Quiet Tune from Big Fox

It’s clear my listening habits have already turned towards colder climes, drawing inspiration from song’s that have this natural warmth, like the below track from Sweden’s Big Fox. This song’s so sparse that you can’t help but fall in love with the little details, even the simplest little syllabic changes. For instance, the rise in emotion after the 1 minute mark that culminates in the soft whisper of the line “it’s true;” those are the sort of moments my ears live for in works such as this. This is a powerful tune, with a moving story behind it; See How the Light Falls will be released by Hybris in March of 2020.

Nostalgic Pop from Black Beach Baby

Sweden’s Black Beach Baby only have a handful of releases to their name, but I’m hoping the nostalgic sound catches some of your ears. I think the guitars might be a slight bit soft in their presentation, which initially has that jangling pop turn that keeps your coming back for repeated spins. But, in the end, the dream quality of the vocals allows for listeners to latch onto a different emotional sentiment, ultimately keeping you around for even longer. This works in the band’s favor, as they unleash a marvelous chorus that definitely had me hoping I’d hear more real soon. Time will tell, so let’s just enjoy this ditty, shall we?

New Music from Steve Buscemi’s Dreamy Eyes

There’s a lot of incredible pop music coming out of Stockholm, but for me, Steve Buscemi’s Dreamy Eyes have been high upon my radar of rising stars. They’ve been popping up in the last few months with new tunes after taking a brief break from making magic; our sources have told us a full-length is lurking out there for 2020. This new tune’s full of bold pop sensibility; they toy with you almost the entire way through the track, building tension with these ringing guitars and soaring vocals. The song’s hook comes by way of the “ooh ooh oohoo” in the chorus; you’ll be hooked on the undeniably catchiness, I swear. This single’s available courtesy of Rama Lama Records.

Andronoids Share New Single

Andronoids are a fairly new act out of Sweden, and, for me, they’re sort of working both angles of my musical tastes. Structurally, the song has this energetic jangle that offered up energetic pop moments, particularly when the distortion is stripped clean. But, that’s also what I love, as the bounce only gets all the more fun when the track takes on the noisy distorted fuzz. There’s this whole carefree layer to the track that just makes you want to throw your hands in the air, say fuck it, and run off chasing the band down the street. So go on then.

Club 8 Return with New Music

It’s been just over a year since Club 8 released Golden Islands for Labrador, but amidst the release, they begin to work on a batch of songs they hoped would end up as a double album of sorts. We now get a first listen, and while it definitely plays into the hands of the band’s pop history, this furthers the band’s experimentation with its usage of space and lush arrangements. The vocals are so careful, you sort of get that sensation of weightlessness, feeling your body sort of release and float off into clouds…at least that’s what I hope it feels like…unless you’re Marge Dursley. For now, we wait for future news, but in this glorious fashion, lets just get ourselves lost.

Fresh Indiepop from Salt Lake Alley

I first caught wind of Salt Lake Alley when they dropped a 7″ over on Cloudberry Records about a year ago (also noting the Honeydrips lineage). They’re back with a brand new single, and I’m pretty sure it’ll make your Wednesday. It slinks in with this angular guitar stutter that opens into a more dreamy bounce, giving way for the vocals to swoop in and swoon, hanging the lines “you feel good/so do I” into thin air. Take a breath, and the guitars shuffle their dancing licks into the picture as the chorus forces your feet into flailing high kicks and a grin that’ll stain your face for hours to come. It’s energetic and poppy, with an underhanded charm that will have you coming back over and over again. You’re welcome.

Please to Meet You: Lilla Parasit

Perhaps the title is misleading, as I’ve definitely covered the various members of Lilla Parasite in some fashion or another, most recently with Are Steinsholm’s other band, Melby. But, this is a Swedish super-group of sorts, though they’re offering up a more folk-laden version of pop music than what I’ve grown accustomed to from the region. There’s this faint warble in the vocal, which I can’t tell if that’s due to singing in English, or if its merely the nature of the song, but distinctive voices always catch my ear. Musically, the band has this almost like glade majesty, as if you were a deer traipsing about in your favorite meadow as some minstrel fashioned a song for your journey. It’s a cool introduction to a band I hope you’ll enjoy.

Eggstone Return with Indiepop Gem

Eggstone have a history long-rooted in the history of Sweden’s underground pop scene, having risen to the top in the early 90s, not to mention the influence their own Tambourine Studios has had on the scene in Malmo. Here we have the band back with a new single for Danish label Crunchy Frog, and it’s got this youthful earnestness one might not expect for a band kicking on some 30 years down the road. While the song’s melody is solid, I’m digging on the bouncing of the organ and the swelling arrangements hanging in the distance. Fans of Shout Out Louds and that whole pop brand will definitely find something to love here.

HOLY Returns with Hot on the Heels of Love

Back in 2018, HOLY released All These Worlds Are Yours; it was this kaleidoscope of pop that seemed about as near as perfect as one was like to find. Now, the project is back with a brand new single, one that hopefully leads into an album at some point. This go round, it’s less an amalgam of pop influences, and more just straight pop songwriting, almost an homage to lounge singers. It most recently seems like something Jonathan Bree might offer up, being melodic and charming while also demonstrating a slight flare for fantastic. Hannes Ferm’s artistic touch is always stunning in my opinion, so fingers crossed for more real soon.

 

Hater Return with Four Tries Down

There are a lot of great pop bands out there at the moment, but I dare say there hasn’t been one as consistent and moving as Sweden’s Hater. They’ve just announced a new 7″, their first new music since last year’s Siesta. On first listen, I thought the opening two minutes were brilliant, using that sharp falling guitar line to contrast against the smokiness of the vocal delivery. But, then they offer up a little sonic exploration, releasing the tension just after the two minute mark, and I’ll admit, I was taken aback, surprised even. All of this to move towards a quiet close. The new 7″ will be out on Fire Records on September 6th with a few US dates to follow.

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