You could be all that you want

Sometimes, when you disappear from the Internet for a while, you miss things.

Big things. Important things. Like, say, the fact that DARIN IS RECORDING A NEW ALBUM WITH AWESOME PRODUCERS.

What finally clued me in to this fact was a tweet from him today saying he was recording with Anders Bagge (who has done so many songs that his discography quality varies) and Johan Kronlund. Even better news is that a month ago he apparently was recording with Niklas Bergwall (formerly of 2N, the production team behind Kate Ryan's hits) and LO-FI-FNK. Seriously, let's just repeat that: Darin is recording with Lo-Fi-FNK.

I'm sure this was covered on blogs a month ago, but since I only just found out now, I need to emphasize how awesome that is. Lo-Fi-Fnk are the kind of cool but pop-friendly electro pop duo that Sweden seemed to be producing every other day a few years ago, but they're one of the best. I've been eager for new material from them, but I had no idea they'd moved into producing for other people as well. Their version of "Want U" is probably a good indicator of their sound, though it's a little less boyish than Boylife, the album that preceded it. So you can hear that sound, I've embedded "Steppin' Out" from that album as well. Darin recording with them is the sort of slightly left-field but smart choice that reaffirms my faith in him as a popstar (not that it needed to be reaffirmed).





I'm so glad Darin had his big ballad moment. I love Tony Nilsson and I loved their work together; "You're Out Of My Life" was one of my favorite singles of last year and much of the Lovekiller album contained big, lovely, '80s-styled pop songs.

Still, it's time for something different and this news about his new album collaborators couldn't be more welcome. Lo-Fi-Fnk and Niklas Bergwall (definitely worth getting excited about in his own right--I enjoy almost everything he does and most of what he does is dancey pop) certainly indicate a change of direction. I literally don't think I could be more excited.

In the end it's all or nothing

A few random notes (some covered earlier on Twitter):



The new song I've found most enchanting in the past few days is from Matisse, the American singer who used to be one half of Brit & Alex (of the pop-rock song "Let It Go" from Step Up 2). "Better Than Her," by Kevin Rudolf, is one of those songs that sounds musically simple and sweet, a fluffy little midtempo electronic pop song that to non-pop-friendly ears would probably seem totally generic. It's one of the few American songs to come out this year (so far) that I didn't have to work at liking and always look forward to playing again, though, so for my money, any success here would be well-deserved.

Swedish group Dyno has several new songs and song clips on MySpace. Their debut album is one to get excited about now, '80s synth-pop-rock that fills a gap that desperately needed to be filled. Another reminder: these guys, among other things, worked on the Erik Hassle album. Their songwriting skills are solidly in place.

Danish singer Nabiha's '60s-sounding debut single "Deep Sleep" was fine, but it was "The Enemy," her probable second single, that most got me interested in her album, Cracks, out February 1. The full studio version of "The Enemy" and several other new songs are streaming over on her MySpace (and clips of all the songs are on Danish iTunes). I very much recommend checking them out; producer Carl Rydén has reined in some of his dance tendencies to create a fun electronic pop sound that, though commercial, mainstream pop, brings just a bit of quirky something that feels a bit different in the case of at least half the tracks streaming there (something that I didn't really feel to be the case with "Deep Sleep"). It's not music that would fit in on U.S. radio, but its style would mesh with the UK music scene (not that that means it will).



I was thrilled that a1 made it through to the Melodi Grand Prix final in Norway this past weekend (as well as pleased that Karoline Garfjell qualified to the second chance round). They're only two songs into their post-reformation career (well, three if you count the [less good] song that starts around 50:45 here, taken from a telethon for Haiti, plus a couple more we've heard bits of in video blogs), but I'm very glad to have them back; they're making exactly the music I'd want them to be making at this point in time. I've had a post sitting as a draft saying more about "Take You Home" for ages, but if nothing else, it's certain to appear in my year end countdown (which is, um, still coming).

Linda Sundblad's new album, Manifest, is due out March 3. If it's full of songs as good as the three we've heard so far, it will be worth listening to.

After what seems like a long time away, young Swedish electronic duo Lo-Fi-Fnk will make a new song available on YouTube on February 2. You'll also be able to download it on that date if you sign up for an event on Facebook.

I'm right behind your shoulder, wishing I was bolder

I was thrilled to see that the Lo-Fi-Fnk remix of Mika's "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)," originally posted over at Arjan Writes, looks like it is going to be commercially available--7Digital will be selling it as of July 23. In sort of celebration, I thought I'd post another remix involving them. Yes, it's (comparatively) old, but it still sounds just as great as the day I first heard it. Sweden seems to have an abundance of male duos doing electronic pop music, but that's not something I'm complaining about at all, since so many of them do it so well. Lo-Fi-Fnk, who released their debut full-length album last year, are one of those duos. Their work, whether for themselves or as remixers, is often worth taking a listen to; they manage to combine electronica and pop in a way that brings a sense of fun to whatever they're doing.

Wake Up (Ola Salo & Jens Anderson Remix)--I was talking about cute electronic beats yesterday, and this song has them aplenty; synthesizers rarely sound as adorable as they do here. "Wake Up" didn't necessarily need a remix, but I'm glad it got this one, because it just makes it all the catchier, something I didn't think was possible. With co-remixing duties performed by the lead singer of the Ark, this version of the song is less bleepy than the original; if you ever wished it had a little more of a flowing melody, this remix will fulfill your desire. Upbeat, cute, catchy--what more could you want in a song?

You can buy the EP from which this remix comes here (digital) or the album Boylife here (physical) or here (digital). The album is also available on iTunes in all countries.

Also on the Swedish front, we can expect a new September album this September, according to her official site.

Enrique Iglesias just got done performing on So You Think You Can Dance. I was literally cheering the first time they announced he was going to sing, but when they said he was doing "Somebody's Me," that instantly switched to boos. I mean, you've got some fantastic songs on the album, but I would not say "Somebody's Me" is one of the best ones by any stretch. Plus, you're singing a ballad on a dance show. And not even a dynamic one! Sheesh.

Next up: maybe the other indie Swedish male electro-pop duo I've been meaning to write about for forever. Or maybe not.