Check out the Facebook page for "Den Svenska Synthen", an upcoming book by Bengt Rahm (one of the founders of ) on the Swedish synth scene including interviews with tons of bands, labels and more: https://www.facebook.com/DenSvenskaSynthen
Swedish-only unfortunately, but that's the way these things go.
Here are the winners of the 2012 Manifest award, Sweden's indie/alternative Grammy:
Folk/Ballad: Siri Karlsson - Gran Fuego ()
Experimental: Hanna Hartman - H ^ 2 ()
Punk: Obnoxious Youth - The Eternal Void ()
Dance: Jonsson/Alter - Samlad årsproduktion ()
Hardrock: Opeth - Heritage ()
Rhythm: Simone Moreno - Planetas ()
Singer/Songwriter/Country/Americana: Ane Brun - It All Start With One ()
Rock: Pascal/Mattias Alkberg - Allt det här ()
Best Unsigned: Death By Armborst
Jazz: Jonas Holgersson - Snick Snack ()
Hip-Hop: Mofeta & Jerre - Briljanter & Smaragder ()
Synth: Necro Facility - Wintermute ()
Pop: Azure Blue - Rule of thirds ()
Best live act: This is Head ()
SKAP/Manifest Prize for best lyrics: Philip Ekström - Det Vackra Livet ()
SKAP/Manifest Prize for best composer: Maria Lindén - I Break Horses ()
Manifest Prize for best indie: Popkollo
has posted a new song from The Mary Onettes for free download: http://www.Labrador.se/strangeways/
Swedish indiepop act Sambassadeur is reportedly working on a new album with producer Mattias Glavå for release this coming spring via .
The nominees for the 2012 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative/indie Grammy, have been announced:
Folk/Ballad:
Marin/Marin – Småfolket ()
Merit Hemmingson – EQ ()
Navarra – Nya fönster ()
Siri Karlsson – Gran Fuego ()
Dance:
Skudge – Samlad årsproduktion ()
Jonsson/Alter – Samlad årsproduktion ()
The Field – Looping State of mind ()
Pallers – The Sea Of Memories ()
Punk:
Sju Svåra År – Storma varje hjärta ()
Obnoxious Youth – The Eternal Void ()
Vånna Inget – Allvar ()
Black Feet – Black Feet ()
Hip-Hop:
Mofeta & Jerre – Briljanter & Smaragder ()
Ison & Fille – För evigt ()
Mohammed Ali – Vi ()
Roffe Ruff – Barrabas ()
Experimental:
Hans Appelqvist – Sjunga slutet nu ()
Hanna Hartman – H ^ 2 ()
Ophir – Opus Operatum ()
Midaircondo feat. Michala Østergaard-Nielsen – Reports on the Horizon ()
Hardrock:
In Solitude – The World. The Flesh. The Devil ()
Opeth – Heritage ()
Terra Tenebrosa – The Tunnels ()
The Haunted – Unseen ()
Rhythm:
Syster Sol – Kichinga! ()
Simone Moreno – Planetas ()
Kapten Röd – Fläcken Som Aldrig Går Bort ()
OK Star Orchestra – The Beat and the Melody ()
Pop:
Azure Blue – Rule of thirds ()
Jonathan Johansson – Klagomuren ()
Korallreven – An album by Korallreven ()
Loney Dear – Hall Music ()
Rock:
Pascal/Mattias Alkberg – Allt det här ()
Kajsa Grytt – En kvinna under påverkan ()
Bob Hund - Det överexponerade gömstället ()
Tramp – Indigo ()
Synth:
Henric de la Cour – Henric de la Cour ()
Necro Facility – Wintermute ()
Mr Jones Machine – Monokrom ()
Covenant – Modern Ruin ()
Jazz:
Jonas Holgersson – Snick Snack ()
Parti & Minut – Från klart till halvklart ()
Priming Orchestra – Deep Blue ()
The Splendor – Delphian Palace ()
Best Unsigned:
Death By Armborst
Storskogen
Schizo and the Personalities
Farsta
Singer/Songwriter/Country/Americana:
Brothers of End – Mount Inside ()
Ane Brun – It All Start With One ()
Promise & the Monster – Red Tide ()
Lars Bygdén – Songs I Wrote ()
Best live act:
Kriget ()
This is Head ()
Graveyard ()
Mattias Alkberg ()
Interesting to see and 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/
Swedish indierock act The Mary Onettes have recorded a new EP with Dan Lissvik of Studio (RIP) called "Love Forever" which apparently finds them stripping away the reverb to find a more organic sound. It will be released on February 29 via and will be available either as a digital download or on 12" vinyl.
Swedish highlights from Gaffa SE's top 30 albums of 2011:
3. Mattias Alkberg - Anarkist (Teg Publishing/)
4. Anna Järvinen - Anna själv tredje (/)
5. Skriet - Det Beslutande Organet (/)
8. Invasionen - Saker som jag sagt till natten (/)
12. Graveyard - Hisingen Blues (/)
14. Deportees - Islands & Shores (/)
16. I Break Horses - Hearts (/)
18. The Field - Looping State of Mind (/)
20. Syket - With Love (/)
21. Jonathan Johansson - Klagomuren (/)
28. Movits! - Ut ur min skalle (/)
29. Det Vackra Livet - Det Vackra Livet (/)
30. Ison & Fille - För evigt (/)
See the full list: http://gaffa.se/artikel/55303 (in Swedish)
The Line of Best Fit interviews ' latest signing, the 16yo singer/songwriter Amanda Mair: http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2011/10/interview-amanda-mair/
will release the new Amanda Mair single "Doubt" on October 19.
Dan Treacy and Texas Bob of perennial indie faves the Television Personalities are guest-stars on the upcoming Acid House Kings single "Heaven knows I miss him now" b/w "Lost and found", out October 18 via , both on 7" and digital.
A video preivew for Swedish act Pallers' upcoming album "The sea of memories", due out September 27 via : http://youtu.be/98dqiyanxjQ
Swedish indiepop label has a new 22-track comp/label sampler they are giving away as a free download: http://www.Labrador.se/stockholm/
For vinyl nerds who like their shoegaze dreamy and underwhelming, has reissued the first three albums from The Radio Dept. on 180g vinyl: http://www.Labrador.se/shop.php3
Look for the new Pallers single "Come rain, come sunshine" to be released on July 26 via with the album "The sea of memories" to follow on September 27.