“It is not easy to be human anymore”, according to Swedish trio A Camp. Eight years on from their eponymous, award winning debut Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Niclas Frisk (ex Atomic Swing) and new member Nathan Larson (ex Shudder To Think and Persson’s husband) have put out their second album, titled ‘Colonia’ and a fairly bleak look at the world today and human nature.

Based on the observation that history is full of unjustified conquerors and dictatorships from colonialism and the Roman empire up to dear old Bush II and his foreign policy and an investigation of basic human conditions, ‘Colonia’ lives in the strong contrast of A Camp’s melancholic, “no hope” doctrine and really well written, commanding pop songs.

It all kicks off with ‘The Crowning’ which sets a decadent scene taken out the old Rome where a crowd numbed by the want to fulfill own needs before anything else mindlessly raise their “glasses to murderous bastards”. It’s followed by first single ‘Stronger Than Jesus’, at first reading like a “love sucks” diary entry, before landing a heavy right in the face of religion and all the bad that has come out of the human need to believe (at least when it comes to those religions based on missionizing).

Love and life are examined in very delicate ‘Bear On The Beach’ about poor Iris caught in an existential no man’s land, the beautiful duet with fellow Swede Nikolai Dunger ‘Golden Teeth And Silver Medals’ that could be about an elderly couple looking back at an unfulfilled life, and orchestral “lover hurt” pop gem ‘Love Has Left The Room’ (that nails my commitment issues).

It might not be easy to be human anymore, and even though ‘Colonia’ can’t claim to be a masterpiece the better part of the 12 songs make it quite easy to be in the company of A Camp – despite the bleakness.

Genre: Pop
Who: A Camp
Album: Colonia
Label: Reveal Records/Universal Music
Year: 2009
Country: Sweden
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
Stronger Than Jesus – Bear On The Beach – Love Has Left The Room – Golden Teeth And Silver Medals – It’s Not Easy To Be Human