QuickBar SiNews - Scandinavian Indie News
Archive: April 1998


Sunday April 26th 1998
HAPPYDEADMEN have *not* split up!
Recording, releasing, playing: BARUSTA
CINNAMON II
More bliss from LOUDEAN
A second MELONY album on the way
THIS PERFECT DAY in the US
Primal Music / Monolithic News
DEPECHE MODE tour Scandinavia
Skansen for SMASHING PUMPKINS
Swedish Booking Agencies grab the net


Sunday April 19th 1998
ACID HOUSE KINGS on the net
Finally celebrated: DORIS DAYS
DRYAD receives award
Icelandic favourites GUSGUS are on the move
KOMEDA on tour and with new video
Sooth-popsters LESLIES reveal US label
Dorian Records back for good?
Radio News - P3 Pop Monday 27/4


Wednesday April 8th 1998
FLY is EASY is FLY
Back into the studio so soon? Yup, COO is
DOKTOR KOSMOS "Stjärnjerry" on the radio
Soft poppers LESLIES to release a 7" in the US
GUSGUS recording their new album
Extra fantastic SOBSISTER added to P3 playlist
Starboy Recordings has moved + website finally up
Arvika festival update
Emmaboda festival update
SPIRITUALIZED and GUSGUS to Hultsfred festival


Sunday April 5th 1998
THE VERVE will play at the Roskilde Festival!
And as if that wasn't enough SONIC YOUTH are slated too
SOULFLY added to the Roskilde line-up
Danish Midtfyn festival with the third release
Svedala's own SommarRock 98 Festival line-up takes form


Thursday April 2nd 1998
SOUND AFFECTS back up on the web again
Slow but heavy trio COBOLT with new material
FIDGET live in Stockholm April 7th
The third from KOMEDA is a success
An extra chance to see DOKTOR KOSMOS "Stjärnjerry"
Arvika festival reveals a bunch of artists & bands
Umeå Open festival changes
Bollnäspunken festival tickets available now
Even more festival updates
An April Fools day with KENT
Gigs you should know about


Sunday April 26th 1998

HappyDeadMen have *not* split up!
HappyDeadMen was previously reported to have quit by another source on the net, but this was not quite what had happened with the band. On the contrary, the band is still alive and well, but are in the process of changing name, and with that, label as well. Their latest album "Bullfights Every Sunday" which has only been released in Japan so far (in February 1997 no less), will finally be released in Sweden and everywhere else but Japan on Torpedo Records. The street date is set to May 20th. This will not just be a release of the same album though - a couple of new extra tracks have been added as well. For more information contact Torpedo Records at: info@torpedo.m.se.


Recording, releasing, playing: Barusta
The much hyped (and probably worth it too) band Barusta (Starboy) have an EP on the way called "The Game". Produced by Ebbot Lundberg and with a release date of May 13th. June 1st marks the day when the band enters the studio to record their debut album. A release is set to August/September. If you're interested in seeing them play live, you should go to Fritz's Corner in Stockholm on May 2nd, where they play together with label mates Freinds.


Cinnamon II
Cinnamon (Soap Records) start recording their second album this summer (in June) and the tentative release is set to "winter".


More bliss from Loudean
Scan-Indie favourites Loudean (Soap Records) release their second single called "The Best Show" on June 8th - conveniently right before their appearence at the Hultsfred Festival. The yet unnamed debut album is scheduled for a release in September.


A second Melony album on the way
Melony (Soap Records) have spent some time recorded a couple of songs for their upcoming second album. The rest will be recorded during the summer, and everything should be ready for release around October.


This Perfect Day in the US
The latest album from This Perfect Day (Soap Records) "C-60" will be released on Sony/550 Music in the US May 19th. The single "Could Have Been Friends" has already been released and reportedly added to a lot of radio playlists.


