 8
31. CS Nielsen - Black spots
32. Tape - Sand dunes
33. The Psyke Project - For us to see for us to help
34. TALK 9
35. Cortex - Shark boys die hard
36. Viola - I don't know how to party
37. Don't Be A Stranger - Lonely together
38. TALK 10
39. Broder Daniel - What clowns are we

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo's new single "From Russia with love" is now posted on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo
For those of you who have the band's debut EP, this is the new version from the forthcoming full-length.

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Danish Torpedo has decided to break up: http://torpedoweb.com/

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The playlist for this week's radio show on Sirius:

01. TALK 1
02. Fattaru - Stila upp din skit
03. Samuraj Cities - Thxa1000000
04. The Fine Arts Showcase - I don't worry
05. TALK 2
06. Imagine I Had Hands - Captive
07. Scraps of Tape - Pickpockets vow
08. FAP - Jag drar till sjöss en sväng jag
09. TALK 3
10. Hello Saferide - I was definitely made for these times
11. Mainliners - Good storm
12. Breach - Gheeá
13. TALK 4
14. Him Kerosene - Neutrino
15. Familjen - Nu händer det igen
16. Sista Sekunden - D.I.We
17. Nine - Time has come
18. TALK 5
19. Emperor - Towards the pantheon
20. September - Can't get over (Long disco mix)
21. Kornstad - Turkey, Texas
22. TALK 6
23. Camouflage - Syster sol
24. Lolita Pop - Salta diamanter
25. Leather Nun - Gimme gimme gimme
26. TALK 7
27. Superfamily - I could be a real winner
28. Juvelen - Hanna
29. The Book of Daniel - Death caps and moonshine
30. Monkeystrikes - Serial faller in lover
31. TALK 8
32. Torpedo - Hang me high
33. Erik Enocksson - The lingering procession
34. Hederos & Hellberg - No fun
35. TALK 9
36. Death By Kite - Himmelfahrtskommando
37. The Tough Alliance - Something special
38. Seance - Controlled bleeding
39. TALK 10
40. Shout Out Louds - Hard rain

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo, the band consisting primarily of members from Tiger Lou, has signed with Swedish indie upstart label Kneivel who will release their debut full-length "In the assembly line" this fall. Currently the band is back in the studio recording a few new tracks, so the final product will probably differ a bit from the promo/demo version that has floated around.

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Check out a live recording of Nina Kinert covering Torpedo's "Love affair strapped in electric chair": http://myspace.com/ninakinert
Ane Brun is providing backing vocals. Nice!

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Last night's playlist for my show on Sirius Blog Radio:

01. Isolation Years - Yellow cross on blue
02. TALK 1
03. Johndoe - Nattskift
04. Montys Loco - Wasteland
05. Once We Were - Cut corners
06. TALK 2
07. [ingenting] - Mycket vasen for ingenting
08. Margaret Berger - Robot song
09. Namur - Marching
10. Lampshade - New legs
11. TALK 3
12. Maia Hirasawa - Gothenburg
13. Mixtapes & Cellmates - Quiet
14. Fattaru - 100:-
15. Juvelen - Hanna
16. TALK 4
17. Säkert! - Allt som är ditt
18. Sonores - 16th of June
19. Detektivbyrån - E18
20. TALK 5
21. At the Gates - The swarm
22. Barra Head - Kill the lights
23. TALK 6
24. The Tough Alliance - Leg 7
25. Torpedo - My evil twin
26. Alog - Catch that totem!
27. TALK 7
28. Valley Days - 10k angels
29. A-ha - Celice
30. Victims - Who the fuck are we?
31. TALK 8
32. The Vicious - Alienated
33. Viola - Unreal life
34. Zweizz - Nowadays the only boring everything is so frustrating
35. Viktor Sjöberg - Winter guitars
36. TALK 9
37. Closer - The talker
38. Aerial - My god, it's full of stars!
39. The Kissaway Trail - La la song
40. Laakso - Italy vs Helsinki
41. The Psyke Project - Panic
42. TALK 10
43. C.Aarmé - We are the world

Next week: expect lots more killer jams including totally a brand new track from Closer and maybe even a spotlight set on post-rock/ambient music. Good times!

