Studio (2) - Yearbook 1

I remember reading reviews about this album almost two years ago. The hipster-journalists hyped it to the max, calling it the missing link between The Tough Alliance, the 80's Ibiza-/Balearica-sound and the German kraut-era of the 70's. It sounded interesting, but I didn't really care.
Perhaps a month later I went to Record Hunter on St. Eriksgatan in Stockholm and found this album on a sale. I picked it up, only half-interested, and checked the tracklist on the back. "What the fuck?! Only eight tracks, but still more than 70 minutes of music! Maybe this is something special after all", I thought for myself. As a trance-music lover I always prefer my music above the five minute mark.

So I bought it and went home excited to the max and put on the album. The first track sounded a lot like The Tough Alliance, yes, but a bit slower and not as radio-/hit-friendly, yet even better.
The next track, "Radio edit", almost ten minutes long, completely instrumental and extremely hypnotic. Kraut-rock for sure, in a modern, luxuous package. Lovely!
Track 3, 16 minutes long! Funky 80's-rhythms with smooth, sunny melodies the first half; slow, reggae'ish rhythms blended with a long, beautiful and dramatic climaxe the second half. Balearica for sure, in a modern, even more luxuous package. Amazing!

The critics were right, this is the perfect mix of the melodic electro-pop fron TTA and The Embassy, kraut and balearica. This is one of the most remarkable "pop"-albums on this side of the millenium. Extremely original, and ten times better than the rest of the hipster-pop-scene. Not to be missed for anyone, in my opinion!