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Newly started Swedish label Progress has compiled an album with two tracks each from its artists. Together, they cover genres from old-school body through industrial to synthpop. This makes for a varied album and the label has some great stuff to show off. The plane crash themed artwork is probably partly relating to label boss Torny Gottberg’s documented fear of flying. Kicking off the album in style is Iambia, with the track “Anasynthesis” with slick sounds and a spooky synth lead making up the hook. Too bad that their other song here is more standard EBM fare. Sturm Café might be the artist with the worst imagination in the world, as their song “Stiefelfabrik” sounds exactly like DAF, and their “Schweiss, Bier und Stahl” sounds exactly like Pouppée Fabrikk. Why bother? Mr Jones Machine’s new song (to me at least) is called “Hypersleep” and is of course a retro-poppy number with a great chorus. Other fine tracks are Hype’s “Your Kind” and "Winterday", where Robert Enforsen from Elegant Machinery proves that he can make great synthpop without his former band mates (but he never releases any records). Newcomers Cryo makes fab, monotone and heavy EBM with a big sound. “Want It” is brilliant. The other artists included are Necro Facility, Red Cell and 8kHz Mono, and they all make this compilation worth your while (it's cheap too), and gives an impression that the Swedish scene is quite alive and kicking. Although perhaps not as progressive as the label wants us to believe. JOHAN CARLSSON |