Primal Music / Monolithic News
The second Monolithic Minds compilation (volume 2) was released last week, April 22nd, on Primal Music's sublabel Monolithic. Ten tracks with Swedish drum'n'bass artists Eclectic Bob, Grand Nip, Yoga, Baxter, Friend, Juicehead, Spinform, Quant, Darchives and Perphane. Note that Baxter and Yoga are primarily (pun intended) signed to the Primal Music label and that Spinform are signed to RUC (Recordings Under Construction). Baxter (the two Eclectic Bob guys Ricky Tillblad and Carl Herlofsson together with Salt/Grand Tone Music and Sin-all-time- favourite-singer Nina Ramsby) contributes with an instrumental remix of one of their own songs. Baxter's debut album will be released late summer/early autumn on Primal Music in the Scandinavian/Nordic countries, Maverick in the US and Warner everywhere else. Yoga have their debut album on the way, which will be released on May 25th and not sound like anything else, if you believe what they say. If you'd like to see some of these bands play live, there's an all-nighter at Rangus Tangus (the basement at Snaps, Götgatan 48, Medborgarplatsen) in Stockholm on May 7th, which starts at 9pm (21.00).


Depeche Mode Tour Scandinavia
Depeche Mode return to the road this autumn. The band embark on an extensive two-month UK and European tour in September and October, with further dates in the US to follow in November and December. The new tour is entitled 'The Singles Tour 86-98'. This is the first time Depeche Mode can been seen in concert since the summer of 1993, when their 'Devotional' tour was seen by over two million people around the world. The European shows coincide with the release of a new singles compilation album, which will also include new material the band are currently recording with producer Tim Simenon in London. A single with a new song will be released before the album. Note that the band will also perform these new songs on the tour. Tickets to the Swedish gigs can be bought from BiljettDirekt (Phone: +46-(0)77-1707070) or directly from the venues for 275 SEK + service fee (usually 20 SEK) starting Monday May 18th. In Scandinavia, the dates are as follows (all in September):

 9th - Helsinki, Hartwall Areena (SF) ** PREMIERE **
11th - Copenhagen, Multi Hall (DK)
12th - Gothenburg, Scandinavium (S)
13th - Stockholm, Globen (S)


The Smashing Pumpkins at Skansen
As strange as it may seem, Smashing Pumpkins will play on the Solliden stage at Stockholm's Zoo Skansen on May 25th. This is a part of a special "play at cool places" tour the 'kins have in store for the world. Apart from Skansen, they will play at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia and at the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain (which should create an excellent backdrop for the band IMO). The band will play new songs from the upcoming album "Adore" which is their first album in three years - and released on June 1st. A preceding single "Ava Adore" is released on May 18th. Tickets in Sweden are 190 SEK + service fee and they go on sale on monday (tomorrow) April 27th. BiljettDirekt (Phone: +46-(0)77-1707070) is the place to call.


Swedish Booking Agencies grab the net
Both Luger and Motor BA:s have moved on to secure their sites on the Internet. Motor, who could previously only be reached through their Moonfire-address, have acquired the www.motor.se URL, and Luger, who were previously stationed at BA EMA Telstar's website, have finally hired a webmaster (not a day too soon if you ask me - but then again, I actually suggested myself for the job two years ago... :-)) who's workload must be enormous - which has resulted in a soon-to-be-ready site at www.luger.se.



Sunday April 19th 1998

Acid House Kings on the net
For those of us who like the more twee-ish edge of the Swedish indie pop scene, Acid House Kings must be mentioned among the very best. Good news then that they have their own homepage on the Shelflife label site! Their pages also contain info on the related bands Semester, Sunshine Boys, Red Sleeping Beauty, Poprace, Starlet and Club 8. Check it out and listen to the beautiful 'This And That' from their CD "Advantage Acid House Kings".


Doris Days Finally Celebrated
When label Some Pearls (Slask Records) released Doris Days' debut album "Live In Poland" at the end of 1996, nothing really happened - apart from a couple of really good reviews in papers, magazines and fanzines. And from online media (which we won't mention) "I have not heard something this beatutiful and addictive from Sweden in a long time." who rightfully labelled their music "urban trip-hop" and who also spread the word and the music around the globe. Now almost two years later and through a licence deal in Japan, the Brits have been awakened. The single "To Ulrike M." re- released two months ago on British label Dorado including three new remixes is included in play lists on both UK and Swedish radio these days - and the mentioned 12" received the "12-inch of the week" award on P3 Dans recently. A new (really new) single is on the way, but will not be released until autumn. Until then, why not dig out Doris Days' first single "Places" - released on BarnsligaSkivor/Some Pearls in 1993? Or their very first release ever "Cricket Buddhist" a 9-song cassette released on BarnsligaSkivor 1992. Swedish Morning paper "Svenska Dagbladet" published an article about the band on friday last week - read it here (in Swedish).


