IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Last Days of April announce new album, give away single

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:30:26 -0800

Swedish indierockers Last Days of April have announced that they will be releasing the new album "79" in late March via Bad Taste Records. Go here for a free download of the lead single "Feel the sun again" and get the details on the latest batch of upcoming European tourdates: http://www.badtasteempire.com/bad-taste-records/last-days-of-april-announce-release-of-new-album-entitled-79/

2012 Manifest Award nominees

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:53:49 -0800

The nominees for the 2012 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative/indie Grammy, have been announced:

Folk/Ballad:
Marin/Marin – Småfolket (Dimma Sweden)
Merit Hemmingson – EQ (Amigo/Cosmos)
Navarra – Nya fönster (Kakafon Records)
Siri Karlsson – Gran Fuego (Flora & Fauna)

Dance:
Skudge – Samlad årsproduktion (Skudge Records)
Jonsson/Alter – Samlad årsproduktion (Kontra-Musik)
The Field – Looping State of mind (Kompakt)
Pallers – The Sea Of Memories (Labrador)

Punk:
Sju Svåra År – Storma varje hjärta (Not Enough)
Obnoxious Youth – The Eternal Void (Adult Crash)
Vånna Inget – Allvar (Heptown Records)
Black Feet – Black Feet (Dirty Faces)

Hip-Hop:
Mofeta & Jerre – Briljanter & Smaragder (Pumpa Records)
Ison & Fille – För evigt (Hemmalaget)
Mohammed Ali – Vi (Bad Taste Records)
Roffe Ruff – Barrabas (Olofsson Management/Swingkids)

Experimental:
Hans Appelqvist – Sjunga slutet nu (Häpna)
Hanna Hartman – H ^ 2 (Komplott)
Ophir – Opus Operatum (Komplott/Callithrix Records)
Midaircondo feat. Michala Østergaard-Nielsen – Reports on the Horizon (Twin Seed Recordings)

Hardrock:
In Solitude – The World. The Flesh. The Devil (Metal Blade)
Opeth – Heritage (Roadrunner)
Terra Tenebrosa – The Tunnels (Trust No One Recordings)
The Haunted – Unseen (Century Media Records)

Rhythm:
Syster Sol – Kichinga! (Swing kids)
Simone Moreno – Planetas (Soul Dog Records)
Kapten Röd – Fläcken Som Aldrig Går Bort (SwingKids)
OK Star Orchestra – The Beat and the Melody (Rootsy.nu)

Pop:
Azure Blue – Rule of thirds (Hybris)
Jonathan Johansson – Klagomuren (Hybris)
Korallreven – An album by Korallreven (Hybris)
Loney Dear – Hall Music (Dear John)

Rock:
Pascal/Mattias Alkberg – Allt det här (Novoton)
Kajsa Grytt – En kvinna under påverkan (Playground Music)
Bob Hund - Det överexponerade gömstället (bob hunds förlag)
Tramp – Indigo (Killer Cobra Records)

Synth:
Henric de la Cour – Henric de la Cour (Progress Productions)
Necro Facility – Wintermute (Progress Productions)
Mr Jones Machine – Monokrom (Progress Productions)
Covenant – Modern Ruin (Progress Productions)

Jazz:
Jonas Holgersson – Snick Snack (Moserobie)
Parti & Minut – Från klart till halvklart (El Dingo Records)
Priming Orchestra – Deep Blue (GAC)
The Splendor – Delphian Palace (HOOB Records)

Best Unsigned:
Death By Armborst
Storskogen
Schizo and the Personalities
Farsta

Singer/Songwriter/Country/Americana:
Brothers of End – Mount Inside (Konjaga)
Ane Brun – It All Start With One (Balloon Ranger Recordings)
Promise & the Monster – Red Tide (Imperial Recordings)
Lars Bygdén – Songs I Wrote (Massproduktion)