MP3: Torpedo - Assembly line

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

I'm back in the SF Bay Area visiting my mom, so no there will be no news update today. However, I do have a brand new track from Torpedo to share, so all's not lost. Far from it actually - new music is always good thing and new music from Torpedo is great. However, I'm pretty beat from a rough day or travel and broken down cars, so let me allow the band to speak for themselves:

It's a 9.26 minute long anthem from our forthcoming album. It's easily the best work we've ever accomplished. May sound strange to people's ears the first time they listen, but we hope they'll understand the magic eventually.
The new stuff is much more monotone Krautrock but still maintaining the epic melodies and the quirkiness.
Hope you make it to the ending of the song. That's when the fun begins!

Intrigued? Check it out and I think you'll find that they speak the truth.

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo has posted the brand new song "Assembly line" to their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Head to Sweden, Sweden's myspace for pics and video from last Friday's show with Torpedo, Streetwaves and Light Bulb Project: http://www.myspace.com/swedenswedenberlin

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800

If you're anywhere near Berlin, don't forget this Friday's Sweden, Sweden show at Club Magnet with Torpedo, Streetwaves and The Light Bulb Project plus DJs Tiger Lou, Firefox AK and more! That much talent in one room means it's gonna be an amazing show, so you'd better be there.

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Torpedo has confirmed that "In the assembly line" will be the title of their forthcoming record. Some live dates:

02/08 - Fundbureau, Hamburg (GER)
02/09 - Magnet, Berlin (x-posted on the right)

See a promo clip here: http://www.torpedo.se/

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Torpedo has completed work on their debut full-length album. No word yet on when/who will release it, but it's coming.

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Download a brand new track from Swedish post-punk act Torpedo: http://www.torpedo.se/torpedo_hang_me_high.mp3

Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Updated German tourdates for Torpedo:

05/16 - Bla, Bonn (GER)
05/17 - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (GER)
05/18 - FZW, Dortmund (GER)
05/19 - Factory, Magdeburg (GER)
05/20 - Werk 2 (early show 18:00), Leipzig (GER)
05/20 - Privatclub (late show 23:30), Berlin (GER)

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Updated tourdates for Torpedo:

04/24 - Water Rats, London (UK)
05/17 - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (GER)
05/18 - FSW, Dortmund (GER)
05/19 - Factory, Magdeburg (GER)
05/20 - Werk 2,Leipzig (GER)
05/20 - Privatclub, Berlin (GER)

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Torpedo will play Water Rats in London on April 24.

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Swedish post-punks Torpedo will light up the dancefloors in the UK in April and Germany in May. Dates soon.

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Swedish post-punks/Tiger Lou backing band Torpedo has posted a new song called "Hang me high" on their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/torpedo

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Swedish post-punks/Tiger Lou backing band Torpedo have enlisted new member Love Martinsen on keyboards, slideguitars and whatever other instruments need playing. The band is currentlu writing and rehearsing new material.

Top 10s for 2005: It's a trap!

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Top ten albums for 2005 (in alphabetical order):

01. A-ha - Analogue (Universal)
I'm not usually one to fall for big pop albums like this, but A-ha has the class, maturity and songwriting skills to pull it off right.

02. Alog - Miniatures (Rune Grammofon)
This Norwegian duo combines electronic music, found-sound and analog instruments in astounding ways. The tools are anything but new, but the sounds they create are brilliant.

03. Bear Quartet - Saturday night (A West Side Fabrication)
Sweden's leading indierock act promised a difficult album and they delivered. Very few bands this far into their career would continue to innovate and evolve like The Bear Quartet.

04. Det Gamla Landet - s/t (Aa)
The soundtrack to a spaghetti western that has yet to be made. Beautiful and Evocative. [BUY]

05. Hyacinth House - s/t (True Music Production)
The dark horse of my list. It's very rare that some unknown, unproven band makes such an impact on me, but HH was such a band. On the surface there isn't really anything too special about these guys: country/twang with a healthy dose of classic rock. Been there, done that, right? Wrong.

