Premiere:Red Sleeping Beauty - "The Swedish Winter"

It was like manna from heaven... or maybe crispbread would be more apropos. After vanishing for 15 years, legendary Swedish trio Red Sleeping Beauty reappeared in 2016 with a veritable smörgåsbord of odes to 'Architecture & Morality'-era OMD, Kraftwerk and other favorites from the golden age of synth pop. 'Kristina' was lauded by all who heard it, including yours truly, and even though Niklas, Kristina and Mikael promised more, could our delicate indie-pop hearts really endure another decade-plus drought after the euphoria of 2016? Besides, topping 'Kristina' would be an exercise in futility, right?

A mere three years later, Matinée Recordings has joined the impressive list of fabled indie labels to release music by Red Sleeping Beauty, and new album 'Stockholm' is the band's best album. Full stop. Start saving your kronas because this one should be out on or about April 12, and you can preorder right now.

And now, for your listening pleasure, Linear Tracking Lives has been granted the distinct privilege of premiering the lead single from the aforementioned 'Stockholm.' Red Sleeping Beauty channels dance-era Saint Etienne for "The Swedish Winter," a celebration of emerging from the prolonged darkness at the first ray of light. The best day of the year, indeed. Could the repeated line "here comes the summer" been in honor of the Undertones? I don't know, but here's hoping. This one is destined to be a club classic. Skål!