WALTZ FOR DEBBIE
GONE AND OUT
ALBUM LABRADOR RELEASE: JUNE 13, 2000 REVIEW: JULY 3, 2000


The red refrigerator on the sleeve for "Gone and Out" is a great way of showing the audience what kind of music Swedish duo Waltz for Debbie makes. Especially since the only content of it is a bowl of ice cream. Releasing the album during the summer is pure logic, since we're dealing with crisp, lightweight pop music and catchy refrains. Pet Shop Boys and Dubstar come flying by and it's infectious, clever and lacks the most common clichés. Light as a feather, "Gone and Out" surrounds you, whether you want it to or not. Singer Annica Lundbäck and musician Martin Permer brighten up my day. But it's not lasting music, nor do these compositions make you just sit and listen intensely. It's a soundtrack to be accompanied by other things, preferably tanning by the pool with a cool drink close at hand.
I guess eating cold ice cream a hot summer day is close to the listening experience of Waltz for Debbie's debut album. They're both very enjoyable while they last, but are forgotten rather quickly.

NIKLAS FORSBERG