Denmark

Commentary: Quite the variety of styles with this month's Danish NMN contingent. It's definitely Bbybites who has caught the ears though. Rapper Martha Maj Hauptmann brings the attitude with her refreshing mix of pop and hip hop. Track “Whatever“ from her latest EP is on rotation.

Finland

Commentary: IANAI's debut album really does defy genre classification, with its epic soundscapes influenced by folk music from across the globe. The talent found on “Sunir” is nothing to be sniffed at either, with guest appearances from HIM, Sisters of Mercy and Massive Attack to name a few.

Iceland

Commentary: This might become my new obsession. After unexpectedly discovering some Finnish surf rock last month, this month it's the turn of Iceland. Check out the acoustic title track from Fjara – whose name translates to beach/shore – on their brand-new EP “Surfdays”.

Norway

Commentary: Jørn Lande is back with a new studio album, five years since 2017's “Life On Death Road”. Where “Over The Horizon Radar“ lacks in innovation or even boundary pushing, it makes up for in familiar power vocals and eleven solid melodic metal songs.

Sweden

Commentary: It's been thirty-three years since Neneh Cherry's debut album “Raw Like Sushi” released. Her latest album “The Versions” sees a cast of current-day female vocalists give re-workings to tracks from that seminal album and others to admittedly varying degrees of success.

Previous months: March | April | May

Denmark

Commentary: A rock heavy selection coming out of Denmark for this month. So in typical fashion, I'm gonna skip over the generic guitar riffs and angsty lyrics this May and focus instead on the crisp pop voice of Sonic Girl. The track “hackerboy” is worth a listen just for the shoehorning in of antivirus and IP addresses!

Finland

Commentary: Where Denmark failed with rock, Finland might just have delighted this month. The country is synonymous with death metal, so imagine my surprise to find a source of surf rock in the band Mary Ann Hawkins. Their track “Hawkinsmania” is an espresso shot of frenetiscism.

Iceland

Commentary: Iceland is a small place, with 366,000 people and counting, so sometimes pickings are low. But they do say quality over quantity, and that's what we have here. The names behind NEVERNEVER have some real pedigree in the music industry and are led by the strong vocals of Klara Elias.

Norway

Commentary: In April Norway took the crown for the month's biggest and best release with Röyksopp's newest. They've done it again! Sigrid's follow-up to her debut album, “How To Let Go” is a real banger, with stand-out track “Mirror” destined for summer playlists all across the Nordics.

Sweden

Commentary: Four years since the previous album, it's great to have Lykke Li back. “EYEYE” is a brutally melancholic album, with heart-felt lyrics taking centre stage. Margaret Farrell at Pitchfork had this to say: ‘Her music is a companion to sorrow in the same way the sun is a companion to the morning.’

Previous months: March | April

Denmark

Commentary:
Six additional Danish finds this month for our second-ever NMN. Bättre! Astrid Nora is the eponymous name behind Where Did Nora Go. “Under” is their fifth EP, written largely during Covid19 lockdown, with songs crafted to be beacons of hope in a time of fear.

Finland

Commentary:
Ada Aik is a Finnish experimental pop musician. Their debut concept album is imagined around the story of a dollhouse, with each room representing an emotional state such as depression or fear. These themes extend beyond the music into visual media which can be further explored on their website.

Iceland

Commentary:
Indie folk band Seabear hold a special place in the hearts of many Icelanders. Ten years have passed since their previous album, so the cozy and imaginative folk sound of “In Another Life” has been warmly embraced. Their music video to “Parade” was posted to Tildes last week.

Norway

Commentary:
For the big release this April we turn to Norway, where it doesn't get much bigger than Röyksopp. “Profound Mysteries” has been released to stellar reviews, with reference made to a darker, more haunting sound from the band. The visualizer music videos by Jonathan Zawada certainly amplify this feel.

Sweden

Commentary:
We should really be talking about Swedish House Mafia's debut studio album, twelve years after the release of their debut single. But the real gem among the Swedish releases this month is the return of Slowgold. Their song “Väntar” from 2017 still sees regular rotation in our house...

Previous months: March

Denmark

Commentary:
Only two Danish finds for the inaugral NMN post. Förlåt! Andreas's album title probably gives a clue, but it's a Danish language release. Don't be put off by the funny language though, and check out the track “i morgen er der også en dag”, with over 8 million Spotify streams.

Finland

Commentary:
I can get behind Babel's album title and the music there on it. “Eden” is a dream-like opening track from a band compared in the media to the shoegazers Slowdive and also the Cocteau Twins. I hear a little Casey Dienel's “White Hinterland” in there.

Iceland

Commentary:
It's not just album releases covered on NMN, but also beautiful EP's, like Axel Flóvent's. The instrumental title track “Coexist” might not have the obvious popularity of the other tracks, but it carries a melancholic piano very reminiscent of some of Aphex Twin's tracks on “Drukqs”.

Norway

Commentary:
For those of you that missed it, Jenny Hval gave an interview to The Guardian that was posted to Tildes earlier in the month. In it they talk to Rachel Aroesti about their life and how changes in it guided the making of the avant garde musician's new album “Classic Objects”.

Sweden

Commentary:
Being based in Sweden means that this list is inevitably the longer of them. There are some great pop releases in March, especially with Lucky Lo's catchy release “Supercarry” among them. But for international name recognition, they are all overshadowed this month by the first new Ghost LP since 2018.

Rather than post all of the countries entries as seperate posts in ~music, and give everyone Eurovision fatigue before the event has even kicked off, I have listed them below for your consumption.

I won't write long paragraphs based around my opinon of the differing entries; suffice to say that one act stands out in a sea of mediocrity among the Nordic entries this year. I'll leave you to guess which one that might be...

Sweden
The Mamas – Move

Denmark
Ben & Tan – Yes

Norway
Ulrikke – Attention

Finland
Aksel Kankaanranta – Looking Back

Iceland
Daði & Gagnamagnið – Gagnamagnið (Think About Things)