IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Top 10s for 2011: Thomas Jonsson (I'm Kingfisher)

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:05:09 -0800

TOP 11 OF 11
1. Earth - Angels of Darkness, demons of light
2. Mogwai - Hardcore will never die, but you will
3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
4. Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer
5. James Blake - James Blake
6. Loney Dear - Hall Music
7. Jonathan Johansson - Klagomuren
8. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell me
9. Tennis - Cape Dory
10. My Morning Jacket - Circuital
11. Ondo/Nekrasov - (Split LP)

PLANS FOR 2012
Record and finish my next album "Avian" Be more grown up.
Buy a vocalFX pedal to use on my shows. Always use the 'Cyborg'-preset on the FXpedal continuously on tours.
Stop being so grown up all the time. Release the album late 2012/2013.

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http://www.imkingfisher.com/

Top tens for 2010: Mattias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet)

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:11:01 -0800

Best Albums of 2010

Burzum – Belus
Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
Stornoway – Beachcomber's Windowsill
Pascal – Orkanen närmar sig
Masshysteri – Masshysteri
Deathspell Omega – Paracletus
Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
Håkan Hellström – 2 steg från paradise
David Sylvian – Sleepwalkers
Electric Wizard – Black Masses
The Sword – Warp Riders
Slöa Knivar – Ingen klass, ingen stil
The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter
Bäddat för Trubbel – Det här är inte New York
Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Fantasy
Salem – King Nights
Setherial – Ekpyrosis
Wolf People – Steeple
Détente - Decline

Most hated in 2010

Eclecticism. I'm sick of it, but guilty as charged. Check list above for proof.

Most Geeky of 2010

I watched all of Battlestar Galactica, all of it, all the webisodes, miniseries, everything. Twice.

Best films of 2010

Monsters
Toy Story 3
Get Him To the Greek
New Garage Explosion
Mogwai - Burning

Best TV of 2010

Rubicon
Caprica
Justified
Walking Dead
Boardwalk Empire
The Big Bang Theory

Best News of 2010

The Ark

Worst News of 2010

Four more years of fascists governing Sweden. And also the above...

Best Things in General 2010

bob hund, NWOBHM, finally getting Danzig, Touring with Nerverna, recording "Monty Python", recording new Nerverna album, Can, GR†LLGR†LL and a lot of that other Witch House or whatever young people call the music of DJ Shadow and Massive Attack nowadays, Brian Eno's German era in the 70's, Grindcore.

And books; I've been reading a lot this year, I'd say 50 books or something. And I've been writing quite a bit. If things work out, it'll be a busy 2011.

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Look for Mattias Alkberg to release a new album with Neverna in 2011, along with a split album with Pascal and who knows? maybe even a new Bear Quartet record as well.
http://www.mabd.se/
http://www.thebearquartet.com/

Top tens for 2010: Thomas Denver Jonsson/I'm Kingfisher

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:39:19 -0800

Of course I really want to contribute this year with a top CDs of 2010. I had a really hard time stripping it down to 10, so I hope a little unconventional top 11-list will do. Take care and have a great December and Christmas!

01. Damien Jurado - St Bartlett

02. Sleigh Bells - Treats

03. Mogwai - Special moves

04. Beach House - Teen dream

05. Dear Euphoria - This night will flee

06. Samantha Crain - One

07. Sufjan Stevens - The age of Adz

08. I Was a King - Old friends

09. The Unwinding Hours - s/t

10. The National - High violet

11. Birds of Passage - Without the world

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Thomas Jonsson, now working under the name I'm Kingfisher, just released his 4th solo album "Arctic" in Sweden and supported Ed Harcourt on his November Scandinavian tour. In early 2011, the album will be released in Europe. Otherwise, Thomas is currently recording new solo material as well as a new album with A Perfect Friend, his duo with C-J Larsgården (Pacta/Ondo).
http://www.imkingfisher.com/

Aerial Put it this way in headlines Nomethod

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:13:17 -0700

There are few opening tracks that spark so perfectly to life, coloring not only the album to follow, but drawing the listener into this creative work, as the aptly titled "First of all...". While the following track does dampen the energy momentarily, from that point on "Put it this way in headlines" unravels as an impressive addition to Aerial's catalogue. The heavier, Mogwai/Mono-inspired post-rock of "The sentinel" has been replaced by a much cleaner, almost pop-like approach -- imagine a strange amalgamation of The End Will Be Kicks and Yamon Yamon. The only serious failing of "Headlines" is that the band, after embracing a change to their sound, sometimes takes too long to hit all the right notes, and then doesn't hit those notes quite hard enough. "Zebra" should have been anthemic, but only briefly reaches that point in the closing minute of the song; it's still a damn fine track, I am just not sure why the building energy suddenly stops. A few more songs like "Vacant dreamers", a track that blurs the line between post-rock and angular garage rock, might have helped as well, though said track suffers in a similar way to "Zebra": these songs seem to be building somewhere, but they never get there; this was never a problem on "The sentinel". That said, with "Guitar ode to a sunny afternoon" and all the other gorgeous moments on the album, there is more than enough to "Headlines" to make Aerial's present and future look quite bright.

Surrounded at SXSW, more

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:50:31 -0700

Swedish act Surrounded will be playing a few shows at SXSW this week:

03/17 - Dominican Joes, Austin, TX
03/18 - Victorian Room @ The Driskill, Austin, TX
03/21 - The Ghost Room, Austin, TX

Preview a few tracks from their forthcoming album "Oppenheimer and Woodstock" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/surrounded
No release date yet, but it was mixed by Tony Doogan (Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai, Snow Patrol), Bill Racine (The Flaming Lips, Mates of State, Sparklehorse) and Paul Mahajan (TV on the Radio, The National, Liars) and will be put out by One Little Indian.

Interview: For A Minor Reflection

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:14:12 -0800

For A Minor Reflection have got a very mature sound, especially if you take into consideration that these guys are only 19 years old. References to Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai are unavoidable, but already being compared to such established acts is a big achievement for these young Icelanders. Last autumn they supported in 15 concerts across Europe fellow countrymen Sigur Rós. It's a Trap! went out for a drink with them and discovered that apart from good musicians they are very friendly and down to earth chaps.

How did you guys form?

Kjartan Holm (Kjarri), guitar: We basically started in 8th grade, when we were 13. Jói and I started this heavy metal duet in his garage with long hair and stuff. Elvar came and played bass. Then Guffi came.

Guðfinnur Sveinsson (Guffi), guitar: (Laughs) We met during a strip poker game! He invited me then to a band practice...

Why did you name the band 'For A Minor Reflection'? What does it mean?

KH: It actually doesn't mean anything. I don't remember actually how it was conceived. We thought "reflection" was a cool word and we wanted to use it.