06. Isolation Years - Cover the distance (NONS)
While not the best album of their career thus far ("It's golden" is my current #1), this is still 1000x more satisfying than so many other records I heard in 2005. I know I'll be able to put this on five years from now and will still enjoy it just the same.

07. Logh - A sunset panorama (Bad Taste/Hydrahead)
As with Isolation Years, this album is not Logh's best work, but it's still damn good. They took a brave, high-minded concept (recording live in the studio with almost zero overdubs) and pulled it off. [BUY]

08. Plain Fade - Lies, sanctions and cruise missles (Punos Sound)
I knew from the very first moment I heard Plain Fade that they were something special. After months of waiting for the debut CD to arrive, I was able to confirm it. [BUY]

09. The Psyke Project - Daikini (CPH-Sound)
As Aversionline said, "this is one of those rare instances where all of the typical "skull-crushing", "paint-peeling", "face-ripping", "ear-shredding" analogies do indeed apply." The finest heavy record I've heard in ages. [BUY]

10. Tiger Lou - The loyal (Startracks)
What don't I love about Tiger Lou? Every new release improves upon the last and of course the latest record is no exception. [BUY]

Honorable mentions:

Hello Saferide - Introducing... (Razzia)
I didn't really get behind this album at first because it's just so... nice. I usually tend towards edgier stuff, y'know? But my wife, bless her heart, kept playing it and it kept growing on me.

Moneybrother - To die alone (Burning Heart)
Even though it didn't make my final top 10 list, I know this is probably the #1 Swedish pop album for a lot of people. Of all the majorly hyped acts this year, Moneybrother truly deserved it.

Monkeystrikes - You hate my beautiful love (Dust Music)
Another album that I learned to love through repeated listenings by my wife. Seriously underappreciated.

David Sandström Overdrive - Go down (Mofab Teg)
Another strong contender for the top 10 that just didn't quite make it. Just like Isolation Years, this will still sound just as satisfying in years to come.

The End Will Be Kicks - s/t (Chalksounds)
Long awaited and much anticipated. Thank god it lives up to expectations. Nobodoy does noisy Norrland indierock like Niklas Quintana. [BUY]

Notable EPs:

Convoj - s/t (Chalksounds) [BUY]

Firefox AK - What's that sound (Razzia/Combat Disc) [BUY]

I'm From Barcelona - Sing!! (self-released)

Seven Feet Four - To kill is easy (Hysteri/Tenderversion) [BUY]

Torpedo - Declare despair (Strange Fruit)

Top 10s for 2005: Erik Welén (Tiger Lou/Torpedo)

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

01. The Ark @ Umeå Open
Never really liked this band. At all. But they totally blew me away. I was drunk as hell because of Avi (I blame it all on you) but I think that I would have loved them even on a sober night.

02. American Dad
Best tv-show ever. Klaus is the best fish in tv history.

03. The Car Crash of February
It's should be on my hate list of 2005. But lots of good things have come out of it as well. A closer friendship with my bandmates and a new appreciation of life. And the final evidence for me that God's a joke.

04. Lungfish @ St Felui Festival
The beard. It's all about the beard.

05. The Da Vinci Code
It's a million years old by know but I still read it like it's the first time. I love this book.

06. Myspace @ Internet
Even though it's total corporate bullshit and sold out to Clear Channel or whatever evil major Christian company of your choice... it's still a nice billboard for bands.

07. Piratbyrån

08. Alarma Man @ Blow Up A Panda Festival
Best and loudest band on the festival.

09. Germany
Best country in the world. Even if they're stiff and boring it's still nice to get a chance to talk to people that actually care about you and your band(s).

10. Fredrik Holmgren @ Startracks
Fredrik prefers boxing. That's why I like him.

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

Erik plays bass for two very excellent bands: Tiger Lou and Torpedo. He is also a fun drunk.
www.tigerlou.com
www.torpedo.se

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Today's top ten comes from Mr. Erik Welén of Tiger Lou and Torpedo. Don't believe his lies about me forcing him to get drunk at Umeå Open, but he is right about The Ark putting on an amazing show. Check it: [click here]
Redux: Do you want to contribute your own top ten? There's still time! Email me!

