IBERIAN SPLEEN
DRAMA 'N' BASE
ALBUM MEMENTO MATERIA RELEASE: NOVEMBER, 2000 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 24, 2000

Like so many others, Spanish debutant Iberian Spleen try to follow in the footsteps of Underworld in wanting to fuse pop with leftfield dance music. Not a bad idea, but unfortunately, Frans Beltran, the man behind the project, is far from possessing neither as deft programming skills nor the song writing talents of Underworld. His first album "Drama 'n' Base" seems to be running on a bit too much of the same fuel as all those cheesy trance compilations, to live up to its ambitions. And despite containing a fair share of moderately danceable beats as well as the odd catchy chorus, the whole comes across a bit unfocused and aimless. Much like Fluke - if anyone remembers them - never could make a whole album live up to the standards of their singles, Iberian Spleen can't tie things together well enough to make a whole album's worth.

KRISTOFFER NOHEDEN


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