What is exactly on the cover of your album?

KH: It is supposed to be a sun.

Jóhannes Ólafsson (Jói), drums: We drew it together.

How do you write your songs? Is there a standard procedure?

JO: There is no standard procedure. There is no method I guess, but we do it together eventually, but the idea maybe comes from Kjarri first and then we build around it and make the song structure around his ideas.

KH: We maybe write a song in two days but it takes like 50 years to develop it.

How was the experience of playing with Sigur Rós?

KH, JO: It was very surreal.

JO: We didn't realise what we were doing until we came home.

Which is the largest gig you did with them?

KH: In Alexandra Palace in London. It was 8500 people two nights in a row.

And without them?

KH: We played this gig in Iceland for 500 Japanese people on a large cruise ship that was sailing around the world.

Do you prefer the big gigs or rather more intimate settings?

KH: When we play in really small bars in Iceland in front of 200 people, when it's packed it has a really good character.

JO: On the other hand, it's fun playing on a very large stage.

KH: It's two different things I would say.

Would you ever consider getting a singer?

KH: We've been actually discussing that. We are going to make some experiments next week; if it fails we'll just stay instrumental.

Do you accept the post-rock tag?

KH: We really don't care.

How do you feel about the emerging Icelandic scene and what do you think sets the Icelandic music scene apart from the rest of Scandinavia?

KH: Iceland is pretty well known for these "weird" bands like Sigur Rós, Björk and Múm. But Iceland has these really good heavy metal and hardcore punk scene, really big scene. And it seems to be turning into some indie rock scene. So Iceland is not only the ambient stuff.

Are there any other Icelandic artists you respect and admire?

Elvar J. Guðmundsson, bass: Ólafur Arnolds. He's getting big in Germany and all over the world.

KH: And Sigur Rós of course. My favourite Icelandic rock band is Sudden Weather Change. They are kind of big in Iceland, but nobody knows them outside.

What are you currently listening at home?

KH: We really don't listen to the same music. I like hardcore, post-rock, jazz, Icelandic blues.

GS: I listen to Coldplay a lot.

KH: Yeah, Guffi is the sensitive one.

How did the economic crisis impact your life and music?

GS: (Laughs) We all live in the streets. We get food from the government.

How are the recordings for the second album going? When is it going to be finished?

KH: We are working on it. Hopefully we will start recording later this year.

Are you going to have a different approach this time?

JO: The last time we recorded an album was in a garage, small studio, we did it all live in the first take, and it only took us 6 hours. We were mixing the whole night before the day we released it.

Any plans for the future?

KH: Hopefully we can work as musicians. That's our main goal.

Words and picture by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos

Festival report: Eurosonic 2009

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:29:18 -0800

Groningen is a small student town in northern Netherlands. Normally it's pretty calm, but at the beginning of every year it becomes home to one of Europe's busiest music industry gatherings. Eurosonic - along with its only for Dutch artists younger brother, Noorderslag - offers the opportunity to see over 200 performing artists in various venues and has a total number of approximately 18,000 visitors of over 30 nationalities. Apart from the night time gigs, a music industry conference takes place during the day and offers professionals plenty of opportunities for networking and shoulder-rubbing.

The Scandinavian presence at Eurosonic is substantial. Actually there's a mini-Nordic invasion taking place! In total, 32 Scandinavian bands were performing this year (11 Swedish, 6 Danish, 6 Norwegian, 4 Finnish, 4 Icelandic and one Faroese). Furthermore, the conference was attended by various Scandinavian music export associations, ministries, festival bookers, record labels, along with several press and media representatives and other curious types like me.

Day One

The evening programme starts at 8pm and the first band I go to see are Danish act Vincent Van Go Go, playing at the Vindicat which normally houses one of Groningen's student societies and their countless piss-ups. I assume the diabolic similarities of the band's name with the famous Dutch painter must have puzzled the organisers. They play a mixture of reggae and afro-beat, combined with electronic elements. It is still the beginning of the evening and the venue is semi-empty, but the people who are here seem to be enjoying themselves with these well-presented Danes.

Immediately after the gig finishes I rush down to De Oosterpoort, the main conference venue, to see the highlight of this year's festival, the European Union's "European Boarder Breakers Awards" (EBBA). The awards show is broadcasted throughout Europe (or at least this is what the organisers told the journalists) and is presented by veteran BBC host Jools Holland, who's in good form tonight. Among the 10 awarded artists, three are Scandinavian. Not bad! The artists in question: Danish soul diva Ida Corr, pop sensation Alphabeat and emerging Swedish indiepop talent Lykke Li. Alphabeat are not here to collect their award, but Lykke Li and Ida Corr are present, modestly-dressed as the occasion requires, and they deliver professional performances. Although award ceremonies can be sometimes quite amusing, the fact that 5 of the 10 awarded artist didn't bother turning up is quite telling of their enormous popularity. I won't mention now the ridiculous amounts of confetti I had to suffer in order to take some decent pictures...

Later on I head to the USVA, a cultural student centre a couple of minutes away to see Marching Band, a Swedish indiepop pair from Linköping. These guys must have been listening to a lot of The Shins, Belle and Sebastian and Sufjan Stevens. Their upbeat power-pop is equipped with good harmonies and the crowd is very engaged and smiling, despite not knowing the tunes. They clearly steal the tonight's show and on the way to the next gig I just can't stop singing the melody of "Make up artist", their latest single. I hope I get to see them again soon.

Next on my list are Icelandic 'chamber-pop' (is that a genre?) Hjaltalín, who are playing in the Stadsschouwburg, the Groningen theatre/opera house. Their large lineup which consists of, apart from the usual instruments, a piano, accordion, bassoon, clarinet, cello and a violin is perfectly suited for this type of venue. The crowd is mesmerised by their melodies and their Icelandic chart-topping song "Þú komst við hjartað í mér" (Icelandic for "You touched my heart") is the strongest moment of their set. And the singer is insisting that it doesn't sound that cheesy in Icelandic...

Final band for today are playing in the Magic Mirror, a tent on the main square, they are from Malmö, and are called Billie the Vision & the Dancers. Such an unusual name and such an unusual lot! They're definitely not easy to forget, dressed-up like a travelling gypsy circus, and with a drag queen for a singer. But it's not just the looks; their music is profound and leaves you with a strange and beautiful bittersweet taste. Nice!

Day Two

Back again at the USVA, I am chuffed to see at last the Danes Our Broken Garden who are signed by US label Bella Union (Explosions In The Sky, Fleet Foxes, The Dears). They are slow-tempoed and have a vintage feel, with the soft voice and strong presence of Anna Brønsted. A lot of interesting elements here: the guitar is channelled through some sort of an analog synth and is making weird noises, they are using an e-bow and an original Fender Rhodes keyboard; but most interestingly they have a Hammond organ on stage, complete with a not-so-portable Leslie rotating speaker. It's very rare and cool to see bands playing with such vintage instruments, when they could always opt for a digital and much more compact and reliable option.

