Det Vackra Livet

Det Vackra Livet formed in 2010 as a side project for brothers Henrik and Philip Ekström. Like their flagship group, the Mary Onettes, Det Vackra Livet found the Gothenburg, Sweden-based siblings in their comfort zones, serving up another round of icy, retro-synth pop in the vein of New Order and the Cure. Inspired by the memoirs of the brothers' grandmother, as well as the poetry of psychiatrist, author, musician, politician, and former member of the Finnish Parliament Claes Andersson, the band’s eponymous full-length debut, which was prefaced by the single “Viljan,” arrived in March 2011 on Labrador Records. ~ James Christopher Monger