Think "Europop" and a vein will probably start bulging in your head, as horrific memories of Roxette, Ace of Base, Whigfield and the like flash before your eyes in a near-death experience.
Sebastien Tellier, a young Parisian who was the first signing to Air's Record Makers label, is doing his best to dispel such stereotypes with his fantastic single "La Ritournelle". It takes a small eternity for the vocals to come in, but when they do, oh how they do: sweet, lovelorn lyrics about making love on the grass under the moon, and other things only Parisians can get away with. It's all intoned delicately over a rolling, forlorn late-summer melody for piano and strings, with just a hint of funk in the drumming. "I want this played at my funeral," a friend told me. I can see why.
Iceland's Sigur Ros has also done a great deal to open people's eyes to European pop beyond the spangly outfits, rhyming dictionaries and cheesy synths. "S glopur", from the band's new album Takk . . ., is an epic, heart-swelling post-rock anthem, while "HoppIpolla" is perfect listening for this time of year: grandiose yet softly spoken, triumphant yet wistful. The strings come crashing down like autumn leaves on top of their moomin-esque cutesy vocals, sung in the band's made-up language of Hopelandish.
While we're doing autumn torch songs, it's worth mentioning this year's Mercury Music Prizewinner, Antony and the Johnsons. If you want to know what all the fuss is about - "the fuss", in brief, being that he's a transatlantic white boy (born in the UK) with the voice of Tracy Chapman - check out "Hope There's Someone", off the album I Am a Bird Now (all the above on iTunes). It's lush, heartbreaking music, and obviously a more worthy winner than the Kaiser Chiefs. But then, what isn't? The Ace of Base Ultimate Collection, perhaps - but only because they're excluded from the nominations, not being British.
