8/10

Throughout their illustrious tenure, Swedish duo Smith & Thell have established themselves as one of the more vibrant names on the Scandinavian music scene. Blending their distinctive pop sensibilities with a brilliantly rustic folk-inspired edge has led them through countless, highly-praised offerings over the past decade, all building upon their dynamic foundations with every new release. And after rekindling that initial magic once again for a run of gems in recent months, they are now back once again with their latest EP 'A Chosen Family', a collection that continues that euphoric intention they are known for.

From the very start, 'A Chosen Family' looks to conjure some wonderfully warm and shimmering ideas as it plays. Opening up with the truly anthemic 'Waste Of Time', the EP moves with this subtle elegance through each of its five tracks, delivering this wonderfully absorbing atmosphere at every turn. Continuing to develop that narrative-driven appeal they have earned a solid reputation over the years, this new release finds them in a brilliantly warming guise as they look to unveil some of their more emotive efforts to date.

While these last couple of years have certainly been some of their more prolific on record, 'A Chosen Family' still manages to leave a lasting impression on their ever-evolving direction of late. Creating this brilliantly bold and mesmerising aesthetic at every turn, Smith & Thell remain very much on top of their game with this one.