Pitchfork

For the last time, there was indie pop before Tigermilk. As the impact of the NME's C86 compilation continues to reverberate, the bands touched by its ramshackle spirit are reaching back to the original artists for inspiration. Like UK dream-poppers Manhattan Love Suicides, Swedish quartet Liechtenstein seem to recall the girl-group percussion and melodic, three-chord wispiness of the Shop Assistants (who appeared on that influential 1986 cassette) and Talulah Gosh (who should have).

From Liechtenstein's debut 7" for Fraction Discs, "Stalking Skills" could've cruised by on oohing harmonies and detached lead vocals about, yep, stalking, but its clattering toms and Northern Soul snares are at least as fun. Less innocent than fellow Swedish songstress Hello Saferide's "Highschool Stalker", "Stalking Skills" soon turns from rapidly sung questions about favorite drinks to talk of calling the police. Yikes. Eventually, our girl might get the hint: "No more phone calls, no more letters." What about MySpace messages?

MP3: > Liechtenstein: "Stalking Skills"
[from the three-song "Stalking Skills" 7" out now on Fraction Discs]