Erik Hassle hasn’t had much luck breaking into the international music market outside of his homeland.

Despite being met with warm reception in Sweden for his 2009 debut Hassle (which soared to #2 on the Swedish Albums Chart), the singer failed to make further waves internationally with the release of both his debut UK single “Hurtful” (which stalled at #57 on the UK Singles Chart) and his debut’s 2010 repackaging, Pieces (which failed to chart).

With “Are You Leaving” however, the lead single from his upcoming mini-album Mariefried Sessions, the Swede-pop singer might have just hit his stride enough to break out on a worldwide level.

“Are You Leaving” is, as MuuMuse contributor first Sam Lansky described it to me, very much the male version of Robyn‘s quintessential “Dancing On My Own”: Heartbreak lyrics; disco beat. It’s the classic definition of “sad disco” as only a Swede-born could craft, rich with nostalgic reflections and hard-hitting synthesizers.

But upon further listening I’m hearing even more references–including a touch of early-’90′s heartbreak alt-rock within the chorus a la R.E.M. (“Losing My Religion” comes to mind, more specifically.) Two incredible songs to reference, no?

In either case, Hassle’s latest provides beats that’ll produce both a lump in your throat and a pep in your step. Completely and utterly MuuMuse Approved–I hope you love it too!

“Are You Leaving?” was released in Sweden on February 16. Mariefried Sessions will be released on March 23. (iTunes)

Photo courtesy of SPIN.

Madonna‘s making a serious comeback these days…and she’s not even the one making the music.

After Christina Aguilera‘s (critically panned) homage to “Express Yourself” with the video for “Not Myself Tonight”, and the current brouhaha surrounding Lady Gaga‘s “Born This Way” and its not-so-subtle references to “Express Yourself” and “Vogue,” there’s never been more early ’90′s Madonna permeating the pop scene than in this moment. (Well, except for when she was actually living it.)

Now comes the video premiere for Gossip front-woman Beth Ditto‘s “I Wrote The Book”–one of the four tracks from her upcoming Simian Mobile Disco-produced solo EP.

In an unabashed nod to Madonna’s “Justify My Love,” Ditto finds herself wearily drifting down an empty hotel corridor, luggage in tow, in the opening moments of the brand new clip.

Throw in the ballroom dance of “Vogue” (WORK!), the bed sequences from Truth or Dare, and all the light, mood and shadow of the entire Erotica era (down to the very font!), and BINGO: You’ve got yourself a proper Madonna homage.

This is, hands down, the best celebration of the Queen yet. I love, love, LOVE everything about this!

The Beth Ditto EP will be released on March 8.

On the fourteenth (and final) day of Britmas, my true love gave to me…

AN EVIL CYBER NINJA OR SOMETHING.

I don’t even know. But between this latest teaser and the 30 second clip from yesterday, it’s evident that we’ve still got a lot more to find out during the video premiere: What’s with the microphone wreath? And the Matrix-y TV chamber? And the fight scene with two Britneys? And how come that pretty white dress has paint all over it?

EDIT: And now, a brand new preview from Access Hollywood.

DANCENEY’S BACK!

There’s less than 10 hours remaining until the video premiere of “Hold It Against Me.” Can you handle it?

Fact: Every man, woman, and child in Sweden will, at one point, create amazing pop music.

Admittedly, I just made that up. But really, the Scandinavian nation of less than 10 million people has produced a spectacular density of brilliant, heart-wrenching, lighters-aloft pop that puts the rest of the globe to shame.

In this new series, Amazing Things I’m Listening to From Sweden, I’ll be discussing the best music Sweden has to offer right now, and explaining why it’s better than your faves.

Lisa Miskovsky – Lover

My only familiarity with Lisa Miskovsky was as the artist behind some fairly snooze-worthy MOR pop-rock, which makes “Lover,” off her recent album Violent Sky, a marked departure. Produced by Björn Yttling (of Peter, Björn and John fame, as well as production work for Robyn), “Lover” is a dark and bombastic slice of hands-in-the-air pop with an infectious singalong gospel-inspired chorus. If the melody evokes a ’60s girl group, the production is all malevolent robotic doom pop. Strange, modern, and totally addictive.

