Tomas Alfredson's Let The Right One In is the kind of film that floats around in your head for days after viewing. more ›

If in some rare occurrence Beirut, Yann Tiersen and Efterklang were to perform all at once, then you would get a rough idea of what Detektivbyrån sound like. The Gothenburg-based instrumental trio have gradually moved towards a more mature sense of identity and purpose. And even though their 2008 debut, E18, is predominantly comprised of songs from 2006's Hemvägen EP, Detektivbyrån demonstrate a breadth of sound that is awe-inspiring. more ›

I don't know if it was all those Ikea fish eggs I consumed this weekend, but I was definitely ready to be in a Swedish frame of mind Monday night at the El Rey, where Anna Ternheim and Lykke Li opened for El Perro Del Mar. All three artists are representing a new wave of Scandinavian indie pop, with danceable rhythms, melancholic lyrics, and a moody, sensual sound that feels like a cold, fresh breeze on the pop landscape. Abba they ain't, but Robyn sure likes to hang with them. more ›

Everybody should know by now that one of the secrets of lasting through a shopping trip to Ikea is making a pit stop at their cafeteria, which features whimsical Scandinavian delicacies like Swedish meatballs and lingonberry jam. The Burbank location even has a well-stocked food market where you can pick up your own frozen meatballs, cream sauces, lumpfish roe, canned herring, rye breads, cheeses, and countless other little oddball treats like roe cheese spread. more ›

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
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The legendary film director Ingmar Bergman died early this morning at his home in Sweden. He was 89 years old. Born into a middle-class family in Uppsala, Bergman struggled with issues of faith, mortality, and identity throughout his life; these themes would echo through his films, including classics such as Persona, Wild Strawberries, Fanny and Alexander, and The Seventh Seal. Bergman is remembered most for his visionary style and his complicated portrayals of love... more ›

New wave/Swedish pop cuties Peter, Bjorn and John played a sold out show at the Roxy last Thursday to an attractive crowd of hip haircuts and industry contacts. The lights blinked perfectly mod (like big, candy buttons) and dotted a pattern of emerald with fuchsia and robin’s egg blue with burnt orange. A buzzy, space-age cue ushered them to the stage, and they greeted us with a shy hello. This was their first performance... more ›