MP3: Tiger Lou - The loyal

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

The first truly great release of this fall season is Tiger Lou's "The loyal". The record is a bit darker in tone than his previous records, but as always, he just keeps getting better and better with each new release. The songwriting, the playing... everything is stepped up a notch. The only word I can think of to aptly describe it is "sublime". It doesn't hurt that Tiger Lou mainman Rasmus Kellerman is simply an excellent human being as well. Same goes for the rest of his bandmates (who are also in the band Torpedo). I love all you guys. Anytime any of you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest, give me a call okay?

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Upcoming release schedule for Norway's SellOut Music:

November: Delorean - s/t CD album
Jan/Feb 06: Torpedo - Anticlockwise EP
Mar/Apr 06: Kenneth Ishak - tba cover EP
Aug/Sep 06: City On Film (Bob Nanna from Braid/Hey Mercedes) tba cover EP

Yeah, it's not all Scandinavian stuff, but whatcha gonna do? Anyhow, those cover EPs are the first in a series in which an artist records 4-5 of their favorite songs. Sounds like fun, so I'm def looking forward to that.

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

Check out Simon Envall Ryman, a Swedish singer/songwriter associated with the guys in Tiger Lou and Torpedo: http://www.myspace.com/simonenvallryman

Mon, 08 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Remember last week when I told you about that Swedish indierock radio special being broadcast in Austria? Well, kind host Janis Meißner has followed-through on her word and posted a recording of the show online: http://www.modulmodal.at.tt/
As mentioned before, the program features music from All of My Brothers Girlfriends, Firefox AK, Ninja Massacre, Torpedo and more.

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700

On Saturday, August 6 the "Modul Modal" radio program on Radio Orange in Wien, Austria will be broadcasting a special one-hour program on Swedish music entitled "De Svenskarna kommer!". The program will be in German, but the playlist lineup includes a great assortment of up-and-coming indie artists such as All of My Brother's Girlfriends, Firefox AK, The Je Ne Sais Quoi, Ninja Massacre, Tokyo Eye and Torpedo. The program airs live at 3pm local time and can be streamed here, but I do believe that host Janis Meißner will try to post a recording somewhere after the fact. More info on the program here: http://orange.or.at/programs/modul_modal/

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Today's new mp3 is from What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas, yet another fine Swedish postpunk act. I guess the band used to be called Dude Party, but luckily they wised up and decided to change it. I know a lot of people are probably getting tired of this sound, but screw it I say - good music is good music. And this track is damn good, especially since it's just a demo. I'm not sure what will happen to the band after bassist/vocalist Lars moves back to the States, but you can see him play one last show with the guys at Mondo in Stockholm tomorrow night (with the very excellent Torpedo, flyer here). After that, who knows? There's a lot of potential. Listen to some more at the band's myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/dudeparty

Top fives: 2005 so far

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Avi Roig's top five across the board, plus one more for good measure:

01. Three EPs that prove Swedish indierock is still as strong as ever:
Convoj - s/t
Seven Feet Four - To kill is easy
Torpedo - Declare despair

02. Best single, hands down:
C.Aarmé - We are the world
Don't you know who we are? You do now.

03. The two best live sets I saw:
Silverbullit @ Umeå Open - Absolutely transcendent. Not only did the band give it their best, but the crowd was amped too.
The Ark @ The Troubadour in LA (ExMS Swedish Showcase) - Where did all those gayboy Ark fans come from? I was probably just as shocked as the band. Well worth the six hour drive each way.

04. The top four albums I can't stop listening to:
Isolation Years - Cover the distance
Logh - A sunset panorama
Desert Planet - Mario built my hot rod
Det Gamla Landet - s/t

05. Three reasons to keep an eye on Denmark:
Lack, The Psyke Project and The First Miles
I don't know why, but those Danes kick ass when it comes to both hardcore and Americana.

06. Two best non-Scandinavian albums:
Dredg - Catch without arms
Jesu - s/t
Two amazing albums from two of the world's best intelligent heavy rock acts.

Simon Tagestam:

01. Randy – Beware (song)
If the forthcoming album is as good as this (I doubt they got Fat Mike on any of the songs though), I'll forgive them for their last album (their only non-amazing release to date, according to me).

