MICHIGAN ULTIMATE SKY ALBUM MEMENTO MATERIA (EUROPE), A DIFFERENT DRUM (USA) RELEASE: NOVEMBER 17, 2004 REVIEW: OCTOBER 21, 2004

This review was tough to write at first because for a long time I didn't know what to write; this just felt like a middle of the road synthpop album. But suddenly "Ultimate Sky" started to grow on me.
I think the debut “Graceful and in Sin” contains some strong songs, but this new effort is probably more even, with some real gems. The singer can really sing – always a welcome but rare attribute of a synthpop band – and this really shows in tracks like “Control of Me” and the rocky “My Own Denial” – full of fake-sounding guitars by the way. This is not your average blippy happy synthpop, rather a darker, moodier, more heartfelt style heavyily influenced by bands like Mesh. The three Swedish boys of Michigan can even pull off a ballad, as proved on the Erasure-esque "At Times".
One thing I miss though, is a bit more punch and edge. It sounds a bit bland at times as it is now; especially the drums seem to disappear behind the other sounds.
If you need some black electronic melodies to brace the cold autumn with, you should check "Ultimate Sky" out.

JOHAN CARLSSON