Dryad receives award
Unsigned Stockholm-based rockers Dryad which you possibly have read about here (if not, check out the interview) are starting to get the attention they deserve with well attended gigs in central Stockholm as a result. The band also received the Kulturhuset / Lava Demotek ("House of Culture" sort of) in Stockholm "demo of the winter" award, and will make their festival debut at the Mera Hitlåtar festival in Handen outside Stockholm this summer. If you have a chance, check out the next issue of the magazine "Chili" where they are featured. And if you want to see them play live in the near future, Cage (in Gamla Stan in Stockholm) on wednesday is their next stop.


gusGus are on the move
Icelandic gusGus (4AD), along with designer Linda B. Arnadottir, introduced their first collection of clothing called Product for "Cry Lab" (fashion company managed by the band) at the world Art Fair Expo '98 in Portugal in February. The Icelandic government selected the band to represent Iceland at the event. This first collection will be introduced in Paris from October 98. On the music side, the band recently completed the song "Monument" for the untitled Depeche Mode tribute album, which is to be released in April on A&M's 1500 Records. They are about to remix tracks for David Byrne, Underdog and the upcoming Björk single "Hunter" (to be released in June), though which tracks has yet to be decided. gusGus own and new second album will be out in September. A tentative title has been revealed to be "Treasures In Lava" and the album will contain about 10 songs. The first half has been entrusted to Herr Legowitz for the drum kits, samples and loops, while the rest will be mixed by Biggi and Steph. Movie-news: The song "Gun" is on the soundtrack for the film "Suicide Kings" starring Christopher Walken. The group is now working on a new song for the Ben Stiller film "Permanent Midnight". And finally, video-news: The next gusGus video will be "Barry" (now in post-production in London).


Komeda on tour + new video
Celebrated NONS popsters Komeda are on the road in Sweden at the moment. On thursday they are back for the second (third?) time in Linköping at Herrgår'n, but if you don't live there, they do play in Malmö two days later. 23/4 Linköping and 25/4 Malmö that is. A new video is on the way as well - this time it's to the song "Cul de Sac".


Leslies reveal name of US label
Swedish sooth-popsters Leslies who were previously reported (see older news updates) to be on the way to release a 7" single called "That's Me" in the US have now revealed the name of the label: "American Pop Project", which is run by Mel Chaplowitz. No word yet if the band will have to change their name on it or not (see older news for info on this).


Dorian Records
The planned indie double CD compilation which was to be released in December last year never happened, as you probably noticed. Now news dropped in today directly from the label owner Roger which said that he is still (!) trying to put together a compilation (or two actually) - one twee-pop and one 'regular' indie-pop. So here we go again! :-) More information is on the way.


P3 Pop Monday 27/4
Swedish National Radio channel P3 on monday between 19.03-22.00 is, as usual once a month, "Pop Monday". Playing live between 21.03-22.00 is Sophie Zelmani (Warner) and guests between 19.03- 21.00 are Tommy 16 (AWSF - also playing live) and The Confusions (Massproduktion). A special about Finnish pop with the spotlight on Supperheads (Warner) can also be heard this night.



Wednesday April 8th 1998

Fly is Easy is Fly
A couple of days ago Fly (Dolores) decided to change their name to...Easy! Yup, happy days are here again. The three members of old Easy together with the three new ones thought they were close enough to being the original band to still be called Easy. The Fly album, which should have been released now, is dealyed until June and according to Isse at their record company Dolores they will have to reprint about 3 000 albums. The name change is due to one English record company called Fly, two American bands called Fly, one German magazine called Fly, an Indian restaurant called Fly, two Jamaican 70's rock troubadours called Fly etc. etc. Fly is Easy. Or? Well, yet unconfirmed rumors (heard after the above was written on the Scan-Indie mailing list) say they may still be able to keep Fly as their name. More on this when something happens.


