Sweden is the epicenter of pop perfection. This is a fact that will never change.

Case in point: Moto Boy, and his album released today, Lost in the Call.

Moto Boy’s mournful coos and falsetto cries are nothing if not captivating, at times evoking Morrissey‘s sad, solemn delivery (“When My Heart Was High”); at others a cross between a less theatrical Rufus Wainwright and a deeper voiced Jónsi Birgisson (“A Different Kind of Love”).

Recorded in Malmö, Sweden, the ten romantic, haunting numbers of Lost in the Call ache with lump-in-throat emotion, including the moving “If Only Your Bed Could Cry,” (which was originally released with Titiyo last year). At other times, the record bursts forth with jubilant defiance and hope, as with lead single “The Heart is a Rebel.”

“I wish that I could always feel the way I feel tonight,” the singer nearly whispers above the lush strings of the final track, “The Way I Feel Tonite,” a nearly instrumental closer that recalls the magic flowing through Björk‘s Vespertine.

Complete with sweeping, magestic melodies that bristle with a pop sensibility, Lost in the Call is a warm collection of sounds both entrancing and romantic. For the bright-eyed pop lovers and late night dreamers, this album is an absolute must.

To listen to the album in full, click here. You can also choose to buy the album in a number of formats at the official store.

Just a ‘lil freebie (I’mafreebitchbaby) for your morning!

Before you get too excited, control yourself–”Drunken Gnome” is not an ode to Nicole “Snookums” Polizzi. (Although I wish it were, I guess I’ll just have to keep dreaming about my fantasy release, The Snook Monster. A boy can dream.)

What “Drunken Gnome” is, however, is a gorgeous album track off of Swedish chanteuse Titiyo‘s Hidden, her fifth LP released worldwide toward the tail-end of 2009.

This is a completely free Christmas present courtesy of her label, Despotz Records.

Enjoy, Muusers!

DL: Titiyo – Drunken Gnome

Here comes “If Only Your Bed Could Cry,” yet another brilliant track off of Swedish delight Titiyo‘s album, Hidden, which will be released in Europe later this fall and the US in 2010.

Who knew the trials and tribulations of being a bell boy could have such emotionally draining effects? Then again, if everyone was walking around in Fever Ray-esque masks and making out in my elevator, I wouldn’t be too pleased either.

As with “Awakening” and “Crystal Clear Mud” before, “If Only” is a mercilessly haunting song, as though written with late night reflections and early morning regrets specifically in mind.

Oh, and I knew Moto Boy sounded familiar–I did a post about his work almost two years ago! My, how blog time flies. He’s still great!

Ready for another selection from Titiyo‘s new album?

This is “Crystal Clear Mud,” a MASSIVE new track off of the singer’s upcoming release, Hidden. Much as with “Awakening,” the new track is mysterious, complimented by a slow, mourning chant of “Falling on a bruise, then fade away” similar to the Eurythemics‘ “Here Comes the Rain Again.” Building on top of a ghostly atmosphere, the song splinters into a harder, more industrial punch in the last minute–a gorgeous final touch.

Chances are, if you’re into Fever Ray, Portishead, M83, or any and all Swedish pop like myself, you’re going to taking a liking to this one.

DL: Titiyo – Crystal Clear Mud

Titiyo’s upcoming album, Hidden, will be released later this week on Friday (October 16) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Benelux, and on November 9 in the UK.

And now for something similar…

Hot off the heels of the MuuMuse interview with Kleerup comes “Awakening,” the first single off of Titiyo‘s upcoming fifth studio album, Hidden, which should see release sometime between October and November in Europe (and possibly North America as well).

Far darker than her turn on Kleerup’s “Longing for Lullabies,” “Awakening” finds Titiyo’s breathy vocals in a sea of lush strings, tambourines, and dark, throbbing synthesizers. The result? Farther from “sad disco,” the song is something of a crossbred, deep house reinterpretation of Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush.

You’ll also want to check out the video above, which is all sorts of weird and fantastical. (It’s also been uploaded in February, so I suppose the single isn’t quite as new as I figured!) Anyway, think Bat for Lashes meets a slight moment of Hocus Pocus for the concept. In other words, it’s a damn good time.

