So the music. Mando Diao have steadily improved and finally released with "Give Me Fire" album a decade. Almost every piece was worth a single release and really there were songs that go with a madness Drive, killer melodies, hooks that never stop thinking and recognition values that the feeling generated at the first hearing, they known each other forever. But you did not know, but was just as good and so timeless that it was hard to believe.
Then MTV unplugged. The rise in the premier league of contemporary popular music and as a result a great concert video.
Then you have to be a musician after such a phase but shake first time, relax and do something else, that's clear. When Björn and Gustaf Norén Dixgård the means to start a new musical project, and the way to collect an existing Stockholm music collective. Also Caligola with two albums in the mid-year clearance was clearly the handwriting of Mando Diao, although the musical, sonic accompanying framework of modern and popiger came along.
Then a rather poetic quiet album. The setting of 10 poems by a Swedish poet in the local language in this country was not expected to be so perceived.
And so now a concept album around an old Soviet analogue synth or a synthesizer album around the concept of old analog synthesizers Soviet. Just what is the concept? The concept that arises when two music lovers get a new sound toy? This is not a concept. Perhaps gives an inspiring jam session. But not necessarily a recording mature album. And that's how the album sounds just as well.
Perfectly produced. This is what the guys on it now. But uninspired. As have lost two in their own enthusiasm, be it time to make the games with the new device or in the fixed idea necessarily something completely different.
Well, quite different from the album is by no means. The familiar harmonies are still there. Again unmistakable Mando Diao. What is missing, however, are real ideas and just madness Drive, the killer melodies, hooks and recognition values. That which is offered here was all already there and although better. Synth music there was in the 80's to satisfy. The songs of that time are unique, memorable and are inferior at best in sound dynamics of today's technology. And the song behind the new (old) synth dress were already there once, namely by Mando Diao. However, better. It is with more drive, better melodies and musically apt because here somehow missing the guitars and driving drums. That was at Caligola already so that is now that even the more varied styles of the collective missing, more painful.
To make it clear once again. This is no bad music. On The Contrary. That's a pretty well-crafted synth panel. But not more.
Selbstverliebt Mando Diao have always been. But they are even known. As long as self-love does not speak directly to the listener from the music but only the band's self-love, because their musical succeed things succeed only a few, then that is okay or even a necessity. But this album sounds every clock damn selbstverlieb, through and through. Endless (though beautiful in itself) extended synth harmonies on epic dimensions. 6 Songs take about 5 minutes to 4 of 6 minutes and "If I Do not Have You" brings it even at 7:45 lengthy minutes that make fun at the front were very nice songs, including the single fleets finally maggoty. In 7 minutes, the whole really good rock operas told. Queen, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Pink Floyd. The series goes on long. But who had to tell exactly what. Content and musically. Mando Diao omit the guitar and tell instead the only Aelita. Something keyboards with rhythm, to a little singing, they modelieren sounds somewhat up and down and clapping during the synth runs and runs a high five at a time.
The then pressing on board and to do so as if you had the wheel ... pardon, the synthesizer newly created / found, that is not only arrogant, that is autocratically. But this, in turn, fits the cover. To find this funny cover is so narcissistic as the music innendrin.
Boys remains at your strips and that's crunchy rousing or schmachtvolle rock music. And do not forget you have to worry about the songs and melodies. Take your time, if need be, a good song must be calm depended something. Leave it to the dreamy nerds to quote with thin voices and strange ideas that Syntiesounds 80 and vary. You did not need. Your strong, rough and bouncy voices call for appropriate equipment. There are necessary synths can be different, but apparently not the Aelita.
