PLAYGROUND INTERNATIONAL
SWALLOWED BY THE SUN
ALBUM STOCKHOLM RELEASE: APRIL 26, 1999 REVIEW: MAY 22, 1999
This is the kind of album you always hear about, but seldom experience. An
album that grows from being quite dull to pure earcandy. The first time I
heard it, the only tracks that appealed to me were the singles "And Then the
Tears Came" and "My Woman". When I listen to it now, every track has its own
set of elements that catches my attention. "Blind", the new, third
single from "Swallowed by the Sun", has become my favourite, with its
blues like atmosphere and electronic foundation. The melancholy of the album
may be too much, depending on what mood you're in at the moment, although I
find the sad songs to be the best. Playground International creates something
that is hard to characterize. The instrumentation is very extensive, with
the strong, moody singing capabilities of Michael Westerlund. All in all,
it's a melancholic pop album, which should appeal to one and all. Or "a flow
of images", as Michael himself wants to describe the music. Indeed.
NIKLAS FORSBERG