SUPERHEROES are a fiery
bunch of Danish youngsters, as confident as their name suggests, and
bold or innocent enough to shamelessly claim their admiration for
DURAN DURAN and THE HUMAN LEAGUE (!!).
It's the opening track
that instantly catches you on SUPERHEROES' second album " Igloo".
Starting with a gong sound and a killing scream, Karate could
only be a simple, ultra-catchy pop song. But the kids ( yes : singer/songwriter
Thomas TROELSEN has just turned 18!!) are clever enough to add some
staccato guitar between the chorus and the verse. It's almost nothing,
but it turns the song immediately more appealing and exciting. That
kind of well-found trick can turn a good band into a great one ! SUPERHEROES
are definitely of the second kind.
If their album abounds
in 2'30" pop gems in the vein of Karate ( let's quote the irresistible
single Johnny and I and the uptempo - and favourite
of mine - Miami), it also includes some slower, thrilling tracks
like the heart-wrenching closer Calculating, reminiscent of
the band's first album, or the arresting Paradise of me, one
of the album's highlights, which gently starts with some kind of cymbalum
sound and ends in a hammering racket.
Actually, only their passion
for old analogic synthesisers links SUPERHEROES to their questionable
early 80's heroes. Their
songs are better, their sound fresher, and with an average age of
2O, everything can still happen. You'll be warned.