Thirdimension Protect Us From What We Want CD

The U.S. debut of Sweden's Thirdimension is actually a new pressing of the band's first Swedish album from 1998, manufactured by Warner Music Sweden and imported into the States by Parasol's Hidden Agenda subsidiary, a strategy similar to the label's belated U.S. breakthrough of the Soundtrack of Our Lives. Not particularly like the prog-besotted Soundtrack of Our Lives, Thirdimension holds more in common with Norwegian acid rockers Motorpsycho or Welsh loons Super Furry Animals. Their nods to music's psychedelic past are more Piper at the Gates of Dawn than Ummagumma, but the bandmembers are hardly stuck in a perpetual backwards glance. These 11 songs are a diverse collection of powerful guitar rockers (the immense and hook-filled "Other Side of Town") and quiet chamber pop tunes with strings (the gorgeous "The Games You Play," which recalls 10cc's loveliest tunes), held together by singer/songwriter Bjorn Stegmann's expressive vocals and way with a melody, plus Christoffer Lundquist's sparkling arrangements and production and his multi-instrumental skills. The songs range from good to outstanding, and the performances are uniformly excellent, making Protect Us From What We Want a strikingly good debut that bodes well for future releases. ~ Stewart Mason

Audio Mixer: Christoffer Lundquist.

Recording information: Aerosol Grey Machine, Vollsjo, Sweden.

Arrangers: Christoffer Lundquist; Thirdimension.

Thirdimension includes: Stegman (vocals); Slivka (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, casio, backing vocals); Christoffer Lundquist (Moog synthesizer); Olsson (bass, background vocals); Wickenberg (drums, percussion).

Personnel: Henrik Olsson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, background vocals); Christoffer Lundquist (zither, organ, Moog synthesizer); Ronnie James Weber (violin); Katarina Stromvall (cello); Christie Lundquist (sound effects).