Folksy First Aid Kit are playing next in the Grand Theatre. Although from a Stockholm suburb, these checker-shirted girls play convincing Americana and their harmonies are perfectly in tune. Despite their young age they prove to be very comfortable on stage. It remains to be seen to what extent a stripped-down, back-to-basics show of just voice/keyboard/acoustic guitar can be interesting for a full-length gig. These girls have got huge potential, especially if they were properly backed-up by a full band.

Next stop is the jazz bar De Spieghel. If this is the first time you're reading about The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, I assure you, it's definitely not going to be the last. Even before these Danes released their first single, Apple chose their song to support the iPod Touch campaign. This band has all the elements it takes to make it big, let alone the attitude, a stunning female singer and good tunes. Musically they remind me of Morcheeba, with a couple of afro-reggae elements, along with some saxophone and trumpet support. I am in the first row and dancing non-stop. What a show!

Young shoe-gazing Icelanders For A Minor Reflection are a good follow-up to the poppy Danes. Their Mogwai-influenced postrock is very sincere and energetic. Unfortunately, it's only me who is getting really tired at this stage!

The last band for tonight, again in De Spieghel, are Norwegians Casiokids, and they are having immense fun on stage. They come with lots of synths and funky dance moves and a deal with British label Moshi Moshi in their back pockets. The fact that they sing in Norwegian alienates the crowd a bit at the beginning, but slowly people start engaging with their naïve electropop. Ones to watch.

I am now knackered and head back to my hotel. Eurosonic was great fun, and although it's an extremely tight schedule involved lots of running between venues and negotiating with Dutch bouncers, it was definitely more than worth the mid-winter hassle. I am already looking forward to next year.

Words and pictures by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos

Moto Boy as a music box

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:25:00 -0800

Songs I Wish I Had Written is releasing the music of Moto Boy in one of the most old-school, lo-fi ways possible: as a music box. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXC4I_ebIIA&fmt=18
Download the song in question: http://www.songsiwish.com/motoboy/Aroomwithoutyou.mp3
They're not the first to do it (Mogwai did the same awhile back), but it's certainly not commonplace. Says the label: In true Songs I Wish spirit we give away the music digitally and charge for the manufactured gadget. We test Seth Godins interesting Seinfeld curve theory that there is no room for the middle price range – no one pay $4 for a Seinfeld episode on TV, but to pay $200 to see Jerry in Las Vegas is not a problem. Applied to music, it's even more true. $1 per song is a construction made up by record labels that is/was doomed to fail. In Godins words: "because if you're not scarce I’m not going to pay for it because I can get if for free."
So $0 for MP3 and $25 for a totally unique musical box!
Read more: http://www.digitalrenaissance.se/2009/01/13/free-expensive/

Top 10s for 2008: Mattias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet/MABD)

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:46:00 -0800

2008

Black Metal: Behexen, Khold, Arckanum, Abomino Aetadeath, Krypt.

All released this year and all of them better than Darkthrone and Satyricon. Who's new records were great as well.

Straight music (i.e non-black metal) from abroad: Chad Vangaalen, Daniel Martin Moore, Portishead, The Fall, Gang Gang Dance, Robert Forster, Fucked Up, Mogwai, The Cure, Mudhoney, Josephine Foster, Roots Manuva.

I can't remember anymore right now. It was a good year, record-wise at least.

Swedish and not black metal: Dan Lissvik, Paper, PDC, Park Hotell, Vapnet, Hästpojken, Håkan Hellström, Masshysteri, Tristess, Joel Alme, Veronica Maggio, Frida Hyvönen, T(I)NC, TsooL. There are more, but these are the ones I liked the most. Mind you, some I just got and I will grow tired of them.

Records I missed last year that would have made the top five: Michael Dracula and Mayhem.

TV: True Blood, Dead Set, Dexter, The Office, (bits and pieces of) Livet i Fagervik, Survivors.

Movies: Trädälskaren, Stepbrothers.

Thats it really. Haven't seen Let the Right One In, De ofrivilliga yet. And I'm gonna see The Baader Meinhof Complex tonight.

It's been a so-so year. Better than the last one but not good.

I've been listening to Rockabilly and Black Metal for the most part, reading books, writing songs and poetry.

I toured a little with Bröderna Lindgren and played like ten gigs by myself or with others. Recorded some songs with different people. Been fucked over by record companies.

For 2009 I'm gonna make at least one record, hopefully three. Oh, and get a job. Really, it's true.

And not die, again.

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Mattias Alkberg broke up his band MABD earlier this year, but he still plays with The Bear Quartet and has a burgeoning solo career. Expect a new single and album under his own name in 2009.
www.mabd.se
www.thebearquartet.com

Top 10s for 2008: Thomas Denver Jonsson

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Top 10 CDs of the year.

01. Fuck Buttons - Street horrrsing

02. Parken - Länge leve parken

03. James Yorkston - When the haar rolls in

04. Bon Iver - For Emma, forever ago

05. Cat Power - Jukebox

06. Mogwai - The hawk is howling

07. Li'l Wayne - Da Carter III

08. Justus Köhncke - Safe and sound

09. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

10. St Thomas - Memory box set

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Besides moving to southern Sweden, Thomas Denver Jonsson is currently working on his fourth album "Arctic", due out sometime in the next year or two. Also, keep an eye out for the new EP "Swim, swam, swan" from The Topeka Twins, his duo with Björn Kleinhenz, which will be available both as a free download and a limited edition CD in the very near future.
www.thomasdenver.com
www.myspace.com/thomasdenverjonsson

MP3: Sort Sol - White shirt

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:59:26 -0700

Of all the people who regularly pass along musical recommendations, I am most deeply indebted to Mattias Alkberg for his consistent, spot-on advice. I may not be crazy about the new Mogwai (I find that Helms Alee is a far more exciting band in that vein) and Chad VanGaalen is a bit of an uphill climb (I'm working on it), but as for his insistence I check out early Danish postpunk act Sods/Sort Sol, I'm all about it. Upon given the choice of the band's first four albums, I ask where to start. He says, "all of them" and of course he is 100% right. From the band's early roots as a more straight-ahead punk act under their first moniker to their later, more gothic leanings as "Black Sun", they created a consistently killer discography that was completely unknown to me until now. Whether you like tightly wound, frenetic punk ala "Pink flag"-era Wire or darker, more art-damaged rock with hints of Gun Club type melodrama, there is something for you here. Seriously, I am blown away. I am infatuated. Like Mattias says, there's really no perfect place to start, but since "White shirt" from 1983's "Dagger & guitar" is one of the first tracks I heard when I threw the tracks on shuffle, that's the song you get today. Sweetly sinister, devilish and beautiful; that's what it's all about. Tack igen Mattias!

