Another weekend is nigh and we are ready with a fresh installment of the Friday SpaceScan, again presenting two rather different acts in Icelandic six-piece Árstíðir, who aim for our emotional apparatus with their dreamy acoustic vocal pop, and Swedish outfit The Happy Hippo Family, who target our motoric ditto with their joyous blend of melodic indie and ska.

Árstíðir (ISL) (Photo)
Three guitars, a cello, a violin, a piano and six singing guys. That would be the ultra short description of Icelandic group Árstíðir. Formed in 2008 they released both an EP and an eponymous debut full length last year with their beautiful and dreamy acoustic vocal folk-pop with lyrics in both Icelandic and English. Six songs are streaming on MySpace and you can download a free taste (‘Til Hennar’ – “For Her”) on Bandcamp.

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The Happy Hippo Family (SE)
Melodic indierock with a clear British touch mixed with joyous Madness ska is what Swedish outfit The Happy Hippo Family is all about. It’s energetic and fun, aimed at dance floors and sporting quite a few opportunities for those feeling the need to shout along on choruses. THHF are currently working on their debut album from which you can preview four songs on MySpace.

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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 links to: spacescan (a) allscandinavian.com