ULTRAVIOLET DOS ALBUM A DIFFERENT DRUM RELEASE: APRIL, 2007 REVIEW: JUNE 10, 2007

The Spaniards are coming. Or in this case, Spaniard. Javier Martin Balsa operates on his own in Ultraviolet, making his most recent outing all the more impressive. "Dos" is genuine and contemporary synthpop, sung with passion and grace.

OBK have personified Spanish synthpop since the early nineties, releasing one powerful album after another, but lacking proper distribution outside of their native soil. A couple of years ago, compatriots Estatuas De Sol offered up their beautifully emotional electropop debut and here we are now with Ultraviolet. "Dos" simply takes and cultivates the budding qualities of the debut "A New Day". Clever song ideas, punchy vocals from Balsa and intriguing electronic sounds throughout the entirety of the disc.

Ultraviolet is a highly potent gateway into Spanish synthpop, inevitably leading to the first four CD:s by OBK, all of which are mandatory in any electropop collection. As is "Dos".

NIKLAS FORSBERG