ROBERT MARLOW
THE PETER PAN EFFECT ALBUM ENERGY - CLASSIC RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 20, 1999 REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 24, 1999 
"Produced by Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo & Erasure)." This is what's supposed to sell the long lost album by Robert Marlow. Literally. The circle shaped sticker on the cover is the most dominating thing on the sleeve. And hopefully "The Peter Pan Effect" will be a success among vintage synthpop connoisseurs. It's as obvious that Mr Clarke is involved as it is that Marilyn Manson is provocative. Many of the sounds on this analogue pop experience, recorded between 1982-1984, are taken from the Yazoo albums. Marlow recorded and released four singles in the early eighties on Vince's Reset label, but the follow-up album never materialized. Until now. With lyrics about the most trivial things and a great set of chords, Robert Marlow makes "The Peter Pan Effect" something very close to Yazoo musically, only this is a male version lacking some of the warmth. Some Gary Numan and Men without Hats elements are also easily detected. But it's pure synthpop at its eighties best, no doubt about that. It's somewhat liberating hearing one of the old maestros back in the game, showing the pale newcomers of today how it's supposed to be done. A video of the single hit "The Face of Dorian Gray" is included on this disc, which should appeal to a large number of abstinence suffering electropop freaks. At the same time, it's the first release in a series of Classic Recordings by Energy Rekords. An admirable initiative as there are many lost treasures hailing from the eighties. Let's just hope Energy can find them. They're definitely off to a good start ,though. NIKLAS FORSBERG |
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