Europe is never out of the news one way or another – especially at the moment with the Euro crisis. Away from financial disasters and fiscal downturns here at Shout4Music, we've become huge Europhiles – especially where music is concerned.

In particular, Nordic music regularly fills the air in the Shout4Music office.

And so, to mark the beginning of a series of Nordic themed articles over the coming months, today we bring you Norwegian's Good: ten great acts from Norway. Think we've missed any? Join in the debate below.

Ane Brun – 'Do You Remember?'

Heavy, pounding drum beats open this song from Ane Brun. The resulting sound is a cross between traditional folk and the sounds of sub-Saharan Africa as Brun recalls good times in a troubled relationship. Elsewhere, Brun's slightly gnarled voice is used to an ethereal effect over a steel strung guitar for the regret tinged 'To Let Myself Go' and 'This Voice'. Ane Brun's voice is the sound of a fairy tale gone wrong – but in a very beautiful way. Read Arusa Qureshi's review of 'Do You Remember?' here. And when you've done that, get the song here.

Casiokids – 'En Vill Hest'

Casiokids have this great unique, upbeat vibe to their music which is a mix between electro and indie-pop. 'En Vill Hest', which means 'A Wild Horse', is gentle and synth-infused with lovely ambient harmonies. There's some incredible music from Scandinavia that's worth checking out, but in terms of Norway, Casiokids are an ideal place to start. Buy here. (Arusa Qureshi)

John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen – 'Skrekkfilm'

Just when you were thinking Norwegian bands and artists never actually sing in their native tongue, along comes John Olav Nilsen and Gjengen. Their music varies from contemporary indie to something rather heavier. Skrekkfilm comes from the latter end of the spectrum, full of searing guitars, shouty vocals and high octane beats. Funeral music for very angry people.

Kaizers Orchestra – 'Resistansen'

Don't let the foreign language lyrics put you off – these guys play a dementedly lovable form of folk-rock in which oil-drums are used as percussion instruments and pump-organs abound.  Not to be confused with the Kaiser Chiefs... Buy here. (Alan Ashton-Smith)

The Low Frequency in Stereo – 'Starstruck'

Low Frequency In Stereo's sound is rather eclectic. On the one hand, you've got long, drawn out instrumental pieces like 'Hilversum', all brooding guitars and precision drumming, or the swifter paced song without words of 'Bahamas' complete with meandering keyboard solos. On the other, you have the post-punk reverie of '21' or the Far Eastern influenced sounds of 'Starstruck'. Whichever style they turn whichever hand to, The Low Frequency In Stereo rock. Or even post-rock. Buy here. (Stephen Morris)

Madrugada – 'Tonight I Have No Words For You'

Madraguda's music boasts something of a gloomy, dark – even gothic feel. Pitched half way between Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave, Sivert Høyem's brooding, gritty vocal rides over twanging guitars and broad musical brush strokes. Intense. Buy here. (Stephen Morris)

Maribel – 'Deflowers'

A recent Top Ten Free Downloads article featured Maribel with their excellent new song, 'Jezebel Jive'. Digging back a bit into their archive (well, their first and – so far – only album, 'Aesthetics'), you'll find shoegazing antics galore. 'Deflowers' is a perfect example, heavy on the distortion, and a whirlwind of music and noise wrapping around your head. Buy here. (Stephen Morris)

Erlend Øye – 'The Talk'

Erlend Øye is best known as one half of Kings Of Convenience – a spectacularly wonderful indie-acoustic Norwegian band. But, along with his appearance on a couple of Röyksopp songs and his work with The Whitest Boy Alive (see below), you'll also find his excellent solo project, resulting in the album 'Unrest'.

Each track from the album was recorded in a different city with 'The Talk' being the only one recorded in Øye's native country.

While Kings Of Convenience produce some of the most gentle guitar music imaginable, Øye's solo project delights in the joys of electronica. Still remarkably soothing though. Buy here. (Stephen Morris)

Bugge Wesseltoft – 'All I Wanted was to Make You Feel Good'

Umm…umm….*scans record collection*…….ah – OK.   'All I Wanted Was To Make You Feel Good' by Bugge Wesseltoft. Gilles Peterson-friendly piano jazz. Nice. Buy here. (Alaster Kirk)

The Whitest Boy Alive – pretty much everything they've ever done!

The Whitest Boy Alive is a quirky dance punk band now residing in Berlin, Germany away from, for now, their Nordic homeland. Their music is drenched in a languid sensibility but still has the aesthetics to break a room and ignite an onslaught of flailing limbs.

A potent live band who have somewhat disappeared off the face of the earth, well, at least out of my peripherals for the time being. I saw them play a sweaty Cargo gig a couple of years back and they lifted the roof off the place. (Ash Meikle)