Blues Europarelease date: Oct. 13, 2023
format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]
producer: Mikkel Damgård
label: Risiko Records - nationality: Denmark
14th studio album by Danish project Love Shop is yet another ambitious chapter in the band's long and winding career. The album showcase the familiar mix of melancholic tunes and lyrical depth that has come to charachterise Love Shop on their most recent albums. It's garnered with a original sound and with thought-provoking narratives, which just seems to stick to the profile of project-leader Jens Unmack.
Right from the start, you sense the special nostalgic mood and that unique reflectiveness Unmack is so sharp on. These new songs only miss some of the potent power of a recognisable touch and the album does feel less impactful compared to their last three albums. The predecessor, Levende mænd i døde forhold (Oct. 2021), was perhaps most notable for its lyrical depth and together with Brænder boksen med smukke ting (Mar. 2019) and Risiko (Mar. 2017) this trilogy all showcase well-crafted arrangements and emotional weight, cementing these as vintage years and also as some of the band's finest records. Blues Europa doesn’t fully replicate this tendency with the fourth in a row, though lyrically strong, it lacks some originality that are the trademarks of the predecessors.
On a national scale, the album has been met by what appears as universal acclaim, and as I do feel that it certainly provides a strong listen with tracks reflecting on themes of European identity and where the ambition is clear, I just sense that there's something in the execution that feels forced, making parts come out more like statements rather than a genuine musical journey. For all its minor flaws, Blues Europa still showcases fine moments, reminding fans why they love Love Shop in the first place. There's no big surprises in that regard - perhaps there's a sensation of going down well-known paths that makes it too evident, in a way. In the end, though, it's still an album worth exploring, especially for loyal followers of the band, who will probably see it as a confirmation of sorts, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the standards set by their recent works. I'm a bit doubtful about a conclusive grade, as I have come across some very positive reviews, and still, I'm not a convinced fan and have so far settled my mind on 3,5 out of 5 stars, as I feel that it doesn't reach the level of the most recent three, which in the end puts it more alongside Kærlighed og straf from 2014.
[ Gaffa.dk, Politiken 5 / 6 stars ]
