(Mercury)
You've got to admire any band that persists in transforming Black Sabbath songs into kitschy-cool pop gems. Lead singer Nina Persson can still prompt an amused chuckle from me when she sings, "I am Iron Man..." in her breathless baby-voice. But before you know it, amusement is overtaken by the deep grooves of pop so fun it's hip again. First Band On The Moon blends jazz, 60's pop, some metal riffs de-fanged but funked up, and Persson's distinctive vocals into a fine kitsch-pop package.
The Swedish outfit's second U.S. release proves a bit more experimental in its musical stylings. The band lays down a plethora of sounds and instruments on each track, all anchored by some suave guitar licks by guitarist Peter Svensson and bassist Magnus Sveningsson, a duo whose heavy metal background finds a unique outlet in this indie pop album. Lyrics about wronged and obsessive love become catchy pop tunes filled with Persson's la la la's and some heavy, grooving beats. Soon enough, you'll find yourself indulging in the Cardigans' infectious pop candy, singing along to lines like "I've been your sister, I've been your mistress/ maybe I was your whore" with a sweet smile on your face.
However, as any five-year-old can tell you, too much sugar content can wear thin too soon. Each song runs directly into the next, leading one to wonder that perhaps too much of a good thing is not that great. The songs start to run the risk of becoming one big kitschy-pop tune, indistinctive of the others. The album's saving grace lies in its continual efforts at a layered, occassional trip-pop diversity despite its overarching pop ethic. There are enough quirky tracks like "Lovefool" and "Your New Cuckoo" to keep the sound from becoming too tiresome. Although each song on First Band On The Moon does not have the staying power as the tracks on the band's previous release, Life, the new album does herald a band that continues to grow and experiment with a sound that aims to be the definitive soundtrack for a sequel to "Barbarella".
