Things can fall apart

I love some good pop-rock. I've had trouble finding much this year (recommendations would be very welcome)--and the past few years, come to think of it--but Swedish group Fashion's "Blinded By The Dark" fits in that category.



Lead singer Jakob Erixson is the Erixson of Holter/Erixson, the production team perhaps best known for their remixes but also responsible for songs by Shirley Clamp and Kostas Martakis, amongst others. Fashion has apparently been around for a little while, but there may have been some forward motion in the past half-year. I don't know of an official single release date yet (though their site says an album, Eau de Vie, is coming this year), but at least Lionheart, the record company with which I think Jakob is affiliated as a songwriter, has mentioned them on their site now.

"Blinded By The Dark" is prettily mid-to-up-tempo pop that just happens to be played by a band. Supplemented by some chuggy backing effects (they first kick in during the second half of the first verse), humming, and piano, the song musically conveys the feeling of struggling to soar while being pulled back. I mean that as no insult--based on the lyrics, I think "troubled anthemic" as opposed to just "anthemic" is actually its goal.

Slightly tangentially, the best thing Oscar Holter and Jakke Erixson have ever done? The Holter/Erixson vs. Tom Bola remix of "Burn," one of the songs they wrote for now defunct Irish pop group Industry. Swooshy pop-dance remixes don't come much better than this.



There's nowhere to buy Fashion's "Blinded By The Dark" yet, but you can listen to several other songs on their official site here.

I need a ticket right away, don't care how much I have to pay

With four words, you're going to know in advance whether you think Industry's "My Baby's Waiting," which you can now listen to in full thanks to the music video, is the best new thing you've heard all week or something you have no interest in hearing: Steps meets the A*Teens.



(Credit to Chart Rigger.)

Personally (and despite just suggesting that the style alone would be enough to indicate the song's quality, which isn't actually the case), I think "My Baby's Waiting," made by TEN (whose Tysper, Grizzly, and Mack where responsible for many of the A*Teens' songs) is the pure pop sound done right. I still have real doubts about the single, out June 18, taking off in the group's native Ireland or the UK, but I'd love to find myself shocked and incorrect.

Saying it takes two to brave the weather

Run over to Chart Rigger right now if you want to hear Swedish songwriters Ten doing the purest pop sound they've done since the A*Teens --Robbie's posted a clip of Irish/British group Industry's upcoming single "My Baby's Waiting" (due out in May) and it's such an unexpected dose of poppiness I nearly fell out of my chair.

All you Eurovision-philes will want to note that Donal Skehan--of Irish national final '08/"Double Cross My Heart"--is one of the members.

As I mentioned in the comments over there, Ten are knocking it out of the park lately: Erik Hassle's album and now, though it may be premature to judge based on that short clip, this. I wish they'd bring their official site back so we can keep track of all the stuff they're up to.