Read more about Sort Sol/Sods at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sort_Sol

September Malevolence After this darkness, there's a next A Tenderversion Recording

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Listening to "...accidents happen so fast", I can't help but wonder at how brilliant an Aerial and September Malevolence show would be. The two acts share a lot in common, but as both bands are within the post-rock genre, there's plenty of terrain to be explored without encroaching too terribly into another's territory. September Malevolence lean more towards an organic examination -- "A notion, I can't shake...", which sets the scene for "...accidents happen so fast", is almost entirely an acoustic number, lacking any of the post-rock beauty that explodes into being with "...accidents"; and "Brandskär" is a gorgeous piano interlude. The group also maintains a beautiful optimism throughout their work, much like Explosions in the Sky, not stumbling down darker, more melancholy avenues such as contemporaries Aerial and Mogwai. Even "I shut doors and windows", which feels like it might succumb to the shadows never quite allows itself to drown, teetering precariously on the edge at times, but never falling. "After this darkness, there's a next" is a gorgeous album, definitely already a contender for high placement in my Best of 2008 list.

Immanu El They'll come, they come And the Sound

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Having dedicated a decent amount of the past five years of my life to the music scene (in various functions and positions, most ending in savage failure), I've developed a rather refined musical palate. I nod and smile and say things like, "Yeah, this band's not too bad" when a friend plays me a song or a group they've recently fallen in love with, but rarely do I find these sessions truly rewarding. My ears have been damaged too long and too often by music for me to continuously fall over myself for new bands like I used to (but I desperately search for that wide eyed, naïve boy in the landscapes painted in new records), not unless they're really bringing something to the table. And Immanu El's "They'll come, they come" is unquestionably a forceful and substantial album; an effort that probes sections of our musical consciousness that have fallen into shadow and been ignored too long.

Sweden has Aerial and Once We Were, both bands supporting a very high standard for the cinematic explorations of other Scandinavian groups, and Immanu El pass this rigorous assessment with flair and elegance. As is often the case with exceptional records, the closer is brilliant. "...in valleys" is a sweeping, graceful composition, and a fitting conclusion to an album that effortlessly traverses terrain we typically associate with bands like Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, and Logh. It's difficult to truly do anything novel and unique in the genre of post-rock, but Immanu El come damned close, at the very least combining all the beauty that the aforementioned groups investigate in a subtle, distinctive manner. "Panda" demonstrates how essential Claes Nilsson Strängberg's voice is to the overall sound and achievement of Immanu El. Vocals are often absent from these types of explorations, and attempting to place a voice into the strata of other instrumentation is a complicated and precarious procedure. Immanu El excel in this respect, and in a myriad other respects throughout. Absolutely brilliant.

Interview: Aerial

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Desolate, isolated, mechanical, impersonal, or just Stanley Kubrik. There are many ways to describe Aerial, Sweden's own Sonic Youth meets Mogwai postrock act, and their latest record "The sentinel". What is postrock to start with? And what does Enrique Iglesias have to do with it all? I met with the guys backstage on this year's Arvikafestivalen and, even though we had competition from both funky disco music and brutal death metal, we managed to talk quite a bit. Read and enjoy.
- Christian Stenbacke

Sebastian - Vocals / Guitar
Viktor - Guitar / Vocals
Joakim - Bass / Casio / Guitar
Niklas - Bass / Korg
Markus - Drums / Guitar / Juno

1 am, the first day, a tiny stage; what can we expect from Aerial?

S: I have no idea, anything can happen. It's a great time and a cosy venue.

What would you call the music of Aerial?

V: Some would say post rock, but I'm not sure I have the same opinion. Not when it comes to the new material at least. Although much of the material from "The sentinel", our latest record, might be considered post rock, we're going in a slightly different direction with the stuff we've written recently.

It's always interesting when it comes to the release of the second record; comparisons to the first one are inevitable. What are the reactions so far?

V: Well, I don't know really... We've got some reactions from people we didn't expect to hear from.

S: Lots of metal kids seem to enjoy this one, "The sentinel".

V: Yeah, it's always a different thing with a new record, at least for us. This one is different from the first, and the next one will be different from this one and the first one as well.

Is this something you can tell when you're playing live, that you appeal to different kinds of people? How does a typical Aerial visitor look like?

S: We're still such a small band... We haven't really been in contact with the people we've been playing to. I don't even know if we have an audience or followers, I hope so! We'll see tonight I guess.

Tell me a little bit more about your label, No Method.

V: Magnus from No Method is our distributor as well as the head of our label, or his label rather. We're actually not quite sure about what he's up to, but at least we're making some progress!

J: He just scored a deal with One Little Indian, a label in the UK and the States, and that's a good thing.

V: Yeah, we're releasing "The sentinel" in the UK in a couple of months.

S: Which we hope might lead to a gig or two I might add.

I can imagine that people come to see Aerial, not so much for the visual experience or show, but to actually feel the complexity and beauty of the music alone. How does a typical concert with Aerial look like?

S: We basically grab our instruments and start to play. We've never really given the visual part of the performance much thought, except for one time when had neon lights on stage. That was cool!

V: But that's perhaps something we should be thinking about, how we look and act when on stage.

S: I don't know, we have way too much self respect to start acting out on stage, if we don't want to...

V: My point is that perhaps we should start doing just that, not because we want to, which we don't, but because it's what we're supposed to be doing?

S: Holy fuck, just listen to us talking... It's crazy.

Did you guys watch Live Earth?

N: I saw Enrique Iglesias...

...why?

N: Because I was at home, lying in bed, sick! I laughed at him!

Yeah, of course.... I had a hard time to tell if some of the artists played because of the environmental issue, or just to promote themselves. Like Madonna with her upcoming single for instance. Would you ever consider doing something you don't like, just to earn more attention to yourselves? Say, wear pink shirts to be "hip"?

S: I don't ever think I'll wear a pink shirt, no matter the circumstance...

V: If you want to wear a pink shirt, then wear a pink shirt. Didn't your father give you one Niklas?

N: It's nothing wrong about pink shirts! Yeah, he gave me one, but I haven't used it yet. Poor dad.

S: The thing is, we don't have a plan or marketing strategy. We don't have an image, and we don't really strive to create one either.

V: Our image is that we don't have an image.

S: To steal the credo from Pavement. Image is such a hard term to come to understand. What is an image? I can't really tell what makes up someone's image.

No conformity alá The Hives then?

S: It's possible we might want to do something like that in the future, but not at this point, no.

V: If we could get hold of a couple of astronaut suites to wear on stage... That would be awesome.

