The last thing you could say about Sol Skugga, is that she’s predictable. After her album from last year, “Gardenia”, you could maybe expect that she would continue to explore a world of grand electronica, mystique and dark spaces. But no. She enters new musical domains in her third album “Fairytales and Lullabies”.

The folk music is still here in a few tracks, but in more acoustic arrangements. But besides that it’s more about rock, to let loose. From beautiful ballads, to more straight rock tracks to songs where she tests some boundaries. The rough edges are still there, everything is not smoothed down, and it feels mpre personal and intimate.

Listen more on Sol Skugga’s site or on her Myspace page.

Here are two songs from “Fairytales and Lullabies”:

Say It
So Strange

Lars Wallin, whom Jesper wrote about last year, has released a new album this autumn, “Act Now!”. And just like the album name indicates, it is with clenched fists that Lars Wallin and The Tribe takes the stage, and send out their message with attitude and energy.

Folk punk I could call it, with a rough, tight acoustic sound, which includes flute, a hard working bass, but foremost the didgeridoo. This instrument is a little like Lars’ trademark and is used in most tracks.

You can hear more from “Act Now!” on Lars Wallin & the Tribe’s Myspace page or on  Lars Wallin’s site.

Here’s two songs from “Act Now!”:

Silent Sea
Beautiful People

The Malmö band Mono Stereo is today releasing their debut EP “Space Out” (360 Degrees Music). They have found their own niche with a sound that first of all makes me think of the sixties’ psychadelia, but with an intensity and massive sound that reminds me somewhat of 80’s/90’s bands, like for example My Bloody Valentine and Jesus & Mary Chain.

Even though it’s so intense, I find good dynamics and breathing space in the music, and it’s easy to just ride along in this nice mix. The vocals are not the obvious protagonists here, they’re more like a part of the sound together with the other instruments. Well, you can listen for yourself here below, in the video for “Orange Is Green” and the track”The Day Before Science Fiction”.

That their foundation lies in live music doesn’t come as a surprise, and their release is of course followed by a number of gigs, for starters with a couple of shows in London, among them one gig at Smash n Grab at Proud Galleries.
Also, you can download four live tracks with the band if you sign up for the band’s news letter.

You can find Mono Stereo on Myspace and on Facebook.

Orange Is Green:

The Day Before Science Fiction

Icons On Television, which I told you about last year, have earlier this year released some new tracks. They continue to produce good songs in the same style as before. A dark alternative rock with a trace of the eighties, is the theme in these tracks too, even if the sound has developed into something that sounds closer and a little less eighties.

Here you can listen to “Young Blood”, and if you want to listen to the other songs, you can visit Icons On Television on Myspace.

Young Blood

Hello Confusion, which I presented last year, has come out with some new material this autumn; the EP “Wastelands”, which was released in August. If you liked them before, I’m sure you won’t get disappointed with the new songs. They continue to deliver a catchy rock with good melodies; direct songs that are easy to absorb.

There are four good tracks on the EP, with a nice variation; from the dance-rock-tune “Everyone Is a Dancer” to the more grand “Shooting Star”, which grows into something which reminds me of Manic Street Preachers.

Here’s two tracks you can listen to. If you’d like to hear the entire EP “Wastelands”, you can visit Hello Confusion on Myspace.

Everyone Is a Dancer
Shooting Star