Coo heads back to the studio
Dreamy guitar manglers Coo from Finland (who Scandinavian Indie has a contest with this month - don't forget to check it out) are on their way back to the studio this month to record some totally new stuff. Their second demo which was recorded not long ago will hit record companies, labels and radio stations at the beginning of next month. (homepage)


Doktor Kosmos Stjärnjerry on the radio
Doktor Kosmos (NONS) and the rock opera "Stjärnjerry" which you have read about here several times before, and which safely can be said to be a success, is now re-broadcasted twice, in the middle of the night, in its radio version on Swedish National Radio! Channels P3 and P4 are the ones to watch and the program to tune in on April 13th and 14th - between 03.03 - 04.00 (yup, that's _am_) is "Frispel". The show's homepage, where you can find more info about it all can be found here.


Leslies to release a 7" in the US
Swedish breeze popsters Leslies found out there's a US band with the same name this week, when asked if they were the ones playing in Washington D.C. Tony Ivarsson (vocals) comments:
- I'll be damned. We had no idea. Unfortunately our name is only registered in Sweden, so we can't do anything about it. We do have a paper saying we were first with the name though. It'll be even more interesting when we release a 7" single in the US in June - on a small label I can't give you the name of yet...


gusGus recording their new album
gusGus (4AD) from Iceland have been busy setting up their new studio in Reykjavik, and now they are working hard on their second album which is due out in september. The weekend of June 5-6 should be a special one in Iceland as Gusgus is putting on a festival where a whole bunch of Icelandic bands will be playing and gusGus will unveil their new record at the event.


Sobsister added to the P3 Playlist
Really small label Absurd Records own Barb Wire (tm) pop band Sobsister will be added to the Swedish National Radio playlist on tuesday. The song qualified is the number 7 on their debut album "Schlaraffenland" released saturday last week. And what is number 7 then you ask? It's the gorgeous 'Thursday Knight Mr Cool'! Worth noting is also that their pre-album single "Wardrobe" was picked up by the national radio two days after its release. At the moment, they are touring (and yes, they will come to Linköping! - sorry about the local nationalism there ;-)) Their current tour dates are as follows: 8/4 Växjö, 9/4 Eskilstuna, 17/4 Malmö, 25/4 Emmaboda, and 28/5 Linköping (full tour date info)


Starboy Recordings has moved + website
Stockholm based record label Starboy Recordings (Robot, Freinds, Barusta) has moved from S:t Eriksplan to the southern parts of the city and into the same building as the Luger booking agency, record label Startracks, web entertainment company Moondog and venue Fritz's Corner. The new contact information is as follows: Visiting address: Högabergsgatan 33, 2tr. Phone 1: +46-(0)8-6152950 (Hansi - A&R, promotion), Phone 2: +46-(0)8-6152960 (Johan & Linda - Ads, production, economy), Fax: +46-(0)8-7145065. Their mailing address is still the same as before on the other hand (see Record Labels). Starboy Recordings' website was also finished last week - and it is designed by none other than Scandinavian Indie list member Elin! Check it out here.


Arvika Festival Update
The Arvika Festival (10-11 July in Arvika, Sweden) had some trouble with their release list to which people managed to send their personal greetings this week due to a bad configuration, but quickly repaired the damage and added Caesar's Palace (S) to their line-up (full info).


Emmaboda Festival Update
Sweden's most down to earth summer music festival Emmaboda (7-8 August in Emmaboda, Sweden) have added a bunch of great names to their line-up. Here are the new names straight from the organizers (full info): Bad Cash Quartet (S), Easy (Fly) (S), Komeda (S), Mazarine Street (S), Polythene (S).


Spiritualized and gusGus to Hultsfred Festival
A new release of names added to the line-up from the Hultsfred Festival (11-13 June in Hultsfred, Sweden) came in today - where Spiritualized (UK), gusGus (IS) along with the previously reported (now official) Rakim (US) are the big guns. Worth noting is also Finnish favourites Larry & The Lefthanded. Cancelled this week: Anouk (NL). Here are all the new names (full info):

Anders Widmark Trio (S), Bad Cash Quartet (S), Broder Daniel (S), Evil D (US), Growin' Pains (S), Gus Gus (IS), Jonas Lönnå (S), Kaah (S), Ken (S), Larry and the Lefthanded (SF), Lars Winnerbäck (S), Petter (S), Rakim (US), Spiritualized (UK), Steel & MC Nitro (S), Stephan Grieder (svek) (S), Terranova (D), Thumb (D), Unfinished Burritos (S).



