All Demons Recognize Him

Marit Bergman “No Party” – If you’re getting confused, this is the Marit from Sweden who did “Adios Amigos” and that track with her singing the Pet Shop Boys’ “Rent” over the top of Justus Köhncke’s “Timecode,” not the Marit who did “Only A Fool” and “Don’t Save Me.” (That’s Marit Larsen, who is from Norway.) Bergman’s latest single begins as an unassuming acoustic ballad, but by the time its chorus hits, the arrangement grows lush and a flood of bittersweet emotion overtakes the song. “No Party” absolutely nails a particular sort of angst and loneliness, especially in how it captures the perverse sort of romanticism that goes hand in hand with feeling alienated and confused in a strange place. (Click here to buy it from Marit Bergman’s official site.)

Beastellabeast “The Final Mistake” – The song is slick and slippery, with its rubber band bassline, bumpy beats, and lead vocals that seem to be sliding in and out of the groove. If the Slits were more inclined to fuss around in the studio, they may have arrived at something like this. Alternately, this could be like the sound of Le Tigre loosening up to the point that they could barely stand erect. (Click here for the Beastellabeast MySpace page.)