Times change. Twenty years ago, the idea that a Scandinavian detective story could travel beyond its linguistic borders was about as ludicrous as the thought that a Swedish singer-songwriter could do likewise. But you don't need to be no Sherlock to work out the clues to Benjamin Folke Thomas's first album. This young Swede has been living in London for five years, honing his writing and building a reputation. The result is a garrulous jumble of contrasting emotions, coloured by a graphic vocabulary and insistent melodies from the great Americana songbook. There are many influences (the late great Warren Zevon hovers over the reflective Postcard from Cazal), but the main voice in his ear is 1960s/'70s Dylan – both in his nasal, snarling singing and his occasionally kiss-off lyrics, as on the excellent Bye Bye Baby (Bye Bye) or the more obvious OK Blues. benjaminfolkethomas.com
Download: Postcard rom Cazal, Bye Bye Baby (Bye Bye)