Best live act:
Kriget (Kriget)
This is Head (Adrian Recordings)
Graveyard (Nuclear Blast)
Mattias Alkberg (Teg Publishing)

Interesting to see Hybris and Progress Productions dominating their respective niches. Winners will be announced on February 3 at a ceremony at Nalen in Stockholm. Read more: http://manifestgalan.se/manifestgalan-2012/nominerade/

Mohammed Ali - Ghettobarn del 2 (feat. Ison & Fille)

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:57:11 -0800

New from Swedish hip-hop act Mohammed Ali featuring a cameo from Ison & Fille, consolidating the best Sweden has to offer in the genre in one track. Look for Mohammed Ali's new EP "Vi & resten" to be released on November 18 via Bad Taste Records.

Bad Taste is hiring

Wed, 11 May 2011 13:20:31 -0700

Bad Taste Records is looking to hire someone new for their office in Lund: http://www.badtasteempire.com/bad-taste-records/bad-taste-soker-nytillskott/

Mohammed Ali - Gatan sjunger ut

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:27:47 -0800

A new track from Swedish hip-hop act Mohammed Ali off their debut album "Vi", due out April 13 via Bad Taste Records. Download the mp3: http://www.mohammedali.se/files/mohammed_ali_gatan_sjunger_ut.mp3

Graveyard, Riddarna, LDOA confirmed for IAT Clubnights

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:08:11 -0700

Dates are finally confirmed for our upcoming IAT! Clubnights at Debaser Malmö! First up on December 10 we have hard-rockers Graveyard (who I presume will be premiering matering from their forthcoming, much-anticipated album) plus recent Novoton-signees Riddarna! Maybe even guest DJs too, who knows? And then in January, Last Days of April who will be playing in support of their new album "Gooey" which just came out on Bad Taste Records. Look for a support act to be announced soon and see you there! ('cept that I won't)

Bad Taste vs The Sunset Strip

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:57:04 -0800

Bad Taste Records will be putting on a post-SXSW showcase at the Viper Room in LA on March 26 featuring Last Days of April, Timbuktu & Chords, Adam Tensta and Maskinen. More at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=314613801794&ref=nf

Manifest 2010 winners

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:11:30 -0800

Here are the winners of the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy:

Punk/Hardcore: Troublemakers - Made in Sweden (Svindel)
Dance: Samuel L Session - The man with the case (Be As One Imprint)
Jazz: The Opposite - Intertwined (Kopasetic)
Dansband: Blender - Välkommen in (Blender Records)
Rhythm: Jaqee - Kokoo Girl (Rootdown Records)
Composer: Lisa Nordström and Lisen Rylander Löve (Midaircondo)
Lyrics: Ken Ring
Rock: Makeouts - In A Strange Land (Bachelor Records)
Pop: El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop (Licking Fingers)
Hårdrock/Metal: Abandon - The Dead End (Black Star Foundation)
Synth: Arvid - Andetag (Wonderland Records)
Singer/songwriter: Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus (Startracks)
Folk/ballad: Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet (Brus & Knaster)
Hip-hop: Mohammed Ali - Processen (Bad Taste Records)
Best poplabel: Information
Best live: Fever Ray (Rabid Records)
Best unsigned: Fulmakten

Embee - A day at a time

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:06:55 -0800

Go here to download the new Embee single "A day at a time" (feat. Daniel Lemma): http://www.looptrooprockers.com/the-mellow-turning-moment/
The new album "The mellow turning moment" is now set for release on February 24 via Bad Taste Records/DVSG.

