A lot of great new music is coming out of the continent this year. First Aid Kit swept us off our feet in March, Karin Park blew our minds in May and now waiting in the wings comes Shanghai, a musical duo hailing from Copenhagen. The band is comprised of two musicians / producers, Niels Brandt (lead vocals and guitar) and Nicolai Kornerup (keyboards). Their sound is heavily influenced by acts that predate the millenium, such as Tears For Fears, Bowie and Pink Floyd amongst others. They call their particular brand of theatrical ambient music, with it’s signature intricate harmonic structures, “Arabesque Pop”.

They are inspired by the dark side of music, arts and literature, from the New Wave of the 1980s, to the dark classicism of Ravel and Franz Kafka. Those of us that remember Jesus and the Mary Chain, The Mission and the Cocteau Twins will hear strains of these Indie icons in their music, particularly on the whimsical ‘Wet Summer’ in the video below.

Recently signed to Sound of Copenhagen (through Sony Music) the band go into the studio this Autumn with an album scheduled for release in early 2013. It’s worth noting that ‘Wet Summer’ was co-produced with Ladytron and Nine Inch Nails producer  Alessandro Cortini making Shanghai, by association, an act to keep an eye on.