PUNK ON OKEI - Minimaalinen vilkaisu Tampereen punk-maailmaan

punk On Okei: a 12-minute doc on the Tampere, Finland punk scene, complete with English subtitles now streaming at Vimeo.

P.Trash to release debut LP from The Splits

P.Trash will be releasing the full-length debut LP from Finnish garage-punks The Splits either late 2011 or early 2012. Hear some tunes from their recent 7" single on Airiston punk-Levyt: http://the-splits.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-crazy-for-you-7

Sexpistolstanten och Mockfjärdsvapnet
Det ärliga CV:t
Skrammel Records

This is is the sound of Stockholm punkrock scene vets having a good time, free from any sort of high-minded aspirations. Maybe I'm projecting too much of my own psyche on this, but I strongly suspect that these folks are more than content to get together semi-regularly to play music and drink beer (not necessarily in that order) and maybe then play a few shows for their friends. The fact that they got it together enough to record a long sets worth of material and press it to wax is purely incidental. Eventually you get to a point where that's just what you do, the next logical step in any band's evolution. As for the quality, a record like this is essentially critic-proof -- hence no grade -- and whether or not me or my cronies are impressed is beside the point; if you're not a member of Sexpistoltanten's social circle, this record wasn't made for you anyway. I see it as an audio postcard, a document of a very specific time and place. Local rock for local rockers. And that's totally okay.
- Avi Roig

Bondage Fairies announce new album + tour

Swedish electropunks Bondage Fairies report that they are wrapping up work on their new album which will be released on January 20. They will be also be doing a bunch of touring in support:

12/10 - Club Hleb, Moscow (RUS)
02/01 - Hafenklang, Hamburg (GER)
02/02 - Schaubude, Kiel (GER)
02/03 - Treibsand, Lübeck (GER)
02/04 - White Trash, Berlin (GER)
02/06 - Weekender, Innsbruck (AUS)
02/07 - Feierwerk, München (GER)
02/08 - Stereo, Nürnberg (GER)
02/09 - Ivi, Frankfurt (GER)
02/10 - Pelmke, Hagen (GER)
02/11 - 12zehn, Stuttgart (GER)
02/12 - Fatal, Landau (GER)
02/14 - Ballonfabrik, Augsburg (GER)
02/16 - Werk 2, Leipzig (GER)
02/17 - Gladhouse, Cottbus (GER)
02/18 - East Club, Bischofswerda (GER)

Sjuka Signaler on the air

Via De:Nihil Records, here's a new punk/hardcore radio show/podcast out of Umeå: http://sjukasignaler.blogspot.com/
In Swedish (obviously), but don't let that stop you.

Sahara Hotnights
s/t
Universal

I suspect I'm not the only one who reviews all-girl rock bands with a higher-than-usual bout of optimism, a utopian belief that one day chicks can tip the profane masculine iceberg known as R'N'R -- but who also, when duly disappointed, applies as swift and sharp double-edged Kenzo sword. As a disclaimer, I'd like to say I began listening to this record in a key of "10". Anyone who's been privy to modern chick bands -- yes, 80% of which I believe royally suck -- still, without a doubt know the two stalwarts from the 2000s onwards are: The Donnas and the band under review, Sahara Hotnights. This year they've come out with their 6th, "self-titled" album, after having released only covers in 2009. My quip with these two bands is, however talented or resilient they've been, is that they've wavered musically by dabbling in too many styles, trying on various genres like prom dresses. The Donnas went from their days as safety-pin wearin' punks to Sheryl Crow wannabes, to now- a glossy, cock-rock, hair-metal image. WTF? While Sahara Hotnights haven't undergone nearly as drastic an image change, blanket marketing of their hits as "garage punk" vs. "80's radio pop" often left me in wonderment. But their super cool stage candour and Maria Andersson's powerful voice tended to make them the favourite of the pair.

