A Camp - 'Colonia' (Reveal Records) Released 02/02/09

The Cardigans Nina Persson, partner Nathan Larson (Shudder to Think) and Niclas Frisk (Atomic Swing) return with a second effort from their side-project A Camp and they impress from the offset. Lead single ‘Stronger than Jesus’ is an amiable, hook-laden, Americana/folk tinged affair, crafted with classic pop in mind. Colonia continues in a similar fashion with an immediately familiar and reassuring feel to it. A Camps’ old-fashioned approach to song-writing (apparently inspired by 60’s girl groups and David Bowie) delivers strong melodies and layered orchestration throughout, perhaps most notable in the stirring ‘Love Has Left the Room’.

The over-arching mood of the album is bitter-sweet; lush arrangements and minor to major progressions often creating tracks that wouldn’t seem out of place in a west end stage show or sound-tracking a Disney film – especially ‘Golden Teeth and Silver Medals’. The fact that Larson’s day job is a sound track composer might just have something to do with this. Either way, it’s certainly no bad thing; the faultlessly produced album eases along at a pace akin to a stroll in the park and is just as enjoyable. At only one point does the flow of the album seem interrupted; the stop start hand claps of ‘Here Are Many Wild Animals’. Thankfully, order is quickly resumed.

Lyrically and vocally, Persson is on form. With a successful English-speaking career now spanning 17 years, let’s not forget that she is still writing in her second language. Themes in the album are fairly generic, life, ethics and relationships all featuring heavily, but Persson has matured as a writer and sounds more reflective and contemplative than she has done previously. ‘To Be Human’ is potentially the crowning moment for Persson and Larsons’ song-writing partnership. Persson is melancholic, considering morality and is backed by a genuinely affecting string section by Larson.

Along the way A Camp do get a little help from some noteworthy artists - fellow Swedish singer-songwriter Nikolai Dunger, Joan Wasser of Joan As Police Woman and even some Americana inspired lead from James Iha (former Smashing Pumpkins) – yes, apparently he is still alive.

This album is inevitably going to draw comparisons to The Cardigans and, unsurprisingly, there are some similarities. However, while The Cardigans are creating instantly accessible pop, A Camp have produced something that may require more time but most will find to be easily on a par, and just as enjoyable.

Considering the quality of Colonia and The Cardigans' disappointing last couple of albums, perhaps A Camp is where Persson’s focus should lie in future.