DE/VISION 6 FEET UNDERGROUND ALBUM E-WAVE, DRAKKAR RELEASE: JUNE 28, 2004 REVIEW: JUNE 16, 2004

When the old eighteenth and nineteenth century poets ran out of inspiration, they desperately took to unhealthy ways of living. At the same time, under the influence of laudanum, tobacco or heavy drinking, some of their best work was written. Lord Byron, Shelley (Mary's husband) and others did not stop their deteriorating lifestyles until they died from them, terrified that their growing fantasy world bubbles would burst. Now, I'm not suggesting Steffen and Thomas should begin leading more questionable lives, I am merely, rather bluntly, suggesting they need to find new input, something to ignite their seemingly decreasing enthusiasm.
"6 Feet Underground" follows what was done with mixed results on "Devolution". Electronically boosted pop, sometimes anonymously passing by, sometimes simply stunning.
The start of the album held great promise, bursting and bubbling with well-crafted top-notch synthpop like "I'm Not Enough", "I'm Not Dreaming of You" and "Turn Me on". "Aimee", a trademark "De/Vision romance ballad and the raging "Take Me over" (the only track well above 100 BPM) are also on par with their best work, but that is where it all ends. A handful of gems does not make an album. It is as simple as that.

NIKLAS FORSBERG