02. Robyn – Robyn
How would have thought it? An ex-soulpop girl making an album better than anything that inspired her to make it (i.e. The Knife, Kate Bush etc)

03. Frida Hyvönen – Until death comes
A colleague of mine thinks Frida can't sing and tries to get me into Joni Mitchell. Unfortunately Joni will never appeal to me as much as "Until Death Comes" does.

04. Mattias Alkberg BD – Jag ska bli en bättre vän
I haven't had this album too long, but at the moment it feels as it might be a contender for "album of the year"! That's right!

05. The Tough Alliance – The new school
This was not as good as I wanted it to be, but it's still crammed with excellent songs.

Navy Keophan's top five injuries sustained at shows for the first half of 2005:

01. Broken glasses, Millencolin show May 21: My eyesight is pretty bad (apparently, even worse than I thought) so when I took a hit from some crowd surfer that knocked them off my head, I was surprised I even made from Hollywood back to Long Beach safely.

02. Bruised shins, The Chinese Stars @ Koo's Feb. 6: Being in the front to take semi-decent pictures of one of your favorite bands = good. Having the crowd behind you push you into the shin-high stage for over 30 minutes = bad.

03. Bruised shins (again), Death From Above 1979 March 26: Again, much like the CS show, I was up front. Combine the thing that happened at that show with unexplainable moshing, another two weeks of pants-wearing.

04. Sore shoulders, Millencolin show May 22: Fist-pumpin' fun equated to arm cramps for the entire week.

05. Sore elbow, Millencolin show May 21: Damn moshers.

Kevin Renick:

01. Ephemera - Monolove
Every music lover should have one band they worship, one band that truly makes a difference in their life. For me, it's Norway's girl-pop trio Ephemera. I regard them not as mere musicians, but absolute creative Goddesses.

02. Bol - Silver sun
This jazz-poptronica trio from Trondheim have made a masterpiece with their second CD, a formula-defying journey up a river of humanity where heartbroken souls line the shore. 47 minutes of incandescent musical brilliance.

03. Hanne Hukkelberg - Little things
What a stellar debut! Norway's brightest new chanteuse delivers a rhapsodic set of tunes with constantly surprising arrangements, sterling production and her delightfully exuberant, upfront singing-which seems to reflect not only a zest for life but a playful "I'll try anything" approach.

04. Schtimm - The alcoholovefi collection
Although "Featuring" is actually their 2005 release, "TAC" is probably the best album by this mysterious Norwegian band, and I only heard it recently. Something about their music makes me think of haunted houses, as if you got trapped in a spooky mansion but found that the spirits of the place were only too happy to make music for you.

05. Efterklang - Tripper
The cutting-edge electronica from this Danish band has earned them rave reviews. Technology makes their intricate music possible, but they aspire to such a heaven-bound sound that you end up not thinking about the glitchy, twitchy elements in the mix at all, only the reverence you feel for the emotionally stirring, organic flow. Efterklang are one of today's most important and distinctive new bands, showing the uninitiated that there are sparks of magic shooting through the skies of Scandinavia.

Honorable mention: The State of Floral Beings - We know you love us and that's why we do this

Matthew W. Smith:

01. The Lionheart Brothers - Colour contrast context EP
Understated, bittersweet symphonic pop from Norway, featured on the "It's a Trap! Reader's Companion Vol. 1"

02. Kings of Convenience live at the Iota in Arlington, Virginia, February 2005
A no-frills, quiet performance that showcased Eirik and Erlend's guitar plucking, tight harmonies and sense of humor in front of a packed, respectful Iota.

03. Sharif - Lost causes, causes lost
Melancholy in both mood and lyrics, this well-constructed album signals a welcome return for this Swedish quartet.

04. Loopy - Smile back home
Leiv Aasen's vocals and a subtle blend of guitar pop and shoegazer on this debut make this tri-national band one to watch.

05. The Raveonettes - live at the Black Cat in Washington, DC, May 2005
See my review for more details, but the Danish outfit oozed 50s cool and blasted supersonic levels of guitar fuzz; the cover of "My boyfriend's back" provided a nice contrast to "Attack of the ghost riders".

