BOYTRONIC DEPENDENCE ALBUM MAJOR RELEASE: NOVEMBER 24, 2006 REVIEW: DECEMBER 15, 2006

Presumably determined to squeeze something revolutionary from their machines, the new three-piece Boytronic line-up (still fronted by original vocalist Holger Wobker) has instead drowned in nothing short of hopeless drivel on new album "Dependence". The result of three years in the studio has taken the German electropop combo from genre greats to tired has-beens.

What is even more irritating is the seemingly conscious choice to drift away from catchy synthpop (represented on "Dependence" solely through one track!) to the soggy muzak plaguing the remaining track list. Hardly noticeable instrumentals like "Underwatercontact" should never have left the recording sessions and quite a few other songs sound so drowsy one wonders if they were all conceived under heavy influence of Valium. "Perfect Like the Sun", for instance, has to the worst ballad ever written by Boytronic. Simply awful!

Salvation is provided through a decent reworking of their classic "Forever" from "The Continental", sung in German and the above mentioned catchy synthpop piece, "Little Italian Feeling". The stark contrast between this melodic gem and the rest of the album becomes so sharp I am forced to squint hard to avoid severe damage to the eye.

The move away from familiar and well crafted pop is impossible to comprehend. Surely it is not all due to the change of members? What happened, Holger?

NIKLAS FORSBERG