THE MOBILE HOMES TODAY IS YOUR LUCKY DAY ALBUM MEGAHYPE RELEASE: APRIL 15, 2009 REVIEW: APRIL 18, 2009

I take my hat off for 25 years of providing me with a soundtrack. The Mobile Homes have been by my side since "Hurt" (I had to re-discover their early vinyls later on) and even though later efforts have faltered on the verge of collapse, I never gave up hope completely. The quartet is now a trio, but their gloomy electronic trademark sound has been resurrected on "Today Is Your Lucky Day".

All it takes is a few seconds. Right then and there long time fans will be nodding and smiling uncontrollably. "I Give You", a gritty cousin to almost any song off "Nothing But Something, introduces their new, old sound and a lively production helmed by Sami Sirviö (of Kent fame). The second track on this nine-piece journey of personal darkness is called "Ill". It is also one of The Mobile Homes best tracks ever. Musically melodic and superbly crafted with a stunning chorus. It all continues like this, simmering on a ridiculously high level all the way through to the reconstructed version of first single "Close" (I do like the "Speak & Spell"-esque original better, though). "How People Talk", another buzzing midtempo highlight, follows a similarly breathtaking path of energetic synths nursing Hans Erkendal's new and improved vocal work.

It should be mentioned that even though Andreas Brun is officially no longer a member, he has written or co-written all of the songs on the album. I would have loved to hear him sing a ballad as well (like the glorious "The More I Think, The Deeper I Sink"), but the album is so strong that I keep forgetting that craving.

"Today Is Your Lucky Day" almost makes me forget that the Swedish Spring is in full bloom, transporting me to dark, rainy Autumn streets, intensively pondering life and love. The Mobile Homes are simply masters of melancholic synthpop, maybe now more than ever.

NIKLAS FORSBERG