Flora & Fauna LP comp details
The full tracklist and ordering info for the new, vinyl/digital-only, all-exclusive comp from is now posted: http://www.brilliant.nu/fflp07.html
Dig & Mig album preview
Soundvenue is streaming three tracks from the upcoming Dig & Mig album "Sommervarmen": http://www.soundvenue.com/nyheder/2012/05/09/hoer-tre-numre-fra-det-nye-dig--migalbum
MP3: Magnus Ekelund & Stålet - Supernova
Infectious in the best possible way, not like a dreaded sommarplåga or a social disease. In fact, all three songs from the new single "Supernova", including brilliant b-side covers of Vapnet and Bingo, are phenomenal. Likewise, so is Magnus Ekelund & Stålet's upcoming full-length "Det definitiva drevet". Same goes for labelmates Norra Kust, whose self-titled debut was just released today and is now on Spotify. Essential listening all around!
Altar Of Flies - Let new life rise in the face of death (preview video)
Originally a cassette-only release, now available on CD with two extra tracks via .
MP3: In These Woods - Ghost
In These Woods' self-titled debut/final? EP from late 2010 didn't make much of a splash, but it's still one of my favorite indierock releases of recent memory. While I love bands like Culkin and Tennis Bafra, they're often operating more off of a classic US indie template as opposed to ITW's inherent Swedish-ness. Of course it all comes from the same place if you trace it back far enough, but ITW has a far stronger direct kinship to Him Kerosene and Fireside than Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr.. It's in the sharpness of the rhythms, the way the melodies move and layer; there's nothing else like it.
Vaiping
Industrial workers of the world unite
Karisma Records
For anyone who hasn't heard of Stavanger quartet Vaiping, the album title should at least give the genre away. In keeping with the tradition of the industrial movement this whole work just oozes odd. It's like a mix of Kraftwerk and Die Krupps, only without the innovation or variation of either. That said, "Industrial workers of the world unite" does have some inspired moments and some of the passages are incredibly well constructed and memorable. That the vast majority of the album runs on a slow-to-mid tempo is a two-sided coin of sorts. Firstly, that tempo serves to initiate a hypnotic feeling that staves off any real desire to switch off when boredom threatens to set in. On the other hand, the repetition does induce a certain apathy toward the album as a whole and this tends to overshadow the fact that the overall dismal feel here is quite unique and disturbing. Closing track "Pie in the sky" is a welcome surprise that pricks up tired ears and it's more of this type of variation throughout the album that would have made it killer. There's something captivating about the overall dark image that Vaiping convey but that doesn't mean that "Industrial workers of the world unite" is an essential purchase. The key word here is "potential".
- John Norby
Musik med Zhala
Self-proclaimed to be one of their best live sessions ever, here's "Musik med Zhala" at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/05/07/musik-med-zhala/
Erkki Kurenniemi - Music for the film Hyppy (clip)
Coming soon via , a new collection of works from Finnish experimental/electronic music pioneer Erkki Kurenniemi produced during the period of 1963-1975. Doubel vinyl only, includes previously unreleased music as well as various more well-known pieces and collaborations.
Off the Record: Black Twig
There's a new webisode of Finnish live music video program Off the Record featuring homegrown act Black Twig: http://offtherecord.fi/black-twig/
Hammock Sessions: Vånna Inget
Check out Vånna Inget, one of my favorite current punk acts Swedish or otherwise, performing an acoustic version of "Jag ska fly tills jag hittar hem" backstage at Umeå Open for The Hammock Sessions.
Millencolin - The downhill walk
Yet another new track from Millencolin's upcoming anniversary collection "The melancholy connection".
De:Nihil to release new 7" from Swarm
is putting out a new 7" from Swarm, a bluesy noiserock trio featuring current and ex-members from revered Swedish acts such as Victims, Disfear and Entombed: http://denihilrecords.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-release-swarm-nihil011.html
2 songs, pre-orders start on May 19.
MP3: Breach - Lost crew
Always good to revisit the classics every now and then to see how well they're holding up and yep, this one holds up just fine. In fact, I'd say that Breach's final album "Kollapse" still crushes pretty much everything that's come along since it was first released back in 2001.
A West Side Fabrication talks to Rickard och Juvelerna
has posted a short Q&A session with their latest signing Rickard och Juvelerna, the new band from ex-Waterbug vocalist Rickard Nilsson: http://www.westsidefabrication.se/news/new-act-on-west-side-fabrication.../
Mindy Misty - Black mass (video)
An old song with new visuals from excellent Norwegian noiserockers Mindy Misty.