Swedish duo Erik Hases and Sebastian Söderqvist are Oxen, and they’ve already showcased their indie-pop smarts on a debut self-titled EP, which emerged at the end of 2016. Since then however, the band went quiet, but it’s only now transpired that the reason for that was that they were holed up in Gothenburg’s Svenska Grammofonstudion (basically, the place Swedes go when they want to make a big record) working on a debut album. The first taste of that record has now arrived, and we’re happy to have the first listen for you today: here’s Limbo.

Limbo shows that the duo haven’t lost their touch over the year of silence: it’s a pristine piece of sparkling indie rock, sunny melodies paired with snapping rhythms and just enough rawness to add a little extra edge. The band say:

Limbo is about the anxious feeling you get when you’re watching people trying to reach things that only exists in their mind. It’s kind of an underdog song.

Limbo is out on VÅRØ on February 23rd, and Oxen‘s debut album is due this autumn.