El Perro Del Mar: Inner Turmoil and Boundless Desire

El Perro Del Mar is Sarah Assbring.

Sarah Assbring sings with a deep melancholy and meaningful longing that suggests she's never been a part of anything. Under the pseudonym El Perro Del Mar — a credit to a Spanish dog she champions as her muse — the Swedish singer released two EPs in Europe in 2004 and 2005, until enough songs were collected to produce her self-titled debut full-length, which came out late last year.

Across 10 tracks, Assbring sings of loneliness, heartbreak and, of course, dogs, in the most fragile and angelic of voices. The shimmering pop melodies that underscore her laments have drawn comparisons to The Beach Boys and '50s and '60s U.K. girl groups. But her chillingly effective voice sets her apart, ably expressing inner turmoil and boundless desire.