Like Swimming

Like swimming? Or do you prefer sitting next to roaring fire in a plaid shirt and a woolie hat listening to the Scandinavian talents of Lykke Li and Team Me? If so, then you need to download Like Swimming’s new album ‘Structures'. This Swedish trio combine the beautiful vocals of Ida Hedene - think Hannah Reid on helium - with catchy tunes interspersed with heartbreaking melodies. Imagine Two Door Cinema Club’s upbeat tunes with Death Cab’s haunting sounds rounded off with a pinch of Team Me’s Nordic twang.

Don’t be put off by the fact that the first song 'Go Buffalo' could be the backing track to a Cheska and Binky fight in The Phene. Frankly, if the writers don’t ask for the rights, Like Swimming should complain to E4. Fast forward a few songs to tracks like 'Dance Any Way I Please' and 'Break With You' and you will find an anthemic quality to these songs that are definite fan favourites.

The album has had industry heavyweights Lennart Ostlund (Ramones, Cardigans, etc…) and Brian Malouf (Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, etc…) work on the album which give it a polished - but not too polished - sound. Somewhat predictably and a little stereotypical, parts of the album were recorded in a log cabin in the woods north of Stockholm but don’t hold it against them.

Claes Carlström, Ida Hedene, and Petter Wesslander have been writing together for seven years and it shows. The album is polished, tight, and even a bit twinkly in places. The US love them, so do MTV, and who could argue with two blonde Swedish men with asymmetric bobs. Honestly we should all be a little hair jealous.