By Kate Kapp

Scandinavia has recently undergone something of a musical renaissance. Forget Abba and The Cardigans, the latest wave of musical talent to come out of the frozen north is decidedly Euro-chic.

Norway and Sweden in particular are producing some of the most original and exciting acts in electronica and dance, punk-rock and metal that the music world has seen in a while.

Sweden's latest offerings include the swaggering rock n' roll sensations that are the Hives and gods of psychedelic pop rock The Soundtrack of Our Lives.

From the coastal town of Bergen in Norway are original style mag favourites, Royksopp whose album Melody AM has reviewers and fans drooling over its swooning strings and lush electronic soundscapes.

The acoustic scene in Bergen is led by the folksy Kings of Convenience, a modern day Simon and Garfunkle, whose album Quiet is the New Loud won many fans when it was released last year.

Both Norwegian acts emerged on the far-sighted Bergen based Telle label, which showcased Norwegian acts on a superb compilation album that was eventually snapped up by Wall of Sound.

Along with the Oslo based electronica/avant-garde imprint Rune-Grammofon, Telle is at the forefront of Scandinavia's flourishing independent scene.

Also worth keeping an eye out for are Universal's new rock signings Span and Norway's Magnet, who are still unsigned but producing songs for the TV programme Roswell High.

You can check out Royksopp and The Soundtrack of Our Lives in Manchester in May.

Meanwhile, the original Norwegian vikings, A-Ha, have just confirmed their first tour in nine years and will play at the Apollo in October.

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