MANKKU  [mancko] has been laying low when it comes to recordings since his “dogma”-sessions last year and the album “Festen har bara börjat” the year before that. He writes that he’s gathered quite a collection of new songs, which he hopes to start to record this winter. He has had the time, though, to translate and record his own interpretation of The Gun Club’s song “Mother of Earth”; a song he says that has been with him ever since it was released in the beginning of the eighties. And as you can hear below, he’s made something completely of his own with the song, like a kind of bluesy Americana with a backbeat, and an ominous pumping bass synth and bells that’s counting the time (that’s left). An interesting hint (I hope) of what his upcoming recordings will be like.

MANKKU [mancko]’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

With three strong singles in their backpack from the last year, Honeymilk entered the studio this summer to record their first album, on their own. “Lean On Me” is the name of the album and is going to be released at the end of this month. To spice things up before the release they uploaded this track, “Light Entertainment”, a few days ago; a track with a suprisingly dirty sound, where they show that they’re not stuck in any song formula. If they continue like this I believe we can look forward to a fantastic debut album.

Honeymilk’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

Roshambo have released their second album, “Lonesome Men From the Woods”; an album where they have found their way home to a sound that fit them perfectly. The room is larger with plenty of space for the layered guitars and their playful melodies in something that now sounds more like energetic indie pop/rock than pop punk. A good varied album, creative and with fun arrangements. Here are a couple of songs.

Roshambo’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Soundcloud

First of all I recognise Patrik Arve from Teddybears Sthlm, as a singer and a songwriter, but he has also been involved in a number of other bands and projects like for example Bröderna Lindgren, Girlsmen, Scabby Hyenas and more. One of his latest projects is Swedish Tiger where he sits alone in the director’s chair, but gets help from other musician friends from track to track.

I won’t make any deep comparisons with Teddybear, as I’m hardly an expert on their music, but I do recognise their wonderful mix of styles where musical playfulness is just the start of it. His love for reggae is a kind of foundation, but add also electronica, hip hop, drum’n’bass, pop, indierock and other influences plus a row of contagious melodies and frases, and you will find yourself in a musical amusement park with rides that will take you along in good speed. You’ll find most material on his site or his Soundcloud page: a number of tracks and also a couple of mixtapes. Here are a couple of songs:

Swedish Tiger’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Rara – on Soundcloud

Gustav Haggren and his Case Conrad haven’t released anything since the last album “Dew Point” in 2010. It’s seems as they are finally on their way now with a new album, though, and here are a couple of lovely tracks: the studio recorded “LONELYLIGHTLYLOWSHINE” and a live take of the song “Copper Thief” from Barcelona in Summer.

Case Conrad’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Rara – on Soundcloud