Slottet released their new EP “Servants” last month. Besides being available on Spotify the EP was also released on casette tape. It’s not the first time I’ve encountered cassette tapes this Autumn, so I think I can say that there is sort of a cassette revival going on.

And the EP  is a quite pleasant acquaintance. The first three tracks contain a rather minimalistic electronica accompanying good indie pop-vibing melodies and close vocals by Marcus Wahlström, while the finishing two songs change lane somewhat in that “Please” lets the guitars come up front and normal drums is used, and “Vanity”, the last song, is built upon an acoustic guitar.

They came up with the band name Slottet (The Castle) a summer’s night one and a half year ago. They were trying to invent a name by associating with things they saw in the room, when suddenly, Yin Fai Chan, the band’s keyboard player, saw the cover of Hayao Miyazaki’s movie “Howl’s Moving Castle” and threw out the word “Slottet”. According to Marcus Wahlström, this led to a kind of eureka moment for the band, and the name was set.

You can follow Slottet on their Facebook page. Here’s the first song on “Servants”

Agnostic Nightmare

We wrote about Roshambo in the beginning of this year, and this Autumn they released a new single with two songs, “Arson”. They first song “Arson” feels something in the way of what they have presented before; an energic pop punk with American influences. A good song, but the sound has a little too much treble for my taste.

The second song “Cigarette Lemonade” is the one I like the most and is also showing a new side of the band I think; a nice messy indie rock and which has a hint of rock from the sixties in the verses. Listen and download here below.

They got their name from a song by the band The Network, a band that inspired them a lot at the start when they created their sound.

You can find the single on Roshambo’s bandcamp page, on Spotify or on their Facebook page.

Cigarette Lemonade

Support the artist: Buy “Arson” – on iTunes – on Amazon

I Am Trip is a music project created by Filip Forsström, who, on the EP “As It Was” serves experimental soundscapes where he mixes ambient, dub/step, glitch and IDM. Harmonic, soft sound spaces are broken up with chopped beats, “glitches” and sound figures which create a special atmosphere. It becomes an interesting work of sound art, which I imagine can give rise to very personal associations, which is also Filip’s objective with the project:

The project and it’s name stands for going on an inner journey and explore which places, experiences and emotions the music creates. It’s not about what the music whas meant as , it’s the individual experience that is the goal.

For me personally the character Trip is created. If Trip will join anyone else on their journey is entirely up to each and every one. And the personal interpretation is the focus of what the journey can become.

On I Am Trip’s site you can download the EP and you can also listen to the tracks on his Soundcloud page.

I Don’t Know

The band Tender Hooligans recently released their self-titled debut album. The band name comes from The Smiths’ song “Sweet and Tender Hooligan”, as one of the original members was a big fan of The Smiths.

The Smiths is not the first band I think of when I listen to the music, even if I can sense something of it. I do feel the vibes of British music, though; that and the close, unpolished and punky feeling makes me rather think of The Clash and in some case of Oasis. Overall it’s a good album with good melodies and a nice, raw rock energy.

In the song below they have collaborated with David Sandström (Refused) and the entire album is available on Spotify. You can find the band on Facebook.

I Will Keep You Warm (feat. David Sandström)

Support the artist: Buy “Tender Hooligans” – on iTunes – on Amazon

Duckwalk Rangers was formed in 2008 with the straight forward mission of kicking ass from the rock scene. The name was invented from a flash of inspiration when they needed a name to be able to upload the music to Myspace.

I don’t know if they do duck walks on stage or not, as I haven’t seen them play live, but it would probably be perfect with some quice rushes, considering their energetic party rock music without diversions.

They have released a couple of EP:s from before and this year, after changing bass player, they released the EP “Without Shame”. Listen to and download two songs here below. You can find more music on Spotify and on their Facebook page.

I Should Go Home (but I Don’t Care)
Don’t Take For Granted

Support the artist: Buy “Without Shame” – on iTunes – on Amazon