VACUUM YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS LEADING UP TO THIS ALBUM SSC, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 10, 2004

Both Alexander Bard and Marina Schiptjenko have left Vacuum, leaving vocalist Mattias Lindblom with knob twiddler Anders Wollbeck. Together they make moody electronic pop, expertly produced – it just sounds “sharp”, you know. Although, I feel the music is a bit too polished at times and you’ve heard a lot of the beats and sounds before. Not a big issue though, since most songs are memorable enough. Current single “They Do it” features K (Chris Lancelot from Swedish pop band Dive), and it’s an exquisite and eerie piece that’s way too good to be a huge hit these days, unfortunately.
I’ve been a bit put off by Mattias dramatic vocal style before, but this time around he’s toned it down a bit which is a-ok with me. At first most songs just melted together in my mind, but after a couple of listens they started to show their identities, even though some filler tracks are scattered here and there. My usual advice about shortening albums applies here.
I hope Vacuum can find an audience outside Russia this time, and it might happen since great potential can be found on this album. Just listen to “Something Evil I Like”, a slow brooding ballad that gives at least me goose bumps.

JOHAN CARLSSON