Sometimes you can just get spoiled by having too much music to listen to. Especially when said music all falls under a similar genre. Take Swedish duo The Tough Alliance for an example. At the time their new album A New Chance arrived on my desk I was already heavily into fellow Swedes Air France's a-m-a-z-i-n-g No Way Down EP and not to mention the mysterious Studio's awesome remix(ish) record Yearbook 2. With both getting heavy rotation action on the iPod - the poor Tough Alliance album seemed a little over-shadowed it has to be said. On a brief listen I initially dismissed it as being rather throwaway and because of the similarities in sound, always reached for Air France and Studio when in need of some innovative Swedish dance/pop kinda stuff - which happens quite a lot.Lucky then, that I was made to give The Tough Alliance 'A New Chance' (sorry) for this review. I'm not really sure why or how, but literally on the first 30 seconds of album opener 'Something Special' I was totally hooked line and sinker. Lord knows what was wrong with me to dismiss this as throwaway in the first place. Must have been having a funny half hour - it does happen from time to time.Yes, this record is brilliant. Utterly brilliant - think early Vince Clark-era Depeche Mode fed through a filter of Swedish pop sensibility that say, Shout Out Louds or Sambasseduer produce so effortlessly. There is almost a, dare I say it, 'gay-disco' vibe to the record. It's cheesy, but in a good way - the samples Henning Fürst uses (and there are lots and lots) provide a beach party atmosphere, and when merged effortlessley with Eric Berglund's care free vocal the music becomes excuberent and totally joyous. To put simply, this is just great pop music that captures the spirit of early Factory Records and tropicala tinged disco. Essential summer listening for all.
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