Well, perhaps Europop isn’t quite the right term. Eurindie perhaps. This podcast is stuffed full of splendid tracks from the rest of the European continent which we, as marvellously parochial and narrow-minded Brits, seem to forget exists half the time.

I have no real idea how much this music actually intersects with any of the local scenes to which it might belong, but it is certainly nicely in tune with the British scene as I know it at the moment. Scandinavia is inevitably rather over-represented, but I have managed to track down a Belgian, a little Dutch and something (tangentially) Italian to throw into the mix as well. And a special secret bonus surprise for right at the end, but wait for it patiently and don’t ruin it for yourselves by peeking.

The big thing I can’t get over is just how much I had to leave out of this podcast actually. I’d lazily assumed that it might be a little tricky to fill an entire playlist, but I could just as easily have filled two. So don’t whinge about what’s not on there, because I know, I know!

Toadcast #27 – Europop

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

01. The Divine Comedy – Europop (00.06)
02. Mikrofisch – The Kids Are All Shite (05.52)
03. A Classic Education – Stay, Son (10.40)
04. Wolfkin – These Are Illusions (14.14)
05. Tafra – Cheesy Epic View (19.47)
06. Kottarashky – Chetiri (21.32)
07. Teitur – Catherine the Waitress (29.40)
08. Jens Lekman – No Time For Breaking Up (35.44)
09. Shout Out Louds – Parents’ Living Room (40.01)
10. The Tellers – Hugo (45.34)
11. Cats on Fire – Born Again Christian (49.47)
12. Yann Tiersen – Ginette (57.21)
13. Air – Alpha Beta Gaga (61.44)
14. The Raveonettes – That Great Love Sound (70.33)
15. Die Ärzte – Quark (73.41)
16. Bettie Serveert – I’ll Keep it With Mine (77.19)
17. Snake & Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band – Doom City (82.46)
18. Röyksopp – Remind Me (87.36)
19. Sigur Rós – Untitled (Álafoss) (90.50)
20. Snapline – S2 (102.59)

And here are a couple of songs which didn’t quite make the cut:
Teitur – We Still Drink the Same Water
The Teenagers – French Kiss
The Raveonettes – Here Comes Mary
Blood Music – Eagles in the Water
Hello Saferide – If I Don’t Write This Song Someone I Love Will Die
Tafra – I’m Sorry Brakne-Hoby

Well I never expected this lot, that’s for sure. Karl-Jonas Winqvist and his cohorts are not exactly the gentle Fife folkster you generally associate with the Fence Collective stereotype, more an electronic Ben Folds from Sweden. He sits behind his electric piano in the middle of the stage, flanked by guitar and trumpet, and proceeds to chatter on for ten minutes about his high school reunion party before even letting you in on the fact that he is actually introducing his first song.

The gig continues like this all night – completely dominated by Karl-Jonas’ hugely engaging and utterly unaffected stage personality. Even the music is just like him – energetic, completely likeable and bristling with good things. It’s like listening to someone discovering music for the first time – lyrically and musically you almost feel as if he’s just happened upon all these new things he can try and just flings them into the songs, almost as you watch. In fact, he’s such a liberated performer that you could almost have imagined that he was making it up as he went along.

Musically this is pure pop, with wit, charm and abundant playfulness. Pianos, clarinets, pretend mandolins, trumpets and electronic beats all jump about all over the songs, making an appearance here and there and then vanishing again, only to reappear again when you least expect them. It’s bonkers, but it’s brilliant.

Blood Music – I Am Your Taxi
Blood Music – There is a War in Almost Every Corner

website | myspace | buy from cdon.com