Infinite Shuffle

Anyone who pays attention to the indie music scene knows that Scandinavia is a hotbed for up-and-coming acts. It seems like every time you turn around, there’s a heavily hyped band whose members’ names are full of funny-looking letters.

For a region so small in terms of population, it turns out a disproportionate amount of great music. Sweden gets most of attention, and rightfully so, with a slew of talent that includes First Aid Kit, Lykke Li, Shout Out Louds, The Radio Dept., Junip, Fine Arts Showcase and Marching Band — just to name a few.

But just to the west lies another incubator of indie talent — Norway. And the latest Norwegian export that is trying to gain a foothold in America is Team Me, a six-piece from the city of Elverum.

Falling somewhere on the indie spectrum between The Polyphonic Spree and New Pornographers, Team Me churn out electro-tinged pop anthems that beg to be sung along to.

In case you didn’t catch the title, that was “With My Hands Covering Both of My Eyes I Am Too Scared To Have a Look at You Now”, easily the most fun and catchy track on the band’s debut full-length, To the Treetops!, which was released in the United States in March.

The group was thrown together somewhat haphazardly in early January 2010 to perform at a Norwegian music competition. It didn’t win, but it did start receiving some critical praise. Eventually, as the buzz grew, Team Me toured, signed with a label and put out an EP.

By the time To the Treetops! came out in Norway last October, the native bloggers were racing to proclaim the band the best thing to ever come out of their country.

Besides a cameo appearance at SXSW in March, Team Me have pretty much sequestered themselves in Europe. But, as their popularity grows, it’ll be hard for them not to tour worldwide.