The Embassy

They may not have the international cachet of artists like the Knife, José González or Jens Lekman, but the Embassy are quite possibly the most important artist to emerge from the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. In a country teeming with them, the Embassy (Fredrik Lindson and Torbjörn Håkansson) are the quintessential cult band. Without them, we may never have heard music from fellow Gothenburg artists such as Air France, the Tough Alliance, Studio, Little Dragon or even Florida/NYC indie pop crew the Drums, who claim the Embassy as one of their biggest influences. Needless to say, Balearic-tinged indie pop would be nothing if it weren't for the Embassy, which is why a new album from the duo in 2013 is such a precious commodity. (Last year's singles/rarities comp Life in the Trenches all but suggested they were over.) Only their third full-length since forming in 1999, Sweet Sensation picks up right where they left off with 2005's Tacking. "Related Artist" is sophisticated, balmy dance pop that mimics New Order's Lowlife better than New Order could in 2013. "Nightshift" is even more rooted in '80s club culture, with its deep bass, ascending synths and choppy guitar lines helping form the image of a beachside Ibiza dance floor — before the Brits came along and devastated that paradise. What they lack in furthering their sound, Lindson and Håkansson make up for in perfecting it. And Sweet Sensation is pretty damn close to perfection.