The Sven Gunnar Experience - Go go go

Wild blues-rock outta Sweden by way of Dear Euphoria's Sven Johansson and Fashionpolice Records. Album this fall?

Koko
K.O.
Fashionpolice

While you couldn't really say that Koko has a unique premise about it, you could quite comfortably declare that it sounds interesting -- an '80s pop elixir laced with electro tanginess and served up by the tongue of Dear Euphoria. Mmmm, tasty. The thing is that despite the potential here -- not least down to the unique and untouchable voice of Elina Johansson -- this debut full-length falls a good bit short of the mark in terms of retaining any initial interest. It just seems like second-rate, done-before, Swedish electropop that, while well enough executed, gets pretty tired pretty quickly. There's a thin air or pretension about "K.O." -- a feeling that a contrived effort to 'think outside the box' has been the main driving force of any kind of variation here. It's a shame, but at the end of the day -- whether contrived or authentic -- "K.O." just doesn't pack the punch it needs to render it essential.
- John Norby

Presenting: Swedish Music Landscape, the book

Preorder "Swedish Music Landscape", a new French-authored photobook on the Swedish indie music scene featuring pics and interviews with artists such as Frida Hyvönen, Dear Euphoria, Jens Lekman, Peter Bjorn and John, Kristofer Åström and lots more: http://www.microcultures.fr/swedishmusic

Dear Euphoria - Forbidden to beg

Dear Euphoria, one of my favorites from last year, is slowly working on their third album, but they want to give fans something to tide them over this holiday season. Hence this song, an unreleased track from 2009's "Heal my violence", available as a free download for a limited time.

Koko - Never listen

A second taste of the new Koko record, coming out in early 2012 via Fashionpolice Records. Once again, Koko is Emil Lundgren and Sven Johansson and Sven's bandmate Elina Johansson from Dear Euphoria contributes guest vocals. Recommended!

MP3: Koko - If I could win

Koko is a new act featuring Emil Lundgren and Sven Johansson and "If I could win" is the first sample of the duo's forthcoming album "K:O". Sven's bandmate Elina Johansson from Dear Euphoria contributes guest vocals here and elsewhere; likewise, Johan Ivansson (Tove Styrke, Erik Hassle) and other famous Stockholm-dwellers lend their talents to other tracks. More details will be revealed in time, meanwhile just enjoy this one song.

Koko - If I could win

Quarterly report: Q12011

Dear Euphoria - Coming down (video)

Essential viewing from Dear Euphoria, off of one of 2010's absolute best releases. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZg8aw_oRYY

I'm Kingfisher talks Arctic, performs live

I'm Kingfisher aka Thomas Denver Jonsson talks about his new album "Arctic" and performs the song "Feline funeral" live with help from Dear Euphoria. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yodce0-HHc

Top tens for 2010: It's a Trap!

Top tens for 2010: Thomas Denver Jonsson/I'm Kingfisher

Dear Euphoria - That you would (video)

Dear Euphoria's Elina Johansson tried her hand at amateur video creation using a slightly older tune and I think the results are pretty darn respectable for a DIY first-timer. The song, of course, is superb, so that alone warrants posting.

Dear Euphoria and Dalarna

Dear Euphoria reflects on Dalarna for the blog Swedish Music Landscapes, which is a great concept I must say: http://blogs.sweden.se/music/2010/10/15/the-dear-dalarna-of-dear-euphoria/

Sirius playlist week #35

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Bastard Priest - Power of death
02. TALK 1
03. Mindy Misty - Dead pan frenzy
04. Mother of the Forest - Kingdom
05. Säkert! - Fredrik
06. TALK 2
07. Pistol Disco - Pool
08. Obstacles - Rorschach
09. Radar - Paradigm shift
10. TALK 3
11. The Bear Quartet - Fist or hand
12. Niels Nielsen - Dpend
13. Adam Tensta - Young black boy
14. TALK 4
15. I'm Kingfisher - Willing night plants
16. Joel Alme - No class
17. Dear Euphoria - Coming down
18. The Genuine Fakes - When reality hits you
19. TALK 5
20. Brick - Call Batman

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #31

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Niels Nielsen - Dpend
02. TALK 1
03. Haleiwa - Pure vida dude
04. Óðmenn - Einn ég ræ
05. The Bear Quartet - Lovers goodbye
06. Night Minutes - Sweetheart at the funeral
07. TALK 2
08. A Swarm of the Sun - The worms are out
09. Logh - An alliance of hearts
10. Tomas Halberstad - I must be in love
11. TALK 3
12. Liechtenstein - On the tram
13. Scraps of Tape - Blindspot
14. Dear Euphoria - Coming down
15. Dyno - Emotional
16. TALK 4
17. Kvelertak - Ordsmedar av rang
18. The Social Services - Baltic Sea
19. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
20. TALK 5
21. Ted Gärdestad - Oh, vilken härlig dag

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.