Swedish combo
Dina Oegon
debuted in 2021 with an elegant hybrid of retro-soul, light psychedelia, and breezy indie pop. Initially formed as a collaboration between Stockholm singer/songwriter
Anna Ahnlund
and multi-instrumentalist
Daniel Oegren
, they've swelled to a nimble quartet on
Oas
, their sophomore LP.
's musicianship and attention to detail was apparent from the start, but on
, they've found the perfect balance between organic playing and sophisticated arrangements. Singing in her native tongue,
Ahnlund
's dulcet vocals flow like spring water, suggesting midsummer drives across the sweet sunny north.
Oegren
's guitar and keyboard voicings are understated and jazzy, always in service of the song but loaded with nuance. What really sets
apart from the band's first album is the addition of
Love Oersan
(bass) and
Christopher Cantillo
(drums), a rhythm battery so velvety and tasteful they almost hypnotize. Together, they are truly enchanting, especially on "Vi smaelter," a moody bit of '60s woodsmoke and lilac. Even better is the title cut with its sweetly yearning vocals and winsome piano-led arrangement that sounds like every fond summer memory wrapped up in a single soundtrack. To achieve such a convincing level of depth,
rehearsed and honed the songs tirelessly for nearly a year, then entered
Andreas Tengblad
's Studio Gagarin to record all ten tracks in a single day. Vocals and overdubs were finished off at the band's own recording space, yielding a remarkably cohesive final mix. Much like fellow vintage-loving Swedes
Dungen
,
's sensibilities lie in previous eras, but their songwriting and studiocraft feel timeless. ~ Timothy Monger