release date: Nov. 1, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Mikkel Damgaard
label: A:larm - nationality: Denmark
Best track: 1. "Redningsklar" (4 / 5) - 2. "Ikke langt herfra" - 4. "Drømmeslottet" - 5. "De elskende" - 11. "Fester i Danmark"
8th studio album by Love Shop is the first studio album after the new formation of the band - now a duo consisting of Jens Unmack and Henrik Hall. The revival of the band became a reality after several memorial live concerts in early 2009 held in memory of the band's former member, co-founder, musical core-composer, and producer Hilmer Hassig, who was tragically killed in a drive-by car accident, Nov. 2008.
It's also the first studio album in 7½ years succeeding National from 2003. The new album title is Danish for 'Salvation Army'. It contains the very strong single hit "Redningsklar" and "Ikke langt herfra" and apart from these, the rest may not seem on the same level, but it's clearly far from the most recent and rather mediocre releases, which also had led Hassig to his decision to leave the band in late 2003.
Current album producer Mikkel Damgaard, who already played additional keyboards on the band's last three albums, counting from Det løse liv (1999), has also worked with Jens Unmack on his two solo albums, and here he initiates his collaboration work with Unmack & Hall in an extended producer-role as co-writer on three of the tracks - he also took part in the band's live concerts. Later on, Damgaard will be a substantial partner of Unmack in his project to continue Love Shop as a band.
My initial and long time thoughts about the album made me think of it as a minor work, but I have come to realise that it's a quite strong album, which also signals the new start of Love Shop. The album emphasises stronger on the synthpop element that almost always was part of the band's sound, and may be seen as a combo of what has characterised the solo works by Unmack and Hall that represents a big mix of influences but ultimately condenses into this new embodiment of Love Shop. Many national music critics embraced the album as a very successful and strong return.
Frelsens Hær is the last to feature long-time band member, harmonica-player, keyboardist, composer and vocalist Henrik Hall. [ Read more: www.jensunmack.dk ].
[ Gaffa.dk 3 / 5, Undertoner 4,5 / 6, Berlingske, Soundvenue 5 / 6 stars ]
