The general public knows The Cardigans from the light-hearted hits Lovefool and My Favorite Game. The playful unpretentiousness that made the 1995 album Life in particular so irresistible seems to have disappeared forever, along with the blond locks of singer and figurehead Nina Persson. But don't worry, the more serious side of the band that has always been latent also has its charms. In the
… five-year period following Gran Turismo, The Cardigans have developed considerably both productionally and lyrically through musical collaborations with Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse (Persson) and singer Titiyo (composer Peter Svensson). Long Gone Before Daylight is a coherent, atmospheric and above all honest record where there is no room for musical gimmicks. The lyrics of songs like Communication and And Then You Kissed Me, devoid of any kind of irony, impress with their direct expressiveness. Five years after the somewhat artificial Gran Turismo, The Cardigans are back with a pearl of a pop album. (MS)more