Sunday April 5th 1998

The Verve + Sonic Youth + Soulfly @ Roskilde Festival 1998!
Roskilde Festival (25-28 June in Roskilde, Denmark) sneaked out some really heavy names for the 1998 festival during the night between saturday and sunday. Sonic Youth (US) - with their 14th album "A Thousand Leaves" to be released on Geffen on May 12th, and Max Cavalera's new band Soulfly (BR) - who's self titled debut album is out on April 21st on Roadrunner, were immediately added to the news section on their entry page, but The Verve (UK) was just added to their huge line-up (and Radio Tarifa (E) was removed - which probably means they have cancelled) - perhaps a way to see who checks the list and who just check the first page? Sneaky, we have already seen news headlines today only mentioning Sonic Youth and/or Soulfly - but as we're always checking the full line-up, we don't care. ;-) It is Good News in any case! (full festival details here)


Midtfyn Festival with third release
Midtfyn Festival (1-5 July in Odense, Denmark) moves on and presents a bunch of new artists and bands this weekend. A lot of domestic bands as you can see, but there is at least one band in there not to be missed: Unun from Iceland! Their gig last year at Roskilde was one of my personal favourites and it doesn't compare to anything else. Expect a lot of fun and a lot of noise mixed with gorgeous guitar filled pop. Here are the new Midtfyn names (full festival details here):

Audioweb (UK), Baal (DK), Bleeder (DK), D:A:D (DK), Del Amitri (SCOT), Faithless (UK), Ginnman/Jørgensen (DK), Inside The Whale (DK), Johnny Madsen (DK), Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band (US), Lars H.U.G. (DK), Phish (US), Psyched Up Janis (DK), Ruby Fruit Jungle (DK), Sorten Muld (DK), The Corrs (IRL), tv-2 (DK), Unun (IS).


First release from SommarRock 98
The first release of artists and bands who will play at the SommarRock Festival 98 (16-18 July in Svedala, Sweden) is now here (full festival details here): Jerry Williams (S), Wilmer X (S), Cajsa-Lisa Ejemyr (S), Two Piece Puzzle (S), The Deadbeats (S), Sweet Boys (S).



Thursday April 2nd 1998

Sound Affects back on the Web again
The Swedish No.1 pop magazine Sound Affects is back on the Internet after leaving their previous website pretty much untouched since its first appearence. The webmaster says the editorial staff weren't that interested in helping out or sending material to be added to it and without their interest, the site 'died'. Now the webmaster has released 'v3' of the site on his own and in a much simpler format - easier to handle for one person in his spare time, even without the help of or backing from the editorial staff. The site is only available in Swedish, and you can check it out if you click right here.


Cobolt with new material
The slow but heavy trio Cobolt (ex Refused and Blithe members) from Umeå have just finished the recordings of their second album scheduled for relelase this autumn. A new song will also be included on the upcoming 'Definitivt 50 Spänn' compilation. The band's debut album, 'Eleven Storey Soul Departure', was released on Ampersand late -97 and received good reviews and was somewhat compared to the Red House Painters.


Fidget Live in Stockholm April 7th
Are you looking for a chance to see Fidget play live in the near future? Do you live in or close to Stockholm? Then you're in luck! The ingenious popsters from Gothenburg will play at Tantogården in Stockholm on Tuesday next week (April 7th). It's a "Volume" night (unsigned bands play every second tuesday, usually there's no fee) so hopefully we'll see interested label people in the audience as well. Fidget's April Fools day joke was the extra special news that they would tour with the US Lollapalooza Festival this summer.


