Today, I’ve been thinking about Sweden (a bit). About how I’m often charmed, touched, moved and grabbed by somewhat obscure Swedish pop.
And then by chance I heard this new track, ‘What’ by Alice Boman. She’s from Malmo.
Boman is listed to play the Green Man festival this year and I don’t doubt that it’ll be one haunting set. Last year, she released her first EP ‘Skisser’ (Sketches). That’s a beautiful and intimate collection of tunes but it’s hard to shake the feeling that you’re surreptitiously opening somebody’s private journal when you’re listening. Boman’s voice floats over the top of a piano that’s given a ghostly, distance in the mix.
‘What’ is the lead track from her second EP to be released in June. Indications suggest that it’s going to evoke the same tone as ‘Skisser’.
‘Do you ever think about me like I think about you?’ wonders Boman and I’m charmed, touched, moved and grabbed again.
sonicbreakfast 
Sweden is totally cool. I’d recommend dipping into this lot as a bit of a run through of the past few years: Kent, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, Ingenting, Lars Winnebeg, Corduroy Utd, Acid House Kings, Chasing Doratea, The Mary Onettes, Sambassadeur, The Radio Dept, Hakan Hellstrom, The Knife and Fever Ray, the Tallest Man of Earth, First Aid Kit etc Some you’ll know, some you’ll like, some you won’t. I happen to like them all. The Labrador label is a good place to start. Malmo has some pretty ace clubs too: Kulturbolaget is a nice venue with a great atmosphere.
Echo all these comments about Swedish music – especially Tallest Man on Earth, The Radio Dept, Jens Lekman, and whole range of winsome female vocalists such as Anna Ternheim, First Aid Kit and now, thanks Sean, Alice Bowman. If this latter style appeals, I recommend searching for an astonishing video on youtube featuring six of them singing Anna Ternheim’s Summer Rain unaccompanied.
Thanks Chris and Riponia for further Swedish tips. I know many of them but not all so I’ve got some research to do!! I’d also add Hello Saferide into your fine lists.. I think recently she’s become Sakert… What is it about them Swedes?