AMG Review of Friend I Once Had [Labrador Bonus Tracks]

Dean Carlson
All Music Guide

All bubblegum pop, breakbeats, and xylophones, Friend I Once Had was a step forward from the fey gestures Club 8 had once been known for. The demure indie rock that had fertilized 1996's Nouvelle was given an acoustic disco makeover, and it gave the band a new level of credibility. Vocalist Karolina Komstedt was as sweet as ever, but it was Johan Angergård who seemed most responsible for the change, embedding a warmth into the album that borrowed equally from Vangelis, British strum'n'bass, and happy/sad Neil Tennant ballad construction. [This version of the album includes bonus material.]