BODIES WITHOUT ORGANS
LIVING IN A FANTASY
SINGLE EMI RELEASE: MAY 5, 2004 REVIEW: MAY 17, 2004

It is, to say the least, liberating to hear Alexander Bard focusing on a quite non-pretentious project. Together with Anders Hansson and Jean-Pierre Barda he has written "Living in a Fantasy", a straight-up pop song so strong it will break through any anti-electronic barrier trying to hold it back. Swedish synthpop darling Marina Schiptjenko has joined them in the studio to do some overdubs and synth solos, adding credibility and vibrant sensuality. Vocalist Martin Rolinski didn't make the cut in the Swedish version of Popstars a few years back and, by accident, loosely started to collaborate with Bard last year. Bodies without Organs was formed a couple of months later and the band decided to got for it. Rolinski's voice is very fetching, displaying an impressive mix of power and held-back smoothness.
This mid-tempo electropop smasher is only just a taste of great things to come on the debut album, due out this fall, as the trio performed two other equally catchy club pop gems at this year's SAMA. Bodies without Organs is more synthpop than Vacuum, less image than Army of Lovers and one hundred percent song strength. Finally, Bard is doing what he should have been doing years ago.

NIKLAS FORSBERG