I'm Not Shy, was the first single from manufatured girl group, Frank. Created for a Channel 4 comedy/drama called Totally Frank. Oddly, they were dropped by their record label, Polydor, just five weeks after their album was released.

Imagine a brit girl group with hints of the Divinyls and Fergie. Sounds weird, but the song is enjoyable.

Frank - I'm Not Shy

Here's the band's website.

Two wonderful gems from Norway this week:

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra have released a covers record of some 80's standards, as well as some off the wall choices. Susanna's quiet voice is layered over harpsichord to re-invent these songs as dark and brooding Norweigian blues, trapping pop songs in icey cabaret prisons. Finish half a bottle of wine, and then check out her version of AC/DC's It's A Long Way To The Top.

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - It's A Long Way To The Top

We also have Norwegian Grammy winners the White Birch. I'm thoroughly convinced that anyone who listens to the full of their album will be hooked. Combining Icelandic production values with Kings of Convenience vocal stylings, and wrapping it all up in a pop manner that invokes early Cold Play (when they were relevant), the White Birch have created what I believe to be one of the most perfect indie pop records ever.

White Birch - Seer Believer

Swedish pop star Robyn bust onto the music scene in the States with the radio sensation, Show Me Love, and then really hasn't been heard since. At least in the States.

Six albums later, in 2005, she recorded a self-titled album, Robyn, on her own Konichiwa label. Released only in Sweden, the album will finally see a release in the UK on April 2, 2007. No word yet on a US release.

This release sees Robyn, no longer stuck to her bubblegum pop beginnings and she brings a certain Swedish pop view of contemporary Brit and Euro pop. Hearing her 'rap' with a slight Swedish accent makes me smile with joy. It's so awesome.

Robyn resources online: official website, label, myspace, itunes.

Robyn - Cobrastyle
Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches

Check out her video for Konichiwa Bitches after the jump.

Got a case of the Mondays? Just try and listen to Rachel Sweet's cover of B-A-B-Y and try and not feel better.

Rachel Sweet - B-A-B-Y

Back in 2005 former Propaganda and ACT chanteuse Claudia Brücken, and ZTT label-mate, Andrew Poppy created a unique album of cover songs.

Well before Nouvelle Vague gave 'new wave hits' the Bossa nova treatment, Brücken & Poppy created Another Language. Like the album name implies, the twelve songs are re-presented through Brücken's distinctive voice and Poppy's minimalist style, in way you hadn't heard before: all are a work of voice and solo piano or guitar.

Online resources: Label Website, Andrew Poppy Website

Claudia Brücken & Andrew Poppy - Running Up That Hill
Claudia Brücken & Andrew Poppy - Broken English

Pleasure, is the project of 25-year-old London-based, Norwegian artist/producer, Fred Ball. A modern update on eighties minor-key synth-pop, the just released album, Pleasure 2, boasts an unusal team of featured artists including Suede singer Brett Anderson, Elastica's Justine Frischman, and Catatonia's Cerys Matthews, Gus Gus singer Heidrun Bjornsdottir, et al.

Like Stuart Price and Richard X, beside his own projects, Ball is also a talented producer and is created with the forthcoming Brett Anderson full length, as well as working with Bertine Zetlitz, and KT Tunstall.

Ball cites Michael Jackson, Prince, Yes, Van Der Graf Generator and The Residents as his musical influences. Without a trace of irony, Ball announces that “My hero is Rick Wakeman!”

Check out a few tracks below, they are pure bold, pleasure.

Online resources: Website, MySpace

Pleasure (featuring Brett Anderson) - Back To You
Pleasure - Uptown
Pleasure - Finest Thing

DJ/Producer Mark Ronson has just released his second full-length, Version.  You may know his name from previous eponymous remix fame or production work for Nikka Costa, Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, and Robbie Williams.

Ronson's album, is a interesting pop hybrid of remakes, covers, collaborations, samples, and mash-ups  Featured guests include, Lily Allen, Kasabian, Phanton Planet, Ryan Adams, and more covering some by the likes of The Smiths, Maxïmo Park, The Zutons, Coldplay and Britney Spears.

This kind of album has been done before, and well, by remixer/producer Richard X.  Whereas the Richard X's centered on re-purposing Eighties songs with British R'N'B act's vocals; Ronson targets an rockier assortment of Indie collaborators while still keeping a mind to his dj/club beginnings.

Online Resources: MySpace, Website, iTunes.

Mark Ronson - Stop Me (Original Mix)
Mark Ronson - Just (featuring Phantom Planet)

This song is the jam of summer.

The French duo of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay are best known through their remix of Simian's track Never Be Alone, released as We Are Your Friends by Justice vs. Simian.

On June 11th, (July 10th in the US) Justice will release their debut full-length to be called, †. For now, enjoy the 2007 Summer Jam, D.A.N.C.E. Hopefully, it doesn't get as overplayed as Gnarls Barkley's Crazy did.

Online resources: MySpace, iTunes.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Original)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Extended)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Tittsworth Remix)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)

One thing I've not read in this brouhaha about Avril Lavigne was that the song she did was originally done by Lush on their 1998 album, Topolino, in which the writing credits are given to Dunbar and Gangwer (of the Rubinoos) properly.

I'm not defending Avril, I'd be the first on a haters-bandwagon, but ...

Lush - I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend