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Elly Roberts reviews
Half Machine Records
- Released: August 2008
- Rating: 10/10
- Formats CD & digital download
- Vote and comment on this album:
Californian electro-pop .from Sweden! Yes, really.
Two guys from Gothenburg, life-long chums Daniel Hogberg and Bjorn Synneby,have created the type of slick electro-pop of years gone by with a 21st centurytwist.
The pair harmonise like the Beach Boys on top form, so that gives it immediatecredibility. Ok, so their remit is clearly directed towards MOR (and the feet/floor),nevertheless this is still an excellent, and it never borders on cheesy.Reveries is the perfect summer album actually, and might oneday make one of those never ending Best Summer Albums of All Time lists.
Somewhere along the line they more than match the likes of French popstersAir and Daft Punk, ELO, Human League and tiny tiny shades of dare I say it..Pink Floyd. Others might say theyre the Swedish equivalent of The ScissorSisters, which is probably true.
The summer fun starts with a real punch Villanova Sunset, a throbbingbut sophisticated dance classic that would grace any club in Europe. The swooninggolden harmonies kick-in on the chunky poppy Break Your Social System.The immediate effect is that your left (or right foot) is already tapping withoutyou realising. The Beach Boys appreciation is massively evident from the highpitch harmonies of the out-and-out pop template of Sunset Blvd. Thissong is so darn gorgeous its almost too good to be true, but it is.
Hot Lips is unashamed pop at its best, one the Sisters would be proudof, though the vocal has dropped to the tone of Phil Oakey. Theres a similarframe around the pulsating Number One yet another targeted for thefloor, whereas Runaway To Elsewhere retains pop beats, with the pairwandering into bouts of Floyd ambience, and its the only instrumental.
Taking a breather from the disco heat, Love Isnt Always On Time, ispure and dreamy ear candy. They hit snippets of Pink Floyd again especially onthe David Gilmour guitar breaks. More clever pop emerges on the radio friendly theyre all radio friendly in truth) Disappear and Silent Running,though on the later, theres some stylish country-Stones guitar licks.
Not wishing to forget Brian Wilson, Live Before Seven is the kind ofBeach Boys magic of the Pet Sounds era even a deep backup mentions surfs up.ELO gets a massive nod on closer A Tree, which ends on a sunny note how else?
File under: Super duper troupers!
Weblinks:musicpacific.com /halfmachinerecords.com /myspace.com/halfmachinerecords /myspace.com/musicpacific
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Villanova Sunset
2. Break Your Social System
3. Sunset Blvd
4. Hot Lips
5. Number One
6. Runway To Elsewhere
7. Love Isnt Always On Time
8. Disappear
9. Silent Running
10. Live Before Seven
11. A Tree
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.