There must be something in that icy water that they drink, as Scandinavians seem to have a particularly keen ear for melody and harmony.

Sweden, in particular, has given birth to a number of great popular music acts recently: Robyn, The Knife, Peter Bjorn & John, The Concretes, and Andreas Kleerup.

Kleerup was half of the act responsible for the UK number 1 hit single, "With Every Heartbeat". The other half was, of course, the feisty asymetrically fringed Robyn. His melancholic electro-pop framed Robyn's ballad about break-up perfectly and secured it as one of the UK's most prolific pop moments.

As they wrote the song together they agreed to call it 'Robyn with Kleerup' on her album and 'Kleerup with Robyn' on his album. He is already a massive star in his native home having won no less than three awards Best Newcomer, Best Composer and Best Producer at Sweden's 2009 Grammis music awards recently (the equivalent of our Grammys).

Ok, so he's huge back home, is friends with Robyn and has had a number one single in the UK. So what, you may ask. Well this bearded lothario with grungy locks is about to embark on an assault of the US with his own self-titled album.

Kleerup features collaborations with Lykke Li, Marit Bergman, Titiyo (Neneh Cherry's younger sister) and of course includes his hit collaboration with Robyn.

Kleerup's songs are a mixture of his familiar formula of electronica and Swedish female vocal. Good thing this is a formula with proven results as each one is pure electro-pop perfection. The lead single with Titiyo, "Longing For Lullabies" encapsulates his warm and melancholic sound flawlessly.

On the emotive "Until We Bleed", Kleerup draws a surprisingly warm performance from the blog friendly Lykke Li.

Then there are the songs when Andreas himself steps up to the mic. The jolly "On My Own" has echoes of electro-pop classic Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", while on "Misery" he beefs up the drums and goes all Depeche Mode on us. But that's not the full story. Tracks such as "Hero", "Thank You For Nothing", "Tower of Trellick" and "Iris" showcase Kleerup's different shades. Taking in Kraftweft-esque rhythms via Vangelis inspired soundscapes, they work flawlessly tying the album together.

So there you have it, a skillfully constructed and solid debut that should firmly establish Kleerup as an act to be reckoned with.

Buy Music:

Kleerup on amazon.com

Kleerup on amazon.co.uk

Out July 28, 2009 on Astralwerks

Currently, you can hear the album on MySpace!

More On Kleerup:

Kleerup Official Website
MySpace
Kleerup on Twitter

Norway’s Hove Festival is proud to announce Lykke Li as one of the latest additions to this year's ever growing festival programme. The Swedish super star has had major success both at home in Scandinavia, in Europe and the USA, where she has been touring solidly for the last six months.

The festival, held on the southern island of Tromøya in Norway is one of the few performances Lykke Li will be doing this summer. She will be joining The Killers, Faith No More, The Prodigy, Slipknot, Q Tip, Jadakiss, Franz Ferdinand and many many more!

22nd - 25th of June 2009

Spokesperson for Hove Festival, Gaute Drevdal, is delighted that Lykke Li will visit Hove and play at the atmospheric Amphitheatre. “Lykke Li has over the last few years established herself as an international artist, and we feel she complements our program very well", he says.

Lykke Li is originally from Skåne in Sweden but grew up with her artistic parents in such diverse places as, Lisbon, Morocco, Nepal and India. She started her career as a dancer on Swedish TV and released her debut album on a small Swedish label in early 2008. Since then she has, slowly but surely, built up a great number of international fans, with plenty of support from many of the most popular music blogs, websites and publications around the world.

Lykke Li Official Website
Lykke Li Myspace

For Hove Festival line-up and more information, go to:

Hove Festival Official Website
Hove Festival on Twitter

Lykke Li has released the music video for "Little Bit" - amazing.

There's also the video for "I'm Good, I'm Gone" - wow.

The newest of Lykke Li's videos to blow you away is for her new single, "Breaking It Up"!

Watch "Breaking It Up" video:

For this music video, Lykke Li teams up with director Sarah Chatman. Having already worked with Lily Allen, Noisettes, and Yves Saint Laurent, it is clear that Sarah Chatman is no stranger to sexy and cool. The video for "Breaking It Up" shows that and takes it to another level.

