Club 8 has released their second video for a song off their eighth LP, Above the City, this time for closing track and lead single “Stop Taking My Time”. This video follows a somewhat disturbing one about animal cruelty for album opener “Kill Kill Kill”. Throughout, Above the City is a return to the more dance-worthy beats Johan Angergård and Karolina Komstedt have sprinkled throughout Club 8′s 18-year career. (more…)

Lars Bygdén is a singer/songwriter from Sweden; that’s to say, he’s an artist who creates haunting folk melodies fronted by strong vocals that seem to echo through the darkness. His latest release – his third under his own name – is simply called LB and the opening track, “The Hole”, recently received very stunning video treatment. (more…)

I admit, I freak out a bit each time I hear of a new undertaking by Johan Angergård – anything by Acid House Kings, The Legends and/or Club 8. The last on the list is Angergård’s project with Karolina Komstedt, who takes lead on vocals; and they’re back with their eighth studio LP, Above the City. The lead single is “Stop Taking My Time” and it reverts back to the band’s earlier days with heavier electro-beats and catchy vocals. (more…)

Everybody is freaking out about The Knife‘s forthcoming LP, Shaking The Habitual and it all makes perfect sense. Silent Shout, their most recent LP, not only wooed countless people to the band, it topped many year-end lists. That was back in 2006, seven years ago. In fact, it was seven years and two days ago that Pitchfork gave that record a whopping 8.6. (more…)

From Suburban Kids with Biblical Names member Johan Hedberg comes a fun new Christmas song “Some Kind of Christmas”. True to SKWBN heritage, the song is a bit quirky in Hedberg’s vocal display as well as thematically and lyrically. The song, per Labrador Records, is about spending the Christmas alone, chasing open bars and someone to count the snowflakes with. (more…)

This video debuted early in November, but I felt compelled to write about it now given the song’s presence in tomorrow’s pre-recorded KSVR radio show (10pm PST). Kate Boy has entered the hype realm this month in part thanks to her song “Northern Lights” and its audible similarities to The Knife’s epic LP Silent Shout. (more…)

My copy of The Mary Onettes‘ limited (to 1000) pressing of Love Forever arrived today and I’ve been giving it a spin with my vintage mid-century modern record cabinet. Some records just seem to be naturals on a vintage player such as this, and The Mary Onettes is a prime example. Produced by Dan Lissvik, Love Forever boasts a departure from the band’s penchant for the 80s. (more…)

For me, Sweden has always been a favorite purveyor of great pop music. And there is no better provider of such things than Labrador Records. Their latest is a new double A-side single by orchestral pop outfit Sambassadeur, a lovely little band we’ve been fans of since their self-titled release in 2005. (more…)

OK, this is exciting news. After the reissue of another favorite artist a few years back (Carissa’s Wierd), whose catalog was long out of print, another favorite gets reissue treatment: Acid House Kings. (more…)

Big Pink Cake Records is set to release a new single by The Garlands called You Never Notice Me b/w Continue. What immediately struck me upon first listening to the A side track, “You Never Notice me”, is that The Garlands draw influence from select post C86 era indie pop and twee; artists like Tallulah Gosh and Heavenly. (more…)