THEY ARE
Swedish electro-pop duo (or "pop noir" as they call it themselves) making it big in Eastern Europe.
SOUNDS LIKE
The Mission on a night train to, well, Berlin.
RELEASE
Kino International [EU] Nov 27
TRIVIA
They may be tired of Depeche Mode comparisons, but the fact is that when they played Istanbul the same night this spring, DM were the ones to cancel.

THEY ARE
NYC post-punk quintet three albums into their career.
SOUNDS LIKE
David Bowie's "Heroes" cross-bred with their own 2004 breakthrough Unconditional (which arguably is still their best song to date).
RELEASE
Stir the Blood Dec 1
TRIVIA
Indie rock fans would probably be surprised to learn that the band's frontman Sam Endicott has co-writing credits on the recent albums by Christina Aguilera and Shakira, including the latter's single She Wolf.

THEY ARE
Five guys, including three brothers, from London.
SOUNDS LIKE
a more serious Hockey, who in turn of course is trying to relive the dandy eighties.
RELEASE
Widows EP Nov 23

THEY ARE
Sweden's biggest rock band, having ditched the plans of world conquering, now singing exclusively in their mother tongue.
SOUNDS LIKE
they have ditched the guitars completely in favour of a hard electronic sound.
RELEASE
Röd Nov 6  
TRIVIA
The song title is of course the famous Beatles tune Swedified, it does NOT mean "The Dachshund Man", as some cheeky Wikipedia writer will have the world believe.

THEY ARE
Swedish synth pop quartet signed to the credible Labrador label.
SOUNDS LIKE
a-ha meets New Order. Obviously as eighties-coloured as a Rubik's Cube, but a bit lighter and softer than, say, Assemblage 23.
RELEASE
Islands Oct 4

THEY ARE
When not playing live, only one Tom Shear from Seattle.
SOUNDS LIKE
This is not exactly my home turf, but the industrial synth sounds and the dramatic, almost gothic eighties vibe makes it hard not to mention Depeche Mode.
RELEASE
Compass Oct 23
TRIVIA
Assemblage 23's first three releases were called Contempt, Failure and Disappoint. Merry fellow, this mr. Shear.

THEY ARE
Norwegian pop sensation that popped out from outta nowhere in colourful attire and went on to top the Norwegian charts for an impressive 12 weeks with their debut single Ambitions, which only recently was tipped from the top by their own follow-up single.
SOUNDS LIKE
Like Danish popsters Alphabeat, they resemble quite a few guilty pleasures from the merry eighties. Like Boy Meets Girl's Waiting for a Star to Fall.
RELEASE
Sometimes (digital single) Sep 12  
Caught in a Life Oct 18
TRIVIA
They are supporting a-ha on their UK dates in November.

THEY ARE
Birmingham quartet forever imprisoned by Joy Division and/or Interpol comparisons.
SOUNDS LIKE
They're trying to escape by replacing guitars with Soft Cell/Eurythmics synths.
RELEASE
In This Light and on This Evening Oct 10
TRIVIA
The song takes its name from Henri Charrière's memoirs from doing time (and finally escaping) for a murder he didn't commit.

THEY ARE
Norwegian pop ensemble responsible for the most played song on domestic radio in 2007.
SOUNDS LIKE
Stadium-sized synth anthems in the style of Talk Talk, a-ha and Simple Minds.
RELEASE
Guns Tonight Aug 31
TRIVIA
The group consists of seven men, of which two are background singers with specially coreographed dance routines to every song.