The Radio Dept - i wanted you to feel the same live at wfuv, 2011

"Fans often describe the performance as transporting, highlighting the vocalist's ability to convey deep sentiment, often noting the sound transports them to a "far off place"."

The Radio Dept - david semi-instrumental betheriel, 2023

"Been a fan of them for years, and the other day I hopped over to their Spotify page because I always randomly get the urge to listen to their music this time of year. I was kind of shocked to see them at nearly a million monthly listeners- last time I checked I believe they were at something like 200,000? Though I can’t recall when exactly that was. Curious if they’ve been having any kind of viral blowup lately. It’d be great id more people knew about them because they’ve always felt very underrated to me. Such a special band"

The Radio Dept - your true name, 2018

"Newly liberated from their former label Labrador, Swedish indie luminaries The Radio Dept. (Johan Duncanson and Martin Larsson) revisit their original laid-back college rock sound in their new single, “Your True Name,” released on their own independent label Just So! Signaling an optimistic outlook on the future ahead, the band explains, “‘Your True Name’ is a song about faith"

Mythologen - radicalised feat johan duncanson the radio dept, 2025

"Mythologen is the alias of artist, designer and musician Alexander Palmestål from Gothenburg, Sweden. His early demos began circulating in 2002 as Pistol Disco, combining his love for Acid House, Bleep, and Kraut-influenced Techno to critical acclaim. This momentum led to international tours and releases on influential indie labels."

The Radio Dept - swedish guns, 2016

"If you’re familiar with their work, you’ll hear all of the breezy synths, the sweeping guitars and Johan Duncanson’s recognizable vocals. And just like their previous body of work, their new single “Swedish Guns” has this melancholy, sorrowful fervor. The melody at first is calming and relaxing. But the longer you let yourself drown into the song, the more you realize that Duncanson’s lyrics are eerily morose. He repeats the line “Swedish guns” throughout the song making the soothing melodies a dark experience."

The Radio Dept - occupied, 2015

"The world can probably never get enough synthy dream-pop, and The Radio Dept. have been fulfilling that need for quite some time. The Swedish duo of Johan Duncanson and Martin Carlberg have been doing their thing since the late-90’s and with their first release, in 2001, of Lesser Matters. In 2016, Sofia Coppola included several of their on her new wave soundtrack for Marie Antoinette, elevating them further by placing them beside their own heroes, 80’s legends like Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order, Gang of Four and The Cure."

The Radio Dept - this thing was bound to happen, 2016

"The song reflects the Swedish duo's signature dreamy, synth-driven indie pop sound, with introspective lyrics and a melancholic yet danceable vibe. The album, released on October 21, 2016, marked a shift toward more politically charged themes, though this track leans into their classic emotional introspection."

The Radio Dept - teach me to forget, 2016

"The sublime melody and chord progression evokes potent feelings: defiance, resignation, a sense of the inevitable. Even during its extended instrumental coda, heavy with irresistible house-music piano and a synth filigree that could’ve been lifted off a Toto (!) record, the song’s momentum is sustained and deepened—you almost don’t want it to end, but it abruptly does, and the spooky title track carries these feelings further, all the way through the closing, quietly seething “Teach Me To Forget”.

The Radio Dept - committed to the cause, 2016

"The Radio Dept. mixes moody, dreamy aesthetics with a straightforward pop sensibility—a successful formula they demonstrated on singles like “Heaven’s on Fire” and “Never Follow Suit.” And it’s a balancing act they attempt to continue on Running Out of Love—a long delayed album that arrives after five years of near silence from the band."

The Radio Dept - sloboda narodu, 2016

"The title of the song, Sloboda Narodu, is Serbo-Croat for “Death to fascism, freedom to the people!”. This was the slogan of the Yugoslav partisans fighting the fascists during World War II. The phrase was coined by Croatian partisan Stjepan Filipović, who, with a noose around his neck, proclaimed the phrase just before he was hung."

The Radio Dept - we made the team, 2011

"At the end of 2006, a new track, "We Made the Team", was released as the 100th release on the Labrador. It was also the final track on the Labrador's labels Compilation of 100 tracks released at the beginning of 2007."

The Radio Dept - hidden track never follow suit two radio edit, 2010

"Labrador – LAB131. Format: CD, EP, Promo. Country: Sweden. Released: Nov 12, 2010."

The Radio Dept - this repeated sodomy, 2015

"Jangly guitars and reverb-drenched vocals—the Radio Dept. have gone back to their indie pop roots with "This Repeated Sodomy", their latest one-off single to follow 2010's excellent Clinging to a Scheme. With a skittering drum beat lagging slightly behind Johan Duncason's slack vocals and loose guitar, "Sodomy"'s musical elements are cut to the quick by its lyrical content. "Establish equality/ Instead of this repeated sodomy" is pretty straight forward as far as politics go, and as always, couching their message in a lovely puff of dream-pop makes it all the more biting."

The Radio Dept - can't be guilty, 2016

"Can’t Be Guilty" retains The Radio Dept.’s signature dream pop sound but introduces a slightly darker, more electronic edge compared to their earlier work. The song features soft, layered vocals by Johan Duncanson, pulsing synths, and a hypnotic rhythm that builds tension without ever fully resolving it."

The Radio Dept - the new improved hypocrisy, 2010

"Any day is a good day for a new song from Swedish indie-pop act the Radio Dept., and that day is today. According to the band, "The New Improved Hypocrisy" is their second specifically political song (the first, "Freddie and the Trojan Horse", surfaced in 2008); the song is meant to commemorate the Swedish elections that are being held on Sunday and is about "the present government".

The Radio Dept - the video dept, 2010

"I'm a big fan of indie music for these past years and this album fits like a glove for me "The Video Dept." is one of my favourite songs of the year because its catchy and fun tune I can enjoy, same goes for songs like "David" and "This Time Around".

The Radio Dept - what you sell, 2006

"The song explores themes of consumerism, identity, and superficiality. The lyrics are cryptic yet poetic, typical of The Radio Dept.’s approach, often leaving room for listener interpretation."

The Radio Dept - closing scene, 2008

"Love this song. You are my favorite band and have been for so long."

The Radio Dept - peace of mind, 2002

"Perhaps the secret to the Radio Dept.'s inimitable ambience is their science of memory. There's not yet a band that can evoke the intangible nostalgia that the Radio Dept. do, but at least with this release we can be assured we don't need there to be."

The Radio Dept - a token of gratitude live, 2012

"But it’s when this mysterious trio are at their most poignant that goose bumps prick the skin."