MONTT MARDIE Introducing...The Best Of (2009 UK 17-track CD album - Montt Mardié is an original. An esoteric hybrid of classical references and pop culture dressed up in a beautifully cut 3-piece suit, he is to Noel Coward what Morrissey is to Oscar Wilde, and to his mother he is known as David Pagmar. With a penchant for the odd ostentatious sleevenote, and a canon of literary references as pertinent as his polka-dot cravat, Sweden's newly crowned prince of pop would border on the pretentious, were it not for his geeky, unabashed and downright selfassured conviction in his art. Montt has already released two albums in his native Sweden: 'Drama' and the double album 'Clocks / Pretender' to much applause. His debut, 'Drama', was recorded entirely in his bedroom and the latter was a justifiably indulgent affair involving lush string and brass arrangements and duets with a veritable checklist of Swedish indie pop royalty. 'Introducing...' is a lovingly compiled album of full band re-recordings taken from 'Drama' and the best of 'Clocks / Pretender'; including the singles 'Set Sail Tomorrow' [BBC 6 Music / NME Radio Track Of The Week] and 'Names Not Forgotten'.)