Kevin Bronson on October 7th, 2015

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Culture Collide — the annual commingling of artists from all over the globe — returns to L.A. for a sixth year, running Thursday through Saturday with shows and showcases at the Echo, Echoplex, Taix, the Echo Park United Methodist Church and Lot 1 Café.

Not unlike South by Southwest used to be back in the day (albeit on a much smaller scale), it’s a great place to explore, not to mention eavesdrop on conversations in foreign tongues. But past Culture Collide experiences have taught us if you randomly crash the festival you’ll end up with more misses than hits.

So after a couple of long nights of clicking and sampling, we’ve compiled Buzz Bands LA’s own Culture Collide playlist — 40 songs in all. Beyond the headliners here (and a sprinkling of familiar local bands), there are some nice finds. Five visiting bands that stood out: Diamante Electrico from Colombia, Bad Bad Hats from Minneapolis, Belgium’s Balthazar, Dutch singer-producer Sevdaliza and Italy’s JoyCut.

(Somebody please catch Sultan of the Disco, though, and tell us how they are.)

Here are the set times (subject to change, and they always do) and information about ticketing (which is complicated).

And here’s the Spotify playlist, and beneath that some short commentary. Enjoy.

The Mynabirds (Friday at the Echo) — If you don’t know L.A.-based Laura Burhenn and gang, who just released the brilliant “Lovers Know” on Saddle Creek, you oughta.

Diamante Eléctrico (4:30 Saturday at Taix) — Garage-rock trio with swagger — and a Latin Grammy nomination — out of Bogota, Colombia. Too good for this time slot?

Library Voices (9 Thursday at Taix and 10:30 Saturday at Lot 1) — Straight outta Saskatchewan, with a new album coming Nov. 6. “All your heroes / They’re all assholes / That don’t mean / You should piss on your dream ..” Awright.

Level & Tyson (11:45 Thursday at Taix, 4:30 Saturday at Lot 1) — The Norwegian quintet just released their debut EP “Gruesome Twosome'”

Ash (11:30 Friday at the Echoplex) — “Kablammo!,” the venerable Irish alt-rockers released their new album in June, their first in eight years.

Raindear (11:45 Friday at Taix, 8:30 Saturday at Lot 1) — Another in a long line of Swedish pop queens? Meet Rebecca Bergcrantz.

JoyCut (8 Thursday at the Echoplex, 6:30 Saturday at Taix) — Cool electro duo from Italy; when it’s four-on-the-floor, no translation is needed.

Crooked Colours (8:45 Friday at Taix) — Australian electro trio drawing comparisons to Alt J and Crystal Castles, which may be a stretch, but if you enjoy production you might enjoy their production.

Enola Fall (5:30 Saturday at Lot 1) — Making a return trip to Culture Collide, the Tasmanian alt-rock quartet just released their new album “Heliotropic.”

Busty and the Bass (9 Thursday at the Church) — Quebecois nine-piece electro-soul outfit dropped their latest EP “Glam” in June.

The Juan Maclean (11:30 Saturday at the Echoplex) — There is still interesting disco to be made. “In a Dream” came out in September.

Sultan of the Disco (9:30 Saturday at Taix) — You are either going to be way into this or laugh your booty off — old-school disco-funk from Korea. “SQ” stands for sexual quotient. Like it or hate it, stop what you are doing and watch the video.

Bad Bad Hats (10 Friday at the Echo) — If you slept on the Minneapolis trio’s debut LP “Psychic Reader” (I confess I did), here’s a good chance to catch up. Indie-pop with a bite, reminiscent of the Sundays and Juliana Hatfield. And they will charm your socks off.

Yard of Blondes (9:45 Thursday at Taix) — From L.A. by way of France. This song is a couple of years old but flat-out rocks. maybe they have new material in the works?

Ladyhawke (11 Thursday at the Echoplex) — L.A.-based New Zealander Pop Brown definitely has been working on a follow-up to 2012’s “Anxiety.”

The Moog (10:30 Thursday at Taix, 11:30 Saturday at Lot 1) — The always-solid Hungarian synth-rockers’ new single was mixed by Mark Needham, and the EP is in the works as a follow-up to 2012’s album “Seasons in the Underground.”

Maudlin Strangers (10 Saturday at the Church) — L.A.’s Jake Hays has a great new single, “Gingerale,” but this one’s from the “Overdose” EP.

