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Timo Maas entered my world with his last album “Loud”, with its bouncy and catchy electro dance music. It’s not a classic, but it has some fine moments. A couple of years have now passed, and after the tremendously boring remix of Depeche Mode ’s “Enjoy the Silence”, my hopes for this new album had all but vanished. Fortunately for all of us, this is a much funnier affair. First, the vocal talent of Brian Molko from Placebo fame has been drafted on a number of tracks. To good effect, I might add. Second, a more dark, dramatic feeling permeates the album – starting already in the intro “Slip in Electrokid” –, and it’s more varied. However, varied to the point where a crappy rap number, sadly called “Release”, is included. I don’t dislike rap per se, as it can be fantastic when done well, but it just disturbs the mood here. One of Sweden’s more famous names abroad is Neneh Cherry, who is also making an appearance, on the fabulous “High Drama”, a decidedly spooky affair with crisp beats and a fat groove. Brian Molko features on the best tracks however, lending an eerie quality to the mystic “Pictures”, and a pop sensibility to “First Day”, which should be a big hit if quality still counts in today's music business. With a shift both towards electropop and the progressive dance scene, Timo has moved on since “Loud”, and made a damn solid album. JOHAN CARLSSON |