S: We really dig Sci-Fi. It was a great inspiration when we recorded "The sentinel". We get inspiration from Philip K. Dick...

V: I think "The sentinel" has a Stanley Kubrick vibe to it. You know, slim, simple. Impersonal, is that the right term?

S: Yeah, one could say that. Cold, almost mechanical.

Now, with a new record out, do you have any thoughts about what might come next? You mentioned that some new material had been written already.

S: Most of the work with the songs for the next album has been competed. All we have to do is to record them. Well, perhaps we have a couple of small things to finish first, a couple of noise songs to start with...

V: I think we have quite a bit more to do before recording?

S: I'm not sure I agree, we have written the songs, haven't we?

V: Yeah, sure, but we can always write more songs! But ok, we have lots of things ready to go, yeah.

S: It was the same when we released "Black rain from the bombing". By then we had already done most of the things on "The sentinel".

V: We played a couple of "Black rain from the bombing" songs live before we recorded the album. After we released the album, we stopped playing those songs live, by then we were all into the songs from "The sentinel".

J: Tonight we're going to play three songs from "The sentinel", nothing more, nothing less.

Pg.lost Yes I am Black Star Foundation

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

I am surprised that the postrock genre continually finds new champions and has not yet stagnated around its established forerunners. Scandinavia has provided many of the groups that have proved themselves able to compete in this niche genre, pushing and expanding its limits and scope, and Sweden's Pg.lost are definitely amongst my favorite of this new wave of postrock acts. While comparable in many ways to Explosions in the Sky, specifically in their buoyant musical outlook and the sense of optimism and hope that pervades "Yes I am", Pg.lost don't flinch away from distorted onslaughts similar to that of Mogwai or Mono. While I personally loathe having to compare an upcoming band to their better known contemporaries since it seems to suggest a lack of originality or an inability for a band to find their own voice, this is far from the case. While the tone and style are akin to what other bands have done, Pg.lost have no difficulty filtering these influence through their own unique approach, creating some of the best music I've heard this year. "Yes I am" is stunningly forceful and compelling given its brevity. I'm confident future recordings will establish Pg.lost as amongst the best of their field, and can only hope it is not too long until I'm proven right.

Lis er Stille Apathobvious Brutal But Sentimental

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

This, the follow up to last years "The construction of amp-train", shows off an improved band with way more interesting song structures and intricate songwriting. Not to say that the previous album was disappointing, it was just too obvious that these Danes had more to show off. In a genre like post-rock, wherein the band at occasions hover, that often tends to go for the more rectifying way to approach its listeners, Lis er Stille always has an ace up the sleeves. Surprising turns, beautiful strings and a singer that, on this album, steps up a notch, are all ingredients that makes this record one of the more interesting I've heard this year. The fact that the piano plays a central part in their soundscape gives it an extra dimension and the similarities to Mogwai are not at all misguided. It is indeed hard to compete with those Scotsmen, but Lis er Stille can definitely consider themselves worthy opponents. A tune like "Lorelei" would make anyone in the genre jealous.

Once We Were Contra A Tenderversion Recording

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

You have a lot of choices these days when it comes to the sprawling genre oft labeled 'post-rock.' Recently Mogwai have released their soundtrack to "Zidane: A 21st century portrait" and Explosions in the Sky dropped their most recent and, in my opinion, best record not too long ago. In such a niche-genre, it can be very hard to be noticed amongst the well-established champions of these cinematic, atmospheric compositions; here, it seems, Once We Were will have no problems. Given the many overlapping dynamics explored by post-rockers, there is plenty on "Contra" that can be compared with other musicians, but lazy analysis like this would only divert attention from what Once We Were excel at: crafting mesmerizing, powerful songs, and stringing so many different musical expanses together into one tapestry. Soft analog keys exists next to concise piano notes, vocals slip into the mix alongside intricate guitar work, and Once We Were make it work, make it a fluid, continuous evolution. Like a sequence of seemingly disconnected moments, "Contra" strings these quilted moments together into a coagulated being, almost more concrete being composed of linked fragments than it would be composed only of similar materials.

Top 10s for 2006: Iisole

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Highlights from 2006, in no particular order:

The birth of the love affair between iisole and Jezebel recordings.

Our first encounter with the Norwegian crust scene. Lesson learned: 'Norway sucks, buy a t-shirt.'

Itsatrap.com. Most dedicated person around.

The start of a new musical era. In other words, the construction of Studio Nilsson.

The ten year jubilee of the album "Do not tailgate" by Sweden's finest: Fireside.

When living in such a stressful environment as Stockholm, we sometimes miss the tranquil isolation of Dalarna. The music of Anders Persson gets us thru.

Drunk & Naked Tour 2006: Schnuskpunk vol 1 & 2, vegan delights and pig stew meals, the tour bus and the endless singing, intoxicating and lack of sleep, all the D.I.Y shows for all the D.I.Y people… haha. And of course When We Fall, we love you... Änna.

Best concert 2006, attended by all of iisole, would undoubtfully be the Mogwai show at Berns. Take me somewhere nice…

Daniel Loefgren – "The Engine". Great album…. only took about five years. But hey, better late then sorry.

New haircuts in the band. 'Hey, I look like Conor'...

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

Iisole's debut full-length album will be out on Jezebel Recordings this coming spring.
www.iisole.com
www.myspace.com/iisole

Top 10s for 2006: C-J Larsgården (A Perfect Friend, Pacta Sunt Servanda)

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Top 10 records 2006:

01. Sonic Youth - "Rather Ripped" (Geffen)

02. Yo La Tengo - "I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass" (Matador)

03. SunnO))) & Boris - "Altar" (Southern Lord)

04. The Evens - "Get Evens" (Dischord)

05. Ekkehard Ehlers - "A Life Without Fear" (Staubgold)

06. Melvins - "A Senile Animal" & "Houdini Live: A Live History of Gluttony and Lust" (Ipecac)

07. Svarte Greiner - "Knive" (Type)

08. Stereolab - "Fab four Suture" (To Pure)

09. Red Sparrowes - "Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun" (Neurot)

10. Pruditsch / Rowenta - "Orion und Kassiopeia" (Jeans Records)

Others who made good records 2006: Juana Molina, Amute, Akron/Family, Isis, Mogwai, Sébastien Roux, Alva Noto, Damien Jurado... etc.
It has been a good music year.

