SADOVAJA WHITE DEPRESSION ALBUM MEMENTO MATERIA, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: OCTOBER 15, 2001 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 6, 2001

Wow. This is not a big step, but a great leap for Gothenburg's Sadovaja. Where last year's debut "Kill Your Darlings" is a, maybe shaky but quite OK, trip hop experience, "White Depression" is singer Sarah's attempt at mainstream alternative pop/rock. I write "Sarah's attempt", because she herself has stated that Sadovaja is her own singer/songwriter project. And maybe that's were the problem lies.
Don't get me wrong, many of the songs, especially "The Law", "The Only One" and "Skin and Bone", shows great potential. But they never hit the spot. Actually, they sound a bit too much like many other guitar/drum'n'bass based bands. And that's not depressive, but boring. I like Sarah's voice and songwriting, but the first dominates. And as for the latter, well, it's a crying shame Sarah didn't let others take over when she was finished. Maybe that could have polished the edges and made this a great record instead of simply an OK and somewhat boring one.

KALLE MALMSTEDT