One wish:
- I hope that Jennie, Johanna, Maria and Josephine from Sahara Hotnights have already recovered their missing gear and guitars or will soon!

Five things to look forward to for the rest of the year
- A new album quite soon from Icelandic band Leaves.
- The third album from Norway's purveyors of lowdown garage rock, Cato Salsa Experience.
- A successful trip to Connecticut for Tiger Lou, who will mix his sophomore album there with Peter Katis (Interpol, Denali) and hopefully release the results in the fall.
- More Danish success in North America, as The Blue Van continue to tour and Loopy has its album released stateside.
- Another new record from the rejuvenated Cardigans, who have already finished recording the follow-up to the fantastic "Long gone before daylight".

Simon Thibaudeau's top Scandinavian five:

01. Det Gamla Landet

02. EST - Viaticum

03. The Now

04. Spacious Mind – Rotvalta

05. Sayyadina - Fear Gave Us Wings

Per Apelqvist:

01. Moving back to Europe after 11 wonderful years in the US

02. Moneybrother live at the Barfly

03. David Fridlund - Amaterasu

04. 2 friends turning 30 and inviting over a hundred people to High Chaparal, the country western theme park in Sweden

05. Kent - Klaparen

Jason Christie:

01. [ingenting] - Allting ni gör
By way of "Songs we have learned to sing". Quite clearly the best I have heard in an age – still to learn though...

02. Sharif – You don't know
This track arrived at a tricky time, and then time tunnelled me back to the Basement club, Brighton circa 1995. Trust, that’s enough.

03. Pelle Carlberg – Oh no! It's happening again
A great writer, great vocalist and father of 4!

04. Café Alhambra – Clapham Common, SW4
Serving some of the finest

05. Chelsea Football Club
Where were you when they were rubbish?

Convoj s/t EP Chalksounds

Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Göteborg-based quartet Convoj's self-titled EP is a promising mix of atmospheric rock in the vein of Interpol and fellow Swedes Torpedo with bits and pieces of Fugazi. This release contains five songs that draw in the listener with its dueling guitars and the vocals are a perfect match for the music. For a person who is pretty picky about her music, I was very impressed with this release.

Torpedo Anticlockwise Strange Fruit

Mon, 09 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

To be honest, I've only read of the bands the members of Torpedo were in: Tiger Lou, Starmarket and The Je Ne Sais Quoi. I wasn't really sure of what to expect when listening to this EP. After listening to "Anticlockwise", I was really impressed. It takes the energy of guitarist Pontus Levahn's band Starmarket and the gentleness of his other band Tiger Lou (with Torpedo bandmate and bass player Erik Welén). Combined with TJNSQ drummer Jimmy Ottoson and rounded out by lead vocalist and guitarist Andreas Hogby, the band creates atmospheric indie rock. Can't really beat a band with a song about getting rid of a rival lover ("Plastic bag and a shovel"). Good stuff.

Streaming playlist: Spring is in the air

Sun, 08 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

DATE ADDED : 05.08.05
LAUNCH : Real / Windows

Tracklist:
01. Torpedo - Declare despair
02. Convoj - My biggest loss
03. Lack - Deserters
04. Las Puertas - Born in the NYK
05. Consequences - Come on
06. Isolation Years - Cover the distance
07. Moneybrother - Blow him back into my arms
08. Desert Planet - Breakout button
09. Eskju Divine - Struck by the halo
10. Majessic Dreams - Still inside
11. Alog - Severe punishment and lasting bliss
12. The Grand Opening - Location
13. Britta Persson - The past is not for real
14. The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Station to station

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo, Las Puertas and Firefox will all be touring Germany together in June:

06/02 - Astra Stube, Hamburg
06/03 - Nexus, Braunschweig w/Audrey
06/04 - Blue Shell, Köln
06/05 - tba
06/06 - Carambolage, Karlsruhe
06/07 - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden
06/08 - Mannheim/Saarlouis
06/09 - Bla, Bonn
06/10 - Besetzes Haus, Erfurt
06/11 - Projekt 7, Magdeburg
06/12 - tba

Pontus and Eric from Torpedo (and also Tiger Lou, drums and bass respectively) will be doing the live rhythm section thing for Las Puertas, in case you were wondering.

