I’m not much one for putting together a news item. I prefer writing features and reviews than pushing out the latest bit of news, but with a few new signings from Sub Pop, I figured I’d do a one-part introductory list, one-part news bit. Yes, in the last week or so, Sub Pop has signed a few new bands. They are as follows: Niki And The Dove, Still Corners, and Memoryhouse. All three write hauntingly beautiful songs, some of which you can hear/see below.

I still find it astonishing that the 90s were more than a decade ago. That would also mean that Pillow, this little-known Swedish group, met its demise in the early days of the Internet. Unfortunately, that means there is very little about this band available, and with a name simple and commonplace in terminology — well that makes it even more difficult. What one can gather is that this band existed in the 90s, staring in 1995. They recorded a bit, but most never received an …

Acid House Kings is back next month with a new album, their first in about six years. As the previous, Sing Along With The Acid House Kings, has been a favorite of mine since its release, their new one is easily my most anticipated album of 2011. Last weekend, I pre-ordered Music Sounds Better With You on vinyl; the anticipation continues. Thankfully, Acid House Kings have given us another song to bide the time. The song is “Would You Say Stop?” and it will be released …

Death And Vanilla came to my attention early last year after they put out a digital single on Beko Records. What was once a free EP now has a solid release under the newly formed Hands In The Dark Records. Dreamy and psychedelic at its core, Death And Vanilla’s pop also borders on electronic.

Not too long ago, I posted a list of great videos and on that list was one for “Shyness” by Thieves Like Us. This is notable not only because Summer Camp‘s “Round The Moon” fits nicely beside that band’s critically acclaimed tune, but also because they sampled the same video footage in the creation of these videos. Summer Camp released their Young EP a few months back on Moshi Moshi and it hints of moody European music from the early 80s with plenty of synth and electronics and …

When Museum of Bellas Artes covered “Who Do You Love” by Sapphires earlier in the year, the song quickly became a favorite. The band is back with some original tunes, all fitting a relaxed, laid-back electronic sound. It reminds me, at times, of Saint Etienne — but only at times. The band’s new EP is called Days Ahead and it features four excellent tunes, one of which can be seen in video form below.

Buried deep in my inbox was this video for “I’m So Happy” by The Mare. It’s a super upbeat, wildly fun indie pop song from, yes, another great Swedish band. The video features plenty of dancing, a stuffed giraffe, and great colors. The song’s title is perfect; not only does the band continuously repeat the words I’m so happy, it’s also super infectious. Complacency or foul mood? This song is your antidote.

Swedish fuzzed out dream pop group The Radio Dept. returns with a new EP called Never Follow Suit. Featuring lead title track “Never Follow Suit” continues what the band has been doing of late, melding together traits of dream pop, electro-pop and fuzz pop. “Never Follow Suit” is off the band’s recent LP, Clinging To A Scheme. Both are now available via Labrador Records on iTunes.

Of Johan Angergård’s three bands, only Acid House Kings stays fixed within its prior works’ roots. This band has always created lovable pop music and that hasn’t changed one bit in their first single in five to six years, “Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends?”

Consistent in experimentation, exploring the outer reaches of dream pop is Swedish trio Fredrik. On their most recent release, Origami, the band continues what they created with LP Na Na Ni and EP trio Trilogi. They create a sound both wonderful and peaceful, but with an underlying eerie-ness that makes their music unique and refreshing.
Fredrik has always used music to build structure around a fantasy world, and as they continue to give us new material, the dream-lands within their collective minds become slightly more vivid. …