White Magic

One of the most interesting things about the Tough Alliance is the Swedish duo's relationship to optimism. TTA don't make songs about being happy; they make songs about wanting to be happy. They're as troubled as anyone else, but in line with the effervescent nature of their music, they simply refuse to wallow in bad feelings. When on 2007's A New Chance, Eric Berglund pleaded, "don't you die yet" and pointed out that "there's something else... something bright and pure that you've never felt before," it wasn't naïve positivity. This was a guy struggling with fear and depression and trying his damndest to stay hopeful.