Drowned in Sound has launched a new Scandinavian music column called Nordic Sounds: http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4143878-nordic-sounds-1-backwards-and-forwards
Content covered include their selections for the best albums of 2011 so far, a bit of a news roundup and some coverage of Iceland Airwaves.
Ja Ja Ja is running a series of label profiles, starting with out of Iceland: http://www.jajajamusic.com/index.php/2011/10/best-nordic-record-labels-1-kimi-records-is/
Preview a bit of the new Kashmir single "Electrified love", just released as a single today and due out 11/11/11 as part of the band's previously announced best-of collection "Katalogue".
The Line of best Fit interviews ' latest signing, the 16yo singer/songwriter Amanda Mair: http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2011/10/interview-amanda-mair/
Icelandic act Bang Gang will be giving away a new cover tune every two weeks until the end of the year, grab the first one here: http://www.tonlist.is/extra/BangGang/Daniel/
The subject is fellow Icelandic artist Daníel Ágúst who is probably best known as the frontman for GusGus.
Don't know anything about who Chicago Hartley is, but "Syrenhortensia" is their (his?) new EP (due out October 26) and it's produced by Jimmy Ledrac, a Swedish artist who's probably best known for his work with Looptroop and Promoe.
Kashmir will taking advantage of the 11/11/11 date to release a career retrospective album entitled "Katalogue". Said collection will include 32 songs including the obligatory new single "Electrified love" as well as a few live recordings from DM i Rock circa '93.
Apparently KODA is even charging Danish bloggers for YouTube embeds? Oh, but wait! They might be having second thoughts: http://politiken.dk/kultur/musik/ECE1412844/koda-ombestemmer-sig-i-bloggersag/ (in Danish)
Emil Jensen talks about his new audiobook "Snacka om" (due out October 12 via ) and does his best to make you sick with dizziness.
The closer we get to October 31, the more inclined I am to listen to all of my creepiest industrial/noise records. Not that I don't listen to the stuff year-round and not that I haven't been listening to A LOT of industrial/EBM lately (the new Pain Machinery record is fantastic btw, review forthcoming), but I'm all for seasonable-appropriateness and Interlace remain one of the absolute best post-millennium acts in the genre. 'Tis a huge shame they never followed through with a new album after the "Nemesis" single, but maybe the members are working on something new? Please enlighten me! And enjoy this track from their stellar 2004 record "Imago".
Interlace - Pandora
The 2nd best tune (behind "Dogs") from Henric de la Cour's upcoming self-titled solo record, due out October 19 via . I got a promo of the record a few days ago and this has been running through my head ever since. Hear another tune:
The new Korallreven single "As young as yesterday" got best New Music'd in the Pitchfork track list: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12409-as-young-as-yesterday-ft-victoria-bergsman/
Most of my summer listening this year has been revisiting old favorites, partially because there's been few 2011 releases that have stuck with me, but also just because that's what summer is for. Also, as mentioned yesterday, I've also been listening to a lot of pop lately and there hasn't been much in that department that's blown me away recently except for maybe Kaka. And the new Kite, but we'll get to that eventually. What interests me most though, are the artists that didn't make a huge splash with me the first time around; instead, they lingered on the periphery until they eventually work their way into my permanent playlist. For instance: Moto Boy. I've always liked Moto Boy, but three years on I've finally realized that yes, I kinda actually do really love him/his music. The best pop music is always about the grand gesture and Oskar Humlebo's sweeping falsetto is a case study. Dunno why it took me so long to come around, but Moto Boy has staying power, a rarity in the endless stream of mediocrity.
Moto Boy - Love is the one thing you can't pretend
Pitchfork says The Field's new album "Looping state of mind" is 'best New Music': http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15790-looping-state-of-mind/
DO: watch Grande Roses, one of Sweden's best current bands, perform live on the Swedish television program Nyhetsmorgon. DO NOT: make the same mistake I did and click-through to watch Death Destruction.