Introducing the bells, a new Luleå-affiliated project featuring Jonas Teglund (Park Hotell, Neverna), Peter Nuottaniemi (The Bear Quartet) and Johan Forslind. They have a full-length album on the way entitled "Threads" which was produced by renown musical genius/recluse Björn Olsson and will be released via the band's own in October. Unsurprisingly, it sounds a lot like a mix of Park Hotell and Bear Quartet (circa "Personality crisis"/"My war), which of course is perfectly fine by me (and should be for you too). Four tracks are up for streaming preview at the band's website, my favorite being the ominous/gloomy "Outside". Much like the Tsukimono track I posted earlier today, the song's spaciousness is a perfect companion to the sound of rain; furthermore, it hearkens back to some of BQ's most powerful work such as "Walking out". Resigned and reflective, revealed by severe simplicity, and yes, starkly beautiful; a song that says a lot with very few words/notes.
has announced that New Found Land's new album "the bell" will be released on October 27. Hear the first single "Human" here: https://soundcloud.com/fixerecords/human
I have to say, I like this song a heckuva lot more than I thought I would. I expected overwrought emo-pop silliness and while The Shiloh are definitely rooted in such terrain, their new single is really just a great pop song. Still leaning towards overwrought perhaps, but in a good way. Though maybe not quite as stellar as We are the Storm's "I woke up to the bells", it's got a similar appeal, it pulls the same heartstrings. Oh, and bonus points for a star turn by the daughter of IAT.MP3 artist Racingpaperplanes/Richard Wilson! Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX0aB0RfNsc
"The really good songs tends to write themselves," singer and guitarist Staffan Blomén declared as we sat down for a chat a couple of hours before We are the Storm played at this year's rendition of the Popadelica Festival in Huskvarna, Sweden. We were of course talking about the smashing "I woke up to the bells", which surfaced as a live video a while back. The song is simply breathtaking, so simple and yet so direct. Can you believe this band is still unsigned? They won't be for long, take my word for it. Listening to the songs on the eponymous EP the band released last year got me thinking about Fireside still on their best, or a rougher version of Britain's Athlete. While I was under the impression that the music of We are the Storm was all about dealing with all those not-so-good-feelings we all get from time to time, Blomén explained it was quite the opposite. We are the Storm are all about letting out all that which can't be kept within, no matter the feelings. A fact very clear when the band finally hits the stage - The Seven Nation Army, seven people crowded in a very limited space, performing like their lives depended on it. Let me say this again: We are the Storm are still not signed to any label (it's crazy, I know)! They still lack some experience when it comes to playing live, yes, but the songs! This short 30 min set features only new songs, songs that hopefully will be recorded sometime this summer, and even though "I woke up to the bells" is still the strongest song by far, I sense great potential in these lads from Uppsala. Sure, they need to work on their performance, but with a few more shows in the bloodstream I'm sure they will figure out how to get a good flow going. Because here's the thing, when they're actually playing music, they are amazing! Record labels, get it touch. Now. - Christian Stenbacke
I saw a preview of this clip about a month ago and was eager to post it, but was told to hold off until they were ready. Now, We Are the Storm are ready. This is the first taste of the band's new material, recorded live in an old theater in Uppsala, Sweden and it is killer. Now I'm eager to hear more.
01. Torgny Melin - Dansbandsnatt
02. Zekes - En sån natt
03. Erik Grönwall - Erik Grönwall
04. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
05. Calle Kristiansson - Calle Kristiansson
06. Nordman - Korsväg
07. Freda' - Ett mysterium
08. Kent - Röd
09. Dan Berglund - Tonbruket
10. Willy Clay Band - Blue
11. Thåström - Be-bop-a-lula hela jävla dan (1989-2009)
12. Gentlemen - Awaken me
13. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
14. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
15. Malena Ernman - La voix du nord
16. Date - Här och nu!
17. Nils Landgren Funk Unit - Funk for life
18. First Aid Kit - The big black & the blue
19. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Samling
20. Joel Alme - Waiting for the bells
01. Erik Grönwall - Erik Grönwall
02. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
03. Calle Kristiansson - Calle Kristiansson
04. Nordman - Korsväg
05. Kent - Röd
06. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
07. Thåström - Be-bop-a-lula hela jävla dan (1989-2009)
08. Joel Alme - Waiting for the bells
09. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
10. Andreas Grega - En sak i taget
11. Dan Berglund - Tonbruket
12. Gentlemen - Awaken me
13. Malena Ernman - La voix du nord
14. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
15. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Samling
16. Hästpojken - Från där jag ropar
17. Jill Johnson - Music row II
18. Martin Stenmarck - Septemberland
19. The Refreshments - 8 cd collection
20. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
They aren't all online yet it seems, but the 2nd batch of Submarine Sessions featuring live performances in the belly of a sub from the likes of Powersolo, I Got You on Tape, RebekkaMaria and Taxi Taxi! is now online: https://thirdear.dk/#/mere/submarine_9-17/
Check out The Submarine Sessions, a new Danish multimedia site featuring pared-down live performances from a number of artists such as The Raveonettes, Oh Land, Cody, Baby Woodrose and more recorded in the belly of a submarine: https://www.submarinesessions.com/
09/15 - Le poisson Rouge, New York, NY w/Deerhoof
09/16 - Cake Shop, New York, NY
09/18 - Bruar Falls, Brooklyn, NY
09/21 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY w/Fanfarlo
09/22 - the bell House, Brooklyn, NY w/Fanfarlo
Norwegian artist Hanne Hukkelberg is back in the US this month for a few select shows:
09/10 - The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
09/11 - the bell House, Brooklyn, NY
09/13 - Black Cat, Washington DC
09/14 - The Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
09/15 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
09/16 - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
09/18 - Hotel Café, Los Angeles, CA
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Zacke ft. Movits - Spela mig på radion
02. TALK 1
03. Florence Valentin - Såld är såld
04. Ikons - Guns (Pistol Disco remix)
05. Logh - Death to my hometown
06. TALK 2
07. Thåström - Långtbort
08. Le Corbeau - Night stroll
09. Skriet - Fåglarna
10. TALK 3
11. Kongh - Unholy water
12. C.Aarmé - Blodet
13. TALK 4
14. the bell - On and on
15. Heroes & Zeroes - Cipramillion
16. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
17. TALK 5
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
We are the Storm