Various Artists – Dødpop Vol. 3

Skwee is an awkward beast of a genre. Glasgow-based artist Ben Butler & Mousepad described it for us in a recent interview: “Synthetic funk; influenced by hip-hop... very colourful and funny, but also icy and cold.” He also called it Scandinavian Conflict R&B, which is, let's not argue, pretty awesome.

On this sampler from core Norweigian skwee label Dødpop, we are introduced to the stark, downbeat proto-dubstep-meets-electro of Beatbully; the lo-fi electro sex jams of Baron Zen, Trekblazer, Zackey Force Funk and Rekordah; the twisted digital funk of Chmmr, pastiching '80s synth soundtrack excesses; and the abstract rhymes of Oddatee, paired with the 8-bit-flavoured, synth-pop beats of MRC Riddims.

With a focus on cheap studio kit, and the rehabilitation of old and unfashionable sounds, it's a mercurial collection, its strong highlights more than making up for the odd cringeworthy moment. An enjoyable introduction to a very strange but intriguing microgenre.