Vincent – Baby Hurricane

Vincent Pontare had a string of minor hits back in 2007, including the very catchy “Miss Blue,” but to me, he was best known as the boyfriend of Agnes Carlsson (which is certainly a good sign). “Baby Hurricane” continues the retro swing indicated by his earlier work, but more invigoratingly, breathlessly, and winsomely; it’s a spunky, feel-good track that simply demands some jazzy choreography.

Icona Pop – Manners

I’m late to the party on this one — “Manners” was included on November’s Kitsune Maison compilation — but it deserves another mention, if not only because Icona Pop will be playing with MuuMuse fave Oh Land at the Neon Gold event Popshop in NYC on March 3. Neon Gold memorably described Icona Pop as the perfect lovechild of Passion Pit and Robyn, and I’d have to agree — “Manners” is bubbly, twinkly, and appealingly weird. I’m gunning for some big dance remixes.

Sophia Somajo – Wristcutters Inc.

Sophia Somajo’s grossly underrated 2008 album, The Laptop Diaries, was the perfect stop-gap for a year without any releases from Robyn: Glitchy, twee-but-not-precious electro-pop (check out the lovely single “Warm Blooded Murder” for more). Her latest single, “Wristcutters Inc.,” is an even more likable effort from the Stockholm native, with unexpected Asian influences and a subversive message about the suicidally inclined. (“Wristcutters incorporated, throw your hands up in the air and wave ‘em like you just don’t care!”)

Her forthcoming LP, Cinema Beijing, should only produce more great things. After all, Somajo did help write the Max Martin track “Time Machine” off Robyn’s Body Talk — and that’s quite a resume.

Rebecca and Fiona – Bullets

I had their first single, “Luminary Ones,” on heavy rotation all winter, but “Bullets” might be my favorite song of right now. I played the club edit of this track by rising Swedish popsters Rebecca and Fiona when I DJed last week and even the snarliest hipsters were dancing like they just couldn’t help themselves.

“Bullets” was helmed by Adrian Lux, whose “Teenage Crime” remains eminently listenable, and the two tracks aren’t dissimilar: Both feature haunting, processed vocals and trance production that make them perfect for the club.

Helena Paparizou, the Greek-Swedish chanteuse who first rocketed to fame after winning Eurovision in 2005, is about to release a new single that’s definitely worth some attention: “Baby It’s Over.”

The Auto-Tune happy, synth-pop heavy smash starts off like any other radio-friendly pop song of the moment, utilizing a synth pattern and chord progression blatantly lifted from Usher‘s Max Martin-produced “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love.”

The greatness truly begins at the :50 mark, when the track takes on an infectious, almost playful electronica beat that merrily tinkers along until the chorus, where the song suddenly nosedives deep into rave-ready territory: “I can’t take it, please don’t make me wait / It’s over / Baby, it’s over!” Paparizou cries out, instantly transforming into a proper disco diva.

Paparizou now seems to be in full swing to promote the track, having performed the track on both Greek X Factor and the fashion show, Mad Walk (along with an incredible cover of En Vogue‘s “Free Your Mind”!)

“Baby It’s Over” is the lead single from Paparizou’s upcoming greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits & More, which is due to be released in late March. (iTunes)

Thanks to Muuser Calen C. for the find!

I CAN’T. I CAN’T. I CAN’T. COFFIN.

MTV just posted a 30-second teaser of the video for “Hold It Against Me.”

SHAKING/CRYING/VOMMING/CLIMAXING/CRYING/SHAKING/DEAD.

BOW DOWN AND BEHOLD THE GREATNESS OF THE LEGENDARY MISS BRITNEY SPEARS.

2011: YEAR OF THE SPEARS.

STOP YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

Paris Hilton is officially releasing a second album!

According to a news item posted on Billboard.com, the most famous-for-being-famous person in the world revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that the follow-up to her 2006 debut will be released “in the next few months.”

From the article:

Paris Hilton says her new album will be released “in the next few months.”

The reality star, who also has a show for Oxygen debuting in the spring, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter over the weekend at Usher’s pre-Grammy party at Avalon in Hollywood. She is keeping mum on the details of the album, telling THR that she wants to keep her collaborators and producers “a surprise.”

The album will likely drop around the same time as the premiere of her upcoming reality show, The World According to Paris, which will premiere on the Oxygen Network in the spring.

Paris Hilton’s 2006 debut is, objectively speaking, an amazing pop album.

So while we wait to hear the new tunes, let us now remember true greatness with “Nothing In This World”:

STILL THE BEST YEAR OF POP EVARRRR.