Manifestgalen 2010 nominees are go

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:43:31 -0800

The nominees for the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy, have been announced:

Punk/Hardcore:
En Svensk Tiger - Versace style (Buzzbox records)
Troublemakers - Made in Sweden (Svindel)
Tysta Mari - Sveriges Casino (11743)
The Clichés - Monkey see, monkey do (Randale)

Dance:
Minilogue - Samlad årsproduktion
Samuel L Session - The man with the case (Be As One Imprint)
The Field - Yesterday and Today (Kompakt)
Tomas Andersson - Stiff Disco (Funk Noir)

Jazz:
Bengt Berger - Beches Brew (Country & Eastern)
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - The Half Naked Truth 1998-2008 (Moserobie)
The Opposite - Intertwined (Kopasetic)
Plunge With Bobo Stenson - Origo (Kopasetic)

Rhythm:
Calle Real - Me Lo Gané (Timba Records)
Jaqee - Kokoo Girl (Rootdown Records)
Music is the weapon - Music is the weapon (Music is the weapon)
Syster Sol - Dömd att bli bedömd (Swing Kids)

Rock:
Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco (Startracks)
Makeouts - In A Strange Land (Bachelor Records)
Murder by guitar - Murder by guitar (Jeet Kune Records)
Skriet - Skriet (Novoton)

Pop:
Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen (Häpna)
El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop (Licking Fingers)
JJ - JJ n° 2 (Sincerely Yours)
Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen (Hybris)

Hårdrock/Metal:
Abandon - The Dead End (Black Star Foundation)
Candlemass - Death Magic Doom (Nuclear Blast)
Katatonia - Night Is The New Day (Peaceville)
Tribulation - The Horror (Pulverised)

Synth:
Arvid - Andetag (Wonderland Records)
Dupont - Entering The Ice Age (Progress Productions)
Emmon - Closet Wanderings (Wonderland Records)
Rupesh Cartel - Anchor Baby (Megahype)

Singer/songwriter:
Ane Brun - Live at Stockholm Concert Hall (Balloon Rangers Recordings)
David Åhlen - We Sprout In Thy Soil (Compunctio)
Jonna Lee - This Is Jonna Lee (Razzia)
Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus (Startracks)

Folk/ballad:
Taken By Trees - East of Eden (Rough Trade)
Miriam Aida - Letras au Brasil (Ajabu)
Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet (Brus & Knaster)
Esbjörn Hazelius - Blunda och du ska få se (Amigo)

Hip-hop:
Mohammed Ali - Processen (Bad Taste Records)
Organismen - Om Gud vill och vädret tillåter (Organismen)
Promoe - Kråksången (Pope Records)
Stor - Nya skolans ledare (Redline Records)

Best live:
Frida Hyvönen (Licking Fingers)
Jenny Wilson (Gold Medal Recordings)
Fever Ray (Rabid Records)
Florence Valentin (Startracks)

Best unsigned:
Den Svenska Björnstammen
Extended Heads
Fulmakten
Nora

Go here for more: http://www.manifestgalan.se/122.aspx

Navid Modiri & Gudarna Allt jag lärt mig hittills Bad Taste Records

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

It was with a hallelujah impression, when I, a couple of years ago, saw Navid Modiri & Gudarna perform live. Thought finally a band that can't be placed in a specific box and, thanks to that, can bomb us with creativity in unlimited ways. It is not the same hallelujah moment when their third release "Allt jag lärt mig hittills" feels like they can't live up to what they have done before. Even so, they have made us fall in love with their sharp attitude and truly, if you are a fan, expect to fall over and over again. With this album the focus on American politics, cult artists such as Lou Reed and the location Hisingen, has changed. A displeasure at first, with the Hisingen loss, but as hinted before, inveterate is not their thing. This new release is about symbolic violence. Navid Modiri & Gudarna is a controversial band, either you like them or you don't. This is a kind of Miss Li unlabeled music genre that, if you need words, goes into a blend between reggae oriental pop with a jazz influence on circus. Navid Modiri is known for his society criticism in a sarcastic but reasonable way. Some people call it naivety, but not if you have been on a live performance and heard "Kom och dansa med oss" and laughed collectively at Bush with final tears caused by "Om jag ska dö" from the album "Många mil att gå", though I have a hard time to see this album go as far. Highlights from this release are: "Telefonsvaren", "Dagen jag fick nog" and "Kung Midas". Give it a few listens and it will grow on you.

