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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.
Ternheim delivered a mellow, lush set of literate folk songs, switching between acoustic guitar and the keyboards. Lykke Li, who is attracting a fair amount of buzz for her sensual, effervescent pop songs and pretty-little-puffin appearance, turned in an energetic performance that highlighted the bittersweet-yet-danceable nature of her songs.
Order Lykke Li's new album, "Youth Novels" here; Anna Ternheim's self-titled EP is available here.