Don't forget to pick up your copy of 'Youth Novels', in US stores and online August 19th, 2008!!

Shows are selling out fast - be sure to get your Lykke Li tickets now. You will not want to be left out!

Lykke Li 2008 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

08.25.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe (SOLD OUT)
08.28.08 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge (SOLD OUT)
10.19.08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
10.23.08 - Boston, MA - Paradise
10.24.08 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
10.25.08 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
10.28.08 - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards
10.29.08 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
10.30.08 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
11.01.08 - San Francisco, CA - Independent
11.03.08 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey

For more information on Lykke Li, please visit:

MySpace
Lykke Li Official Website

Already garnering much critical acclaim from all over the world, Lykke Li's debut EP 'Little Bit' hit North American retail shelves this week.

Read what people are saying about Lykke Li:

"On a ye-ye-influenced pop-noir track, our favorite new Swedish Sienna Miller look-alike (a South by Southwest breakout) delivers her English lyrics with adorable ESL flair. We Lykke." - Rolling Stone

"'Little Bit' is so gloriously coquettish that if, by some fluke, it ends up not being massive, we're going to come round and crap through all your letterboxes. Consider this a warning." - NME

Lykke Li download: "Dance Dance Dance" MP3

Brand Spanking New Widget

Show your support for Lykke Li by embedding the brand new Lykke Li and El Perro Del Mar widget on your blog or website (it also works on social network profiles). It has music, videos, pictures, biographies, tour dates, and more.

An Evening with El Perro Del Mar & Lykke Li with special guest Anna Ternheim has kicked off.

Make sure you don't sleep on the tour that everybody is talking about!

May 2008 Tour dates:

May 7 - Joe's Pub - New York, NY
May 8 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
May 9 - Middle East - Boston, MA
May 10 - Lambi - Montreal, QUE
May 11 - Mod Club - Toronto, ON
May 12 - Schubas - Chicago, IL
May 14 - The Red Room - Vancouver, BC
May 15 - Triple Door - Seattle, WA
May 16 - Doug Fir - Portland, OR
May 18 - Bimbo's - San Francisco, CA
May 19 - El Rey - Los Angeles, CA

Lykke Li - Little Bit [EP] on amazon.com

Little Bit on amazon.co.uk

For more information, please visit:

Lykke Li Official Website
Lykke Li Myspace

El Perro Del Mar Official Website
El Perro Del Mar Myspace

Critically praised Swedish artist El Perro Del Mar is back with her sophomore LP 'From The Valley To The Stars', set for North American release on April 22, 2008 by The Control Group. The single "Glory To The World" is available now on iTunes.

Sarah Assbring, the sole member behind El Perro Del Mar, began working on 'From The Valley To The Stars' during the spring and summer of 2007. The recordings were done in her own studio in Gothenburg.

Sarah explains that she "tried to let the recording process be as free and organic as possible. Many takes are first ones. In contrary to my first album which generally was guitar oriented, I mostly play the piano or organ on this one. I myself have been in charge of all recording, production and mixing."

Having already released an LP and several EP's, Sarah focussed on making 'From The Valley To The Stars' "something that in its character might appear more like a hymn or a psalm but in a pop costume." However, this is not to take away anything from her beautiful voice and music.

Download "Glory To The World" MP3

In addition to the April 22nd North American release of 'From The Valley To The Stars', El Perro Del Mar will be touring North America with Lykke Li and Anna Ternheim starting in early May.

El Perro Del Mar 2008 North American tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to El Perro del Mar's Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

May 6 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
May 7 - Joe's Pub - New York, NY
May 8 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
May 9 - Middle East - Boston, MA
May 10 - Lambi - Montreal, Quebec
May 11 - Mod Club - Toronto, Ontario
May 12 - Schuba's - Chicago, IL
May 14 - Red Room - Vancouver, British Columbia
May 15 - Triple Door - Seattle, WA
May 16 - Dough Fir - Portland, OR
May 18 - Bimbo's - San Francisco, CA
May 19 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

Photo credit (top): Johanna Hedborg

El Perro Del Mar - From the Valley to the Stars on amazon.co.uk

El Perro Del Mar on Myspace
El Perro Del Mar