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Album Review

Azure Blue
Rule Of Thirds Matinee Recordings / Hybris Recordings

Article written by Tom B - Dec 23, 2011

Azure Blue is the solo project of one Tobias Isaksson. Fans of Swedish indiepop and more specifically Labrador Records may recognise his name due to Isaksson being a member of both the acclaimed Irene and Laurel Music. This, his début album, is released by Matinee Recordings, who have had a quiet year by their standards. It's also available in Isaksson's home country on the Hybris label.

I don't really like starting a review by being negative but opening track Fingers, which is a cover of a Grant McLennan (Go Betweens) track, doesn't really get moving for me and numerous subsequent listens haven't helped. I am not a fan of albums opening with a quieter track as it can miscue the pace and tone somewhat. The fact that the next track is the utterly superb Catcher In The Rye means that the former will most probably never get a look in again where as the latter, which is an instant indiepop dancefloor classic, will remain on repeat for sometime yet.

That seems to be the story of the album. Just when Rule Of Thirds gets going it's soon brought to a standstill further down the line just like an early morning commute. This is evidenced by some pretty good synth pop tracks that hark back to New Order (Seasons) or OMD's Messages (The Shore) going up against the likes of Little Confusions or Two Hearts which whilst competent, really don't stick in the memory and fade away almost instantly. I am not sure why that is apart from a lack of consistency with which makes it even more frustrating when he pulls off yet another stunner in the shape of Dreamy Eyes which sounds like Vince Clarke remixing Another Sunny Days classic single You All Should Be Murdered.

Rule Of Thirds is an album made for the digital player generation - download the stand out tracks and ignore the others. File under work in progress.

Links:
http://azureblue.se/
http://matineerecordings.com/order.html
http://www.myspace.com/azureblueswe