Hear more from Titiyo on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking on the phone with Swedish producer Kleerup while on the set of his new film. Instead of the traditional Q&A route, I’ve opted to put together something a bit…classier: A full-length article. Please read on, and I hope you enjoy!
Read the article…

Much as with Robyn–one of many featured collaborators on his debut–Kleerup has spent the past year or two toting his record around international waters.

In May of 2008, Kleerup was released in Sweden. One month ago, it made its way to the UK. Now, on July 28, Kleerup’s arrived in America. Since I never got around to (read: was too lazy to) review the album when it launched in the UK earlier this year, the US release has provided a key opportunity (read: kick in the ass to get going.)

Kleerup is one massive collaborative effort; tied together with warm bass pulsations, hollow Kleerup-ian synth lines, a handful of guest spots, and loads and loads of my favorite style of sound–a sub-genre some fans have lovingly dubbed as “sad disco.”

After the pace-setting drive of opening instrumental “Hero,” Lykke Li‘s “Until We Bleed” floods the speakers with a kind of tender, drippy ghostliness that begs to be repeatedly blasted on high.

Of course there’s also “With Every Heartbeat,” the massively successful collaboration with Robyn that hit #1 in the UK in 2007 and proved that dance music didn’t have to be simple to be appreciated by the masses. In fact, “Heartbeat” is complex; building up steadily across waves of synthesizers until finally reaching that long-awaited, breathless utterance three minutes in: “And it hurts with every heartbeat,” repeated eight more times until the slow fade away. If that isn’t the definition of an aural orgasm, I don’t know what is.

Another highlight (and subject of a recent post) is the Titiyo-led “Longing For Lullabies,” perhaps the album’s greatest embodiment of the term ‘sad disco.’ Lush, haunting, and mostly all other adjectives in between, “Lullabies” is a smashing musical and vocal accomplishment for both artists.

Nestled between each vocal track on the album is an instrumental. Yet far from the “action-interlude-action” structure one might expect an album of that nature to provide, the non-vocal work proves just as captivating as the meatier portions of the album–which is no minor feat.

Choice instrumentals include the eternally haunting closer “I Just Want To Make That Sad Boy Smile” and the dub-like “Thank You For Nothing,” though the latter’s excellence is due in large part to its nearly palpable bitterness: The song, which was initially used as the backing track for a stunning number called “Lay Me Down” Cyndi Lauper‘s 2008 album Bring Ya To The Brink, is rumored to be titled “Thank You For Nothing” after Lauper (or perhaps her management) refused to release her own version for inclusion on his album. Ouch!

Further on, the album trudges on both merrily and mournfully. I don’t know if anyone else adored Linda Sundblad‘s strange, quirk-tastic solo album back in 2006, but hearing her on the hypnotic “History” made me truly yearn for more. Linda, return to us!

Kleerup’s production style is distinct and unmistakable, which could be interpreted as a critique, but shouldn’t: It’s fresh, innovative, and lacks any obvious ‘modern’ production techniques that plague most major dance acts today. A year later, Kleerup remains as ethereal and exciting as it did in 2008; proof that excellence and sophistication can still be concocted for the dance floor.

Click below to preview and purchase Kleerup.

Two weeks from today, June 1, will see the UK release of Kleerup‘s self-titled debut. Originally released in Sweden back in May ’08, the much cherished, mostly under-appreciated album features many a hit, including Robyn‘s “With Every Heartbeat,” as well as one of the finest aural displays of sad disco in recent time, “Longing For Lullabies” featuring Titiyo (originally reviewed at MuuMuse a year ago!)

Well, it’s back–and with a mournful vengeance. “Longing For Lullabies” was officially released TODAY, May 18, in the United Kingdom with a whole slew of fancy throbbin’ remixes. So hey, if you’re still willing to cry out on the dancefloor, why not grab another Kleenex with Kleerup?

Enjoy the Joakim mix of the track, featuring a slightly uplifting splattering of synths. Still sad, but instead of braving the rainstorm, it’s most like the ray of sunlight working its way through the wet streets. Got that?

DL: Kleerup – Longing For Lullabies ft. Titiyo (Joakim Remix)

Click here to stream the “Longing For Lullabies” remixes.

Click below to preview & purchase the “Longing For Lullabies” remixes!