Our SpaceScan has gone all pop this week for no particular reason at all. Keeping in line with previous Scans this tour around MySpace is of course still quite varied within the realms of pop, bringing you airy synthpop from Sweden, acoustic melancholy from Iceland and hard hitting synthpop from Denmark.

Jonathan Johansson (SE)
The other day it was announced that cool Swedish label Hybris has signed with Jonathan Johansson, with single ‘En Hand I Himlen’ out this October and an album to be released early next year. That’s about as much info as I’ve been able to find on him – other than he seems to be heavily influenced by birds. It makes some sense when listening to his airy synthpop, represented on his MySpace by aforementioned single and ‘Innan Vi Faller’. I won’t tire you with a string of positive adverbs, but just tell you to check him out. It’s great!

Thomas Moerk (DK)
Also to be labeled synthpop is Danish solo act Thomas Moerk. He strikes a harder note than Johansson, but is no less catchy in the four songs he’s made available for our listening pleasure. All but ballad ‘Danielle’ are rich on hefty rock beats, loads of analogue synths and pop hook-lines (with a nod to Pulp smash hit ‘Common People’ in ‘Hassle’) and will be officially released on the album ‘Déclinologue’ early next year.

Bang Gang (ISL) (Photo)
Bang Gang aka Bardi Johannsson has the album ‘Ghosts From The Past’ out now and judging by the two full songs on his MySpace (why excerpts?!) it’s an album perfectly fitted for the fall. It is in the more classic pop department compared to the ones above, good songs governed by the acoustic guitar, but the beautiful melancholy topped by Johannsson’s subtle vocal is not to be missed. So CLICK!

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WHO DO YOU THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HEAR?
Although we spend a lot of time out there, we can’t claim to have heard every band on MySpace, so please feel free to recommend bands – Scandinavian, of course – you think everybody deserve to hear. We do reserve the right not to feature your band(s), but we guarantee to check them out. Drop MySpace-links to: spacescan@allscandinavian.com