Gran Turismo - The Cardigans

Why is it that every time the British invent something it is not long before other nations adopt the invention and then are all too eager to show how it's done? How about our national game Football? Invented on these isles but then perfected pretty much everywhere else. Except Wales. Only joking. Speaking of football, how about drinking? Yes the British do like a good drink, but then the Germans have taken that and refined it into an art form. Pubs became beer halls and beer gardens became huge marquees in the form of beer festivals. And then there is invading other countries. We got there first but then the Americans have really stolen our thunder on that one. I'm joking of course but then....

...When The Beatles invented pop music (it's true - I've just read it on Wikipedia) it was not long before other countries were knocking on our proverbial door wanting to show us how to improve upon our formula. It was bad enough when the Americans started doing it, at least their native language was similar to ours. But then non-english speaking countries started showing us up. Yes I'm looking at you ABBA and A-ha.

Which is all an elaborate segue to The Cardigans and their album 'Gran Turismo'. Although at it's heart it follows the ABBA blueprint, it is a much more detached, icily cool album; part electronic beats, part pop music and it works. Sure there are some weaker moments, but singles like 'Erase / Rewind' and 'My Favourite Game' are perfect examples of how to take pop music in a subtly different direction. A world away from 'Love Me Do'.