Fanfarlo (GB)

Founded by the London-based Swede Simon Balthazar, Fanfarlo deftly navigates the space between folksy mawkishness and rock and roll literalism. Though they’ve been compared to both Beirut and Radiohead, Fanfarlo have managed to prove that they can speak – or sing, rather – with their own voice on their second album, Rooms Filled with Light, produced by Ben H. Allen (Deerhunter, Animal Collective).