Pitchfork bestows the "Best New Music" tag onto the new Lindstrøm album "Where you go I go too": https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/144820-lindstrm-where-you-go-i-go-too

Veronica Maggio
Och vinnaren är...
Universal

Ah! This sensual blossom; brittle voiced Veronica Maggio in her nerdy turquoise sport dress has arrived with a matured attitude, from "Dumpa mig" to this more personal album; "ch vinnaren är", is a big pace and invitation to Miss Maggio's youth; we are all sucking it in. Let me mention Lisa Ekdahl, one of Sweden's best folk artists. Her voice is top notch, killing other peoples lyrics; well let's do a parallel between these two women since there is some likeness vocally, and then leave us at Maggio with the word trademark. Yes. In a way, I feel guilty about being passionate for this album; this could be more a brand than pure musicality. She is a good songwriter, no kidding, but many hands have been involved with this production, not at least her boyfriend, the talented Kihlen from the hip-hop band Snook. But honestly, how many artists can succeed totally alone? Despite it all, I'm gonna be a naïve one, because this is sexy, appealing and catchy. Something about her voice melting into the lyrics. Singles such as "Stopp", "Måndagsbarn" and "17 år" are, without hesitation, among some of the best songs on the Swedish market this year. Let me leave you with the line "Jag är tillbaks nu igen, inget hade varit möjligt utan mig."
- Therese Buxfäldt

Low Cut has a full report on the Shit-Town hardcore punk festival in Copenhagen last weekend: https://www.lowcut.dk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=409

PopMatters on the new Caesars album "Strawberry weed": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/61931/caesars-strawberry-weed/

Various Artists
Allt ljus på oss!
Mister Suede Records/Plugged Records

The only thing worse than listening to a comp of unsigned bands is being the poor schlub whose job it is to sort through the countless no-name acts to decide who makes the cut. Even the mere suggestion makes me shudder -- for all the talk about the increasingly level playing field, let it be know that just because you can make a record, doesn't mean you should. Anyhow, as one would probably expect, this AllEars.se sampler is a mixed bag with near-nil flow and very little replay value. The majority of the acts aim squarely for the middle and don't disappoint in that regard, but unless you're in one of these bands or related to someone who is, who cares? How much mediocrity can you handle? As for the exceptions, let's run them down: Icke Lika Med stands out by injecting a bit of progg into their whitebread rock and Mourning Tears pulls off a competent goth/classical/martial neo-folk instrumental. Glass, the only band here that I've actually heard before, submits a solid midtempo power-pop track and are followed by The Lonesome Whistle Boys, a band who display a firm grasp of the valued "less is more" concept with a track that comes in just under 1:40. That's an admirable decision, especially since it actually makes me curious to hear more. Finally, CCT-Band deserves a mention as well for their confident swing-time jazz -- par for the course, yet aberrant when it comes to this collection. As for everyone else, well... they aren't awful. It's best I leave it at that.
- Avi Roig

PopMatters on Icelandic artist Mugison: https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/61316/mugison-mugiboogie/
Also reviewed, Lykke Li's "Little bit EP": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/62211/lykke-li-little-bit-ep

Pitchfork reviews Danish pop act Alphabeat: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/144636-alphabeat-this-is-alphabeat

Dusted reviews the Eleanoora Rosenholm album "Vainajan Muotokuva": https://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4483

All About Jazz on the new album "Sumo" from Swedish jazz/fusion act Oddjob: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=30107

The Silent Ballet has good things to say about the new Tobias Hellkvist album "Sides": https://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/1707/Default.aspx

Hari and Aino
s/t
Plastilina Records

To me, Andrea Dahlkild, lead vocals in Hari and Aino, is a blend between Duffy, Maja Ivarsson and Nina Persson. She is edgy in a sophisticated & balanced way. I ain't eager to go to one of their shows since I don't think that will be needed to change my impression. The Cardigans are not a secretly professional band, but it sometimes falls flat; Hari and Aino reminds me of that. You know when there is a possibility to listen too much of something effecting in sickness to your ears. The album withholds 10 songs, a perfect number! This is sweet indie pop, not cocky, political, heartbreaking songs; no, we are talking about a hint of shyness and pulsating sympathetic music that are feeding your hungry music veins. Finland apparently has a big influence on them (see "Finland") and I really have to ask them why; going on talking about their other songs, I must say that "Seasons" is causing good vibrations and is unquestionably their best hit. Also, I recommend "Your heartache and mine". This Stockholm based band has very good potential, I just want them get wild here and there, to surprise. I wish them my best and think y'all out there should give this little twee beautiful album a listen.
- Therese Buxfäldt

PopMatters on Kristoffer Ragnstam and his new album "Wrong side of the room": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/60456/kristoffer-ragnstam-wrong-side-of-the-room/

PopMatters on the new Apocalyptica album "Worlds collide": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/61665/apocalyptica-worlds-collide/

Dusted reviews the new Lindstrøm album "Where you go I go too": https://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4454

Various Artists
Gothenburg 08
Fang Bomb

As an interested and curious listener, I feel lost sometimes when I discover new kinds of music. Often I'd like to hear more but don't know where to look further, even in the times of myspace and mp3-blogs and especially for such marginal music as experimental electronica where the web's oversupply of information tends to thin out. That's why I'm grateful to the people at Fang Bomb: They've already done all the digging, filtering and compiling for me to produce "Gothenburg 08", a sampler aimed to showcase Gothenburg's current electronic and experimental scene. The ten tracks presented here span a very wide bridge from Porn Sword Tobacco's almost over-enjoyable post-muzak to Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words' eponymously gloomy and demanding layers of noise. Most of the compilation oscillates between drones and slowly developing ambient pieces though, which creates an almost album-like feel throughout. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in electronic music that is ambitious, complex and accessible at the same time. The compilation's large bandwidth make it the ideal introduction to the different featured artists -- you just have to pick your favorite and look out for their future work.
- Arnulf Köhncke