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

The latest Scandinavian music reviews from the German webzine Sellfish:

Candlemass - s/t
Morgana Lefay - Grand materia
Pain of Salvation - s/t
Torpedo - Anticlockwise

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Those boys in Torpedo are so nice that they posted a new track for download: http://www.torpedo.se/torpedo_from_russia_with_love.mp3
"From Russia with love" comes from the band's excellent debut EP "Anticlockwise", out now on Strange Fruit.

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Check out the website for Las Puertas, the sideproject of husband/wife duo Andrea (Firefox) and Rasmus Kellerman (Tiger Lou): http://www.combatdisc.com/laspuertas/
Their debut full-length is out now via Combat Rock and a split 12" with Torpedo is due out later this summer via Germany's Riptide Recordings.

Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Download a full version of the track "Declare despair" from Torpedo: http://www.torpedo.se/01_torpedo_declare_despair.mp3

Tue, 11 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Torpedo's new website is online: http://www.torpedo.se/

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Torpedo has confirmed that the official release date of their debut EP "Anticlockwise" will be April 4, but they will also have copies on-hand when they tour Europe in February. Here's the updated itinerary:

02/13 - Wild Rover, Aachen (GER) w/Firefox
02/14 - L'Austrasique, Nancy (FRA)
02/15 - Cafe Cairo, Würzburg (GER)
02/16 - Arena, Wien (AUS) w/Firefox
02/17 - Hafen 2, Offenbach (GER)
02/18 - Festival of Tinnitus #1, Saarlouis (GER) w/Audrey, Breather Resist
02/20 - Underground, Köln (GER)
02/21 - Nexus, Braunschweig (GER) w/Firefox

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Firefox will be releasing a 7" on Labrador Records on February 1. After that she'll be heading out on the road for a bit with her husband Tiger Lou as well as a couple dates with Chris Leo. Details:

02/14 - tba, Aachen w/Tiger Lou, Torpedo
02/16 - tba, Vienna w/Tiger Lou, Torpedo
02/17 - tba, Magdeburg w/Chris Leo, Audrey
02/18 - tba, Tangermünde
02/19 - Frühauf, Leipzig w/Chris Leo
02/20 - Garage Pankow, Berlin w/Rob and the Pinholestars
02/21 - tba, Braunschweig w/Tiger Lou, Torpedo

Mon, 20 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Tiger Lou will tour Europe in February with support from fellow Swedes Torpedo (who of course happen to share band members). Here's what's confirmed so far:

02/13 - Wild Rover, Aachen (GER)
02/14 - L'Austrasique, Nancy (FRA)
02/15 - Cafe Cairo, Würzburg (GER)
02/16 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
02/17 - Hafen 2, Offenbach (GER)
02/18 - Juz, Saarlouis (GER)
02/21 - Nexus, Braunschweig (GER)

Wed, 08 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

All-star Swedish indierockers Torpedo have finished mixing their new EP "Anticlockwise", tentatively due out in February via Germany's Strange Fruit.

Wed, 27 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Pics of Torpedo in the studio recording their debut EP: http://www.torpedo.se/studio.htm

Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish indierockers Torpedo entered the studio today to finish up the recording of their debut EP for Strange Fruit Records. The titles of the new songs they are tracking are "From Russia with love", "Time machine!", "Plastic bag and a shovel" and "Earthquake threat".

Tue, 12 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Swedish indierockers Torpedo have confirmed that Germany's Strange Fruit will be the label releasing their debut EP in February. Look for German tourdates and Scandinavian distro info soon.

Tue, 05 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

All-star Swedish indie act Torpedo will begin recording their debut EP on October 18. An as-yet-unnamed label will be releasing it sometime early next year.

Mon, 20 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Torpedo has enlisted Jimmy Ottoson from The Je Ne Sais Quoi as their new drummer.

Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Some of the guys from Starmarket, Tiger Lou's band and Union City have a new project called Torpedo. Head over to their website to listen to a couple tunes: http://www.torpedo.se/
They are looking for a drummer, so if you think you might be interested, the website has all the relevant contact info as well.