release date: Nov. 7, 1994
format: cd (PCCD 8077)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Hilmer Hassig
label: Pladecompagniet - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 1. "Billeder af verden" (4 / 5) - 2. "Det er mit liv" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Skudt ned" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Det elsker jeg" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Alt skal bort" (4 / 5) - 6. "Fuck min højdeskræk" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Tag mig, hold mig, løft mig" (4 / 5)
3rd studio album by Love Shop who is once again back to a trio, as Mikael Dehn is longer credited as band member but still contributes on backing vocals. The trio of Unmack, Hassig and Hall is without a band drummer, but this will be the longest lasting and most memorable constitution of the band. The bold addition of keyboards is also reflected by the credit list, with Hassig from the band expanding his list of instruments but three additional musicians are credited for playing keyboards (and Moog) on the album. Thomas Duus handles drums, Asger Steenholdt and Oli Poulsen plays bass, and Finn Verwohlt plays rhythm guitar and is also assistant producer on five tracks. Jesper Siberg (formerly Scatterbrain) plays keyboards and is likewise credited as assistant producer on two tracks.
With the album, the band introduces a new style with more focus on synths, which in my mind helps creating the band's best-balanced album of both pop and rock as an indie pop and synhtpop release. Billeder af verden is one of my absolute favourite studio releases by Love Shop, and I think it basically contains all elements of their repertoire: the up-tempo refrain-driven tracks with both Hassig and Hall's signatures (tracks #1, #2, #7, #8, and #12), strong ballads (tracks #3, #4, #6, and #14), light and witty pop songs (tracks #5, #11, and #13), and brilliant lyrics throughout. Modern Danish classic pop / rock songs on this album are "Det er mit liv", "Skudt ned", "Fuck min højdeskræk", and "Det elsker jeg", but several others are just memorable tracks that will endure.
Highly recommended.