Nicky Blitz (1:30 Saturday at Taix) — Local guy getting love at the Guardian’s showcase. We’re fans of Nick Scapa’s EP, right? Hey, this song has a bit about his grandma.

Close Talker (7:30 Friday at Taix, 9 Saturday at the Church) — A bit of a Local Natives-only-darker vibe from this trio from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Panda Elliot (8 Saturday at the Echoplex) — Big, danceable romance-rock out of Argentina. The singer, who works with producer Gustavo Montemurro and guests Hugo Fattoruso and Facundo Guevara, released her second album “Forastera” last month.

Garden City Movement (11 Friday at Taix, 9 Saturday at the Echoplex) — Electro trio from Israel for those squishy, makeout moments.

Tuka (8:30 Thursday at Lot 1, 11 Friday at Taix, 5 Saturday at Taix) — Left-field rapper from Australia veers toward avant-garde electro on this new song. The video is worth your time.

Sleepers’ Reign (9 Friday at Taix) — Belgians can make sleeks mainstream pop too — Lukas Hermans, Ruben Mertens, Jasper Verdonck and Orson Wouters, who hail from the Belgian countryside, go atmospheric to tug at the heartstrings.

Balthazar (9 Friday at the Church, 10:30 Saturday at Taix) — Hey, we like Belgians. KCRW has embraced “The Silence,” off Balthazar’s third album “Thin Walls” (just out). “Nightclub” is a little more moody.

Caught a Ghost (10 Thursday at the Church) — Jesse Nolan collaborated with Robyn the Bank for this new single, a follow-up to the 2014 album “Human Nature.”

Grounders (7:30 Thursday at Lot 1) — Shimmering electrified psych-pop from the Toronto quartet who earlier this yera released their self-titled LP.

Over the Trees (7 Friday at Taix, 2 Saturday at the Church) — The Norwegian quintet do stadium-ready electro-rock, though not the kind you haven’t heard before.

Averberee (8 Friday at Taix, noon Saturday at Taix) — All-female trio from Australia with a beguiling mix of beats and vocals.

The Vim Dicta (1 Saturday at Taix) — We are long overdue in getting some new music from the psych-blues sophisticates. Maybe the L.A. trio will showcase some here?

Client Liaison (11:30 at Lot 1) — This song is a collaboration with Gypsy & the Cat. Oh boy, synth-pop from Australia.

Dark Waves (9 Friday at the Echoplex) — Fantastic songs. Photogenic. Somebody send us a memo when Nick Long has a full band behind him, though. It’s just not the same solo.

Sevdaliza (4 Saturday at the Church) — The Dutch singer-producer wants to seduce you. She writes on her Facebook page: “i am not skinny, i am not caucasian, i am not a man, i am not rich, my parents aren’t famous but somehow i am succeeding in a world that doesn’t want me to.” So there.

LFNT (7:30 Saturday at Taix) — Straight-up rock ’n’ roll from Tel Aviv. Stomp on the nearest available floor.

Wolves As Friends (10:30 Friday at Lot 1, 7:30 Saturday at Taix) — Hooky folk-pop from Lima, Peru. No translation needed, really.

Northeast Party House (10 Thursday at the Echoplex, 4:15 Saturday at Taix) — Eighties-influenced electro from Australia (where else?).

MOBIVSTRIP (9:30 Thursday at Lot 1, 8:30 Saturday at Taix) — Another band from Peru (maybe they carpooled with Wolves As Friends), this one formerly known as Takeoffs and Landings. On previous visits in the latter incarnation, lead singer Naama inspired some crushes, if we remember right.

Intertwine (6:30 Friday at Lot 1, 6 Saturday at the Church) — Chill, dreamy, melancholy and pretty: Norway’s Tarjei Zakarias Ekelund and friends will mellow you out, but good.

Rayannah (8:30 Friday, at Lot 1, 8 Saturday at the Church) — Looping wiz from Winnipeg with possibly intoxicating songs.

Noa Bentor (8 Friday at Taix) — Israeli singer-songwriter whose new album “Love & Darkness” might stop you in your tracks.

The Album Leaf (10:30 Friday at the Church) — Jimmy Lavalle’s “In a Safe Place” was just reissued via Sub Pop. Recommended for an ambient end to your Friday evening.