SWEEP TWO PLAYERS ALBUM A DIFFERENT DRUM RELEASE: SUMMER, 2003 REVIEW: JULY 15, 2003

If anything, A Different Drum stands for quality. I have yet to discover a truly catastrophical release from the American label. Still, not many Swedes (or even Europeans, for that matter) are aware of the impressive band roster. New underground acts, with roots in the synthpop scene, are constantly spotted and signed to give the world a chance to hear their talents. Perhaps the US is more associated with their dominant aggressive industrial take on electronic music and the lighter side of the spectrum is left to the Europeans, so to speak.
Sweep is another rather impressive pop outfit from Norway (no, I won't comment the dominance of a certain country this time). Some of you might remember their "Sweepeepee" EP released through Centrevibe a good five or so years ago, a release now craved by many synthpop freaks as it is long out of print.
"Two Players" contains ten retro marked pop pieces crafted through inspiration from acts like Pet Shop Boys, Camouflage and Erasure and it will no doubt be another disc in the countless row of "unseen electronic bliss" records. "We Wrote our Names in Water" would work wonders on any radio station, be it American, European or Australian and Sweep hold up well in comparison to other bands in the genre.

NIKLAS FORSBERG