THE RADIO DEPT PET GRIEF ALBUM LABRADOR RELEASE: APRIL 12, 2006 REVIEW: JUNE 11, 2006

On an afternoon train from Gothenburg to Stockholm last week, two complete strangers bonded over a book of Sudoku puzzles, and then moved on to a big conversation about the daily grind and state of the world today. With "Pet Grief" sounding in my earphones and backing up the dialogue just across the aisle, the thought struck me how Radio Dept have had the same connective effect as the Sudoku puzzles a moment ago. During a visit to a local record store a few years earlier, I'd happened to witness some youngsters make each other's acquaintance when discovering that both had the band's debut album in their hands.

Devotees of melancholic pop/shoegaze and bands such as Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division were all delighted with "Lesser Matters", and even the (Swedish) critics were united and praised Radio Dept to the skies unanimously. The sequel is most likely to be as appreciated; the sound is slightly different (above all more polished) but yet still the same. The guitars are playful, the synths are sweeping and Johan Duncanson's vocals are ever so dreamy. This time one can also trace more obvious influences, except for the ones mentioned above, as for instance Cure (around the "Disintegration" era in particular) and Electronic (in their early days). Everything's framed with quite nifty lyrics and (not to forget) front cover.

Radio Dept's music (and perhaps especially that on "Pet Grief") suits a lazy summer evening, daydreaming on a train as well as soundtrack when talking to someone dear, that you haven't heard from for ages. Actually, it could accompany most heartfelt moments in life. I like it. And you might too.

SUSSI PETTERSSON

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