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Music Review


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Gran Turismo (1998)
(2019 Remastered Vinyl)

 

Artist: The Cardigans
Label: UMC / Polydor
RRP: TBC
Release Date: 01 February 2019


The Cardigans have released their entire studio album repertoire on remastered vinyl LP. The celebrated Swedish quintet have issued all six of their albums on the format, two of which will be available on vinyl for the very first time: the band's head-turning debut Emmerdale; plus, the last album of their spellbinding 1992-2005 creative output: Super Extra Gravity. The collection will also feature world-dominating titles from their illustrious back catalogue, including Life (1995), First Band On the Moon (1996), Gran Turismo (1998), and Long Gone Before Daylight (2003). All albums have been remastered at Sterling Sound studios in New York and are pressed on gatefold 180g gram vinyl...

I originally bought The Cardigans's first two albums on CD when they were released in the '90s, and for a while they were the soundtrack to my life as I commuted to work in London. For some reason I never followed the band after Life (1995)... and if I'm being totally honest, I wasn't even aware they'd released more albums.

Gran Turismo (1998) is The Cardigan's fourth studio album and sees the band continue to evolve, but not so much as to alienate their fanbase. This is still an electronic indie pop affair, but a much darker, more brooding one. Nina Persson's vocal's continue to grow and while you can clearly hear that this is the same singer as on their debut Emmerdale, there's a deeper, more refined delivery evident here.

The album contains 11 tracks (42 min, 33 sec) and I have to say that there was very little here that stood out as being worthy of single material - although 'Erase/Rewind'; 'Hanging Around'; and 'My Favourite Game' were all issued as singles.

This is probably one for completists only. To my mind, even though it garnered plenty of awards at the time, it's the band's weakest offering.

6

Nick Smithson

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