Kleerup: 'Kleerup'

Past decades have seen the likes of Abba and Ace of Base place Sweden firmly on the musical map, but in recent years the sleepy Scandinavian nation has become known for a different kind of pop. Artists like Robyn, The Knife and Lykke Li might not shift quite the same number of records as their predecessors, but their edgy brand of electropop has earned them a dedicated following and plenty of critical acclaim. Hoping to get in on the action is drummer-turned-producer Andreas Kleerup, who's finally getting round to releasing his debut album in the UK.

It's the chart-topping 'With Every Heartbeat', his collaboration with Robyn, that first got Kleerup noticed outside his homeland, earning him a reputation as the king of break-up disco. Sticking to what he does best, this record is packed with enough swirling beats, grinding basslines and lovelorn melodies to give Andrex a recession-busting kick up the rear. 'Until We Bleed', with its house-infused beats and the cutesy-cum-quirky vocals of Lykke Li, proves an album highlight. Likewise, the synth-heavy '3AM', his pairing with singer-songwriter Marit Bergman, soundtracks the despair of waking up alone in an empty bed.

Taking to the mic himself, 'On My Own Again' is reminiscent of 10,000 HZ Legend-era Air, while 'Misery' sounds like Kraftwerk just bumped into Depeche Mode and jointly creamed their undies. However, Kleerup doesn't need to rely on vocals to hold our attention, with the instrumental tracks providing some of the album's finest moments. 'Hero' has a pressing urgency to it thanks to some pumping bass and eighties synth explosions, while 'Iris's warm ambience could melt even the iciest of hearts.

The album's overarching theme might be too emotional for some - you need only glance at the tracklisting to see it's not going to be a barrel of laughs – but the complete package is more than just a break-up record. Finding a comfortable balance between downbeat moments and uptempo, grinding electro, Kleerup neatly sums it up as an "afterparty, before the party, being in bed with your girlfriend" type of record. Possessing the irresistible melodies and intricate production that make his fellow Scando-poppers shine, Kleerup finds us once again looking across the North Sea for inspiring and exciting electropop.