Quit Your Dayjob Tools for fools Bad Taste Records

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Riding a huge wave of success and acknowledgement, the freaks are out and back again. This, the follow up to 2005's "Sweden we got a problem", is, despite its simplicity, a more complex record. The hardcore fans, however should not be alarmed by this, the trademark madness QYD do so well is intact throughout all 13 tracks. The impression I get when listening to "Tools for fools" is that the songwriting has improved. For better and worse, I must add. The head-on, full-frontal punkrock with surf vibes, the all-or-nothing feeling is lost on this album at times. And to be really honest, this is one band that is more suited for just releasing EPs. When the band sounds like a date between Dead Kennedys and The Cramps on speed in "Danger! Fire kills children", it's like coming home again. Robert Johnson & the Punchdrunks would be proud of a song like "Medieval monsters in the modern man" and "Bodypoppers" is a smart move as the first single, being co-written with The Sounds. To sum it up, these maniacs are enjoying recognition from all sorts of characters including Blag Dahlia from The Dwarves, Ok Go, The Hives and, more surprising, R.A. The Rugged Man who is also featured on the opening track "Warmachine". I salute them as well! If they had just weeded out some of the weaker material, the grade would've been higher, for sure.

Last Days of April Might as well live Bad Taste Records

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Peeling off the layers of music has always been an interesting way to evolve for a band. And it certainly feels as if Karl Larsson finally found his home musically. This, the 5th album, is simply packed with rawk that has an astounding appeal. The man knows how to write catchy songs, but this collection are his masterpiece. And speaking of catchy, "Who's on the phone?" can possibly be the catchiest song to be released this year. Other favourites are the somewhat epic "Melbourne" and the sensitive and driven "Two ply glass". LDOA is a one-man project nowadays, but never is it a dull project. On the contrary, it is very much alive and kicking, something that the album title refers to. With Fredrik Granberg from Randy behind the drums and Mathias Oldén from Logh on bass, it's a combo that really tightens the sound together. And once and for all; I think we can finally erase that "emo rock"-mark LDOA have been labelled with for so long now.

Logh North Bad Taste Records

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700

It has gone full circle so to speak. I absolutely adored the debut album "Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings", released in 2001 for the band's introverted indierock mixed with atmospheric soundscapes. Rock suitable for a motion picture soundtrack. On "North", the band reveals qualities not shown since that first full-length. Despite the fact that it took some time to reconcile with the record this time, you've got to hand it to these guys as they've done it again! This time, it's a more focused record with no dead spots. A true masterpiece. Gone are the flirtations with the post-rock scene and Mathias Oldén once again proves himself to be a great songwriter. "The raging sun" and "A sunset panorama" are great albums as well, no doubt about that, but now it has all fallen into place. Considering songs like "Saturday nightmares" (the first single from the record, do check out the amazing video as well), "The black box" and "Thieves in the palace", Logh should be acknowledged by a wider audience.

David & The Citizens Stop the tape! Stop the tape! Bad Taste Records

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700

After three years, David & The Citizens have actually delivered a record with exactly what they promised. Most groups talk about how their sound has either expanded or altered, but few times (especially in the past ten or fifteen years) has the resulting material been so accurate in description. I must admit, however, that I was a bit skeptical when they had said they were going to make a more "rocking" album, but then I realised that "Big chill" was an amazing song and that going in that direction would not be a bad thing at all. "Stop the tape! Stop the tape!" sees the production values, especially when dealing with the low-end, bumped up with a bit more confidence and thump. The rhythm section is powerful in its delivery and aids the listeners' head to nod throughout the release (most notably on "A heart & a hand & a love for a band", "Oblivion" and the first single "Are you in my blood?"). The extended mix of "48h" is, to me, flawless in songcraft, and one of the top on the record along with "What if nobody would catch us?". David & the Citizens have delivered what everyone had hoped for: a band realising their potential, acting upon it - and succeeding.

