CHOON OF THE DAY: "SIRENS" - Young Karin

One can never have enough of talented, up and coming Icelandic acts, right? Young Karin - "Debut of the Year" at the Icelandic Music Awards the other week, are celebrating the award and the release of their first EP with a video for "Sirens" an instantly haunting urban flavoured synth-pop moment. Ridiculously catchy and absolutely flawless!



Here's the whole "n°1" EP with a remix by Múm:

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "RESTLESS" - Sísý Ey feat. Unnsteinn

More summery anthems coming from Iceland! Sísý Ey are giving away their new single "Restless" featuring Retro Stefson's Unnsteinn for free on their Facebook page. This sounds as uplifting and upbeat as I remember when hearing it live for the first time at Sónar, Barcelona earlier on this year. Really looking forward to their debut album, after all it sounds rather promising with this catchy new track as well as the omnipresent "Ain't Got Nobody" (check out the special live recording of it below), one of the best songs I heard all year so far in 2013.

Restless featuring Unnsteinn [free download] by Sísý Ey

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "SHE SAID" - Retro Stefson

Not only that the Scandinavian artists completely dominated my latest Crème de la crème chart but this is the third single post this week dedicated to music from Iceland!!! After "Ghost Of Sky" the haunting new remix from the flamboyant Steed Lord and the magnificent "Ain't Got Nobody" by Sísý Ey which I've had on repeat for the past 2 days, it's time for a brand new video from the Pure Pop Perfection crew that is Retro Stefson! "She Said" is one of the stand-out tracks from their latest self-titled album which following its enormous success in Iceland finally sees an official international release. As joyful, as upbeat and as flawless as the ubiquitous "Glow" I was addicted to for months in 2012.

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SHREM'S 2012 COUNTDOWN OF TOP 100 BEST CHOONS: part 2: 90-81

90 "Get Free" - Major Lazer feat. Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors

89 "Your Drums, Your Love" - AlunaGeorge

88 "All Your Gold (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)" - Bat For Lashes

  Bat For Lashes - All Your Gold (Hercules & Love Affair Remix) by cossetgaleria

87 "Glow" - Retro Stefson

86 "Fade Away" - Electric Youth

  Electric Youth - Fade Away by Electric Youth (Official)

85 "Navy" - Kilo Kish

84 "Young Hunting" - Ocho

83 "Nediya" - Yasmine Hamdan

82 "Diamonds" - Midnight  Magic

  "Diamonds" from Walking The Midnight Streets by Midnight Magic

81 "Get Out My Head (Dub)" - Boy Joy

  Boy Joy - Get Out My Head (Dub) by E C S T A S Y

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SHREM'S BIGGIES BUT GOODIES BASKET: "GLOW" - Retro Stefson

A few months back this song scored a Number One spot on the official Icelandic singles chart. How refreshing to see there still are some countries where the general public appreciate quality pop music as opposed to the sonic horrors of Katy Perry or Ke$ha polluting the European charts elsewhere. Enough of my rant. Retro Stefson's "Glow" is a perfect pop moment with a Scandinavian twist, a charming slightly "housey" vibe and immensely appealing melody. The boys are looking cool. And so is Reykjavík - a city I am yet to explore. The album by this vibrant septet is scheduled for an international release early 2013. A pop winner!



Last week Retro Stefson also uploaded this sunny tune on their Soundcloud:

  Retro Stefson - Julia by Retro Stefson.

P.S. Thanks Shane!!!

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