The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Swedish


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The Royal Concept – [Gimme Twice]

The Concept

The Royal Concept bring us their pop fueled indie rock from Stockholm, Sweden

The Royal Concept – Gimme Twice: 

I can understand someone’s immediate confusion when listening to this track for the first time. I know the first thought that popped in my head was ‘Is that Phoenix I am hearing?’ I wouldn’t necessarily call it a disappointment to find out that real artist behind this gnarly jam are the soon to pop Swedish indie rockers, The Royal Concept. Detta är indierock på det finaste! The pop infused simplicity and wonderful execution of Gimme Twice gives great reason to have your eyes (and ears!) on this band. The only thing disappointing I find about this band is the overall lack of material. This song is such a tease in the sense it leaves me wanting a full album to hit the up the beach side with and jam out to. While there is no news of a debut album yet, The Royal Concept have at least released one other single for our listening pleasure. I highly recommend checking out their additional track D-D-Dance, which keeps the fun going by picking up right where Gimme Twice leaves off.

Don’t forget to check out The Royal Concept’s Facebook page and give them a Like! You’ll  definitely want to be in the know for when these guys release some new tracks.


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Top 10 Albums of 2011! #9 Gimme Some

Peter Bjorn and John delighted fans around the world this year with their album Gimmie Some.

It just wouldn’t be right to exclude Peter Bjorn and John’s memorable indie rock album Gimme Some from my top 10 list. Now this album is chalk full of both hits and misses, but I’d easily say the scale is heavily weighted in favor of hits. I’m going to say if you like what Peter Bjorn and John have always had to offer (ridiculously catchy indie pop) then you’d feel right at home with Gimme Some. Now if your someone new to the band and their versatile indie stylings (Have you been under a rock?) then Gimme Some still might be for you! Peter Bjorn and John just have that kind of genre breaking appeal that so many other indie bands lack these day. In other words, you and dad can both find something to treat your ears to on this foot tapper of an album.

“Second Chance” – Peter Bjorn and John

There are so many greats options to choose from when singling out just one track from the wonderful Gimme Some. Why not go with the lead single and instant stand out Second Chance? Loads of appeal that most likely stems from the songs to ability to capture and maintain your attention. Once you’re hooked you’ll find that resisting the urge to bop and sing along pretty much impossible.

Peter Bjorn and John – Gimme Some (Click image to buy album)

  1. “Tomorrow Has to Wait”* – 3:00
  2. “Dig a Little Deeper“* – 3:52
  3. “Second Chance”* – 4:15
  4. “Eyes” – 2:55
  5. “Breaker, Breaker”* – 1:41
  6. “May Seem Macabre”* – 4:44
  7. “(Don’t Let Them) Cool Off”* – 2:50
  8. “Black Book” – 1:38
  9. “Down Like Me” – 3:51
  10. “Lies” – 3:13
  11. “I Know You Don’t Love Me”* – 5:38
*Notable tracks

Open and listen to Peter Bjorn And John’s Gimme Some in Spotify


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Song of the Day! Urban Cone – Urban Photograph

Urban Cone - Urban Photograph

The Stockholm based Urban Cone doesn't mind if you take an Urban Photograph

The beauty of the track Urban Photograph lies in its simplicity and familiarity. A swift indie beat, a catchy keyboard melody and very complementing lyrics make up this head bopping tune. While the song is nothing too crazy or re-inventive for the genre, it is still for sure a worth while listen in today’s repetitive music market. If even just for that sweet sweet indie beat break down that makes up the last 40 seconds. Leave it to a Swedish band to make music that is perfectly marketable to the American indie music scene. It’s too bad Urban Cone has a very minimal amount of material released because I’d love to give an EP or full LP of theirs a listen. A little birdy told me that come October we should see some interesting tunes from these guys so I figure we’ll just check back in at that point. Until then go chill and read a book or something while bopping along to Urban Photograph.

Urban Cone may not have much to share but they at least have a nice music video for their wonderful track Urban Photograph. Check it.


Bands like Urban Cone need your support so head on over to their Facebook Page and give them a Like.


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Song of the Day! Summer Heart – Please Stay

Summer Heart is asking us to Please Stay from Malmö, Sweden

I’m being honest when I say chillwave is a genre I don’t dive into much, but I have no choice but to make an exception for the alluring sounds of Summer Heart. Something about the steady beats and relaxing flow of Please Stay has me hooked and wanting more. This wonderful laid-back tune is perfect for summer car rides to the beach or lounging about in the cool AC of your room whilst doing some light summer reading. Anyway you look at it Please Stay was made to be enjoyed during summer time activities where you can get this most out of its glowing dream pop. Looking further into Summer Heart reveals the band to be the solo project of the very talented Swedish citizen David Alexande. Never Let Me Go is Summer Hearts debut and self released 7-track album, which can be listened to in full and purchased at Summer Hearts’ Bandcamp here: http://summerheart.bandcamp.com. Artist like this need our support so head over and drop a measly $5 to make your summer, and Summer Hearts, that much better.

You should also find your way over to Summer Hearts Facebook page and give them a like.


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Song of the Day! This Year’s Model – We Walk Like Ghost

This Year's Model walk like ghost in Sweden

I have no choice but to be straight forward about the wonderfully haunting indie pop that is We Walk Like Ghost. Between those throw back guitar riffs and leader singer Niklas Gustafsson’s unique vocals, I can’t decide which appeals to me more. Perhaps it is the combination of everything that makes Swedish pop act This Year’s Model stand out from the normal bubbly and sunshine indie pop crowd we see far too often coming out of Sweden’s music scene these days. I can accept edgy and somewhat gloomy guitar based pop, because we don’t always need smiles and kisses to make us want to dance and sing along.

This Year’s Model are by no means a new band, having released an EP and two LPs since their formation in 2005. Their latest release We Walk Like Ghost, which came out February of 2011, not only contains the obviously awesome title track We Walk Like Ghost but also plethora of elegant and well crafted pop tunes that echos back to the more somber side of the genre. I suggest you head over to This Year’s Model website to check out more on these criminally underrated Swedes, they have loads of info about themselves and are even offering the song No Miracles off their latest album for free.