RAY WONDER - A New Kind Of Love
Nons
Ray Wonder is a Swedish quartet composed of Henrik Andersson,(lead vocals, guitars) Ludwig Boss,(organ, guitars, backing vocals), Per Helin (drums) and Toft Stade (bass guitar). Influences name-checked in the liner notes include Eggstone and The Cardigans, and indeed, the latter's Nina Persson contributes lead vocals to the album's last track, 'Lid'. Like many of their countrymen, Ray Wonder has a knack for creative, melodic pop arrangements. Unlike some other Swedish pop bands, however, they show a willingness to experiment a bit, varying the tempo and sound more dramatically than a band like, say, This Perfect Day. Beginning with the fuzzed-out opening track 'Mistreated', which recalls nothing so much as 'Making Plans For Nigel' - era XTC, with it's herky-jerky opening guitar riff. Next, 'We Got To Be Good To Each Other' barely slows things down, featuring a string section, new-wavey keyboards, and some clever lyrics ('We're sitting in the same boat you and me/slowly sinking deep into the sea/ if we want to find our way out of here/we got to be good to each other'). Likewise, the mid-tempo rocker 'Homemade Movie Queen' is accented with keyboards that reminded me of nothing so much as a long lost, vintage Cars track. 'I've Been So Right' made an appearance on last year's wonderful March Records compilation MOSHI MOSHI: Pop International Style and is nicely representative of the Ray Wonder sound. The sweet vocal harmonies on 'Wish Me Luck' wouldn't be out of place on a Beach Boys record and are nicely complemented by a simple string arrangement, while the next track, 'Cad II', sounds like mutant cocktail jazz, though strangely, it works. Because they don't rely only on a big guitar sound, A NEW KIND OF LOVE is more interesting sonically than many recent power pop records. Clearly the band can rock out with the best of them, but they take some chances, varying the tempos and volume, much like another Swedish band, The Merrymakers. Ray Wonder is definitely a band to watch. Standout tracks include 'We Got To Be Good To Each Other', 'I've Been So Right', 'Wish Me Luck' and 'Lid'.
DAVE HOFFMAN (8)
This disc comes roaring out of the gate with organ driven poppin' rockers that evoke memories of early XTC, Elvis Costello & The Attractions and Joe Jackson ('Mistreated', the bubbly 'We Got To Be Good To Each Other' and the jaunty 50's rock leading to the intense chorus on 'Break It Down'). Unlike those artists, Ray Wonder's vocalist Henrik Andersson has a much more conventional (i.e smoother) voice - not a problem, since he puts a unique stamp on a familiar, beloved style. Like the above-mentioned artists, the lyrics at times are pretty darned clever, particularly on 'I've Been So Right'. When not percolating in this new-wavey state, Ray Wonder shifts gears and goes into somewhat of a lounge/Cardigans mode, which is well suited for Andersson's pipes. However, with the exception of the emotionally charged ballad 'Make it Go Away', these numbers comes off as a little arch and gimmicky. The album eventually rights itself and goes back to the better new wavey style, but the momentum dulls, despite nice tunes like 'repeat'. This might be one of those albums that will grow fonder in my heart when parsed out on mix tapes one song at a time - perhaps the parts are better separately than in sum
MIKE BENNETT (6.5)
Get ready for a wondrous Swedish invasion. Do not run to the hills or hide. Instead, embrace and welcome this warm overtaking of the land of pop with wide open ears. Marching toward the battlefield is Ray Wonder and its new thirteen song effort A NEW KIND OF LOVE. Centered around a flow of quirky 60's kitsch pop, Henrik Andersson (the original guitarist for Komeda) and company sharply shoot some sassy sonic soundscapes that are, at times, embellished with the attitude and tonality of The Pixies, Beach Boys, classic James Bond soundtracks and Jeff Buckley. Plenty of catchy tunes appear on this disc, including the first single, 'We Got To Be Good To Each Other', 'Homemade Movie Queen' and the pensive 'Make You Go Away'. The silver bullet, however, is loaded in the last track, 'Lid'. Sung by Nina Persson of The Cardigans, this dissonant, carnival-esque song meanders through delicate changes and sweet vocal melodies that leave a residue of good feeling in the listener's ears as the album ends. A last point of interest on this disc is the "thank you" list where eminent Swedish acts The Cardigans, Komeda, The Wannadies, The Mopeds and Eggstone are graciously thanked. It is no wonder that Ray Wonder is making rank so quickly in the battlefield of Swede pop when they have the support of these seasoned veterans.
THOMAS GALVEZ (8.5)