Album Reviews

Album Review: A Camp – Colonia (Reveal Records)

By | Published on Monday 2 February 2009

A Camp

Like that trusty garment of clothing in my wardrobe, The Cardigans have always remained a comfortable old favourite, with 1995’s classic ‘Life’ LP ever lurking somewhere on the remote edges of my CD collection. A predictable simile, I agree, but a true one, so it stands up. Like the dependable old cardi, the band has the knack of going with everything from anguish to anger. And so it was with considerable enthusiasm that I received A Camp’s second effort, the aromatically entitled ‘Colonia’. The band began many moons ago with the meeting of two great Swedish musical minds, Nina Perrson, lead singer of The Cardigans and former figure skater Niclas Frisk, member of the recently reunited Atomic Swing. Together, driven by their mutual affection for Americana, the Swedes produced their country-tinged self titled debut album. Though well received by many, A Camp was allowed to get dusty on the top shelf while Nina was busy with Gran Turismo and Niclas explored gospel music, of all things. ‘Colonia’ sees the pair taking the project to new, more delicate ground. They are guided along the way by the indie master hand of Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse’s careful production and Nina’s husband Nathan Larson has also been added to the payroll, while ex Smashing Pumpkin James Iha and Joan Wassser of Joan As Police Woman are also on board as guests. Lead single ‘Stronger Than Jesus’, a string of vivid images, is perfect, inoffensive pop that feels like it has been excavated from a different time. The album remains a fairly low-key affair throughout, but the heady perfume of Eau de Colonia lingers in the airwaves far after Persson has left them. MB

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