David & The Citizens Are you in my blood? Bad Taste Records

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700

In their studio weblog, The Citizens were talking about how the band had become more "rocking" whilst making the new EP and LP (although later on they said the EP was more "pop"). Well, now that the EP has been released, we Citizens fans now have an idea on what the band had been up to since "Until the sadness is gone"; and if you're familiar with the track "Big chill," this is not too dissimilar. More of a distorted raw tone all around, yet keeping the level aesthetics we have all grown to love and a minimal-yet-fleshed-out sound. The closer, "Sometimes forever" is one of the prettiest songs David Fridlund has written. He and The Citizens shine so brightly on this EP, they are a band that should never be eclipsed. I'll call this another triumph for the band and I cannot wait for the new full-length.

Satanic Surfers Taste the poison Bad Taste Records

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

With new releases this year from Millencolin, Randy and now Satanic Surfers, it feels like I'm 12 years old again. Fortunately, none of these bands sounds like they did in the beginning of their careers, which is cool since it means that I can think of myself as 'mature' instead of 'old' (I hope that makes sense; perhaps you need to be 25+ to understand). Anyhow, aging paranoia aside, Satanic Surfers' new album is not as emo, poppy, or sugary sweet as their last great album ("Unconsciously confined" from 2002), but it's still as good as Satanic Surfers always have been. If you've never heard SS, think of something like As Friends Rust at their best (early EPs), but less hardcore and more melodic (it's basically melodic punk rock). It's very comforting that that a lot of these Swedish (melodic-) punk veterans that I've sort of grown up with still got what it takes, without me having to shield myself behind some dire nostalgia while listening to them.

Logh A sunset panorama Bad Taste Records

Sun, 27 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800

This is the kind of record that really takes a long time to sink in and make an impression. As with most every other review I've seen, I was considerably underwhelmed when I first heard the album, but I made myself go back and relisten numerous times before delivering a verdict. i'm glad I did because the more times I listen, the more I find to appreciate. Look, it's no secret that Logh is one of my favorite bands, but that doesn't mean I think they're beyond criticism. "A sunset panorama" is a noble experiment of live-in-the-studio recording, but it is most definitely not the band's best work when compared to the greatness of "The raging sun". Does that mean it's not worth getting? No, of course not - it's still better than most of the new stuff I've heard so far this year and a fine example of music that sounds unequivocally Nordic without being folk.

Quit Your Dayjob s/t EP Bad Taste Records

Sun, 28 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800

After sitting and listening to Quit Your Dayjob's EP, I was left in a state of girlish glee. The trio makes quirky drum-guitar-and-synth rock that can best be described as a bit nerdish. In fact, the gentlemen of QYDJ would have it no other way. Coming from the south of Sweden (Malmö to be exact), Jonass (guitar/vocals) sings like he is Fred Schneider's (of the B-52s) Swedish cousin. On tracks like "Look! A Dollar" and "Mike Fast", Jonass' vocals are catchy and the lyrics are simple to remember because most of the time they are just the song titles itself. Combined with Marcass' synthesizers and Andreass' drums, QYDJ create something that is along the lines of Devo and the aforementioned B-52s that can only be described as synth-surf on acid. QYDJ puts a smile on my face and a spazzy feeling in my body.

Last Days of April If you lose it Bad Taste Records

Sun, 22 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0800

For me, the best LDOA album is "Angel youth" and I'm not sure if they'll ever top it. "If you lose it" is stronger than the last album "Ascend to the stars", but it still doesn't totally grab me. I'm thinking that the stripped down production courtesy of Mathias Oldén from Logh doesn't suit the band best. I absolutely love Logh, but I'm not loving this. Anyhow, I shouldn't be bitching - it's still a good record, even if it's not their best.