Komeda's third album is a Success
A week has passed since Komeda's third album was released on NONS, and the reviews have been stunning (to say the least). Here are some (badly translated) clips:

* In Sound Affects - Reviewer Magnus Kvist lists the album on his 'favourites' list, awards it with 4 1/2 (out of 5) points and says he can't understand why they're not selling ten thousands of copies of it in Sweden when he hears "It's Alright, Baby" and cranks up the volume.
* In Göteborgs Tidningar - Reviewer Kai Martin adds Komeda twice to his "best right now" list, of which one is the first place. It can't get more fun than this in 1998, he beams.
* In Café - Reviewer Kjell Häglund recommends the album and writes that Sweden's most exciting pop band has never sounded better.
* In Nöjesguiden - Reviewer Kristoffer Triumf feels that five songs on the album are indispensable floorfillers for the mingle parties in 1998 and that 'A Simple Formality' is the coolest vocoder song ever. He also put it on his "best right now" list.


Extra chance to see Doktor Kosmos "Stjärnjerry"
Doktor Kosmos (NONS) and his rock opera "Stjärnjerry", which is put up in Stockholm at Pistolteatern only (apart from one single show in Umeå during the 'Umeå Open Festival' this weekend) is a success! The shows have been packed and therefor they have decided to add a date to the upcoming schedule of shows. All shows start at 8pm (20.00) - and here are the remaining dates: 13/4, 20/4, 21/4 (added show) and 27/4. Tickets can be bought at the theater (+46-(0)8-303000) or at the Infocentret at Kulturhuset.


Arvika Festival reveals a bunch of Artists & Bands
The festival (July 10-11 in Arvika, Sweden) released the first artists and bands at the release party yesterday evening ( apart from the impressive Sisters of Mercy (UK) who were announced last week ). About twenty (20) more will be added before the line-up is complete. Here are the new names (complete info):

Antiloop (S), Backyard Babies (S), Bad Cash Quartet (S), Covenant (S), Daf.Dos (D), Freewheel (S), Gluecifer (N), Grand Tone Music (S), Incka (S), Kent (S), Liberator (S), Lok (S), Orup (S), Rammstein (D), Refused (S), S.P.O.C.K (S), Sisters of Mercy (UK), Space Age Baby Jane (S), Speaker Bite Me (DK), Titiyo (S), Weeping Willows (S), Sophie Zelmani (S).


Umeå Open Festival changes
This weekend, the first major music festival in Umeå takes place, and the line-up and schedule has been reported here several times before. But as with most festivals - artists and bands cancel, schedules are re-arranged, and everything goes bazooka. Instead of posting the whole updated thing again (the schedule has changed mondo) - check out the Festivals area which is always updated with the latest information. Short note about changes in the line-up: Friend cancelled and Hab (DOT Records) (US) replaced them. Mos Def cancelled and Scratchaholics (see the Mazarine Street Interview for more on Scratchaholics) replaced.


Bollnäspunken Festival tickets available now
The 3500 tickets to the Bollnäs Punk festival (29-30 May in Bollnäs, Sweden) have now been released. 100 SEK for one day and 180 for two. New (April 1st) bands added this week are: Crass (UK), Dead Kennedys (US) and Discharge (UK) - but the real ones are Rebell-Robert (S), UK Subs (UK) and The Vibrators (UK). The arrangers have also compiled a 2CD from the 1997 festival which is sold on their website (complete info).


Even more Festival Updates
The Karlshamn Rock festival (5-6 June in Karlshamn, Sweden) added a few names this week: Blue Öyster Cult (US), Freak Kitchen (S) and Peps Down Home Bluesband (S). Provinssirock (12-14 June in Seinäjoki, Finland) added: Valtava kääpiö (SF), and apparently hip-hop legend Rakim (US) (from Erik B. & Rakim) will be added to the Hultsfred (11-13 June in Hultsfred, Sweden) line-up - though this is not yet official (complete info).


Kent's April Fools joke
Kent (BMG), the webmaster of their official site, or someone with access to the site, had a fun day yesterday when it was April Fools day. Someone simply linked the first page directly to the offical Jumper website (www.jumper-se.com) so when you thought you were going to the Kent site, you actually ended up at Jumper's.


Gigs you should Know about
Espinoza 5 - 15/4 Stockholm, Kulturhuset (w/Ghandi)
Fidget - 7/4 Stockholm, Tantogarden (Volym)
IOTA - 1/5 Goteborg, Pusterviksbaren (w/Pluxus)




NOTE: The News is also posted to the Scandinavian Indie Mailing List, which means that you can also find it in the Scandinavian Indie Digest Archive.


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Last updated May 1, 1998 by Erik Söderström
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