This album certainly proves they cohere as a band, if not in a slightly more grown-up way. They can croon with the age-wisdom of blues devotees and chant joyfully like teenagers at a rally. Yet, as a complete entity, this album blows. Maybe I come with too high of expectations... but so much feels wrong. The song order, the monotonous lyrics, the flow and surprisingly, the lack of self-realization where their strengths lie. Then again, maybe I'm over-intellectualizing it and should retreat as a goofy geezer whose pants wet at any band sounding remotely like The Shangri-Las or Huggy Bear.

Naw.

I mean, if SH wrote an album of songs as meaty and compact as "781", track seven, I wouldn't be complaining. Sure, it sounds like a throwback, but we've already discussed how these ladies have been successfully doing just that the last decade. It's straight, ballsy and to the fuckin' point and that's exactly what I want to hear.

Sometimes I feel talking about girls in rock is like talking about reverse discrimination in the workplace. To compensate for the lack of badly needed estrogen, some subconsciously devalue what would be harsh standards applied to the same music performed by dudes. Sahara Hotnights have all the potential in the world to change how we see music, and they undoubtedly know how to rock, but their latest [and last, so it seems -Ed.] shows the iconic album we dream for, still remains en route.
- Ann Sung-an Lee

MP3: A Heavy Feather - Caitlin Mooney

A Heavy Feather is David Sandström and "Caitlin Mooney" is the first single from his album "You're the lotion on darkness knuckles as it punches light in the face". The concept of David taking his hyper-literate rock songwriting (see: David Sandström Overdrive) and applying it to hyper-literate, down-tempo electronica might seem bewildering, but that's because it is. On the other hand, he's done enough stylistic left-turns over the years, from Refused to the "Grandfather" album (my favorite) to collaborating with rapper Adam Tensta, his latest venture probably shouldn't come as a surprise, and yet it's not a direction I had anticipated. I'm really not sure what to make of the song either, especially outside the context of the album as a whole. It seems an odd choice as a single, but perhaps that's by design? I wouldn't put it past him.

A Heavy Feather - Caitlin Mooney

Turist i tillvaron vol. 2 sent to press

The lineup for volume 2 of Swedish punk/hardcore comp "Turist i tillvaron" has now been 100% solidified and the record sent to press: http://sirling.blogspot.com/2011/11/vol-2-pa-press-alldeles-strax.html
Also, it looks like folks still have til January should they want to get in on volume 3.

Terrible Feelings EP for free

Malmö punkrockers Terrible Feelings have posted their "Blank heads EP" for full streaming and free download at SoundCloud.

Dark Entries to reissue Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons?

Dark Entries has Swedish postpunks Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons on their list of upcoming releases for 2012, along with a laundry list of other acts.

The Göteborg String Theory + Warren Suicide - Fuck off happy (video)

The Göteborg String Theory vs German electro-punk act Warren Suicide.

Terrible Feelings on tour

Malmö punkrockers Terrible Feelings are hitting the road in November:

11/02 - Loppen, København (DK) w/Fucked Up
11/03 - Mejeriet, Lund (SWE) w/Fucked Up
11/04 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE) w/Fucked Up
11/12 - Babel, Malmö (SWE) w/Invasionen
11/14 - Rote Flora, Hamburg (GER) w/Bent Cross
11/15 - dB's, Utrecht (NL) w/Jeff The Brotherhood
11/16 - Help!
11/17 - Help!
11/18 - tba, Venice (ITA)
11/19 - Kafé Kult, Munich (GER) w/Raein
11/20 - Arena, Vienna (AUS)
11/21 - Klubovna Povalec, Prague (CZ)
11/22 - Help!
11/23 - tba, Berlin (GER)
11/24 - Ungeren, Copenhagen (DK) w/Autistic Youth

Cigarette Crossfire album preview

punknews.org is streaming the new album from Finnish punkrockers Cigarette Crossfire in its entirety: http://www.punknews.org/bands/cigarettecrossfire

Vanbot and The Bombettes confirmed for SXSW 2012

Pop act Vanbot and Umeå punkrockers The Bombettes are two of the first Swedish acts to be confirmed for SXSW 2012.

Pusrad seeks label

Pusrad, the new incarnation of Swedish punks Raped Teenagers, are seeking a label: http://www.kbdrecords.com/2011/10/16/pusrad-looking-for-a-label/