Top 10 Swedish things:

01. Audrey - "Visible Forms" (CD, Tenderversion)

02. Pontus Lundqvist - "Mina Ögon!! Mina Ögon!!! 1987-2006" (Book, Lystring)

03. Switchblade - "Switchblade" (CD, Trust No One)

04. To play and record with A Perfect Friend

05. Mäklarna (TV)

06. Ideal Recordings (Record label)

07. Elope - 3WD (CD, Gravitation)

08. Normal Man (Fanzine)

09. Detektivbyrån - "Hemvägen" (EP)

10. Musikministeriet (TV)

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

C-J is currently working on the debut album of A Perfect Friend, his electronic/folk duo with Thomas Denver Jonsson. Look for it next year via Stilll.
www.pactasuntservanda.se
www.aperfectfriend.com
www.myspace.com/aperfectfriend

Top 10s for 2006: Going Places Records

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Best records from 2006

01. M Ward - Post War

02. Mogwai - Mr. Beast

03. Joan as a Policewoman - Real Life

04. Hot Chip - The Warning

05. James Yorkston - Year of The Leopard

06. Johnny Cash - A hundred highways

07. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

08. Micah P. Hinson - and the opera circuit

09. Loney, Dear - Sologne

10. Hezekiah Jones - Says you're OK

Runner Up: GP1: Daniel Smith / Bobby Baby
(which of course should've made it to number 2 if we weren't so damn humble. We need to sell more of this in order to release GP2!)

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

Going places is the 7" record label run by Emma Månsson and Thomas Denver Jonsson.
www.goingplacesrecords.com

Top 10s for 2006: John Roger Olsson (The Grand Opening)

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

01. J. Tillman - Minor Works

02. Jason Molina - Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go

03. Mogwai - Mr. Beast

04. Josh Ottum - Like the Season

05. Tobias Fröberg - Somewhere in the City

06. Tim Neu - S/T

07. Mojave 3 - Puzzles Like You

08. Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther

09. Unwed Sailor - The White Ox

10. Musika 77 - Brave You Free May

11. Cat Power - The Greatest

12. Peter Björn & John - Writer's Block

13. Mikko Singh - Näin Elämän Suuruuden

14. Thom Yorke - The Eraser

15. Enter The Hunt - For Life. Til Death. To Hell. With Love

This years funniest youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpTGuCn0Mr8 Ziggy!

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

The Grand Opening's debut album "This is nowhere to be found" is out now on Tapete Records.
www.tgomusic.com
www.myspace.com/thegrandopening

Profile: Iisole

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Name: Iisole

From: Stockholm, Sweden

Sounds like: Melancholy post-hardcore. Not quite metal enough for doom, but definitely heavier than most indierock.

Listen: The words

Discography:
2006 - s/t EP (self-released)
2005 - s/t EP (self-released)

Links:
www.iisole.com
www.myspace.com/iisole

Iisole is a band that seems almost tailormade for my tastes. They have driving, noisy guitars like my mates KVLR, but they also indulge in gloomy post-rock ala Logh, another one of my most favorite acts. Seriously, it doesn't get much better than that in my book. So why are they still unsigned? It makes no sense. Explore the mystery!

Who are you and where are you from?

I am iisole. I consist of four individuals with their own agendas.
I try to make them move in the same direction, but most of the time they don't, just to piss me off.
I currently live in Stockholm but sometimes I need a break from the big city and then I go to small places that are surrounded by trees, mountains and weaponfactorys.

What makes you special and why should anyone care?

I got three nipples, a gay dad, a crooked nose and I´ve got a bastard child (love him). That's why.

The power of flight or invisibility - which do you choose and why?

I have to go with invisibility on this one. Then I could sneak on a plane and then I would both be flying and be invisible. And of course rob a bank, start a record label and hire a lot of important people to do all my dirty work.

Tell me about one of your favorite childhood memories.

I'm still a child.
- I was drunk on stage in Norway... "Norway sucks...buy a t-shirt". Never seen people shop away like that.
- When I stole my favourite drum beat...pi-zza ka-tong, ka-tong — ka-tong me pi-zza. That was a good one.
- When I got dismissed by a record label due to alleged attitude problems.
- When I performed in Umeå this dirty punk yelled out, during a slow part in a song, "play faster!". After the show I hated myself for not responding "dance slower".

What's your strongest vice?

Discovery channel, showers, drinking beer while showering, Russian literature, laziness, anything smokable, anything drinkable (green yellow), food magazines, Emmerdale, df, skunk.nu... and my own music.

Tell me about some of the other bands various Iisole members are involved with.

Vi - heavier and slower. (jhd)
Iskra - my ego, indiepop project. Started in a livingroom standard in minor. (Iisole members + a bunch more)
Deud - garagenoise duo (jhd, hmn)
Avsmak - gory horror hip-hop in swedish (iaeb)
Suffocate for Fuck Sake - Breach, Sigur Ros, Cult of Luna and Mogwai at the same time. (emm, jhd)

What does the future hold for Iisole?

Iisole will be appearing on a 12" compilation by Jezbel Recordings set to release in June. We will also appear in the June issue of a Swedish music magazine called Groove and have a song on their monthly cd.
We will do pretty much anything to get a record deal, it would be so fucking nice not having to burn our own cd's or pay for doing gigs.
Other than that, we'd like to play live as much as possible.
Om inget händer innan imorgon så kommer jag.

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

New confirmed tourdates for Entombed:

03/17 - Klubb Idiot, Örebro (SWE)
03/18 - folkets park, Växjö (SWE)
03/25 - bakfickan, Hjo (SWE)
03/31 - FP, Huskvarna (SWE)
04/01 - Sticky, Göteborg (SWE)
04/08 - Festival, Zurich (SWI)
04/16 - Killer Fest, Chaulnes (FRA)
04/28 - Rockboat, Oslo (NOR)
04/29 - Kings Of Metal Underground , Arnhem (NL)
05/05 - Heavy fidelity, Borås (SWE)
05/10 - KGB, Barcelona (SPA)
05/11 - Santana 27, Bilbao (SPA)
05/12 - Copernico, Madrid (SPA)
05/13 - Sala Vivero, Malaga (SPA)
05/26 - Mogwai, Norrköping (SPA)
06/10 - Devil Days, St. Leonard am Forst (AUS)
06/24 - Hellfest, Clisson (FRA)
06/29 - Wan2festival, Mezotúr (HUN)
07/16 - Festival, Illosaari (NOR)

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

The Mogwai mix of the new Mew single "Why are you looking grave?" is streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mewsite

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

The new Mew single "Why are you looking grave?" comes out February 6 in three different versions. Here's the tracklists:

CD:
01. Why are you looking grave? (edit)
02. Forever and ever

CD Maxi:
01. Why are you looking grave? (Kitchen demo)
02. Why are you looking grave? (Sun demo)
03. Why are you looking grave? (Full single version)
04. Why are you looking grave? (Album version feat. J. Mascis)
05. Why are you looking grave? (Live at Islington Academy UK 19.09.05)
06. Why are you looking grave? (Kissing Hoodie version)
07. Why are you looking grave? (Mogwai Mix)
08. Why are you looking grave? (Video)
09. Why are you looking grave? (Live video at Brighton Concorde II UK 21.09.05)

