Releasing his grip on Sweden’s soulless fascination with electro-pop monotony, multi-instrumentalist Andreas Kleerup leans instead on house beats, heavy string accompaniment and a gaggle of female Scandinavian compatriots (Robyn and Lykke Li, among others).

Slim Twig, Contempt! (Paper Bag) Meet actor-musician Max Turnbull—better known by his Rip Torn–inspired stage moniker Slim Twig—a pompadour’d Goth-dandy from Toronto. (Think Jack Skellington in 1950s Memphis.) On his debut long-player, Contempt!, Turnbull moves away from his avant-rockabilly roots found on early EPs in favor of more macabre fare, layering Elvis-like vocals over gritty, reverb-heavy samples and found sound. Surprisingly likeable, his track “Patty Ann” even adds hip-hop to the mix, one of many sonic curveballs from the new poster boy for indie-quirk. —Annie Clinton