Single Selection: Darin / Marie Serneholt

Even when it is colder than a witches tit outside (note, i have never touched - to my knowledge - a witches tit, so I am only taking other people's word for it that said basoma is actually quite as frosty to the feel as legend has it) you can always count on the increasing bevvy of swedish pop strumpets to unleash holy pop goodness that is so hot it would thaw even the iciest of frontiers. Now that I've got that rather tenuously-linked-to-the-weather intro out the way, let's tarry no more and on with the tunes, shall we?

Darin ~ Nobody Knows:

Blimey! Darin is back! And hurrah say I to this fortuitous returning of a personal pop fave. And OH MY CHRIST what a freaking amazing return it is. After the very lovely indeed (but dancetrack light) LoveKiller album, Darin is back with an absolute stomper of a track that quite literally crescendos and explodes in a glittering orgasm of scintillating pop majesty. It starts off amidst an alluring synth intro with some subdued beats so restrained you can almost feel them itching to break free. And break free they do - not 20 seconds into the song, Darin wisely unleashes dancefloor insanity by dropping in some ibiza-esque beats & propulsive percussion as he sings of a love that has driven him slightly bonkers. And while Darin's voice is amazing and the dancefloor vibe it creates is brilliant, it's the fact that the slightly manic feel of the music mirrors the lyrics and takes this song to a whole new level of pleasing. And this is all before the chorus has even begun - said chorus is introduced through a sliding synth (a bit reminiscent of the single remix of Kylie's What Do I Have To Do) and any inhibitions you had left desert you as you pulled fully into the giddy hedonism that follows. It's intoxicating and liberating - leaving you totally breathless. Welcome back Darin - it's an entirely winning return...

Marie Serneholt ~ Salt & Pepper:

Remember when Marie was part of A*Teens? And then seemed to be the most Rachel Stevensy of the group by giving us a rather good indeed debut album where she sang about how she loved making love in the morning? (Which you would if you were with Mr Mans Zelmerlow!) And then sadly she disappeared from the pop scene. Boooo. But phew for us, she has returned with possibly one of the best out and out pop tracks since the aforementioned Rachel let us in her back door on I Said Never Again (see also Jamelia, Beware of the Dog)... Salt n Pepper is her not through to the next round melodifestivalen entry. But fear not, it's still a bloody blinding pop tune. From the all that jazz opening finger clicks to the ridiculously catchy "salt n pepper, salt n pepper, salt n pepper pepper" refrain to her heart going boom boom boom repeatedly, everything about this song is designed to make you feel very pleased with yourself that you are listening to it and having a jolly good singalong. It's too too delicious and totally unpretentious pop music, plus Marie looks like she's having a whale of a time performing it. Second album next please Marie...

Back Sunday with lots of new acts I've not yet gotten round to writing about.