7":
A. Why are you looking grave? (feat. J. Mascis)
B. In time do you forget (Daydream)

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:

01. Death Cab for Cutie
02. Belle and Sebastian
03. The Strokes
04. The Arcade Fire
05. Kent
06. Sufjan Stevens
07. Jens Lekman
08. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
09. Bloc Party
10. David Bowie

Top tracks:

01. The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
02. The Strokes - You Only Live Once
03. Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline)
04. Broken Social Scene - Fire Eye'd Boy
05. Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body
06. I'm from Barcelona - We're From Barcelona
07. The Strokes - Juicebox
08. Tiger Lou - Nixon
09. Mogwai - Folk Death 95
10. Broken Social Scene - Swimmers

Want to see your favorites listed here? Join us! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

New updated Hellacopters tourdates:

10/25 - Kåren , Eskilstuna (SWE)
10/26 - Katalin, Uppsala (SWE)
10/27 - Slick City@Heartbreak Hotel, Gävle (SWE)
10/28 - Kino, Karlskrona (SWE)
10/29 - The Tivoli, Helsingborg (SWE)
11/02 - Gisleparken, Gislaved (SWE)
11/03 - Platens, Linköping (SWE)
11/04 - Palace, Kalmar (SWE)
11/05 - Prisma, Västerås (SWE)
11/24 - Roccad, Vänersborg (SWE)
11/25 - Klubb Mogwai@Hugos, Norrköping (SWE)
11/26 - Olearys, Ljungby (SWE)
11/28 - Tavastia, Helsinki (FIN)
11/29 - Tavastia, Helsinki (FIN)
11/30 - Lutakko, Jyväskylä (FIN)
12/01 - Club Teatria, Oulu (FIN)
12/02 - Rewell Center, Vaasa (FIN)
12/03 - Senssiklubi, Tampere (FIN)
12/07 - Jailbreak, Rome (ITA)
12/08 - Transilvania Live, Milano (ITA)
12/09 - New Age Club , Roncade (ITA)
12/10 - Estragon, Bologna (ITA)
12/11 - Fabrik, Cagliari (ITA)
12/16 - Nöjesfabriken, Karlstad (SWE)

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

New fall tourdates for Tiger Lou:

10/26 - Pet Sounds [18:30], Stockholm (SWE)
10/28 - Rookie Festivalen, Hultsfred (SWE)
10/29 - Bengans [13:30], Göteborg (SWE)
11/01 - 1000 Fryd, Aalborg (DK)
11/02 - Gleis 22, Münster (GER)
11/03 - Underground, Köln (GER)
11/04 - Forum [Visions Party], Bielefeld (GER)
11/05 - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden (GER)
11/06 - tba, Baden (SWI)
11/08 - tba, Basel (SWI)
11/09 - Circus Maximus, Koblenz (GER)
11/10 - Winston, Amsterdam (NL)
11/11 - Juz, Saarlouis (GER)
11/12 - Römer, Bremen (GER)
11/13 - Nexus, Braunschweig (GER)
11/16 - Katalin, Uppsala (SWE)
11/17 - Pustervik, Göteborg (SWE)
11/18 - Klubb Mogwai @ Hugos, Norrköping (SWE)
11/19 - Raw Power, Eskilstuna (SWE)
11/23 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE)
11/24 - KB, Malmö (SWE)
11/25 - Garage, Oslo (NOR)
12/07 - Cafe Cairo, Würzburg (GER)
12/08 - Magnet, Berlin (GER)
12/09 - Centrum Club, Erfurt (GER)
12/10 - Projekt 7, Magdeburg (GER)
12/11 - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
12/12 - FZW, Dortmund (GER)
12/13 - Kult 41, Bonn (GER)
12/14 - Muk, Giessen (GER)
12/15 - E-Werk, Erlangen (GER)
12/16 - Stadtmitte, Karlsruhe (GER)
12/17 - Orangehouse, München (GER)
12/18 - tba (AUS)
12/19 - tba (AUS)

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

Firefox AK has started the songwriting process for her next album and will hit the studio in November for recording. Upcoming tourdates:

09/27 - John Dee, Oslo (NOR) w/Stereo Total
09/29 - Mondo, Sthlm (SWE) w/Stereo Total
09/30 - Mejeriet, Lund (SWE) w/Stereo Total
10/01 - Sticky Fingers, Göteborg (SWE) w/Stereo Total
10/07 - Klubb Mogwai, Norrköping (SWE)
10/08 - Kåren, Kalmar (SWE)
10/14 - Pang Musik, Uppsala (SWE)
10/20 - Herrgårn, Linköping (SWE)
10/21 - Slippery People, Göteborg (SWE)

Ellis the Vacuumchild Peace by extermination Chalksounds

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800

This goes absolutely all over the place, and I love it! Seriously, we need more instrumental indie-rock records like this. The influences of EtVC are numerous but let's just mention the ones that stick out: early Stereolab, Sonic Youth, GBV and Mogwai. Combine that is one happy melting pot and you'll have a nice idea of what they are all about. If it were not for terribly recorded drums this album would have been a joy to listen to, but this little detail makes it alright but a bit annoying. Still very interesting.

September Malevolence Tomorrow we'll wonder where this generation gets its priorities from A Tenderversion Recording

Tue, 08 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800

September Malevolence's previous EP, my introduction to their music, left me more than a little cold. Post-rock in its current GY!BE/Mogwai/Sigur Rós mold is left with little in terms of innovation because everybody uses the same structures and the basic premise. That's where songwriting comes in. Good songwriters, whether or not their genre has been explored in every little corner, will create good music. September Malevolence aren't quite there yet, but considering the progression between the EP and this one, they could very well have something very special soon.

