A word of warning: when doing a post on the Swedish band Nude Party and searching for a photo of the band make sure you have safe search activated…just saying. Warning number two: if you’re feeling cynical or lousy this band may not be your cup of tea. Although their music, equal parts punk and electropop, will certainly raise your spirits if not your heart rate.

I like the song “Little Kennedy” from their latest EP Ingratitude Is The World’s Reward. Pick up the new ep from this Malmö based band here.

Little Kennedy

It’s been awhile since there’s been any Swedish hip hop on here. And we’ve never featured a female rap group. Anaye is a rap duo consisting of MayDar & Beastie from Stockholm. You’ll hear bits and pieces of other performers (MIA, Robyn) on the songs from their debut Pu$$y Palace. Here’s the title track and the anthem for these girls…

Get the new ep here for practically nothing.

Anaye

Tim Schmidt, the Sweden born now Berlin based singer songwriter, will be releasing a new album this spring. From the sound of this record he’s back with the gentle folk songs and exquisite fingerpicked acoustic guitar that he is known for. I’m afraid I don’t have a download but I do have this stream of the gorgeous new song “Everything’s Gonna To Be OK” from the upcoming album Tinar.

There has been such a shortage of great indie pop, twee or whatever you call it. Sweden used to be the goto country for cute but now I’m not so sure. Luckily we have veterans of the scene like Lisa Bouvier to keep it going. Here’s her new song “Every Year Til We Die”.

Every Year Until We Die

And a video for the song with footage from indietracks

Experimental Swedish music is often loud, drone-y and inaccessible. I guess for some that’s the point but the experimental folk group Moustad attempts to add a little harmony to it’s madness. And madness it is – though often bubbling under the surface. There are found sounds, odd synths and vocals that are absurd in both sound and meaning.

To sum up — I love it. The bands new record Equestrian Vaulting is out now on Fixe Records here.

Skugga

What do you get when you cross a Canadian with two Swedes. I don’t have a punchline — that’s what really happened with the band That Hillbilly Palace. The band has just released their debut EP. On it you get a somber blend of indie folk and eerie instrumentation. The new ep is called The Tellers and features song sung in English and French. Here’s a French number called “Fevier”.

Fevrier

Alright with all that said here is a groovy little instrumental track from the Stockholm based band VHS Tapes from their EP Matsuri Sessions. There is literally no information about this band online – so enjoy this unencumbered by press releases, band photos, and raised expectations

Sea Bears

PS If you are out there Michael, thanks for reading the past 7 years and don’t give up on me just yet.

Well this is about the best thing I’ve heard in a minute. Volcano are a three piece from Sweden featuring two strong female presences. And a dude on drums. Think Ramones meets the Pixies and the Throwing Muses. The music on the new EP Me Me Me is angular with sharp edges and strong vocals. “Got To Go” is a perfect example of the band with it’s anthemic chorus and power grrrl lyrics. Buy the new ep here.

Got To Go

“Seasick” by the Swedish band With A Light Heart is one of those epic indie folk songs that I love but just don’t hear very much anymore. The band recorded it’s new EP in a loft and in a church in Bua, a small village on the west coast of Sweden. The seaside setting is evidence in a number of the songs and aside from epic indie folk songs I also love songs with a Nautical theme.

Seasick

I suppose David Zimmerman could turn out to be just another nameless faceless “soundcloud” amateur with too much time on his hands and not a speck of talent or followthrough but for some reason I think he may be something more. His record Y/H is eclectic and unpredictable. Sounds a bit like Duran Duran meeting the Lounge Lizards at a dubstep rehab center. Songs meander and at times get lost but the chances he takes are worth the occasional detour.

The Empire of Flora