Tag: sweden

Sudakistan Returns with Machine

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Swedish rockeres Sudakistan have been out of the scene for a hot minute, but after a five year hiatus, they’re back at it, and as such, they’ve opted to celebrate by releasing a fresh single. You can hear the echoes of a past rooted in psychedelic sounds, fiery guitar licks dancing in the corners as the rhythm provides a bit more immediacy and depth to their new track. You can feel the rawness and live spirit bleeding through too, which makes complete sense as this single accompanies news that the band are back at live performances, with a show schedule for later this month in Stockholm. Track brought to us courtesy of PNKSLM.

Club 8 Share Sucker Single

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Admittedly, woke up dragging ass today; it’s the post standardized test blues all teachers get after forcing their students to take a meaningless exam. So, I need a pick me up and the springing notes from this fresh Club 8 track immediately did the trick. Both the rhythm and the guitars are off and running from the get-go, encouraging you to get just the slightest bit of a wiggle running through your body; if you give in, you’ll find that wiggle turns more into a full-blooded head-bob and toe-tap. The Swedish duo’s bread and butter is locking into that energy, then juxtaposing it with a bit of sugary sweetness, which you’ll certainly get when you hear the intermingling of the voices! Another hit!

Baula Share Santa Fe Single

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Swedish duo Baula popped into my listening rotation a few weeks back with the excellent “Mercury in Retrograde,” and now there’s another single to whet your appetite before they unleash Heavy Heart, No Tears. They’re an outfit that’s flirting with the darker underbelly of good pop songwriting; you can hear them flirting with melodic structures throughout this track, though it still has a smattering of noise. Growling guitars and thumping drum hits work in contrast to the sharp softness of the vocals; the chorus also utilizes a perfect set up before cymbals crash and guitar lines cut through the mix. Nice follow up, and I’m looking forward to the record, which drops on April 26th.

Red Sleeping Beauty Add Another Single

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Swedish pop outfit Red Sleeping Beauty have been working in 2024 with a single a month, and today, we can hear the latest installment in that project. This one is by far the shortest, though as Tony Molina fan, who am I to argue that you can’t capture the listener with brevity. You mostly get a light bit of strum and the warmth of vocals; then the tune gets a little percussion and a wash of twinkling synths, carefully finishing off this puzzle piece. An interesting plot twist to their work thus far in 2024, so we’ll check back in with them on May 1st!

Baula Share Parasite Single

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Baula popped up on my radar a few months ago with their single “Mercury in Retrograde,” and this new tune has them playing in familiar dark pop territory. There’s a forceful nature to this track, opening with this thunderous guitar line that carries massive power within it. They balance this dark brood with a serene vocal, carrying a bit of wistfulness that allows the song to reach for a perfect future amidst the cloudy background they’ve built up around it; their ability to balance the light and dark spots of their sound is what has made their songs so captivating. Their debut album Heavy Heart, No Tears will be out in April.

Red Sleeping Beauty Ask Is This Love

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Challenging themselves to write get out one song a month for the year, Red Sleeping Beauty have another pop ditty to slide into your rotation. A dancing little line jumps you right into the track, before being met by a quick wash of keys that cleanse your palate as the song slides into subtle disco pop. I love the fusion of the electronic elements with this jangling guitar line that hangs about in the distance; you tie it all together and you have this freeing moment of melody that should have you spinning about with your arms out wide like a helicopter, ready to take off into the weekend. Track comes courtesy of the band and Matinee Recordings.

Boy With Apple Return with Good For You

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Swedish outfit Boy with Apple have been on our radar for some time, and they slowly keep churning out these dreamy little singles to keep our attention. Their latest is completely blissed out, taking their ghostly tendencies and draping them atop these subtle little beats that move and unfurl throughout the mix. Honestly, the more I listen, the more it feels like the Sneaker Pimps turning into a dream pop band; there are the little club beats that provide a groove, yet they get wrapped up in the swirling atmospherics, giving more of a modern twist to the vibe. As always, the band’s work is brought to you by Varo Records.

Baula Share Mercury in Retrograde

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It’s Friday, and I feel like I needed a song that would be great for rolling the windows down and going for a drive, and this jam from Sweden’s Baula is absolutely perfect. It instantly hits you with this growling rhythm section, rushing you right into the song’s center, where the curtain’s pulled back to offer up a little sugary treat for you to devour. Swirling about, the vocals billow through your speakers, all the while the drums continue their thumping pulse from the background; you’re going to find yourself locked right into the groove, unable to pull away from the infectious nature they’ve captured…and ultimately, you’ll press play because nothing says “windows down” like this hit!

Club 8 Release Just Like Heaven

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Contrary to popular opinion, this new Club 8 track is not a Cure cover song, and in fact, doesn’t even seem close, aside from the song’s title. There’s something about the group that faintly reminds me of Raveonettes, using a similar adherence to a simplistic formula; the rhythm section is tight and buoyant, but never out of pocket. This allows the group to focus on the pop sensibility, whether that comes via the sharp guitar notes or the coolness of the vocal delivery. This is their second single recently, so let’s hope we’re getting more classic pop vibes from the Swedish outfit in the new future, and maybe even a nice little LP.

Boy With Apple Ready Debut LP

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A few years back, Sweden’s Boy with Apple were all the rage over here at ATH; they had several rad singles I wrote up, but then disappeared. Apparently, that was to hole up and finish up their debut LP, which we’ve got a peek into with this fresh single. A simplistic view on their style would be to offer the group up as some brand of dream pop, and I totally get that when listening to the guitar bits that wave across this tune. But, if you put your ear closer, or turn up your headphones, you can certainly hear an almost 90s earnestness to the vocal delivery, particularly when the chorus erupts into that ethereal pop pulse. It’s a really special moment, working really tightly with this trippy club beat that works the percussive element deep in the song’s shadows. Looking forward to hearing what their debut Lp sounds like; it drops via Varo Records on March 15th.

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