West Sweden

The whole idea for this blog started almost six months ago from the notion that Sweden has so many amazing bands and only a fraction of them are known outside the country. My first post on Sweden is on West Sweden, one of the eight National areas of Sweden. The biggest city in this area, and one of the most active cities in Swedish music is Gothenburg. The artistic range is broad. There is everything from electro, to folk, to indie rock and ambient. Sweden is also known for its metal music, but since I'm not a fan of that genre, I decided to leave bands in that genre out. What strikes me in this list, is that there doesn't seem to be a distinctive Gothenburg sound. All the artists are really different, but still amazingly good. Here's the playlist: West Sweden

José Gonzales
This name obviously does not sound very Swedish. Gonzales' parents moved to Sweden from Argentina in the 70's. His music has definitely some influences from Latin American music. The nylon string acoustic guitar and soft and hypnotic singing voice are completely unique.

Junip
Above mentioned José Gonzales' band. His distinctive singing voice and guitar are present here, but in addition, there are hypnotic and more upbeat organs and drums. Junip is extremely hypnotic music wit rolling melodies twined in one or two chords.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives
This is one of the best traditional rock bands of all times. There are some psychedelic elements, but mostly it's just melodic rock music with amazingly talented musicians, great vocal harmonies and witty lyrics. This is one of my all time favourite bands and especially Behind the Music is one of the best albums ever made.

Broder Daniel
Larger audiences were introduced to this emo indie rock band in Lukas Moodysson's film Show me Love (Fucking Åmål). The melodies are dark and extremely melancholic. The sounds are a bit lo-fi, which just adds authenticity to this great music.The first two albums are my favourites.

The Elliots
This indie pop/rock band gets their sound from English pop-music history. The melodies are quite melancholic as they should be, while we're in the Nordic Countries. There are beautiful pianos, strings and clear guitars. the melodies are catchy and rememberable.

Jens Lekman
Jens Lekman's music is filled with electric guitars using various samples and sounds. The music itself draws influences from 60's art rock bands such as the Village Underground. Extremely classy stuff, without the overly produced sound normally found in this line of music.

Sally Shapiro
Sally Shapiro is a pseudonym of a Gothenburg duo playing great synth pop with catchy melodies. The production like this proofs once again that Sweden is a top country in music production. Despite of heavy synth and electronic sounds, there are some authentic instruments in there.

The Plan
The Plan is quite typical indie-pop band in the style of Teenage Fanclub. Beautiful and catchy melodies, rising choruses and great trembling vocals. Foremost, I can hear the band effort. Musicians playing effortlessly together.

Timo Räisänen
This name is extremely Finnish. There is still not much Finnishness in this artist. His father was born in Finland but was raised in Brazil and his mother is Anglo-Indian. Räisänen's music is catchy and melodic indie pop-rock with upbeat tempos.

Sambassadeur
Sambassadeur's music is grand and well produced. The singer's voice is weird and androgyne. There are amazon string arrangements on top of more traditional folk indie backgrounds. I like the fact that most instruments sound like they should without too many effects.

Samuraj Cities
This band is a fair description of the word indie. The vocals are a bit out of tune, there are clean guitars and an array of weird sounds and effects. The rhythm is uplifting and hypnotic. Not very radio friendly stuff, but for a frequent indie listener, quite great stuff.

Detektivbyrån
This electro band has straight similarities to the music in the film Amélie. There are accordions and glockenspiels but all that is wrapped in endearing melodies and strange electro sounds. This band is completely instrumental but that's exactly how it's supposed to be. Great stuff!

Anna Von Hausswolff
This dream pop artist has amazingly beautiful etheric singing voice. Some of the songs are maybe not that interesting but the overall sound is terrific. Hypnotic and slow melancholic tunes for relaxing times.

jj
This electro artist makes music with style ranging from truly electronic stuff to synth pop spiced with echoey dream pop vocals.There are also some harp-like sounds and electronic versions of acoustic percussion. The sounds are quite unique.

El Perro Del Mar
This honey voiced singer is capable of charming instantly. The piano's and delicate band instruments play subtle pop melodies with authentic sounds. Some of the songs, though, have more electronic approach.

Be the Bear
This band has absolutely amazing vocals reminding me of artists such as Feist or Martha Weinwright. The melodies and sounds are very Nordic with weird percussion and the front stage reserved for melodic and blinking instruments.

The Knife
Probably the most well-known artist on this list, The Knife has never been one of my favourites. their electro-pop definitely has the hipster quality making people dance, but the melodies are not particularly amazing. The sounds are made with synths and various electronic samples.

The Embassy
This band is sort of a hybrid between folk and electro-pop. There are strumming acoustic guitars on the background and more electronic sounds on top of it. Great stuff for dancing and nights out.

Carbon Based Lifeforms
This poorly named electronic band plays completely electronic/synthesiser songs with references to 70's synthesiser greats such as Jean Michel Jarre. The sound is more modern and there is a constant beat on the background. Great chill-out music.

Studio
This electronic band plays quite funky and industrial sounds with various instruments. There are influences from bands like joy Division, but at the same time the sounds are closer to clubbing sounds. Extremely classy electronic music.

September Malevolence
September Malevolence is a post-rock band playing massive electric guitars on mostly instrumental songs. This music compares to bands like Mogwai and Explosions in the sky. When they turn the overdrive on, it's extremely beautiful.

Cortex
This 80's new wave band is much more melodic than some of the contemporaries. The vocals are clear and the instruments consist mainly of synths and pianos plus some glockenspiels. The Freaks was their biggest hit, and for good reason.

Tages
Tages was one of the best 60's psychedelic rock bands outside the English speaking world. Of course you wouldn't know this band is not from the English speaking world just by hearing it. many similarities to bands such as The Who and The Kinks.

Union Carbide Productions
The lead singer of The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Ebbot Lundberg sang in this band before TSOOL. The sound is more aggressive in the style of the Stooges but there are similarities still. Great rock n' roll attitude!

Silverbullit
This band plays fast rock n' roll with loud organs and fast tempo drumming. Makes you nod your head along and atop your foot to the floor immediately. There's something very early 2000's in these sounds.