The release of the new EP from Emmon provides an opportunity to know the band through Emma Nylén’s record collection. There are influences of Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Massive Attack, and Depeche Mode detectable throughout the set. That isn’t to say that the Swedes are slavish copying the sounds and styles of these artists. Nej. They are channelling the vibe of the early 90s alternative club and bringing it up to date with Emmon’s entrancing pop energy.
XCEPTION collects five songs from the Stockholm act’s recent repertoire. The opener, “DARK,” is characterised as a “vampire epic,” but it’s not just for Goths. Even if the bats are set loose on the dancefloor, they will have to use their sonar to share space with the industrial crowds who appreciate sexy sequences.
“Devil’s on Your Back” is impressed with tension. Nylén’s vocals glide smoothly over the bubbling anxiety created by Jimmy Monell’s programming; recreating the emotional peaks of the Bristol sound. It’s elegant and dramatic – and Shara Nelson would approve.
It is followed by a reprise in the form of “On the Devil’s Back,” all moody strings and bass plucks. Who is riding whom? That’s for you to discover.
The pace picks up again with “SKIN,” which serves as a reminder of Emmon’s electro-pop heritage. Tracks like “Black Light” and “Lips on Fire” were driven and full of sensual energy before they took a more aggressive turn. “SKIN” is faithful to that inheritance, while importing the nuances of mid-career Clock DVA and Eric Random. An Atari computer and fractal visuals generator are all you need to get back to 1993, but Emmon fuse that feeling with their ability to make hips shake.
Proceedings wrap with “No Man’s Land,” which proves that Emmon are pushing out the frontiers of the Swedish scene. Sorry, Max Martin – this is what we want to hear from your hometown.