SOPHIE RIMHEDEN MISS ALBUM SVEDJEBRUK RELEASE: AUGUST 30, 2004 REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 6, 2004

Sophie Rimheden is firmly rooted in Swedish nu electronica soil. Glitch maestro Andreas Tilliander masters her albums, while publishing rights are owned by Container, the company of workaholic jack-of-all-trades electronica producer/artist Håkan Lidbo.
This made it all the more remarkable how amazingly different from her house camp Rimheden sounded on her awe-inspiring recording ”Hi-fi”. Her expression was cut-up, demented pop music balancing between sheer bliss and utter madness. Violently happy, as Björk would put it. Technology was not working to polish her output, it seemed, but trying to drown and distort it, slowly driving her more and more insane. In this insanity, the marks of genius were clearly visible.
Where ”Hi-fi” was a revelation, ”Miss” is less of a glorious punch in the face and more of a return to the roots. Those familiar with the first Rimheden project, trip hop inspired Hayce, will recognize the melancholic and stylish atmospheres present here, although production and effect-play is obviously much more adventurous this time around. Sad but beautiful melodies are obviously closer to the artist's heart than the disco fodder processed for the previous album.
The two tracks with guest vocalist Johan Sigerud are notable above all for their elegant beauty, while the wavering, seasick patchwork of sound that is the trademark of Sophie Rimheden is pushed to the background slightly.
Sophie Rimheden is settling into a more restrained mood, but her sound world remains absolutely bewitching, full of mysterious trapdoors and lurid detail. With the exception of ”Over”, a collaboration with rapper Beki that falls flat on its face, ”Miss” is fascinating, multi-textured gothic glitch pop music. The fact that I view this as a rather weak Sophie Rimheden album is a good indication of her artistic level.

MATTIAS HUSS