The duo of Lindefelt and Fredrik have come a long way since their early work together under their indie pop guise of The Lovekevins. With two entirely too brief EPs, the band transformed into The LK again with Lindefelt at the helm. This was the duo’s first foray into noise-pop, and the single Private Life Of A Cat was our introduction to their new sound. That in itself would lead directly into the band’s first LP, Vs. The Snow. Up to, and including, that album, the …

Trilogy, the upcoming sophomore release by Sweden’s Fredrik, is quickly become the most anticipated release of 2010. A few months back we were graced with the excellent track “Locked In A Basement” and now they’ve given us the first video off the pending release, “Vinterbarn”.

When a new track or upcoming release is announced noting the master duo Fredrik and Lindefelt, be it their original project The LK (or known earlier as The Lovekevins) or the full group simply named Fredrik, the question is not whether they will deliver, it’s how much. Na Na Ni, to prove a point, was my #1 album of 2008. They return now with the upcoming sophomore release, Trilogi, once again to be released on The Kora Records.

Stricken City’s “Pull The House Down”, off their upcoming October 12 release Songs About People I Know, is poised to be one of fall’s hype tracks. With clever guitar riffs, enough cowbell to make Bruce Dickinson proud, and hefty synth lines, this London-based, female-fronted pop group is set to explode into international greatness.

Clouded in mystery is Donny Hue’s new track “Steps” off Free Sides. It is filled with pop sensibilities yet is shrouded in psychedelic production, giving the song and the band those added… err, colors. “Steps”, while pop-centric, is not necessarily a super upbeat song. It has echoing guitars masked with a lightly distorted reverb, and the percussion is consistent but downplayed. The vocals, on the other hand, are front and center: their prominence shines even when harmonies are not present. But perhaps the most telling sign that …

I’m becoming quite fond of The Kora Records. With only about a dozen releases under their belt, they’ve already established themselves as a powerfully unique label with an eye for great talent. They’ve released phenomenal records by The LK (bringing the Swedish duo over to the US release of their debut LP), a few by Meredith Bragg, and the amazing Gregor Samsa.

Were Isaac Brock to have been born with an extra X chromosome, thus lacking a Y, yet all else have been held as constants, Modest Mouse very well may have sounded like Pree, led by the masterful ex-Le Loup member May Tabol. Like her former group, Tabol’s music is filled with haunting folk melodies.

Written by Fense
So, I guess I better just come out and say it: Na Na Ni by Fredrik (MySpace), out in Sweden on Jezebel Recordings and in the states on The Kora Records, will be snagging the ultimate spot of Best Album of 2008. This should not be a surprise to you, as I’ve likely said it since receiving the LP in the mail many, many months ago. I imported the CD from Sweden. Well, today I just picked up the vinyl version, out in the states …

Written by Fense
This may be a stretch, but Mary Lorson’s vocals remind me of the softer side of Saint Etienne’s Sarah Cracknell. At times. They are pleasantly romantic and have that wonderful European sound. But The Piano Creeps are from New York. And their music quite different—it is always soft and fairly minimal.

Written by Fense
Here it is, the debut video by Swedish experimental pop masters Fredrik (MySpace), led by frontman Fredrik, also known as one half of the duo that is The LK (previously The Lovekevins). Fredrik is a bit fuller than the other project. Despite the singular name, Fredrik is actually a full-fledged group, featuring several members as opposed to The LK’s duo (also featuring Lindefelt, who appears here as well).