Top 10s for 2004: IAT! writers

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Simon Thibaudeau - Top 10 music moments of 2004:

01. Mogwai live (Kicked my ass pretty hard)
02. Haunted - rEVOLVEr (See my full review on the site, best thrash record in some time)
03. WE - Smugglers (ROOOOCCKKK!)
04. Tricky Woo live (If you don't know, you should)
05. The Dears - Protest EP and live (Best live "experience" of the year, EP ain't too bad either)
06. Shalabi Effect - Pink Abyss (How they can improv this record is beyond any comprehension)
07. Controller Controller - History (Still one of Canada's best kept secrets, indie-pop that makes your ass move without your knowledge)
08. In Slaughter Natives - Resurrection (Still the cream of the genre)
09. Lederhosen Lucil live (So much fun, I soiled myself)
10. Devendra Banhart - Nino Rojo (Simple, perfect)

Simon Tagestam - Top 10 Swedish records of 2004:

01. The Tough Alliance - Make it happen (EP)
02. Jens Lekman - Rocky Dennis in heaven (EP)
03. Jens Lekman - When I said I wanted to be your dog
04. Sounds Like Violence - The Pistol (EP)
05. Mattias Alkberg BD - Tunaskolan
06. David Sandström - The dominant need of the nedy soul is to be needed
07. Promoe - The long distance runner
08. Stina Nordenstam - The world is saved
09. Jens Lekman - You are the light (EP)
10. David Fridlund - Amaterasu
11. Chandra - Summer in the sun (EP)
12. The Honeydrips - Save me (7")
13. Alf - Augustibrev
14. The Tough Alliance - Holiday (EP)
15. Heikki - 2
16. Raymond & Maria - Vi ska bara leva klart
17. Marit Bergman - Baby dry your eye
18. Gustav Kjellvander - Proudly Presents the Fine Arts Showcase & the Electric Pavilion
19. Niccokick - Awake from the dead, my dear best friend
20. Starmarket - Abandon time

Matthew W. Smith - Top 11 Scandinavian music moments of 2004:

01. The Accelerator Big One in Stockholm--great bands, much better weather than last year.
02. Kings of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street album. I'm really looking forward to seeing them for the first time in February.
03. The Hives and Sahara Hotnights on the same bill at the 9.30 Club in Washington, D.C.
04. Another successful shopping spree at Sound Pollution in Stockholm--lots of selections, right in the heart of Gamla Stan.
05. Two heavy metal guys screaming their way through a Madonna song at a karaoke bar in Helsinki--probably the funniest thing I saw all year.
06. An import of the "Bigtime" single by The Soundtrack of Our Lives showing up fairly cheaply at my local independent record store--a hint of good things to come.
07. The Flaming Sideburns stealing at least the first half of a very big show--the 40-band extravaganza that was Little Steven's Underground Garage Festival in New York City. What a travesty they got to play only two songs...
>08. Tiger Lou - Is My Head Still On? album. Good songs and a full sound. "Oh Horatio" is one of my favorites.
09. Nina Persson of The Cardigans singing "You're the Storm" while cradling a Swedish Chef doll given to her on the last night of the Chicks with Attitude tour. I guess you had to be there. It was great to see The Cardies back in North America for the first time in a great while...
10. The song "I Burn Myself On You" by the Lionheart Brothers, as featured on Avi's It's a Trap! compilation. Simply stunning...
11. Suburban Kids with Biblical Names - #1 EP. Loads of talent and potential there...

Nick Levine - Top 10 Scandinavian albums of 2004:

01. Radio Dept. - Lesser matters
The album that just won't die. An updated take on shoegazing that teachers the originators a new trick or two.
02. Concretes - s/t
Its beauty is in its subtlety and understated mystery. A real slow burner.
03. Annie - Anniemal
Perfect pop. Laden with songs Kylie would kill for, and production from both Richard X and Royksopp. I expect this to crossover to a massive mainstream audience next year.
04. Kings Of Convenience - Riot on an empty street
In 2004 Erlend and Eirik returned from the wilderness. On this longplayer the Kings broaden their musical palette to include bossa nova and (shock!) drums.
05. Jens Lekman - When I said I wanted to be your dog
A great up-and-coming singer songwriter. His lyrics are slightly indebted to the anti-folk movement. I'm slowly coming round to the Magnetic Fields comparison.
06. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Origin I
Did you think that TSOOL were going to let you down? Really?!
07. The Legends - Up against the Legends
Modern take on C86. Bundles of energy.
08. Tiger Lou - Is my head still on?
Woozy production with quality instrumental backing. A cult audience beckons.
09. Moneybrother - Blood panic
White soul that isn't embarrassing to listen to in public.
10. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - #1 EP
Introductory EP from these Swedish newcomers. Quirky pop of the highest order.

Navy Keophan - Top ten albums (Scandinavian and non-Scandinavian) of 2004:

01. Henry Fiat's Open Sore - The parallel universe of... (Coldfront)
Hardcore punk fury with '60s-inspired catchiness.
02. Division of Laura Lee - Das not compute (Burning Heart/Epitaph)
DOLL never fails to impress and they did so with what I consider to be one of the "sleeper" hits of 2004.
03. Knugen Faller - Skellefte stadshotell EP (Cage Match Federation)
Catchy punk-pop from the north of Sweden.
04. The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Armed love (Burning Heart)
Producer Rick Rubin pushes them to their limit and they show that they can still rock.
05. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives (Interscope)
I don't care what anyone else says about The Hives but I still think that this album was good. I think their label handled the promotion for it wrong but that's another story.
06. Euroboys - Soft focus (Virgin Norway)
With a dash of '70s-inspired California pop and the Beach Boys for good measure, it keeps that feeling of summer all year long around here (although in Southern California, it isn't that hard...)
07. Bruce Banner - I've Had It With Humanity (Busted Heads)
Hardcore punk in the last couple of years has its fair share of greatness and mediocrity. Bruce Banner is not the latter. Intense hardcore from the north of Sweden with vocals by Per and Bobo (ex-DS-13).

The non-Scandinavian part of the top ten:

08. The Chinese Stars - A rare sensation (Three.One.G.)
Disco beats, hypnotic, dissonant guitars, groovy bass lines and a singer who sounds like he never left puberty all add up for a fun time.
09. Some Girls - All My Friends Are Going Death (Deathwish)
I remember the first time hearing this and not being really impressed. Fast forward to six months later and this is some of the best stuff I've heard all year from the genre. The lyrics are thoughtful and the sound is like a kick in the chest.
10. Ludacris - Red light district (Def Jam)
HA! Bet you guys weren't expecting this album here. If there is one thing I like, it's intelligent hip-hop/rap that is done right and Ludacris is a genius. On his latest effort, Ludacris brings the catchiness and sensibility back again.

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

Cult of Luna Salvation Earache Records

Thu, 28 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Cult of Luna created with their first two full lengths a pretty interesting, if not always very original, take on the Neurosis/Isis-influenced metal/hardcore. They managed to keep some of the aggression up front while making the slow and lengthy progression alive and punishing. "Salvation" continues in that vein but a much more pronounced influenced by the post-rock heavyweights of the moment; like Mogwai or Godspeed You! Black Emperor. CoL still manage to hit a home run with this record. No way in hell you don't like this.

Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Justadelf Versus Gross Alatisch is the name of a new Swedish "all-star" band featuring guitarist Gareth Smith of Raging Speedhorn, guitarist Erik Olsson from Cult of Luna along with ex-CoL drummer Marco Hildén. The music is described as Neurosis meets Mogwai meets Godspeed You Black Emperor. Gareth is also a part of the Stockhom-based black-metal band Dräp de Kristna (Slay the Christians) with members of Switchblade and Vinterkrig.