VARIOUS ELECTROPOP HEROES VOL. 2 COMPILATION MEMENTO MATERIA RELEASE: NOVEMBER 17, 2004 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 11, 2004

Sweden and Norway have been spitting out electronic acts for quite some time now. "Electropop Heroes" is a compilation of mostly previously unreleased stuff from these countries. The focus lies on the poppier side of the spectrum. No EBM here, which works fine for me as it leaves more room for variation.
My absolute favourite on the album is the Tears for Fears cover “Shout” by Sophie Rimheden and Håkan Lidbo. A hellishly funky inferno of bubbly, precise electronics and artificial vocals that just forces me to start shakin’ that ass. I can hardly write this review because of it. This album would be worth buying just for this track, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s being released on a single very soon (review in progress).
Other notables are Daybehavior’s “Superstar (Electropopmix)” that should guarantee a full dancefloor, a housy Stisch feat. Magnus Carlson song, a catchy Bobby-track and Backlash’s “Purity for a Sinner (Kill Something Mix)” – complete with “Popcorn”-samples. The electronic pop scene seems to be thriving, although some low points are of course found here as well: for example Monofader’s “Behind” with clichéd sounds and weak vocals. The same goes for Blipp’s “Paradis (Junimix)”, badly sung in Swedish.
This album is an indicator that shows that electropop is at least doing well, when most EBM bands have gone down a one-way street.

JOHAN CARLSSON