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The Bridal Shop

From Seas

(Magic Marker; US: 13 May 2008; UK: Available as import)

Swedish group the Bridal Shop is a mixed bag, a bag that is part ambient, part pop and thoroughly arty. A good primer for this is the ethereal-ish “Toomas’ Floor” that could have been a great hit by British group the Delays. However, a cross of Radiohead, Depeche Mode and Sigur Ros comes to the fore once it hits its delectable, infectious hooks and groove. Lush is perhaps the best way to describe the great, shining opening. Meanwhile “From Seas” is from the edge of the deep green Cure-ish sea, a tender, haunting number that is perfect for days where you want to mope a bit. After that, things maintain a high level of lush-itude as “Early Longoing” touches on all the great points you would want from a great, ‘80s sounding one-hit wonder. Another electro-pop nugget is the light, airy “Spectrum of Clarity”, a title that seems to describe the song to a T. Capped off with a pleasing, enthralling closer “Whale in Da Pain”, the Bridal Shop makes you forget that Peter Hook and his merry band mates are no more.

Rating:

Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


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