Shiver Jamz: The Hood Internet vs. Lykke Li

Glum indie pop has always done me we well around this time of year. As the city sky starts maintaining a perpetual dusk, and the only color to be found in this grey little island cluster are brown leaves and Christmas lights, honing in on emotionally brittle music provides a sense of control as the world around me hushes to frost. It's the band lulling the Titanic to its watery grave; Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burns.

That is, Lykke Li makes me want to take painkillers and watch La Planète sauvage over and over from the comfort of a blanket nest in the best possible way.

In pairing the Swedish chanteuse with galactic powder-dance contemporaries like countrymen The Field and Brooklyn outfit Holy Ghost!, Chicago's Hood Internet dropped one of the most subtle, effective mixtapes of the year back in May- featuring Digitalism, Hercules & Love Affair and more, The Hood Internet vs. Lykke Li has very much wormed its way back into my regular rotation this past week.

Below, Holy Ghost!'s "Hold On" finds an upsetting answer to its proposition in "I'm Good, I'm Gone", and Youth Novels standout "Dance, Dance, Dance" drives home from the party with The Field's rolling "A Paw in my Face".

The Hood Internet "I'm Good, I'm Ghost" (Lykke Li vs. Holy Ghost)

The Hood Internet "Dance, Dance, Dance in My Face" (Lykke Li vs. The Field)

The complete Hood Internet vs. Lykke Li Mixtape is available as both an album and seamless mp3 @ The Hood Internet's site. Li returns to North America in 2009, playing Sixth and I in DC on January 31st, and New York's Webster Hall on February 2nd. Also, brrrrr.

Previously on am.fm.pm: Aesther's "Little Bit" Remix