Children Within - Spotlight

The end of the 90's, the years in upper secondary school when Covenant's 'Dreams of a Cryotank', Hocico's 'Odio Bajo El Alma' and VNV Nation's 'Praise The Fallen' was the favorite albums. This was also the high point for Swedish synthpop in many ways and Children Within was a part of that with their great albums 'The Countless Galaxies' and 'Sea of Life'.

So it's with great joy and with a sense of nostalgia I see this old unreleased EP get dusted off and see the light of day, as it should have had a decade ago. And the fun lasts, at least for a little while.

Catchy melodies and choruses are the trademark of the synthpop from the 90's and it's not lacking here. I almost look upon the chorus with a sort of hate/love sensation, I think it's quite ridiculous to be honest, but at the same time, I walk around humming on it, I hate myself a little for it. Perhaps I'll do some corporal mortification during my lunch break.

There's a few remixes on this EP as well, some of them trying to modernize the sound. The best remix version of it is made by Robert Enforsen (Elegant Machinery, Hype), though I'm not sure how modernized it gets, since Enforsen in many ways is glued together with the 90's synthpop scene. However, the clean beats we are used to from the Hype songs suits this track very well.

The B-side "My Thoughts Belong To No One" is a soft and emotional piece that borders on being a ballad. It's the black side of the ying and yang that is this EP. Even though it's far from unique or genuine, it's still a cozy track to relax to and a nice break from the overly popish track that is the main track.

Maybe it's time for Children Within to dust of their old synths and sequencers and once again enter the spotlight head first; otherwise, I quite enjoy seeing the dead walking for the last time before finally laid to rest. Aug 31 2011